Marching to Madness

Blake Lovell

Marching to Madness covers the entire scope of college basketball. Hosts Blake Lovell and Ken Cross keep you up to date on all things college hoops. The podcast has featured interviews with numerous coaches and analysts around the country, including Bob Huggins, Frank Martin, Bruce Pearl, Jim Larranaga, Will Wade, Josh Pastner, Kermit Davis, Pete Gillen and many more. It's a must-listen podcast for college basketball fans!

  • 22 minutes 2 seconds
    Episode 995: Oklahoma head coach Porter Moser

    Coach Moser has led his Sooners to a 10-0 start after they defeated Oklahoma State, 80-65 on Saturday night. Sam Goodwin scored 20 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Sooners’ defense held the Cowboys to only 39.3 percent from the floor with just five made three-point shots. Coach Moser discusses his defensive approach on “Marching to Madness” as well as the three-point game and many of his ideas and philosophies inside the game.

    Topics of conversation include:

    • The turnaround from the Battle4Atlantis Championship into the win over Georgia Tech in the SEC/ACC Challenge
    • A defense that forces 15.4 turnovers, including 10.6 steals per game
    • The Leadership and presence of Jalon Moore and Jeremiah Fears
    • The movement of the Sooners into the SEC where they have added to conference depth
    16 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 12 minutes 17 seconds
    Episode 994: Hofstra head coach Speedy Claxton

    Coach Claxton has seen the Hofstra Pride win four out of its last five games to start with an 8-3 record. Over those 11 games, Hofstra has been a strong defensive team in holding opponents to 38.7% from the floor. Coach Claxton is in his fourth season at Hofstra where he has posted a 74-37 mark to win 67% of his games.

    Before we start, there is some terrible noise coming from my end of the conversation and I apologize for that. The cafè where I do many shows is hardly ever this noisy and is an easy recording area on my computer. The listener can hear Coach Claxton’s thoughts and comments in my normal perfect format.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • The most recent contest which was an 80-67 win at Norfolk State
    • How leading scorer Cruz Davis is a multi-talented catalyst for the Pride
    • Kijan Robinson and Jaquan Sanders as keys in a tough three-point offense that averages 9.1 triples per game
    • Hofstra’s depth as 10 players are currently averaging double figures in minutes
    13 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 13 minutes 34 seconds
    Episode 993: Auburn head coach Bruce Pearl

    Coach Pearl has his Auburn Tigers posted at No. 2 in the AP Top 25 where the SEC has nine teams ranked in the poll this week. Auburn is led by a deep rotation where post Johni Broome averages 19.6 ppg and 11.9 rebounds while dishing out 3.8 assists per contest. Broome is joined in the paint by Dylan Cardwell and Chaney Johnson. This trio complements a consistent three-point attack where Chad Baker-Mazara, Tahaad Pettiford, Miles Kelly, and Denver Jones have been efficient from behind the arc. Kenpom.com has Auburn rated No.1 in adjusted offensive efficiency and No. 23 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • The effectiveness of Johni Broome on the offense and defense
    • The Tigers’ chemistry in shooting the 3-Ball
    • Winning the Maui Classic
    • The “Auburn Family”
    11 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 12 minutes 46 seconds
    Episode 992: Utah State head coach Jerrod Calhoun

    Coach Calhoun and I chatted about the Aggies as I saw them play at Disneyland twice last week when they defeated two excellent teams in North Texas and St. Bonaventure to win the NIT Preseason Tip-Off. Coach Calhoun discussed what has been overall, a strong offense for Utah State this season as well as the play of Ian Martinez and Mason Falslev.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • Flaslev’s 28 points in the tournament championship against North Texas
    • How Martinez’s game has grown since coming to Logan, Utah
    • Depth which averages from 5.6 to 9.4 ppg
    • Ideas on the three-point offense
    • Much more!
    9 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 16 minutes 50 seconds
    Episode 991: Texas head coach Rodney Terry

    Coach Terry saw his Longhorns pick up a pair of wins in the Barclay Classic in Brooklyn as they defeated Syracuse and St. Joe’s last weekend. Coach and I recorded the show before the Longhorns’ 90-68 win over Delaware State on Saturday evening. Freshman Tre Johnson is a major competitor on the point for Texas as he averages 21.1 points per game and is a solid playmaker at the D-1 level. Arthurs Kaluma and Kalen Shedrick power the Longhorns inside.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • Tre Johnson’s multi-faceted talents
    • Kaluma and Shedrick averaging 60 percent the paint
    • Fitting into the SEC
    • Looking at Texas’ depth
    2 December 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 58 seconds
    Episode 990: Coach Tom Penders

    Coach Penders returns on “Marching to Madness” as we chat about the differences when he played at UConn in the mid-60s and now with the transfer portal and NIL atop the stories in college basketball. We discuss the Texas Longhorns who won the Barclays Classic over Syracuse and St. Joseph’s and thoughts on the Houston Cougars. Coach Penders built Texas basketball into a national entity while returning Houston to the NCAA Tournament in 2007 after it had fallen since the days of Phi Slamma Jamma.

    Topics of Discussion include:

    • The transfer portal and NIL and its effects
    • Texas basketball and the move to the SEC
    • The opening weeks of the season
    • Thoughts and philosophies inside the game
    30 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 15 minutes 37 seconds
    Episode 989: UNC Greensboro head coach Mike Jones

    Looking at the UNC Greensboro Spartans, Coach Mike Jones had to refurbish his roster, but he has put together a quality unit that will look to once again become a challenger in the Southern Conference. Coach Jones opens his fourth season as he has back-to-back 20-win seasons which allowed the Spartans to be able to challenge in each of the past two campaigns. We recorded our show the day after UNCG battled Indiana, but lost a 69-58 decision in Bloomington.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • How Kenyon Giles and Ronald Polite can be leaders inside of the offense
    • UNCG’s defense holding opponents to 26.3 percent from the field
    • Donovan Atwell’s versatility and leadership skills
    • Finding Jalen breath more shots inside
    26 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 52 seconds
    Episode 988: Coach Jim Harrick

    Coach Jim Harrick is back on “Marching to Madness” as he won 67 percent of his games and took his teams to the NCAA Tournament in 17 of 23 seasons at UCLA, Pepperdine, Rhode Island, and Georgia. Coach Harrick led the Bruins to the 1995 NCAA title when the Bruins defeated Arkansas and squelched the Razorbacks’ chances for back-to-back championships.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • The High-Post offense
    • Ideas of the season through three weeks
    • The Clippers’ new Intuit Arena
    • Remembering icons in Coach John Wooden and Bill Walton
    24 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 14 minutes 34 seconds
    Episode 987: Ole Miss head coach Chris Beard

    Coach Beard once again joins “Marching to Madness” as he discusses lots of his philosophies on both offense and defense as well as players who make up key parts of the team. Ole Miss has a balanced offense as seven players currently average from 6.3 to 14 points per game. We recorded our show before Ole Miss defeated Oral Roberts, 100-68, behind 19 points each from Matthew Murrell and Sean Pedulla.

    Topics of Discussion Include:

    • How Ole Miss manages such a balanced scoring attack
    • Seven 1,000-point scorers compose this team as Matthew Murrell leads with 1,473 points
    • The athletic ability of Jaemyn Brakefield
    • Applications of complementary skills on defense
    22 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 16 minutes 5 seconds
    Episode 986: Mississippi State head coach Chris Jans

    Coach Chris Jans comes back on “Marching to Madness” to talk about the start for his MSU Bulldogs as they were 3-0 at the time of the recording and they moved to 4-0 earlier this afternoon with a 78-73 win over Utah. We chatted about the brilliance of point guard Josh Hubbard, who led all scorers with 23 points this afternoon, as he made five three-point field goals. The Bulldogs nailed down a tough win against a quality opponent in the Utes, who enter their first season as a Big 12 member on the hardwood. Coach Jans and I looked back through MSU’s three previous wins as we talked about the presence of Cameron Matthews at power forward.

    Topics that are discussed include:

    • 2023 and 2024 being the Bulldogs’ first back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances since 2008 and 2009
    • Point guard Josh Hubbard’s versatility on both ends of the floor
    • How Cameron Matthews and Shawn Jones add to the ingredients of the Bulldogs’ attack
    • A philosophy in the realm of sports psychology
    18 November 2024, 2:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 43 seconds
    Episode 985: Hawaii head coach Eran Ganot

    Coach Eran Ganot has built a solid basketball program at Hawaii and his Rainbow Warriors are off to a 3-0 start as they just won the Rainbow Classic earlier in the week. Hawaii again features a strong post-attack with 6-10, 245, Tanner Christensen in the middle. Coach Ganot solidified his roster with a strong transfer portal where guard Marcus Greene transferred in from Houston Christian. The Rainbow Warriors will again be a challenge in the Big West this season.

    Topics of Conversation Include:

    • The successful Rainbow Classic title
    • A look at Tanner Christensen’s skills and abilities
    • Marcus Greene and Kolby Williams combining for a strong backcourt
    • Embracing the rise of the Big West to the 13th-rated conference, according to kenpom.com
    15 November 2024, 2:00 pm
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