For the monthly offseason podcast (after skipping a month) Chad is joined by a full panel that discusses the new changes to the Selection Committee team sheets and some of the new metrics that have been added. They also look at some of the upcoming MTEs and how NIL money is playing a role. We cover some of the conference realignment, some of the charity games that have been announced, and other offseason news and notes.
And for all you radio lovers, below is an audio only version of the show…
UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the days ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Dylan Penn, who will be playing for UKnighted after winning back-to-back conference tourney titles at Bellarmine/Vermont.
In addition to playing basketball in high school you played football and were a track star: how much of an advantage do your skills in other sports give you on the basketball court? I only played football for 1 year but the strength/conditioning I learned taught me how to take care of my body. When I got to college I noticed that the track part helped me a lot because I like to play fast.
What made you choose Bellarmine to start your college career? I had a pair of D-2 offers but Bellarmine had a family atmosphere where I felt that I could thrive. Their recruiting pitch made me feel a lot more comfortable.
You appeared in 29 games as a freshman: how were you able to come in and contribute right from the start? A lot of freshmen are not brought in to score points right away so I made sure that I would help guys get prepared for games during practice. 1 of my biggest strengths is my speed so I would push the transition in tempo and try to give the best effort I could.
In 2020 your school made the leap from the Great Lakes Valley Conference to the Atlantic Sun Conference: what is the biggest difference between D-2 and D-1? Definitely the size/athleticism, especially at the 4/5 spot: instead of 6’8” centers you might see some 7-footers.
In the 2022 conference tourney title game you had 22 PTS en route to being named tourney MVP in a 5-PT win over Jacksonville: how weird was it to hoist the championship trophy but not get to go to the NCAA tourney because schools are prohibited from participating during their 4-year transitional period from D-2 to D-1? I think that I am the only player who ever won a championship and felt depressed afterward because we did not feel like champions. We earned everything we got but it was a very hollow feeling that stretched out for an entire year. It felt like I was not fulfilled despite our team’s success.
That spring you had offers to transfer to several great schools including Missouri/Purdue/VCU: what made you choose Vermont? Things are VERY fluid/fast-moving in the transfer portal: you can go from 30 offers in 1 day to 10 the next and then 50 the day after that. I knew that Vermont would make me a priority and had a well-established coach. I visited Missouri but Coach Dennis Gates and his staff were still trying to figure things out. I already knew Robin Duncan and his brothers who played there, which helped get me in the door, but I liked that they were not just using me to fill out a spot. I knew with the roster they had that we were good enough to win a conference title and compete with any mid-major team in the country.
In 2023 you finished #2 in the conference with 54.4 FG% during league play: what is the secret to being a great shooter? You need the confidence to make shots and the intelligence to take good shots.
In the 2023 America East tourney title game you scored a game-high 21 PTS in a win over UMass-Lowell en route to being named tourney MOP: how did it compare to the previous year since you knew that you would finally get to play in the NCAA tourney? That was 1 of the most gratifying feelings in my life. I put a target on myself to play in the NCAA tourney that year, which some opponents used as bulletin-board material, but to win another title/MOP award is not something that a lot of people have done. I set a goal, worked for it, and eventually achieved it.
In the 2023 NCAA tourney you scored 11 PTS/5-10 FG in a loss to Marquette: what is the key to winning games in March? To approach each game as if it is the 1st game in December with a lot of preparation. I feel that the teams who are willing to give a little extra usually win: you cannot just be happy to be there.
You are playing for UKnighted in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I do not want to give away too much: we are building chemistry and the best part is having different generations of players come together. I also do not want to put the cart before the horse, but 1 of the 1st things I would do is take my car to the shop. I head overseas 3 days after the championship game on August 4th so if we win it all then I am taking my whole family to Hollywood!
UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Stephan Hicks, who will be playing for Fort Wayne Champs after graduating as the leading scorer in CSUN history.
You were born/raised in California: what made you choose CSUN? Coming out of high school I had limited scholarship opportunities. CSUN took a chance on me, was the 1st school to offer me, and they were close to home.
You redshirted during your 1st year: how much of an advantage did that give you the following year? It gave me a huge advantage: it allowed me to get a feel for college and a chance to get stronger. 1 of the seniors who played my position graduated the next year, which helped as well.
In 2012 you were named conference ROY: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? It meant a lot to me. I started basketball at a later age and only played 1 year of high school varsity, so that award built a lot of confidence in me.
In 2013 you were #2 in the conference with 1.96 SPG: what is the key to playing great defense? Just having energy and wanting to do it. It is all about mindset so you need to bring effort to it.
In the 2014 conference tourney title game you had 11 PTS/12 REB in a 2-PT loss to Cal Poly: where does that rank among the most devastating losses of your career? It took me awhile to get over that game after I made a couple of mistakes at the end: it hurt a lot.
You graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1959 PTS: what is the secret to being a great scorer? Just being consistent and growing each year. You need to work on your game and perfect it while bringing something new to the table.
You also set a conference record with 599 career FTM: how important to your offense is your ability to get to the FT line and then make shots once you do so? It was a huge accomplishment and a huge goal of mine. During my 1st year 1 of my coaches told me not to settle for threes. Once I learned how to get to the line I used it to my advantage by attacking the basket more.
You have spent the past decade playing pro basketball in the G League and overseas: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US v. basketball in other countries? The athleticism/ability/talent is better over here, and our style of play is a little faster. Overseas it is a more physical game that will take a toll on your body, but there are a lot more resources here in terms of taking care of your body.
You are hosting your 1st-ever basketball camp next week: what will make your camp different from other camps? I want to be involved with the kids and make sure that I get to know each camper. I want to build those relationships even after the camp ends so that I can check in with them and see how they are doing.
You are playing for Fort Wayne Champs in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think we are looking good. We have a lot of players who do a lot of great things so we have a chance to be successful. I would use the money to buy an engagement ring for my girlfriend!
UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Alterique Gilbert, who will be playing for AfterShocks after being coached by not 1 but 2 NCAA championship coaches during college.
You won 3 state titles in 4 years at Miller Grove High School: what is the secret to winning championships? Just being a consistent worker behind closed doors and having a team that comes together for a common goal.
In the 2016 McDonald’s All-American Game you scored 7 PTS for the West in a win over the East: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Bam Adebayo/De’Aaron Fox/Jayson Tatum/other)? I was most impressed with De’Aaron. I 1st saw him at a Nike Skills Academy and later played against him at a USA camp: his quickness/decision making/athleticism was great. Then again, our whole class was amazing.
You are 1 of the only guys I know who played for multiple national championship coaches during college (Kevin Ollie/Dan Hurley): what was the most important thing that you learned from either of them? When I came in with Coach Ollie I learned that he is 1 of the hardest workers I have ever come across. He really instilled a work ethic in us, but we had a lot of injuries on the roster during our 2 years together. He taught me to “not put peppermint over bad breath”. Coach Hurley is a different kind of guy: his passion for the game is at a different level than everyone else and he taught me how to win at life with the things I do off the court. Now the Huskies are on a 2-year championship run, which shows how he built the foundation. He is a great guy and also 1 of the hardest workers: he is consistently up at 5AM to work on his routines and then sticks with them. It is good to see where the program is now after some tough down years when I 1st arrived. I am excited for the young guys coming in.
You only played 64 games during your 4 years at UConn: how frustrating was it to keep dealing with injury after injury? Injuries are never part of any athlete’s plan so I just tried to ask myself the hardest question: what can I learn from this process? It was a mind thing: I questioned my ability, which was the hardest part. At the same time, everything you learn builds your character and impacts how you live your life, which is the most fortunate thing. You must continue to believe in yourself and stay in the fight. Shout-out to Coach Tom Moore, who taught me that if I never quit then I will never lose.
In 2020 you had transfer offers from several great schools including Arkansas/Florida/Texas Tech: what made you choose Wichita State? I played a road game against them 1 time and the environment was crazy: it was 1 of the most electrifying places I have ever seen. I did not get the full experience during COVID but we always felt the support of the fans. The people were great and it was a big accomplishment for me since it was my 1st full year playing every game. Going to the Roundhouse was a great move for me.
In 2021 you helped the Shockers win their 1st AAC regular season title: where does that season rank among the highlights of your career? It is definitely a big 1 due to the situation we were put in. After Coach Gregg Marshall got fired right before the season we had a little setback but just had to regroup. Everyone played together and we had no chemistry problems because everyone got along. The toughest thing was COVID but everything else was smooth. I think that we could have done even better because we had such a nice group of players/people.
In the 2021 NCAA tourney you scored 10 PTS but missed a 3 off the front of the rim at the buzzer in a 1-PT loss to Drake: did you think the shot was going in? Of course! When I shot it I believed that it was going in, just like every shooter does. I like to take those shots whether I make or miss them: it comes with the game.
You finished top-10 in the conference in APG during each of your final 3 years: what is the key to being a good PG? I will tell you 1 of my secrets that was passed down to me: I scout my team and “marry my shooter” so that I can get him the ball where he wants it. I like to pass the ball during transition before the defense gets set, and if they double-team him then other guys will be open. It is just a “feel” thing: you need to have great relationships with your teammates.
You have played pro basketball in Europe for the past few years: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? I would say the fundamentals that they teach kids in Europe: they understand movement/cutting/passing. Americans do fundamentals as well but when you think of “beautiful basketball” I think of Europe. There is less athleticism in Europe but there are high-IQ players in both places. I had to adjust my game by making those reads, and then it became a lot easier.
You are playing for Aftershocks in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think that we are looking good and have a nice little team! If we play together and have the right mindset then we will have the advantage while playing at home: I think we will definitely make a run. I do not know about the money right now: I will probably sit on it for a couple of days and think of a plan. I do not like to count money that is not there but I pray that it will happen.
UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Shelvin Mack, who will be playing for All Good Dawgs after making back-to-back NCAA title games in 2010/2011.
You were born/raised in Lexington, KY: were you a part of Big Blue Nation as a kid, and what made you choose Butler for college? At that time it was REALLY Big Blue Nation with coaches like Rick Pitino/Tubby Smith winning titles. I always wanted to go to Kentucky but they did not really recruit me. Butler had graduated 2 seniors and I knew that it would give me a chance to play right away at a high level.
You played for Coach Brad Stevens: what made him such a great coach, and how happy were you to see him win an NBA title last month as president of basketball operations for the Boston Celtics? That is my guy! We have a great relationship and I am so glad that he finally got over the hump to win a title. He put together a highly polished team both on and off the court: they have no egos and by bringing in guys like Kristaps Porzingis/Jrue Holiday he showed his Midas touch.
In the summer of 2009 you were captain for Team USA at the FIBA U-19 World Championship: what did it mean to you to represent your country, and what did it mean to you to win a gold medal? It meant a lot, especially coming from Butler. Team USA had been struggling to win a U-19 gold medal during the time and it allowed me to measure myself against players from bigger conferences after spending 3 weeks at training camp. It also let me know that we were building something special, since my Butler teammate Gordon Hayward was there with me.
In the 2010 NCAA tourney title game in your team’s home city of Indianapolis you scored 12 PTS in a 2-PT loss to Duke: did you think that Gordon Hayward’s half-court shot at the buzzer was going in? Yes I did, just like everyone else: there was an ESPN “Sport Science” episode said it was only off by a couple of inches (www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQs-d_9iJ14). If it would have gone in then it would have been the best ending ever: Denzel Washington could have played me in the movie! What most people do not remember is the screen that Matt Howard set, which gave us a chance to win it at the end.
In the 2011 NCAA tourney title game you led your team with 13 PTS/9 REB in a loss to UConn: what on earth happened to your team’s offense (18.8 FG% remains the lowest in NCAA title game history)? We struggled to score that year and any night can be an off night. Looking back on it I just wish we had another chance to face them because I think that we could have won.
In the spring of 2011 you were selected 34th overall by Washington in the NBA Draft: what did it mean to you to get drafted, and how frustrating was it to have to wait more than 6 months to begin your pro career due to a lockout? It is always a dream of any kid to make it to the NBA. I spent the draft with all of my friends/family in Lexington and it was a dream come true. I still wish that I would have been picked in the 1st round but there were a lot of potential Hall of Famers in that class (Jimmy Butler/Kyrie Irving/Kawhi Leonard/Klay Thompson/etc.). I did not get the chance to have a normal rookie vibe at the start of that season and our team was not that great so it was a big transition: we started out 0-8 that year, which was pretty nasty. We had to play the 76ers every other night since they were so close geographically and it was a tough matchup because they had guys like Jrue Holiday/Andre Iguodala.
As a player for Atlanta on December 17, 2014, you scored a career-high 24 PTS on 6-6 3PM off the bench in a win over Cleveland: was it just 1 of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were “in the zone”? I just got hot at the right time. We were losing so our coach put in some bench players to give us a spark. Jeff Teague was hurt at the time so I got to play a little longer than normal. I loved playing for the Hawks and still have a special bond with those players/coaching staff.
A few years ago you allegedly spent part of your bachelor party working on a paper for school: is that true, and how much importance do you place on academics? That is 100% true, and I am getting ready to graduate soon. Academics are very important at Butler: the only 2 people in the past 2 decades who have not graduated were me/Gordon so I did not want to be the only 1.
For the past 2 years you have worked as an analyst for CBS Sports: how do you like the gig, and what do you want to do in the future? I love it because it gives me the opportunity to stay around the game of college basketball. It is a little different from when I played due to the transfer portal, and hopefully 1 day I will be able to cover the Final 4. I like challenges: if you want to try to be great you must always continue to get better.
You are playing for All Good Dawgs in the TBT: how much of a home-court advantage will you have while playing at Hinkle Fieldhouse, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? I think we will have a great home-court advantage: I only lost 3 regular season games at Hinkle during my career. I cannot wait to see the sun beaming through the windows: it will be great to connect with some old teammates and I think it will be a great experience. If we win then I will probably give some of the money back to Butler to help the collective and use the rest of it for my foundation by buying school supplies to help out some families.
UConn won the NCAA tourney in April and Boston won the NBA Finals in June but there is still 1 more basketball champion to be crowned this summer. The Basketball Tournament (aka the TBT) kicks off on July 19th with 8 regions of 8 teams playing in Butler/Cincinnati/Dayton/Houston/Lexington/Louisville/Pitt/Wichita. Each region will send 1 team to the quarterfinals, with the championship game taking place during the 1st week of August, and the winning team walking away with $1 million in prize money. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel will spend the weeks ahead interviewing as many TBT participants as possible. We continue our coverage with Bryce Alford, who will be playing for The Enchantment after becoming the best 3-PT shooter in UCLA history.
In 2013 you were named a Parade All-American: which of your fellow honorees impressed you the most (Aaron Gordon/Zach LaVine/Andrew Wiggins/other)? Zach is still 1 of my closest friends to this day: we started at UCLA together and I still feel that he is the best player I have ever played with/against. My dad recruited Aaron out of high school and he was a stud back then (and still is!).
You were born in Indiana/raised in Albuquerque: what made you choose UCLA? Obviously, my dad being named coach there had a big impact. He had been coach at New Mexico so I originally committed to play for the Lobos, but after he took the job at UCLA I followed him there because I had always wanted to play for him. It was also an opportunity to play for a program that has the most titles and the best history in the sport.
Your father Steve was your coach and your brother Kory was your teammate for 2 years: what was the best part of having your family on your roster, and what was the not-so-best part (if any)? The not-so-best part was whenever I played bad or even just okay because some people would say that I did not deserve to play. It took time for me to mature and stop listening to the people who did not matter. The best part was having my dad at all my games, which was another reason I chose to play for him. Those family memories will be with us for a lifetime.
You made 3 Sweet 16s from 2014-2017: what is the key to winning games in March? That is the interesting part of college basketball: the best team does not always win the tourney, or even their 1st game. You must get hot at the right time and have the kind of guys who understand the importance of every single possession. The room for error becomes smaller so you need to take care of the ball and defend the best that you can.
You set school records for most 3PM in a game/season/career: what is the secret to making shots from behind the arc? There is a lot to that: years and years of muscle memory via repetition that I got by practicing my shooting every day of my life. It also comes down to opportunity because if guys like Lonzo Ball/Kyle Anderson/Aaron Holiday did not pass me the ball and if our screeners did not set picks for me then I would not have made as many as I did.
As a senior you were named 1st-team all-Pac-12: what did it mean to you to receive such an outstanding honor? That was a cool thing: I also made the all-freshman team my 1st year. It is great to look back and see the other players on that team who went on to have great pro careers (Kyle Kuzma/Lauri Markkanen/Derrick White/etc.).
Speaking of your former conference, which no longer exists: any thoughts on conference realignment? That is a weird 1 for me: I wish that I would have set a few more Pac-12 records because now they would be there forever! I understand the reasons for realignment, but I do not like it because all the rivalries/history will be somewhat diminished.
After going undrafted in 2017 you spent 2 years in the G League and then several years playing pro basketball in Europe: what is the biggest difference between basketball in the US vs. basketball overseas? It is a different style of game even from country to country. It is cool to see how the game is played/coached/officiated. There is less of an isolation game overseas and there is not a defensive 3-second call (similar to college basketball) but the basic strategy remains the same: you need to put the ball in the basket and stop your opponent from doing so.
You run a basketball camp each summer: what makes your camp different from other camps? I hold the camp at my old high school in Albuquerque and we follow the same structure that my dad has used for the past 4 decades at his own camp in Indiana. We give the kids a free lunch each day via a sponsor and they go through different stations. I give each camper an evaluation so that they can go home and work on their shooting, which is a special thing I offer.
You are playing for The Enchantment in the TBT: how is the team looking, and what will you do with your share of the $1 million prize money if you win it all? We are excited: I am heading to Albuquerque next week for my camp and then will start working with the team. They had a good year last year by making it to the Sweet 16. I am bringing my overseas teammate Joey Brunk with me, and I know a lot of guys on the roster very well. It will be a challenge, but I think that we can win some games. As far as the money, I would probably take a golf trip and then spend the rest on my son.
