Advertise on podcast: The DC Coaches Basketball Podcast

The 2026 NCAA Tourney has the Coach's full attention, but not before a look back at some of the conference tourney play that helped dictate this year's March Madness field. The full-house of Ed Tapscott, Gordon Austin, Jimmy Patsos, Chris Knoche, and Gary Williams throw in their two cents about new coaching vacancies and mid majors in the Field of 68. Thanks for listening to another season of The DC Coaches Basketball Podcast.

With spring upon us, the coaches have that end-of-basketball-season 'golf itch' and blame the wind for some shaky early-season tee work. The group discussed recent upsets in college basketball, particularly focusing on the overall parity in mid-major conferences. Chris, Gary and Gordon discussed basketball coaching strategies, comparing the SEC and Big Ten conferences and the value of pick-up basketball. Finally, Gary expresses concern that there are too many small guys refereeing.

Happy Birthday to the vacationing Gary Williams! Gordon points out that in the nine years of the podcast, Coach Williams has only missed one show - the one when Jimmy impersonated him, which never would have otherwise happened. And in the coach's absence, Jimmy doesn't hesitate to go at it again. A few crazy NCAA stories this week and a riveting conversation with the affable and rising coach of the 26-3 St. Louis Billikens Mens' Basketball team, Josh Schertz.

This week the Coaches discussed Maryland's recent alumni day event and the performance of past teams that were coached by Gary. The group analyzed the Michigan-Duke primetime game and debated the merits of playing important games in Washington, D.C., and specifically on college campuses. The conversation shifted to the NBA All-Star game format and the issue of tanking in professional basketball. Finally, thoughts on potential solutions to stop teams from intentionally losing to improve their draft position were offered by each coach.

The Coaches welcome George Mason head coach Tony Skinn, who shares his background playing for Nigeria in the Olympics and his experience coaching at various levels. The conversation covered the challenges of retaining players in the current transfer portal era, with Coach Skinn expressing acceptance of the new landscape while maintaining respect for the process. The round table concluded with appreciation for Tony's perspective as a young coach embracing the current state of college basketball.

The Coaches voiced concerns about college sports governance before transitioning to a detailed analysis of basketball strategies and end-game situations  All five coaches are on the line and explored various aspects of modern college basketball, including player development and coaching approaches, while sharing personal experiences and anecdotes about legendary figures in the sport. The episode finishes up with discussions about recent NBA trades, current college basketball rankings, and reflections on the evolving nature of guard play in the sport.

Our favorite Basketball Coaches analyze the impact of transfers, NIL deals, and legal challenges on college basketball, with particular attention to the NCAA's role in regulating these changes. The conversation also touched on the return of John Wall to Washington, D.C., and the evolution of the NBA. Gary, Chris, Ed, Gordon and Jimmy all share personal anecdotes and insights about players and coaches they have known, reflecting on how the game has changed over time.

The Coaches open up this episode with a candid and concerning view of the recent major college basketball scandal involving point shaving and gambling activities and the modern betting systems that have made such activities more detectable.  The conversation concluded with discussions about NIL deals, legal cases involving college athletes, and current trends in college basketball, including Nebraska's record and conference comparisons. On the court, The Coaches discussed basketball defensive strategies and historical pressing tactics in college basketball, particularly focusing on the Big East era.

The Coaches discussed Maryland basketball's current challenges and compared them to Gary's own difficult season experience from 1992. They explored the historical impact of the three-point shot in college basketball and shared memories of past games and coaching experiences at various institutions. The conversation concluded with discussions about NFL playoffs, college sports realignment, and a tribute to former basketball coach Bill Courtney.

The Coaches have some fun exploring how court naming honors have become commercialized, with examples like Virginia honoring Tony Bennett and Detroit attempting to name a court after Dick Vitale despite his limited tenure there. The group also discussed the changing nature of college basketball recruitment, noting how elite talent has increasingly concentrated at Power Five schools, making it difficult for mid-major programs to retain top players beyond their freshman or sophomore years. The episode finishes up with reflections on how the commercialization of college sports has transformed traditional recruiting and tournament participation patterns.

The five coaches discussed college basketball scheduling challenges and the evolution of both college and NBA player development strategies, noting how colleges now prefer experienced players while the NBA drafts younger talent. They analyzed Maryland's recent basketball performance and debated the effectiveness of conference expansion on competitive play and tournament selection. The conversation also covered the NBA Cup tournament's impact on player motivation during the regular season and reflected on how traditional holiday basketball tournaments have declined due to television-driven scheduling changes.

All five coaches begin the show with some thoughts about college football's bowl picture and the high profile Notre Dame mess. Tap suggests that two-way G League contracts could help development but the Wizards are reluctant to use them.The group discussed the high-paced playing styles of Cornell and William & Mary, who are implementing a "Turbo Princeton" offense characterized by fast breaks and backdoor cuts. Gary shared his experience playing for Bud Milliken, who emphasized disciplined defense over offense, while Jimmy noted that both teams maintain high scores and fast-paced games, with GW and Towson both winning recent matches. The conversation concludes with Chris and Gordo mentioning that these teams continue to perform well even without their star players.

The business side of men's college basketball gets a close look by the coaches. The group discussed coaching transitions and compensation in college sports, with Gary reflecting on his own career moves between American, BC, Ohio State, and Maryland, noting how financial incentives and the desire for new challenges drive coaching changes. Chris and Jimmy discussed the recent departure of Kevin Willard from Maryland and its similarities to Lane Kiffin's football move to LSU, suggesting that such moves are often planned well in advance. The conversation concluded with a brief discussion about the timing of college basketball and football seasons, with Chris suggesting that the overlap between football playoffs in December and basketball season benefits college hoops by redirecting attention to basketball programs.

NIL is changing the very core of college athletics with schools operating 20 million dollar budgets and the Coaches ponder what's ahead. University of Maryland basketball is showing signs of improvement and Gary and Chris acknowledge the coaching done by Buzz Williams. Jimmy joins a bit late but brings some laughs to the party joking about his down computer.  Gordon has a good handle on the absurdity of LeBron's career. Running on makes, getting the most out of players, the special qualities of Tom Izzo, Roy Williams and Dean Smith, jockeying in the portal….. as usual, we cover it all.

Local college basketball icon Joe Smith gets some love from the coaches, but not before an in-depth conversation about scheduling in the NCAA. Tap helps the group breakdown the young talent proliferating men's college basketball and shares which players are already getting NBA attention. Shout outs to the old-school, inside game once mastered by Maryland's Lonnie Baxter and MD coach Buzz Williams' throw-back practices.