Rob's favorite part of game day other than the game

Something new Rob has added to his program this season

Guarding ball screens

From Gut Feel to Data: The Case for a Competitive Cauldron
This article argues that by turning practice data into a public “Competitive Cauldron” - where players are ranked based on effort, performance, and other practice-stats - coaches can convert effort from a choice into a default, creating a culture where “everything matters” in practice. It contends that using this data for transparency and even playing-time decisions reduces entitlement and complacency, while giving coaches objective justification when communicating with players and parents. Ultimately, the system is presented as a method to shift from gut-feel judgments to accountability and measurable competitive standards that build stronger habits and program culture.

5 Effective Basketball Team Building Activities
This article lays out five simple but powerful team-building exercises - the Trust Circle Challenge, a Basketball Relay Course, a Locker Room Scavenger Hunt, a Shout-Out Circle, and Mix-It-Up Scrimmages - all designed to build trust, communication, and unity among players beyond standard drills. Team camaraderie and chemistry off the court can translate into better cohesion, teamwork, and effort on the court, making the team stronger as a whole.

Beyond “Shoot!”: How to Coach Basketball IQ, Not Just Skills
This article argues that developing a player’s “basketball IQ” - the ability to read the floor, anticipate, and make smart decisions - is more important than simply teaching skills or plays. It recommends shifting practice design to emphasize adaptive decision-making: use variable defensive pressure, constraints-based drills, and scrimmages where offensive players must react on the fly rather than follow pre-set instructions. Finally, it urges coaches to act more as facilitators -asking questions, allowing experimentation, using mistakes as learning moments - so players build confidence, understanding, and autonomy on the court.

How the Suns are turning the page on the Kevin Durant era - and enjoying unexpected success in the process

This article details how the Phoenix Suns are re-structuring around youth, depth and modern offensive principles after the departure of Kevin Durant, rather than forcing their identity to match his style. It argues that by embracing spacing, ball movement, and role-player contributions, Phoenix is finding a sustainable path forward despite losing a star. The broader trend: some teams may find more long-term upside in cohesion, flexibility, and balanced rosters rather than relying solely on superstars.

NBA Trade Block Big Board with Deals for Top 10 Targets
This article ranks the top 10 NBA players currently generating the most trade buzz based on a mix of ability, contract status, fit, and potential impact and proposes hypothetical trade packages to give context to each player’s value. It argues that with the 2025-26 season still in its early stages, many clubs may be motivated to rework rosters now rather than wait, meaning the trade market could become unusually active before the February deadline. For coaches, front offices, and analysts, the piece serves as both a scouting-and-strategy map and a reminder that potential roster flux could significantly shift team strengths and playing styles mid-season.

Centre of attention: NBA's defensive trend on Dyson

This article spotlights how defenses around the league are adjusting - specifically by sending big men to guard versatile forwards such as Dyson Daniels of the Atlanta Hawks as a reaction to increased spacing and perimeter-oriented lineups. It argues this reflects a broader trend: defenses are evolving away from traditional position-based matchups toward matchup-based schemes, forcing offenses to either accept size disadvantages or demand different shot-selection and spacing. For coaches and tactical planners, the insight is clear: modern defense requires flexibility and offensive schemes must adapt accordingly (spacing, screening actions, off-ball movement) to counter evolving defensive strategies

Big tournament, bigger money: How the Players Era event is changing college basketball in just its second year
This article examines how the Players Era Festival, now expanded to 32 men’s and women’s teams is reshaping early-season college hoops by offering big NIL payouts and pulling top programs into one marquee event. It argues that the festival could re-order how November tournaments are viewed, potentially sidelining older, tradition-rich mid-season tournaments as teams chase higher-visibility games and financial incentives. For coaches and programs, the shift means rethinking scheduling, recruiting pitches, and what “prestige” looks like in a new college-basketball economy.

2025-2026 Men's College Basketball Players off to a Surprisingly Hot Start
This article profiles a group of college players who have dramatically increased their production early this season, many doubling or even tripling their scoring, rebounding, or defensive numbers compared to last year. It highlights how this surge of breakout performances is already shifting team expectations and reshuffling national attention toward sleeper programs and lesser-known players. For coaches and scouts, it underlines the importance of re-evaluating rotations, scouting reports, and potential conference-tournament sleepers based on early-season performance, not just preseason hype.

Why the beloved Maui Invitational faces an uncertain future

This article explores how the rise of the Players Era Festival and shifting NIL/financial dynamics are threatening the longstanding appeal and viability of classic early-season tournaments like the Maui Invitational. It details how top programs are increasingly skipping older tournaments in favor of high-profile, high-payoff events which could erode the traditional November tournament ecosystem built across decades. For coaches and athletic directors, the article signals that long-term scheduling strategies may be due for a reset to align with changing economics and roster mobility.

Inside Doc Rivers’ Offense | Full Playbook Breakdown

Auburn Tigers vs Oregon Ducks Full Basketball Game with Coaching Analysis Breakdown

NBA Defensive IQ Highlights You Missed