Curry Hicks Sage Free Content

Spaces that started 2/1/25 around 9 PM EST.

Spaces that started Wednesday, January 28th, around 9:45 PM EST.

***This is the first 20 minutes of The Basketball Junkie, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Fran Fraschilla, 67, is a basketball commentator at ESPN. He joined the network in 2002 after a decorated coaching career that included head coaching stints at Manhattan, St.John's, and New Mexico. A Brooklyn native, Fraschilla also worked as an assistant at Rhode Island, Ohio, Ohio State, and Providence. In this sprawling, two-and-a-half hour episode, Fraschilla brings his encyclopedic memory and elite storytelling skills to bear in a conversation that is as wide ranging and honest as any show we've ever done. Ultimately, the episode is a tribute to a man whose love of basketball is arguably without peer. if you're a true hoop head, this one is for you. Everyone who listens will come away having learned a great deal more about the game and its history. Fran has a deep appreciation of the game's past and present and for the way it's shaped his own identity in the world. This one is worth your time and the sort of episode we envisioned when we launched the show.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: The Basketball Junkie Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 15 minutes of From Marquette, Michigan With Love, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Matt Majkrzak (Mack-ER-Zak) is the head men's basketball coach at Northern Michigan University. He's been at a bunch of wildly remote places and he's an absolute rising star in the profession. Ignore the fact that he's less well known than many of our guests and give it a listen. It's a thoughtful, smart, digressive, and funny conversation with a guy who's going to do great things in this business. Don't say you weren't warned. Happy New Year everybody.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: From Marquette, Michigan With LoveSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 15 minutes of Colleges That Change Lives, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***I think I first came across the book Colleges That Change Lives when my sister was beginning to look at colleges in 1999 or 2000. It had come out in 1996 and represented something of an intentional response to the more corporate tome-of-a-college-guide-book that the Princeton Review and others put out each year. Google's AI machine actually does a good job describing the book, saying it "highlights institutions that excel at developing students, including those who aren't straight-A students, by focusing on individual needs, strong academics, and a supportive environment."  When my own college search began  (I graduated high school in 2004) I often found myself leafing through the book once again. I even visited a few of the schools included in it before ultimately taking a more traditional path to college life. I ultimately attended two schools and enjoyed both, but I wouldn't especially say either changed my life. I was reminded of the book because this week's guest, Mike DeGeorge, is a product--both literally and spiritually--of several of the places included in the book. It was Rhodes College in Memphis that changed Mike's life when it took a shot on him after he'd briefly left coaching and he desperately wanted back in. It was Beloit College in Wisconsin, where DeGeorge's father served as the head football coach for 29 seasons, that sparked Degeorge's interest in following in his Dad's professional footsteps, albeit in a different sport.Today, DeGeorge, 56, is thriving at his first D1 job. He's in his second season at what industry insiders have long regarded as a perennially-difficult job in Cal Poly-SLO and just led his Mustangs to a win over Utah. The victory prompted D3 assistants and other hoop junkies to flood my DMs and mentions once again and urge me to get DeGeorge on the show. So we did. And it quickly became clear that DeGeorge is one of the nation's most grounded and even-keeled coaches.  He discussed his journey from Cornell College of Iowa to Rhodes to Colorado-Mesa to Cal Poly with insight and candor.After the interview, I grew a bit wistful about whatever combination of ego and insecurity led an 18 year old me to opt out of ultimately attending one of the Colleges That Change Lives.  I also came to the rather obvious realization that the book itself was never meant as a step-by-step guide to finding a place that would change my life; it was a user manual meant to get kids comfortable with the idea that if you're willing to think a bit differently about what success looks like, you'll eventually find it. And it occurred to me that that is the organizing principle of this show and site. It just took me another 20 years to figure it out.Hope you enjoy the show.-SageYou can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Mike DeGeorge Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 15 minutes of How To Make It In America, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Dan Poneman is the foremost college basketball player agent in the rapidly evolving NIL landscape. An Evanston, Illinois native, Poneman has been a fixture in basketball circles since he started a scouting site as a middle schooler. Currently he leads a team of nearly 20 employees at the Weave Agency, which has quickly to dominate the basketball NIL market.During the course of his career, Poneman has managed rappers, dabbled in standup comedy, and voraciously studied the Hebrew Bible. He joined the show from his home in Venice Beach and discussed everything from his spiritual and professional journeys to the current types of memes on Instagram that make him laugh the hardest.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Dan Poneman Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Yes We Dan, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Dan Earl, 50, is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. A native of Medford Lakes, New Jersey and a graduate of Penn State University, Earl is set to begin his fourth season with the Mocs this fall. In year three of his tenure, Earl led the team to a SoCon regular season crown and an NIT title.Before taking the reins at UTC, Earl spent seven seasons as the head coach at VMI, where he became known for his offensive ingenuity and player development at what is perhaps the shittiest job in America. His coaching roots include two stints as an assistant at his alma mater Penn State and a tour of duty at Navy. A two-time team captain for the Nittany Lions, Earl spent six seasons in State College. He joined the show from his home in Chattanooga for a conversation that touched on his coaching influences, why he still drills the fundamentals, and why basketball matters to the Earl family. You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Yes We Dan Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Yes We Jans, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Chris Jans, 56, is the head men’s basketball coach at Mississippi State University. A native of Fairbank, Iowa and a graduate of Loras College, Jans is set to begin his fourth season in Starkville next month. He's taken the Bulldogs to the NCAA tournament in all three of his seasons at the helm, an especially impressive feat considering that between 2009 and his arrival in 2022-2023 the program had reached the Big Dance just twice. Prior to landing the SEC job, Jans led New Mexico State for five spectacularly impressive seasons in the WAC. His early career includes stings throughout the junior college landscape as well as some D1 assistant stops, most notably under Greg Marshall during Wichita State's historic run of the late aughts and early 2010's.  He joined the show from his office in Starkville for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on his early days trying to break into the business, how a single mistake during a brief stint as Bowling Green's head coach altered the trajectory of his life and career, and why he still loves coaching all these years later.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Yes We Jans Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Archbishop Caputo, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Chris Caputo, 45, is the head coach at George Washington, where he's about to begin his fourth season leading the Revolutionaries. A Queens native who played at the New York City powerhouse Archbishop Molloy, Caputo linked up with fellow Molloy grad Jim Larrañaga shortly after graduating from D3 Westfield State. He stayed at Larranaga's side for two decades, with lengthy tenures at both George Mason and Miami. In 2022, he was tapped to resurrect a struggling GW program and the Foggy Bottom school appears poised to break through this season.Caputo joined the show from his home in suburban Virginia for a lengthy chat that touched on his early roots in Queens, his robust network in the sport, how he prioritizes tasks in a changing basketball world, and how he was able to see the big picture when challenges derailed his second season at the helm in D.C.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Archbishop Caputo Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Swat Team, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Landry Kosmalski, 47, is an assistant coach at Campbell University, where he's about to begin his first season helping rebuild the Camels program. Kosmalski joined former Florida assistant and current Campbell head coach John Andrzejek after a dozen years at D3 Swarthmore where he took a longtime doormat and turned it into a national power, nearly winning the national title on a pair of occasions. Kosmalski played collegiately at Davidson and served two separate stints as an assistant for the Wildcats as well. A former professional player in Sweden, Kosmalski grew up in the Dallas suburbs. His father played in the NBA and his mom worked for Nike.Landry joined the show from his new home in North Carolina for an extensive chat about everything from his mother's influence on his leadership style to the challenges of getting a D1 job after finding D3 success. You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Swat Team Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of The Power of Positive Pastner, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Josh Pastner, 47, is the head coach at UNLV, where he's about to begin his first season leading the Runnin' Rebels. A basketball lifer who knew he'd be a coach even in childhood, Pastner's first head role came at Memphis, where he spent seven seasons from 2009-2016. He later led Georgia Tech for another seven seasons before spending the last two years as a broadcaster.Pastner joined the show from his office in Las Vegas for a wide-ranging conversation that touched on a number of topics, including the stoic brilliance of Lute Olson, the preposterous challenge of taking over at Memphis in the aftermath of John Calipari's departure, and what being away from the game taught him about both basketball and himself.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: The Power of Positive Pastner Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 5 minutes of Miller Time, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Wes Miller, 42, is the head coach at the University of Cincinnati where he's about to enter his fifth season leading the Bearcats. He previously spent a decade at the helm of UNC-Greensboro. He became one of the youngest head coaches in America when he took that job in 2011 in the same town he grew up in.He joined the show from his office in Cincinnati where he discussed how he fell in love with the sport as a kid in ACC Land, the impact that Roy Williams Dean Smith had on his coaching style, the way he was shaped by the New England prep basketball scene, and the pressures of entering year five at Cinci knowing he needs to lead the Bearcats to the Big Dance.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Miller Time Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Lobo in Paradise, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Eric Olen, 44, is the head men’s basketball coach at the University of New Mexico. A native of Mobile, Alabama and a graduate of Spring Hill College, Olen landed the New Mexico job this past offseason after leading UC San Diego to a 30 win season and the Tritons' first ever D1 NCAA tourney appearance. Prior to leaving for Albuquerque, he'd spent the entirety of his collegiate coaching career at UCSD, beginning as a D2 assistant and ultimately leading the program's successful transition to D1. He joined the show from his new home near the UNM campus and discussed how the transition's going, what it's like to be at a place where basketball means so much, his excitement about coaching in the Pit, and whether his coaching style and temperament will change now that he'll be plying his trade in front of one of the best fan bases in college basketball.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Lobo in Paradise Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Bucky Ball, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Bucky McMillan, 42, is the head men’s basketball coach at Texas A&M University. A Birmingham native and graduate of Birmingham-Southern College, McMillan arrived on the college scene in 2020 when Samford University hired him out of nearby Mountain Brook High School, which he had turned into a national powerhouse.  Deploying an entertaining style and relentlessly marketing the program in the community, McMillan quickly turned Samford into one of the SoCon's most exciting programs before leaving for College Station this past #SearchSZN.He joined the show from Texas A&M’s basketball practice facility and discussed the surprising benefits of jumping directly from high school to Division I, the meaning of Bucky Ball, the visionary thinking of the athletic director who first hired him at Samford, and his genuine belief that he can one day lead the Aggies to a Final Four.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Bucky Ball Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of The Forbes List, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Steve Forbes, 60, the head men’s basketball coach at Wake Forest University. A native of Lone Tree, Iowa, and a graduate of Southern Arkansas University, Forbes arrived in Winston‑Salem on April 30, 2020 during the throes of COVID. At 55, Wake became his first power conference gig after decades of toiling in the junior college and assistant coaching ranks. He came to Wake after getting his first head D1 job at 50 when he won the East Tennessee job and promptly turned that program into a SoCon power.  Forbes has worked for four Final Four coaches, has long been known as an elite recruiter, and is a fantastic storyteller. He joined the show from North Carolina and discussed a lifetime in the sport, what people don’t understand about Gregg Marshall, and the challenges of resurrecting a moribund program in an ACC that’s very different than the one he encountered upon arrival five years ago.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: The Forbes List Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 5 minutes of Mussel Beach, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Eric Musselman, 60, is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Southern California. A native of Ashland, Ohio, and the son of longtime coach Bill Musselman, Eric arrived in Los Angeles after five successful seasons at Arkansas, where he led the Razorbacks to three consecutive NCAA Tournament runs that included two Elite Eight appearances and a Sweet Sixteen. Before that, Musselman guided Nevada to three straight NCAA berths, including a 2018 Sweet Sixteen. His path to the college game came after a long career in professional coaching, including head coaching stints with the Golden State Warriors and Sacramento Kings and several years leading NBA and G League teams. Musselman joined the show from his home near the beach to talk about the program he’s building at USC, the lessons he carried over from the NBA, his relentless approach to roster construction in the transfer portal era, and how he navigates LA commutes.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Mussel Beach Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Ben McIowa, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Ben McCollum, 44 is the head men's basketball coach at the University of Iowa, which hired him this past offseason after a wildly succession debut season as a D1 level coach at Drake. A native of Storm Lake, Iowa, McCollum put together one of the most impressive stretches in recent coaching history during 15 remarkably successful seasons at Northwest Missouri State. Under his leadership, the Bearcats captured four national championships, went to six Elite Eights, and posted five 30‑win seasons, earning McCollum a reputation as one of the game’s premier program builders and the ignominious honor of being the original #SearchSZN darling. A former Northwest Missouri State guard himself, McCollum transitioned into coaching shortly after graduation, first as a GA at his alma mater, then as an assistant at Emporia State and finally back to his alma mater bas head coach beginning in 2009. McCollum joined the show from Des Moines to talk about how he builds programs, why his success at lower levels will translate to the Big Ten, and whether he was familiar with the Curry Hicks Sage’s impassioned internet bullying campaign aimed at convincing the UMass Athletic Director to hire him in 2022.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Ben McIowa Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 5 minutes of FRIAR, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Kim English, 36, is the head men's basketball coach at Providence College. A Baltimore native and former Mizzou Tiger, English arrived in the Renaissance City after two seasons as the head coach at George Mason. English began his coaching career after a stint playing for the Pistons and a number of top tier clubs overseas. He has also served as an assistant coach at Tulsa, Colorado, and Tennessee., respectively. English joined the show from Boston where he discussed the meaning of his trademark phrase “Mindset,” his coaching influences, his favorite Providence restaurants, and how he went about constructing the roster for this coming season after a challenging second year at the helm.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: FRIAR Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of The Big Schert(z) full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Josh Schertz, 50, is the head men's basketball coach at Saint Louis University. After dominating the D2 ranks for a dozen or so years at Lincoln Memorial, the Brooklyn native and FAU alum turned around Indiana State during a three year stint in Terre Haute before winning the SLU job during the 2024 #SearchSZN cycle. He's held assistant roles at a range of D2 spots as well. Schertz discussed his highly unusual path to becoming a head basketball coach, what he learned from being a youth tennis star, how he implements his complex offensive system, and why Nick Saban--respectfully--might be wrong when he says "how you do anything is how you do everything."You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: The Big Schert(z) Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com

***This is the first 10 minutes of Skinn It To Win It, full episode available in link at the bottom of this description***Tony Skinn, 42, is the head men's basketball coach at George Mason. A decorated Mason alum who helped lead the program on its miraculous Final Four run in 2006, Skinn returned to his alma mater prior to the 2023-2024 season. In his second year at the helm, he led the team to within a possession of an A10 title and 27 wins. His name emerged in a number of high profile coaching searches, but he'll be back in Fairfax this season. Before taking the Mason job, Skinn had stints as an assistant at Maryland, Ohio State, Seton Hall, and Louisiana Tech. The D.C native joined the show from Virginia where he discussed his basketball upbringing in the DMV, how he gets guys to buy into his trademark defensive intensity, the backstory of Mason's 2006 run and the difficulty of coaching in the A10 during the portal era.You can purchase the full episode with no recurring charges for $3 by following this link: Skinn It To Win It Single Episode LinkSubscribe to CurryHicksSage.com for access to all Burning Sage episodes as well as breaking news e-mail alerts, blog posts, and other paywalled content. Follow this link for subscription options: Subscribe to CurryHicksSage.com