Marching to Madness

Pittsburgh head coach Jeff Capel returns to MTM as he starts his seventh season with the Panthers and brought Pitt back into the NCAA Tournament in 2023 for the first appearance since 2017. The Panthers were 22-11 last year and were erroneously left out of the NCAAT despite winning 11 of their last 14 ACC games. Pittsburgh returns a solid group of contributors from a year as Ish Leggett could be the catalyst as he is the leading returning scorer and led Pitt in rebounds. Topics of Discussion include: The abilities of Jaland Lowe with his ballhandling and playmaking skills How Ish Leggett could get even more shots this upcoming season Stylizing the Panthers’ three-point attack The solidity of assistants Jason Capel, Tim O’Toole and Milan Brown

Coach Kyle Smith comes back onto “Marching to Madness” as the new head coach of the Stanford Cardinal. He built Washington State back into an NCAA Tournament contender as the Cougars were a 7-seed last season and defeated Drake to get into the Round of 32. Stanford hasn’t been in the NCAAT since 2014, but the Cardinal had a run of 13 tournaments in 14 seasons under legendary Mike Montgomery. Coach Smith and the Cardinal open their first season in the ACC after the Cardinal was a long-standing Pac-12 member. Topics of Discussion include: The return of Maxim Reynaud and how his many basketball talents will drive Stanford Developing his stellar defensive philosophy with use of the game’s metrics Eight quality new players who will fit with Reynaud, Ryan Agrawal, and Jaylen Thompson Changing from the PAc-12 to ACC play

Coach Pitino is bringing back the tradition of New Mexico in The Pit in Albuquerque as he has a 61-41 record after three seasons. Last year, UNM won 26 games and went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014. The Lobos won the Mountain West Tournament with four wins and four days as they took a 68-61 decision over San Diego State in the MWC Finals in Las Vegas. Topics of Discussion include: How last season’s championship experience and NCAA Tournament berth can play a key role in this upcoming season The abilities of returnees Donovan Dent and Nelly Junior-Joseph How Nelly and last season’s co-MWC Freshman of the year Mustapha Amzil can maintain the paint The depth and challenge of the Mountain West after six teams were selected to the NCAAT last season Much more!

Louisiana head coach Bob Marlin joins us on “Marching to Madness” as he begins his 15th season as the head coach of the Ragin’ Cajuns. He has recorded 260 wins at Louisiana in a 32-year career that has seen him at Pensacola JC and Sam Houston State. Coach Marlin is currently the Sun Belt Conference leader in wins with 150. Topics of Discussion Include: The injury to star Hosana Kitenge A backcourt with Kentrell Garnett and Oregon State transfer Michael Wright Coach Marlin’s philosophy on time management in practice Newcomers in Jeremiah Evans and Koron Davis Much more!

Coach Dru Joyce debuted on MTM as he was the associate head coach to Coach Keith Dambrot who retired after the 23-24 campaign and after a 40-year career. Joyce’s ability was a key concept in last season’s 25-12 record, A-10 Tournament championship, and the Dukes’ 71-67 win over BYU in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. He is a lifelong friend of NBA superstar Lebron James as LBJ broke the news on social media of Coach Joyce’s move to the head coaching position. Topics of Discussion Include: Transition from associate head coach to becoming Duquesne’s head coach David Dixon and Jake DiMichele as key returnees and starters from a year ago 5-9 point guard Kareem Rozier with his skills as a playmaker who made 38.1 percent of his triples last season Eight transfers who can provide depth which will highlight the Dukes’ successful opportunities Much more!

Auburn Tigers head coach Bruce Pearl returns to the layup line on “Marching to Madness” as he brings back numerous talent, leadership, and a bevy of players that can make another run towards the top of the SEC. Pearl has led these Tigers to a pair of SEC Tournament titles in 2019 and 2024 while finishing on top of the league in the 2018 and 2022 regular seasons. His 676 lifetime wins give him a 72 percent winning percentage for his career. Topics Include: Auburn Basketball’s accountability with the sustained success over these 10 years Johni Broome’s toughness and leadership on the hardwood The Tigers’ defensive endeavors Players’ abilities and how this team can fit into one of the country’s top programs in 2024-25 Much more!

Coach Johnson has gotten the Golden Gophers on firmer ground as Minnesota won 19 games a year ago and made it to the second round of the NIT. The Golden Gophers welcome back Big Ten Player of the Year candidate Dawson Garcia, who can match up and be a factor on both end of the floor. Quality transfers entering the program include Mike Mitchell, Jr., (Canisius), Lu’Cyr Patterson (Charlotte), and Tyler Cochran (Toledo). Discussions Include: The impact of Dawson Garcia How to prepare posts/bigs to be effective inside the Minnesota program Transfers who will help the Gophers move forward The growth of the Big Ten

Coach Justin Gray makes the move from Western Carolina to Coastal Carolina after he led the Catamounts to 22 wins last season, their highest win total since 2010. He now takes the position as legendary Hall of Famer Cliff Ellis retired early last season. Justin played for the late, great Skip Prosser in the 2Ks at Wake Forest where he averaged 37.1 percent from the three and was a key component in the Demon Deacons’ playmaking abilities. Topics of Discussion Include: Effects of transfer portal and NIL as Coach Gray moves into Coastal Carolina The rebuild of the roster Diversification of the three-point game from a year ago How the immediacy of accepting the position helped his transition … And Much More!

Coach Hodgson led his red Wolves to an upset of Appalachian State in the Sun Belt semifinals as they won 10 of their last 13 games, placing them in the title game of the CBI. They lost to High Point, 81-80, but the prevalence of the end of last season has built confidence going into the 2024-25 season. Leading scorer Taryn Todd returns as a threat from the three as well as a solid scorer at getting the ball to the basket. Topics of Discussion include: The influence of Alabama head coach Nate Oates on his basketball persona Key points of the Red Wolves’ philosophy of building strong character for player Ways to use spring and summer practices to upgrade the team to make it stronger Getting into the finals of the CBI … And Much More!

Coach Prosser enters his fourth season at Winthrop where his Eagles are a huge challenger inside the Big South Conference. Coach Prosser talks about returnee Kelton Talford, who could be a front-runner for Big South Player of the Year. Coach Prosser and I discuss some philosophies and his basketball knowledge in a prime conversation. Topics of Discussion Include: Key ways of potentially challenging for a Big South title Kelton Talford and his abilities for the Eagles Thoughts and ideas on college basketball and where we are at this point Mark shares a couple of Skip-isms that were classic comments from his late father, Skip, who coached at both Xavier and Wake Forest …And Much More!

Coach Spradlin comes over to the Dukes after building Morehead State into a winning program as he finished 94-40 in his last four seasons with the Eagles. As of now, a group of 11 players has planted themselves into the JMU program. Eddie Ricks and Mark Freeman come over to the Dukes with Coach Spradlin while Syracuse transfer Justin Taylor comes back into Virginia after starting 34 of 61 games for the Orange in his two years. Topics of Discussion Include: Biggest keys in transferring from his winning Morehead State program to JMU, who had a 54-15 record the last two seasons Developing a quality roster as he came into Harrisonburg How Justin Taylor, Mark Freeman, and Eddie Ricks can help to create the JMU program under Spradlin How to develop positivity in players about their personal games …And much more!

Coach Smith took his Utes to the NIT Championship game where they lost to Indiana State, but the plethora of positivity in being one of eight teams still playing in August could have major impact this season. Coach Smith discusses bringing 11 new players into the program and how you start from the beginning in putting together a new team. Coach also discusses the Utes’ move to the Big 12. Topics of Discussion include: Return of Gabe Madsen, who made 105 triples last season Philosophies on moving a program forward Ezra Ausar from East Carolina and Miro Little as two key incoming transfers Situational philosophies inside the game … And Much More!

Coach Golden checks in after leading the Florida Gators to 24 wins and a berth in the SEC Tournament championship. Florida had one of the most potent offensive systems in the nation as the Gators averaged 85.6 points, 6th in the nation and they found 65.3 field goal attempts per contest. Returning Walton Clayton, Jr. and Will Richard to the backcourt gives the Gators a solid offensive advantage going into the 2024-25 season. Topics of Discussion Include: Florida’s exciting offensive attack through its running game Coach Golden’s college career at Saint Mary’s under coach Randy Bennett The versatility of returnees Walter Clayton, Jr., and Will Richard New transfers in FAU’s Alijah Martin, UT Chattanooga big man Sam Alexis, and Rueben Chinelyu of Washington State Much more!

Coach Ryan Odom returns to “Marching to Madness” with his VCU Rams, who won 24 games last season and made it to the NIT’s Elite Eight. Returning three key scorers in Max Shula, Zeb Jackson, and Joe Bamisile return as three prolific shooters and scorers who will help VCU focus on an Atlantic 10 title. Coach Odom also discusses some philosophical and analytical details as well. Topics of Discussion Include: Max Shulga’s return to the program Ideas on break players out of slumps Putting uncertainty or doubt in an opposing ballhandler’s mind The basketball relationship with his father, legendary head coach Dave Odom Much more!

Coach Dustin Kerns looks forward to another season of Mountaineers basketball as he led ASU to its most wins in a season at 27 and the 16-2 record to win the Sun Belt regular season was Appalchian’s best league record in school history. Coach Kerns had eight losses in the transfer portal, but he has a recruiting class of strong players who can make the transition into the new season and the upper echelon of Sun Belt Conference play. Coach and I discuss his ideas and philosophies on several college basketball/sports topics. Topics of Discussion Include: The transition involved with losing eight but bringing in six players Leadership in the return of CJ Huntley and Miles Tate Physical and emotional energy among players Allowing players to break slumps and bring positivety back into their games

Coach Justin Gainey checks into “Marching to Madness” as he is in his 19th season in college coaching which has featured a position in each of the Power 6 conferences. Coach Gainey discusses his role as the Volunteers’ defensive coordinator and brings in philosophical ideas and the approach to basketball under Coach Rick Barnes at Tennessee. Coach Gainey played on the point at NC State for Coach Herb Sendek from 1996-2000. He started in the Wolfpacks’ 67 games in his last two seasons where his defense and playmaking were essential means for NC State. Topics of Discussion Include: Coach Gainey’s approach in all phases of the Tennessee program How the staff moves from game to game in SEC play Point guard Zakai Ziegler’s growth inside of the program Scorer Chaz Lanier’s transfer into Vols’ basketball

Coach Chris Mooney, who missed the end of the 2022-23 season with heart surgery, led the Richmond Spiders to a 15-3 record last season in the Atlantic 10 as UR shared the regular season title with Loyola Chicago. Coach Mooney has 366 wins in 20 seasons as he led Richmond to four NCAA Tournaments and had tournament wins in 2010 and 2022. He was the A-10 Coach of the Year this past season. Topics of Discussion Include: The work of tying with Loyola Chicago for the A-10 regular season crown How the Spiders’ defense played a major role in last season’s success The sustainability of team culture with losing five senior starters The basis of his three-point attack from season to season

Houston head coach Kelvin Sampson checks into “Marching to Madness” as his Cougars won the Big 12 regular season title in their first season in the conference. His roster and rotation generally remain intact as Jamal Shead moved onto the Toronto Raptors, but he returns a quality backcourt with Lj Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp on the perimeter and J’Wan Roberts and Ja’Vier Francis inside. Watch role players in Terrence Arceneaux, Mylik Wilson, and JoJo Tugler, who were injured throughout last season. The Cougs returned with a 125-19 record over the last four seasons, including two Sweet 16s, an Elite Eight, and a Final Four. Topics of Discussion Include: The mentality that allows Houston to be able to keep players in his program in the era of the transfer portal The dynamics of guards LJ Cryer and Emmanuel Sharp on both ends of the floor The length of learning the Cougars’ culture Building consisttency on the defensiv end of the floor as they led the nation in allowing only 57.6 ppg last season and opponents only shot 37.9 percent from the floor. Both of those stats placed Houston as the nation’s leader in both categories

Coach Dan Monson moves to Eastern Washington as the Eagles head coach after he took Long Beach State to a Big West Tournament title and an NCAA berth last season. The Eagles have a staunch program in Cheney, Washington as they are a tough Big Sky Conference basketball challenger. Topics of Discussion Include: Team building with the Eagles Bringing Maddox Monson and Shaumba Ngoyi Breaking down a practice that just ended and evaluating how you use that information Bringing over Elijah Thomas from Des Moines Area Community College Much more!

Coach Ed Schilling begins his first season at Pepperdine as he will work to piece together the program and make it competitive in the tough WCC. Coach Schilling has assisted Coach John Calipari at UMass, Memphis, and with the New Jersey Nets. He was an assistant at Indiana and UCLA before checking in with Bryce Drew at Grand Canyon where they led the Antelopes to their first NCAA Tournament win in March. Coach Schilling was the head coach at Wright State from 1998-2003. Ed will look to build the Waves from the ground up as he brings point guard Moe Odum over from Pacific. Topics of Discussion Include: Ways to build the Waves into a WCC challenger Instilling needs from Day 1 of his tenure Philosophy on practice evaluations Bringing versatility into the program at Pepperdine Much more!