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Slappin' Glass Podcast

Slappin' Glass

Exploring basketball's best ideas, strategies, and coaches from around the world.

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S1 · E289
Friday · 1 hr 4 min
Joe Crispin on Playing with Soul, Creating Unkind Defenses, and the Coach’s Role | Air Force
Air Force Head Coach Joe Crispin joins Slappin’ Glass to explore teaching soul and spontaneity, building confidence through practice constraints, and making fast play a daily habit. The trio discusses how to balance player freedom with shot selection, use offensive advantages and shorter shot clocks to change behavior, and let players help reveal the concepts that fit their team. During Start, Sub, or Sit?!, the conversation turns to creating an unkind environment for opposing offenses through run and jumps, zones, and fake traps, followed by the relationship between self awareness, confidence, and skepticism in coaching. Crispin also shares his approach to scouting, managing the flow of a game, and helping players and staff do their best work. Timestamps: 02:21 Teaching soul and spontaneity 06:15 Player identity, trust, and freedom 10:12 Can you, should you, and did you mean it? 13:10 Sponsor messages 14:16 Constraints that change offensive habits 16:56 Analytics, scoring rewards, and player exceptions 19:18 Embracing messy learning 22:33 Making fast normal and listening to players 25:08 Nudging the offense toward useful concepts 28:26 Start, Sub, or Sit?! Disruptive defensive environments 31:50 Personnel and defensive pressure 33:34 Conceptual defense and recovering to neutral 36:30 Making fake traps credible 38:22 Start, Sub, or Sit?! Coaching characteristics 42:42 Challenging your philosophy 44:19 The head coach’s role 46:12 Managing the flow of a game 47:59 Scouting to disrupt the opponent’s core 50:45 Best investment: faith and perspective 52:24 Dan and Pat’s takeaways 61:21 What the trio could explore next 63:26 Closing To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E288
October 30 · 44 min
Tagging Up vs. Crashing Five | Offensive Rebounding Deep Dive
Dan Krikorian, Patrick Carney and Eric Fawcett discuss the next stage of the offensive rebounding conversation: strict tagging up, crashing five, and the space between them. Pat shares his early experience with a staff sending five to the glass, while Dan breaks down the details that keep aggressive rebounding connected to transition defense: approaching on the high side, staying with the tag long enough, and making the rebounder’s first dribble go east-west. The group explores freeing a strong offensive rebounder, adjusting to mismatches and scrambled defenses, and why the third player reaching the glass may matter more than adding a fourth or fifth. Eric shares observations from Division I tracking data, and Dan explains why transition numbers need to be checked against the film. The episode closes with a look at European teams and styles on the hosts’ watch lists. What you will learn How crashing five changes the message players receive about offensive rebounding. Why low-side approaches, soft tags and early re-switches expose transition defense. How a one second press can buy time for teammates to recover. Where floor position and shot quality may justify more rebounding freedom. Why actual participation matters more than the number of players assigned to crash. How to separate transition possessions after turnovers from those after missed shots. What to watch when opponents use early screens to disrupt tags after made baskets. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E287
October 23 · 1 hr 10 min
Ross Hodge on Defensive Adaptability, Solving Offensive Problems, and Attacking Zones | West Virginia
Ross Hodge joins Slappin’ Glass to discuss defensive adaptability, teaching defensive decision making, and adjusting a no middle defense against modern basketball offenses. The trio explores how to prepare players for scramble situations, develop defensive feel, and defend the flat ball screens that challenge paint protection. During Start, Sub, or Sit?!, the trio dives into offensive player development, including rim finishing, shot selection, passing, and drawing fouls. Hodge explains how better decisions create better finishes, why footwork and spacing matter for bigs, and how to help secondary playmakers avoid situations that demand difficult passes. The trio also discusses zone offense, using step up ball screens and weak side screening to create advantages, and building practice plans that expose your offense to different defensive coverages. Hodge closes with his thoughts on investing in players, staff, and the people around your program. Time Topic |02:28 | Ross Hodge joins the conversation | 02:49 | Defensive adaptability and playing in the gray | 05:49 | Teaching through scrambles and disadvantaged situations | 08:25 | Personnel, peel switching, and defensive feel | 12:57 | Building habits before adding freedom | 17:38 | How North Texas protected the paint and limited threes | 20:19 | Adapting no middle against middle third attacks | 23:37 | Defending flat screens and adjusting the pickup point | 26:45 | Start, Sub, or Sit?! | 27:11 | Offensive puzzles: passing, finishing, and drawing fouls | 30:12 | Guard finishing and shot selection | 33:37 | Developing a big’s base, balance, and spacing | 36:56 | Helping secondary players become better passers | 39:24 | What defensive coaches learn from watching offense | 41:22 | Ranking screening actions against zones | 44:35 | Adjusting the offense to different zones | 46:38 | Practicing against other defenses | 49:38 | Using “punch” segments early in practice | 51:24 | Foul line playmakers and driving against zones | 53:49 | Best career investment: investing in people | 55:57 | Dan and Pat’s takeaways To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E286
October 16 · 58 min
Brooks Savage on Offensive Evolution, From Tagging to Crashing, and Late-Game Comebacks | East Tennessee State
Brooks Savage has changed his offense several times since becoming a head coach. In this episode, the East Tennessee State coach explains how personnel, team strengths, and defensive identity shaped those decisions—and why he became more effective once he stopped trying to be different for its own sake. Savage also shares how he builds a clear team identity through standards, recruiting, and consistent language; why he prefers short, repetitive practices built around a few priorities; and how his approach to offensive rebounding has shifted from tagging up to more selective crashing. He discusses the decision to play without a traditional center, how he attacks a late-game deficit, and why coaches should use timeouts when the game calls for it instead of saving them for an imagined final moment. What You’ll Learn How personnel and team strengths should shape an offense Why a program’s identity starts with standards and informs recruiting How to build culture through repeated language and daily expectations Why Savage favors short, focused practices with consistent priorities What his team learned by shifting from tagging up to crashing Why ETSU chose to play without a traditional center How he approaches pressing, lineups, and timeouts when trailing late Timestamps 02:42 The evolution of Savage’s offense 07:54 Finding an edge through fundamentals 09:59 Choosing sets and preparing for opponents 12:03 How a set-heavy offense changes practice 15:02 Building practice around a team’s capacity 20:37 Moving from tagging up to crashing 24:29 Start, Sub, or Sit: identity and standards 28:58 Making culture real through language and behavior 32:00 Matching team identity to the university and community 33:52 Coaching players who fall below the standard 36:31 Creating a comeback by changing the game 40:02 Why ETSU plays without a traditional center 42:49 When to use timeouts 44:38 The best investment of Savage’s coaching career To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E285
October 9 · 53 min
Kim Caldwell on Building a Connected System, Burning the Boats, and Practice Tipping Points | Tennessee
Tennessee Women’s Basketball Head Coach Kim Caldwell joins the podcast to detail the connected system behind her high-possession style of play. Caldwell explains how her teams pursue a 20-shot advantage through forced turnovers, offensive rebounding, limiting their own turnovers, and getting to the foul line. She breaks down the habits that must be unlearned to play fast, how shot selection connects to floor balance, and why crashing four naturally establishes matchups for the press. She also discusses subbing for fatigue rather than mistakes, giving defenders freedom within the run-and-jump, and the danger of introducing a Plan B that contradicts the team’s identity. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Caldwell ranks communication, decision-making, and execution when players reach their physical limit. The conversation closes with her approach to full-court practices, eight-minute drills, conditioning, and choosing coaching jobs where winning is possible. Timestamps 2:20 – Kim Caldwell joins the show 2:34 – The goal of creating 20 more shots 4:29 – Adjusting the shot-margin target by competition level 5:13 – Unteaching habits and training with a 12-second clock 6:33 – Defining a good shot within the system 7:41 – Preferred opponent shot profile 9:12 – Using defense to regain pace and momentum 10:47 – Substitution patterns and playing in short bursts 12:55 – Attacking teams that try to slow the game 14:36 – What Caldwell tracks during timeouts 16:49 – Crashing four and “building a house” 18:37 – Matching up and flowing into the run-and-jump 19:45 – Giving defenders freedom to err toward aggression 20:26 – Conviction, adaptation, and the danger of Plan B 23:04 – Protecting leads without abandoning pace 25:14 – Late-game shot selection and pressure adjustments 26:12 – Caldwell’s philosophy on calling timeouts 28:02 – Start, Sub, or Sit: Practice tipping points 30:12 – Player-to-player communication under fatigue 31:51 – Keeping chaos within the right boundaries 33:14 – Full-court practice and conditioning 35:03 – The eight-minute drill limit 36:46 – Finishing the final conversion of a drill 38:19 – Building practice plans with the staff 40:04 – Caldwell’s best career investment 41:39 – Slappin’ Glass takeaways To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E284
October 2 · 1 hr 1 min
Jim Les on Building Urgency, Princeton Reads, and Multiple Offensive Modes | UC Davis
UC Davis Head Coach Jim Les joins the Slappin’ Glass Podcast to discuss the daily habits behind elite performance, building trust before asking for hard truth, and creating a team environment where productive conflict can be handled quickly. Coach Les explains why urgency starts with what a staff is willing to tolerate, how written player goals can sharpen accountability, and why “the game knows” has become a central teaching idea in his program. On the tactical side, he breaks down UC Davis’s use of Princeton and chin action, the value of a dynamic catch before the pick and roll, teaching split cuts through clear order of operations, and using multiple offensive modes during a game. The conversation closes with ball-screen coverage complexity, deciding whether to fix or cover a team weakness, and the coaching investment that has kept him learning for more than two decades. Episodes Chapters 02:51 The traits of elite players and teams 03:22 Urgency habits and editing your life 08:40 How Coach Les changed as a communicator 11:17 Protecting the head coach’s voice 13:40 The game knows 15:47 Building a pre-practice habit system 18:17 Teaching passing off the dribble 19:36 Productive conflict inside a team 22:27 Staff communication and alignment 25:06 Investing in relationships with players 28:51 "Start Sub or Sit" Princeton into pick and roll 30:15 Dynamic catches and sprinting into the screen 32:03 Why Princeton punishes good defensive principles 34:55 Teaching split cuts and the feeder is the leader 36:36 Attacking the closeout before the ball screen 38:12 Using multiple offensive modes 40:02 "Start Sub or Sit" changes in coaching philosophy 41:41 Scaling ball-screen coverage complexity 45:19 Fixing a weakness or covering it 47:05 Coach Les’s best career investment 49:07 Slappin’ Glass recap To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E283
September 25 · 1 hr 3 min
Nevada Smith on "25" Speed, Confusion Zones, and Crashing Five | Siena
Siena University head coach Nevada Smith joins the Slappin’ Glass Podcast to discuss the difference between speed and pace, the details behind “25 Speed,” and how his teams work to create advantages within the first five seconds of a possession. Smith breaks down one-handed passing, finishing development, empty-side pick-and-rolls, high-slot spacing, attacking defensive absolutes, and creating “confusion zones” through guard-to-guard actions. During “Start, Sub, or Sit,” he shares his approach to offensive rebounding, reading ball flight, crashing five, training disadvantaged transition situations, and developing point guards who can commit a second defender. What You’ll Learn Why Smith separates speed from pace—and how he defines “25 Speed.” How finishing work and one-handed passing support a faster offense. Why high-slot spacing and empty-side pick-and-rolls create downhill attacks. How Siena identifies and attacks defensive absolutes. Why guard-to-guard actions create “confusion zones” against switching defenses. How shot selection and ball-flight recognition shape offensive rebounding. Why committing a second defender is Smith’s top point-guard skill. How the first 36 minutes inform Siena’s offense during the final four. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E282
September 18 · 1 hr 13 min
Justin Downer on Offensive Decision Trees, The Power of Three, and Creating Productive Adversity | Point Loma
Point Loma Head Coach Justin Downer joins the Slappin’ Glass Podcast to discuss building offensive decision trees around advantage creation, organizing offense into four connected phases, and using the “power of three” to simplify reads. Downer explains how Point Loma identifies its three best offensive leverage points, recruits primary ball handlers rather than traditional point guards, and teaches ball-screen decisions through three levels: the primary defender, the coverage, and the help behind it. In Start, Sub, or Sit, the conversation shifts to creating productive adversity, building clear feedback loops, highlighting roles, tagging up, and switching with physicality. What You’ll Learn How Point Loma organizes offense into four phases without making the players feel restricted by the structure. Why every offensive decision begins with identifying the advantage it is meant to create. How the “power of three” shapes decision trees, offensive actions, and player reads. Why Point Loma evaluates primary ball handlers through processing and decision-making rather than traditional point-guard traits. How to teach ball-screen reads through the primary defender, the coverage, and the help behind it. Why Downer corrects aggressively during teaching segments but avoids providing answers during competition. How role highlighting allows bench players to retain their strengths when their minutes change. Why tagging up, forcing left, and physical switching help Point Loma dictate the possession before the offense can create an advantage. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
September 11 · 1 hr 14 min
Jeff Van Gundy On Defending Great Players, Scoring Via Cutting, and Giving Impactful Feedback | SG Classics
In this high-level, candid, and engaging return to the show, Los Angeles Clippers assistant coach Jeff Van Gundy joins Slappin' Glass for his third appearance. Van Gundy dives deep into what it takes to defend the NBA's best players—emphasizing the fundamentals of transition defense, rebounding, and avoiding reckless fouling. The conversation explores stunt vs. full help principles, creating physical defenses through communication, and the challenge of preparing against high-powered offenses. A special edition of “Start, Sub, or Sit” covers skill development, offensive rebounding priorities, and what Van Gundy learned moving from broadcasting back to the NBA bench. Authentic, honest, and packed with coaching wisdom, this episode is a must-listen for coaches at all levels looking to sharpen their defensive philosophies and leadership approach. Topics Include: Defending elite players with discipline and fundamentals Communication as a driver of physicality The evolving role of offensive rebounding in the NBA and other levels How to give appropriate and impactful feedback to players Van Gundy’s “sniper rule” for transition defense 😂 “Start, Sub, or Sit” on skill development and late-game coaching lessons To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E281
September 4 · 1 hr 8 min
Matt Fletcher on Guard-to-Guard Screening, Developing a Staff, and Personnel-Based Cutting | Concordia St. Paul
Concordia St. Paul head coach Matt Fletcher joins Slappin’ Glass to detail the guard-to-guard screening system his staff built around a roster of multiple point guards and an undersized five. Fletcher explains how “bump, tap, hit” gives screeners three answers—screen-and-roll, ghost, or hit-and-pop—while creating an empty side and forcing the defense into switch-or-stay decisions. The conversation moves into the teaching behind the system: charting each player’s screening mix, entering the first action within three seconds, and adjusting traditional deep-corner running to improve timing. Fletcher also separates playing fast from shooting fast through zero-second decisions and green, yellow, and red shots. He lays out their cutting progression from memorized responsibilities to personnel-based reads, including why two feet trigger the cut, how the helper’s chest cues movement around Barkley actions, and why late cuts are usually safer than early ones. The discussion also covers second drives, skip passes, and using the dunker spot to organize relocation. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Fletcher weighs transition defense, defensive rebounding, and defensive aggression when playing with pace, then explains why Concordia St. Paul crashes four or five and adapts pressure and ball-screen coverage to its personnel. He closes with staff alignment, developing young assistants like players, rebuilding a program around local recruiting and continuity, and the investment outside basketball that keeps coaching in perspective. What You’ll Learn How “bump, tap, hit” gives guard-to-guard screeners three different answers from the same entry. Why Fletcher charts each player’s screening mix instead of allowing a shooter to ghost every time. How Concordia St. Paul adjusted its corner-running rules to enter the first action within three seconds. Where zero-second decisions fit within a green, yellow, and red shot-selection system. Why cutting responsibilities are memorized before players begin making more personnel-based reads. How the driver reaching two feet and the helper showing their chest trigger movement off the ball. Why the ballhandler’s scoring tendencies change cutting timing around Barkley actions. How a defense sitting on the cut can expose the skip pass and second drive. Why crashing four or five can create extra possessions while limiting an opponent’s transition opportunities. How Fletcher progressively expands the responsibilities of young assistants as their comfort and experience grow. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E280
August 28 · 1 hr 5 min
Vitor Galvani on Hedge & Plug Protection Plans, Guard-to-Guard Separation & Letting Shot Selection Set the Pace | Mexico City Capitanes
The 2026 G-League Coach of the Year, Vitor Galvani, joins us to detail how he built and adjusted Hedge & Plug in Brazil and the G League. He explains why the coverage made sense in what he calls a “scoring guards league,” how the pickup point changes the plug technique, the triggers for releasing the hedge, and why re-screens and late flips can put the coverage under real stress. The conversation moves behind the ball to Galvani’s “Protection Plan”: the MIG and Fence, jumping pickups to discourage direct corner skips, choosing when not to X-out, “See Numbers Go,” peel switching, and building Black, White, and Gray changeups around the same defensive identity. On offense, Galvani gets into KYP on guard-to-guard screens, creating separation before the action, Hot Stove versus Cold Stove screens, and using second-side pass-and-chase actions to attack switching. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Galvani challenges the usual pace conversation by starting shot selection, connecting offensive involvement to defensive effort, and explaining why his team moved the ball side to side with purpose. He closes with the relationship between shot quality, Tagging Up, and offensive rebounding, along with the daily investment that shaped his coaching education. What You'll Learn How the ballhandler’s pickup point changes the on-ball defender’s responsibilities within Hedge & Plug. The two triggers Galvani used to release the big from the hedge. Why re-screens and late flips are difficult Hedge & Plug counters, and when switching becomes the emergency solution. How the MIG and Fence form the “Protection Plan,” including having the Fence jump the pickup rather than automatically X-out. How “See Numbers Go” and peel switching turn aggressive gap positioning into opportunities for steals. Why Galvani trained some peel switches as reads rather than relying on a defensive call. How Black, White, and Gray allowed his team to change the ball-screen picture without abandoning its defensive base. Why KYP comes before pace and technique when teaching guard-to-guard screening. How separation, randomness, and “action on top of action” keep guard-to-guard screens from being steered or jammed. How shot selection can influence offensive pace, defensive effort, Tagging Up, and offensive rebounding. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E279
August 21 · 57 min
Chad Dickman on Unorthodox Spacing, Randomizing Blind Flares, & Forcing Defenses to Solve the Unfamiliar | Hood College
Hood College Head Coach Chad Dickman joins us to discuss how his offense uses spacing, pace, and unorthodox ball-screen actions to force defenses into decisions they rarely get to rehearse. Dickman explains the thinking behind Hood’s early empty-side flat ball screens, the intentionally “jumbled” three-man side, and why he wants the ballhandler making decisions before the defense can settle into its preferred coverage. We get into how Hood teaches players to flow from one action to the next without stopping to reorganize, including ghost flares, blind flares, slips, re-screens, and the occasional quadruple ball screen. Dickman details the practice work underneath that freedom: screening angles, speed, distance, live 2-on-2 and 3-on-3 breakdowns, positionless reps, and teaching players to keep attacking even when the spacing gets messy. He also explains the difference between attacking in two-man actions and stringing out three-man actions to what Hood calls the “lookout point.” In Start, Sub or Sit, Dickman ranks playing off two feet, deceleration, and quick finishes at the rim. The conversation moves into jump stops, reverse pivots, shooting on the move, and why high-pace offense still requires players who can stop under control. He closes with the value of years spent watching film, testing ideas, and adapting them to personnel. What You'll Learn Why Hood will intentionally load three shooters onto one side to create more room for an empty-side two-man game. How “going early” forces the screener to react to the ballhandler instead of allowing the defense to organize its coverage. Why the first action does not have to produce the shot if it can compromise the defense for the next action. How Hood flows into ghost flares, blind flares, slips, re-screens, and other re-triggers without prescribing a fixed sequence. Why screening angles, speed, distance, and ballhandler paths are taught before worrying about stacking three or four actions together. How Hood prepares for two or three players arriving at the ball instead of stopping the possession to correct the spacing. Why two-man actions are played more aggressively toward the rim while three-man actions often look to reach the “lookout point.” How jump stops and reverse pivots turn paint touches into passing opportunities rather than forced finishes. Why every player gets reps handling, screening, and playing from every spot in a positionless offense. How the quadruple ball screen grew from experimenting with actions that opponents were unlikely to have practiced against. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E278
August 14 · 1 hr 9 min
Charles Klask on Building Structure Into Flow Offense, Evaluating Rich Possessions, and Disruptive Switching | University of Washington
University of Washington assistant coach and longtime NBA coach Charles Klask joins Slappin’ Glass for a detailed conversation on building structure underneath a free-flowing offense, defining offensive priorities, using analytics to shape behavior, and teaching switching defense. Klask breaks down how to identify your best decision-makers, build an offensive hierarchy around player strengths, and create what he calls “rich possessions” by involving your “rulers” while attacking the opponent’s “rusty defenders.” He also discusses retriggering offense after the initial action, short-roll spacing and passing solutions, shot-selection priorities, offensive rebounding, tagging up, and balancing freedom with clearly defined rules. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Klask dives into coaching development and the importance of asking better questions, organizing and grading film, and taking effective notes. The conversation then shifts to switching defense, including physicality at the point of the screen, KYP decisions, defending slips, shrink responsibilities, and using switching as a disruptive weapon rather than simply an emergency solution. What You'll Learn How to build structure underneath a random, conceptual offense Identifying “rulers,” attacking “rusty defenders,” and creating rich possessions Using player strengths to determine offensive roles and decision-making freedom Offensive analytics, shot hierarchy, offensive rebounding, and tagging-up principles Why asking better questions can improve both player learning and coaching development Teaching switching defense through physicality, KYP, screen navigation, and disruption To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E277
August 7 · 1 hr 1 min
Pat Juckem on Designing Practices That Transfer, Scoring Winning Habits, and Taking Emotion Out of Shot Selection | WashU
WashU Head Coach Pat Juckem joins the Slappin’ Glass Podcast to discuss practice design, competitive scoring, team engagement, and transition defense. Juckem breaks down how WashU structures practice through teaching, learning, and competitive segments, why the opening minutes should reveal a team’s identity, and how productive practices often require mistakes, uncertainty, and player-led problem solving. He also explains how scoring systems can reinforce offensive rebounding, defensive activity, and other winning habits, along with how his staff divides responsibilities during live play to keep coaching focused. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Juckem reflects on the difficult season that reshaped his approach to recruiting and program building, how WashU keeps every player engaged, and why shot selection is the first layer of transition defense. The episode closes with WashU’s gold, silver, and bronze shot-quality system, role-based offensive rebounding assignments, and the value of adding experienced veteran coaches to a staff. What You’ll Learn How to structure practice through teaching, learning, and competitive segments. Why the first 10–15 minutes should reveal your team’s identity. How scoring systems can reinforce rebounding, defensive activity, and other winning habits. Why correcting every mistake can limit player ownership and problem-solving. How to give each assistant coach a clear responsibility during live play. How to connect focused film sessions directly to the next practice. Ways to keep players engaged beyond minutes, shots, and starting roles. Why shot selection and finishing decisions are the first layer of transition defense. How WashU uses role-based offensive rebounding and a gold, silver, and bronze shot-quality system. What a 4–21 season taught Juckem about character, recruiting, and program building. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E276
July 31 · 1 hr 4 min
T.J. Otzelberger on Defensive Trade-Offs, In-Game Information, and Competitive Endurance | Iowa State
Iowa State Head Coach TJ Otzelberger joins the Slappin’ Glass Podcast to discuss building one of college basketball’s most disruptive defensive identities. Coach Otzelberger explains why Iowa State prioritizes mentality over scheme, beginning with its commitment to creating a “collision” on the first dribble, pressuring the ball inside the scoring area, and forcing opponents to play under duress. He details the Cyclones’ “goalie” and “spy” responsibilities, early baseline rotations, and the habits required to sustain an aggressive defense. The conversation also explores the trade-offs Iowa State accepts—including additional three-point attempts, difficult rotation-rebounding situations, and increased physical demands—in exchange for generating turnovers and controlling the possession battle. Coach Otzelberger breaks down their approach to short-roll defense, why they often prefer the opposing five making decisions, and when a skilled big may require a coverage adjustment. He also discusses competitive endurance and designing practices without lulls, using on-the-fly coaching and continuous competition to reflect the program’s identity. In Start, Sub, or Sit, Coach Otzelberger shares the in-game information he values most, how he approaches substitutions and closing lineups, and why a head coach’s primary responsibility is refocusing the team on the next possession. The episode closes with offensive decision-making, how physical defense strengthens offensive habits, adapting identity to different programs, and why the greatest investment a coach can make is being fully present with their players. What You’ll Learn How Iowa State teaches a collision on the first dribble. The responsibilities of the “goalie” and “spy” within its rotations. Why the Cyclones prioritize effort and daily habits over constant adjustments. The defensive trade-offs they accept to create turnovers and win possessions. How they defend the short roll and force opposing bigs to make decisions. Why competitive endurance begins with the design and pace of practice. Which information Coach Otzelberger values most during games. How he approaches substitutions and chooses the five players who finish. Why decision-making is the offensive quality that travels best. How a physical defensive identity improves cutting, driving, and transition offense. Why a program’s identity must fit its players, league, and recruiting environment. Why investing time and presence in players remains the most important part of coaching. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E275
July 24 · 56 min
Baldur Ragnarsson on Finding Patterns That Decide Games, Applying Pressure After Free Throws, and In-Season Conditioning | Álftanes
Coach Baldur Ragnarsson joins Slappin’ Glass to discuss basketball scouting, opponent game planning, defensive strategy, and high-intensity practice design. Ragnarsson explains how he combines full-game film, tagged possessions, and statistical databases to identify player tendencies—particularly passing patterns—and turn a large amount of information into a clear game plan. He also breaks down how his teams practice multiple pick-and-roll coverages, develop basketball-specific conditioning and strength, disrupt dribble handoffs, and apply pressure after made free throws. What You’ll Learn How to combine full-game film, filtered clips, and statistics when preparing an opponent scout Why passing patterns can reveal more about a player than traditional scoring tendencies How to simplify a detailed scouting report into clear player archetypes and defensive priorities When to switch, blitz, hedge, ICE, or go under against different ballhandlers How to adjust the game plan without abandoning the team’s defensive identity How to introduce more scouting complexity as the season progresses Why Ragnarsson uses five-minute games to train coverages in a game-like environment How to divide high-intensity practice, tactical teaching, and recovery throughout the week Ways to develop basketball-specific strength through box-outs, top locks, and body contact How to aggressively disrupt dribble handoffs before the offense reaches its preferred action How to pressure after made free throws and keep the ball away from a primary ballhandler Episode Timestamps 2:16 – Building a detailed opponent scouting process 5:11 – Full-game film versus filtered clips 7:10 – Filtering information into a clear game plan 9:40 – Studying passing patterns and player habits 12:33 – Expanding scouting complexity throughout the season 14:52 – Balancing defensive identity with opponent-specific adjustments 16:41 – Practicing multiple pick-and-roll coverages 19:36 – Using self-scouting to address recurring weaknesses 25:42 – Start, Sub, or Sit: Conditioning, movement, and strength 29:42 – Structuring a high-intensity practice 33:06 – Basketball-specific body-contact training 34:57 – Start, Sub, or Sit: Opportunities for defensive aggression 35:50 – Aggressively defending dribble handoffs 38:02 – Applying pressure after made free throws 41:03 – The best investment Ragnarsson has made in his coaching career 43:00 – Dan and Pat’s key takeaways To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E274
July 17 · 34 min
Hedge & Plug Solutions, Learning Frameworks, and European Film | SG Deep Dive
In this SG Deep Dive, Dan Krikorian, Patrick Carney, and Eric Fawcett examine how offenses are attacking the hedge-and-plug pick-and-roll coverage that continues to spread throughout European and modern basketball. The conversation begins with why the coverage has become so effective. Hedge and plug allows the defense to pressure the ball without fully committing two defenders, protect the short roll, and remain compact behind the play. Because many offenses still rely on two quick passes to escape the hedge, defenses have also become increasingly prepared for the rotations that follow. From there, the group explores ways to create an advantage before the defense can settle. They break down rejecting the hedge, using Gortat screens against the recovering big, flipping or hooking the screening angle, “sticking” the plug defender, and flowing into boomerang rescreens that can turn the original hedge into a drop or switch. A central theme is the micro closeout faced by the on-ball defender after disengaging to plug the roll. The discussion covers how offenses can attack that vulnerable footwork, along with defensive teaching points involving stance, handwork, jump timing, and calculated risk. The episode also revisits Dave Collins’ idea of coaching as “informed art.” The group discusses blending cognitive science, ecological dynamics, the constraint-led approach, and predictive processing while still accounting for the players, context, and human feel of coaching. They close with the European teams and playoff series currently filling their film queues. What You’ll Learn Why hedge and plug can create ball pressure while keeping the rest of the defense compact. How advanced defenses are solving the pick-and-roll two-on-two and preparing for the offense’s second pass. Why rejecting the hedge can expose the on-ball defender’s moment of disengagement. How to use Gortat screens, flip screens, and boomerang rescreens against the recovering big. What the group means by a micro closeout, and why it gives the ball handler an immediate advantage. Teaching considerations for the plug defender’s footwork, hand positioning, and jump timing. Why offenses need to generate an advantage inside the initial ball-screen action instead of simply accepting the coverage. How coaches can blend cognitive science, ecological dynamics, and predictive processing without becoming tied to a single framework. Why good practices and wins deserve the same level of reflection as poor performances. Teams and playoff series worth studying across the Spanish ACB and European basketball. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E273
July 10 · 59 min
Matt Jones on Building Better Shooters, Coaching Voice, and Re-Triggers in Conceptual Offense {International Pro Coach}
This week on the Slappin’ Glass Podcast, Dan and Pat are joined by International Pro Head Coach and player development specialist Matt Jones for a deep dive into shooting development, coaching communication, and building conceptual offense. The conversation opens with Jones’ approach to evaluating shooters, beginning with one of his core beliefs: watch the player first. Before over-coaching or over-correcting, Jones discusses the value of being a “quiet eye,” identifying inefficiencies, and helping players simplify their shooting movement. From there, he gets into the details of clean catches, loaded wrists, open palms, shot preparation, and how small mechanical improvements can create real gains at higher levels. Jones also shares how he uses player feedback, feel-based cues, and individualized terminology to help shooters self-correct. Rather than flooding players with technical language, he explains how the best cues often come from what the player physically feels, giving coaches a more useful way to teach shooting under pressure. In the show’s Start, Sub, or Sit segment, the conversation shifts to finding your coaching voice as an introvert, where Jones breaks down the importance of preparation, listening, terminology, and getting enough coaching reps to build confidence. The episode closes with a thoughtful discussion on conceptual offense, including re-triggers, offensive talk, cutting rules, late-clock structure, and how to help players find the next action without becoming robotic. What You’ll Learn How Matt Jones evaluates shooters before making mechanical corrections Why simplifying a player’s shot can improve repeatability and efficiency The importance of clean catches, open palms, loaded wrists, and eliminating wasted movement How to introduce variability into shooting workouts without overwhelming the player Why feel-based cues can be more effective than over-teaching technique How analytics can help shape shooting development without damaging a player’s confidence Why free throws can be used as a powerful form-shot reset inside a workout How introverted coaches can develop their voice through preparation, terminology, and coaching reps Why “your terminology is your culture” when communicating with players How conceptual offense depends on cutting rules, spacing, re-triggers, and offensive talk Why the player with the ball must think like the point guard in read-based offense How random practice environments can help players learn to self-organize late in possessions To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
S1 · E272
July 3 · 1 hr 25 min
Francesco Tabellini on Playing Relentless, Tagging Up Killers, and Attacking the Hedge & Plug
This week we’re joined in this SG Classics episode by International Head Coach Francesco Tabellini for a deep dive into the concepts behind his team’s relentless style of play. Tabellini opens the conversation by unpacking the idea of “canceling the pauses” in the game — eliminating the dead space between offense and defense, defense and offense, and every small conversion moment in between. From there, he details how Nymburk builds pace through first-three-step urgency, no-catch zones, early outlets, transition cutting, and a constant pressure-on-the-rim mentality. The conversation also explores offensive spacing and cutting principles, including baseline cuts on middle penetration, OKC cuts on baseline drives, shortening the pass, and why player confidence is central to shot selection. Tabellini explains how tagging up not only creates extra possessions, but also supports shooting freedom, transition defense, and full-court pressure. Later, the discussion moves into the defensive side of the floor, including the details of teaching tagging up, evaluating effort, structuring practice to build habits, and using hedge-and-plug coverage as a temporary switch designed to disrupt rhythm, force decisions, and keep opponents uncomfortable. What You’ll Learn How Tabellini defines “relentless basketball” and why it starts with removing the pauses between phases of the game Why the first three steps in transition are a major teaching point for Nymburk How “no-catch zones,” pitch-aheads, and 28-meter cuts create early dynamic advantages Why aggressive cutting can solve spacing problems rather than create them How tagging up can become both an offensive rebounding system and a transition defense tool Why leaving the tag too early can kill the entire purpose of tagging up How Nymburk structures practice to reinforce tagging up without overloading players Why Tabellini views hedge-and-plug coverage as a temporary switch How slips, flips, and re-screens stress aggressive ball screen coverages Why activity, effort, and mistake-fixing are central to Tabellini’s coaching philosophy To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!
June 26 · 1 hr 4 min
Dr. Andy Galpin on Sleep, Strength, and the Hidden Stressors of Performance
In this episode, Dr. Andy Galpin joins Slappin’ Glass for a practical, high-level conversation on basketball performance, recovery, strength training, sleep, travel, and pregame preparation. Galpin breaks down why improving movement is not just about stretching, mobility work, or lifting weights, but about understanding the physical qualities that allow athletes to move with more range, force, control, and efficiency. The conversation moves from the history of strength training in sport to modern tools for evaluating movement, asymmetries, muscle development, and return-to-play readiness. A major theme of the episode is recovery. Galpin makes a strong case that sleep is still the most powerful performance tool available to coaches and athletes, especially in-season. He discusses the impact of early practices, late-night games, post-practice downregulation, hydration, fueling, protein synthesis, and how coaches can better organize the schedule before fatigue becomes a problem. During “Start, Sub, or Sit,” the conversation turns to silent stressors inside a basketball program, including travel, walkthroughs, film, scout prep, pregame warmups, physical contact, and how to prepare players to actually feel ready when the ball goes up. What You’ll Learn Why strength training can improve movement, range of motion, and athletic expression when it is designed correctly. How coaches should think about recovery beyond soreness, including sleep, hydration, refueling, and rebuilding tissue. Why early-morning practices may be costing teams more than they realize. How post-practice and postgame downregulation can help athletes transition toward better sleep. Why travel is one of the biggest hidden stressors on player performance. How to proactively adjust practice loads around dense parts of the schedule. What coaches should consider with bus rides, compression gear, movement breaks, and arrival timing. How to structure pregame warmups around skill feel, physical readiness, movement prep, and contact. Why players need some level of game-like physicality before tip-off, especially bigs and contact-heavy roles. How physiology, breathing, CO2 tolerance, and arousal levels connect to focus, decision-making, and emotional regulation. To join coaches and championship winning staffs from the NBA to High School from over 70 different countries taking advantage of an SG Plus membership, visit HERE!

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