Old Dominion Basketball is back.

Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show for the first offseason episode to break down everything Monarch fans need to know before the 2026-27 season.

Coach Jones goes player-by-player through the entire transfer portal class, discusses every freshman, explains why Old Dominion intentionally built a longer, more athletic roster, and details how the coaching staff attacked the team's biggest weakness from last season.

We also discuss:

🏀 Every transfer addition and how each fits the roster

🏀 Freshman recruiting class

🏀 Defensive philosophy changes

🏀 Why wingspan matters as much as height

🏀 New assistant coaches Orlando Vandross and Jim Molinari

🏀 Professional basketball opportunities for Jordan Battle, KC Shaw, Cal and others

🏀 LJ Thomas' impressive business success after ODU

🏀 NCAA rule changes

🏀 Five-in-Five eligibility rule

🏀 2026-27 schedule news

🏀 Western Michigan season opener

🏀 Richmond exhibition update

🏀 Norfolk State rivalry

🏀 Golf tournament details

🏀 NBA offseason discussion

If you're an Old Dominion Basketball fan, this is one episode you don't want to miss.

Subscribe for exclusive ODU Basketball coverage all season long.

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🔔 Subscribe so you never miss another Monarchs Basketball Show.

#ODU #ODUBasketball #Monarchs #SunBelt #CollegeBasketball #TransferPortal

Chapters

00:00 Intro

1:05 NBA Finals thoughts

4:00 ODU seniors turning pro

7:20 LJ Thomas' incredible business success

10:00 Breaking down every transfer addition

10:25 Bubu Benjamin

11:45 Jotham Nweke

12:55 Adante' Holiman

14:20 Khoi Thurman

15:35 Kylan Howze

16:55 Lucio Martini

18:10 Zamoku Weluche-Ume

19:45 Why wingspan matters more than height

22:15 New assistant coaches

24:45 Building a better defense

26:00 Freshman class

26:20 Theo Gerges

27:10 CJ Lyons

28:15 CJ Harper

29:45 Ahmad Caver's endorsement

31:15 NCAA rule changes

37:20 Should college basketball switch to quarters?

39:55 Five-in-Five eligibility explained

44:55 Western Michigan season opener announced

45:50 ODU Basketball Golf Tournament

51:00 NBA offseason moves (Jalen Brown, Paul George, and more)

57:20 Richmond exhibition teaser

59:10 2026-27 schedule overview

1:01:00 Final thoughts

This episode is brought to you by the Old Dominion Athletic Foundation.

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Because of you, we create winners

in the classroom, in athletic

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competition, and in life.

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Become a member today

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Aaron: Monarch Nation, welcome back

to the Monarchists Basketball Show.

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As always, my partner in crime,

Mike Langston, and the star of

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the show, Head Coach Mike Jones.

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Mike, how you doing, man?

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HC Mike Jones: Doing great, Aaron.

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Doing great, Mike.

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How are you guys?

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Aaron: Better now that we

can talk some basketball.

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It's been too long.

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HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

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Yeah, NBA finals end, NBA draft

happens, NBA Summer League next week.

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You know, you can start to, kind

of feel the, the basketball energy

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starting to mount and, uh, yeah

this is a good time of year.

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Can't wait until can't

wait until the fall.

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Aaron: All right, before Mike

gets into the flow with our first

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question, I'm just gonna ask because

it's a bit of a polarizing topic.

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You mentioned the NBA finals.

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So the, the Knicks win the championship.

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People seem to be in either camp.

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What'd you think of the finals?

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HC Mike Jones: Really good.

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I mean, part of me can't help but

to notice some of the, you know,

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n- to not just watch it as a fan

and not to just be entertained.

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It was a very entertaining

finals to say the least.

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But the youth and inexperience

of the Spurs caught up with them.

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It, unfortunate for their part, 'cause

I do think they have arrived at the

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elite level of the NBA a, a little bit

before everyone kind of expected them to.

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And all of the maturity and poise

that they showed throughout the

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playoffs, through the Western

Conference finals was impressive.

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And shoot, you guys

watched us play last year.

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You know, you get those big leads

and the momentum swings the other

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way and, you know, momentum in

basketball is a very funny thing.

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Like, it, it's, it's hard to stop.

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It's hard to stop and when you have it

and you lose it, it's hard to get it

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back and, you know, we clearly saw that

a few times with the Spurs that, you

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know, just the inexperience and, poise

down the stretch just wasn't there.

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Um, but things that they'll clearly learn

from and shoot, if they're not in the

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finals, in, in the Western Conference

finals every year for the next five,

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six, seven years, I'd be surprised.

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Mike: Now, I, I was impressed by how the

Thunder and the Knicks defended the Spurs.

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They made Wemby work really hard, and

when he got kinda frustrated with it, he

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just kinda let his teammates do the work.

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HC Mike Jones: Mm-hmm.

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Mike: And taking a star out

of it like that is just so

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huge to their opportunities.

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HC Mike Jones: Yeah, it is,

but they didn't take him out of

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the defensive end of the floor.

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I mean, he still was able to

be the great defender that he

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is, and I mean, you, you…

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First and forImost, you're talking

about NBA players, so it's not

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like he's the only one on his team.

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You look at what Dylan Harper was able

to do, uh, you look at what De'Aaron

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Fox was able to do until the finals,

you look at Champagnie and the shots he

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was able to make you know, they, they

were kinda rolling on, on all cylinders.

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And when somebody was having an off

night, somebody else was able to step up.

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A, a- an incredible team.

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Kelton Johnson's, you know, 757

kid, you know, what he was able

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to do, um, all season long, sixth

Man of the Year, and then his

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performance in the playoffs was good.

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Like it's, it's really, really

something that, you know, they, they

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definitely have the NBA on notice 'cause

they're, they're more than just Wemby

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Mike: All right, so while we're on the

subject of professional basketball, um,

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you had a number of seniors last season.

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They're all moving on to

their next stage of life.

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Talk to us about their opportunities in

the professional world for basketball.

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HC Mike Jones: Yeah, so

I'm, I'm excited for them.

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You know, we, we were kinda

bragging about this a little bit.

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I mean, it's, we've gotta create more

things that we can kinda hang our

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hat on, but one of the things that

we've been able to do so far, I mean,

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if you think about it, you know,

last year uh, we had two seniors.

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We had three, Imo, um, but Imo retiring

because of his medi- uh, medical issues.

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So we had two seniors that played,

um, one being Sean Durugordon, one

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being RJ Blakney, and they both went

on to play professional basketball

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this past, uh, basketball season.

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This year of the four seniors we had three

of them are gonna continue their, uh,

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basketball careers the scholarship guys.

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So, uh, and the one that's not as a

coach, I am incredibly proud of him.

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So, um, just to go down the

line, you know, Cal's already

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playing pro ball in Canada.

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Um, I do know that, you know, he was

mulling over offers to play in Europe,

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uh, come this fall, so, I'm very confident

that he'll if he has not already picked

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a spot, he will pick a spot and he'll be

playing for money, uh, overseas, and he

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will be playing this game for a long time.

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KC Shaw I spoke to his

agent a couple weeks ago.

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Um, I know he has plenty of offers,

uh, at places to play overseas,

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so, um, you know, another young man

that'll be able to go and make money

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and, and play the game he loves.

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And Jordan Battle, you know, I'm sure

everybody saw, you know, sign with

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the team in the country of Georgia.

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And you know, very, very, very

well deserved on his part.

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I could not be more proud of him.

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He's grinded.

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I still walk into the facility, he's in

there working out pretty much every day.

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Um, it's pretty impressive to see

'cause he, you know, he, he wants it.

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He is a grinder and he's a great example

for our, you know, the players that

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played with him to be able to see,

but then our new guys to come in and

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see a guy like that still working out.

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And then the only other senior that's,

in our two years of being here, that's

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not playing pro ball is LJ Thomas,

and that is strictly by choice.

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Uh, LJ Again I, I could not be

more proud of that young man.

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Uh, he took his NIL money,

uh, that he was getting and he

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invested in a real estate group.

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And he is a certified

real estate agent already.

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Um, and he is doing business in

the city of Nashville in Tennessee.

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Um, and he's done very well.

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And, you know, I hope he's not

embarrassed that I say this but,

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LJ's doing so well he's already

asked about contributing to our NIL.

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Um, he's doing extremely well.

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You know, the way I look at

it is we're batting 1,000.

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Five of the six seniors are playing

professional basketball and the only one

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that's not is not because he didn't have

options to, it's because he is, has a

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business mindset and he used his degree,

his education and, uh, the blessing of

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the NIL package that he was able to get.

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And he is, he's hit the ground

running as a, as an adult.

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Um, I couldn't be more

happy for all of those guys.

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Mike: And I, I should note- I

know- … Imo got married recently.

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Yep.

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So congratulations to Imo.

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HC Mike Jones: Yes, sir.

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Yes, sir.

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I, I was at- Let's go,

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Mike: Imo.

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HC Mike Jones: He's, uh, he, uh, he's

doing big things down there in Texas.

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He got married so I congratulated

him on his engagement,

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congratulated him on his marriage.

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And then, um, if I'm not mistaken,

he just bought a very nice

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automobile for his brand-new

wife, uh, last week sometime too.

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So, Em- Imo's doing very well.

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And again, somebody that, you know, if

circumstances were different and he were

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healthy, um, I have no doubt he'd be

playing professional basketball as well.

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Again, proud.

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These guys have dreams and aspirations.

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I lived it myself.

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Um, I wanted to play.

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Um, I had the opportunity to

play and I took advantage of it.

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For these guys to be able to live

out their dreams, again, as a

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coach I could not be more proud

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Aaron: That's awesome.

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I appreciate you sharing that, Coach,

'cause I know Mike probably gets sick

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of hearing me talk about, if I were

king for a day with rev share and

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NIL, and my past life is having a

financial advisory practice and our…

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We're boring f- money

guys in our, our work.

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And I'm like, man, these guys could

be setting themselves up so well for

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the future as opposed to some of the

things that we see get purchased.

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So LJ, you're probably not

watching this, but if you are,

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man we're super proud of you.

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We're wishing the best.

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And that's the type of guy, man.

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We're gonna be watching to see.

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He's obviously gonna do big things, so.

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HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

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You look at him and he he got out of here

pretty quickly after our season ended.

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Um, you know, most of his classes were

online, so he went to Nashville and,

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you know, what he had been kind of

building for the last nine months, he

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went and he got to see it firsthand

and, you know, boots on the ground.

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But LJ came back to graduate.

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So LJ came back and you know, I do an

exit interview with everybody, but because

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he left pretty quickly, I did not have

a, an in-person exit interview with him.

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And so credit to LJ, when he

came back into town, he called me

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and was like, "Hey, Coach, still

wanna get with you face to face."

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And so we did, and oh man, you

know, I, I'm not allowed to say

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some of the things that he told me

about 'cause he asked me not to.

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But you know, just the

stuff he has working is…

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I could not be more happy for him.

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I mean, he's, you know, he's starting

n- his AU team that he played for,

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he's helping them out you know, with

his resources, and they're putting

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his name on their, I think their

oldest team, their 17 and under team.

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It's…

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That young man, you know,

he's incredibly intelligent.

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And he and his fiance, are

going into a real estate

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business with a group of people.

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They, they're doing big things already.

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C- again, just so proud of him.

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Aaron: Well, Mike, it sounds like we've

got a LJ Thomas podcast interview sometime

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in the not too distant future 'cause-

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HC Mike Jones: Mm-hmm

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Aaron: you know, recently

we've been talking about guys.

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They've been football guys, but guys

that have moved on and are doing

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different things, and whether they're,

they're coaches now or whatever.

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But this is awesome that he's doing

things so fast, so focused and in a

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completely different realm of basketball.

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So really, really cool to hear.

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Hey, why don't we roll into

talking about the new guys?

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So we're just gonna let you go, Mike

and a- any order in which you wanna do.

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HC Mike Jones: All right.

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Yeah, that's not fair.

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Uh, I, we're, we're excited

about our new group.

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Uh, we're excited about our new group.

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We're excited about the guys that,

um, are returning 'cause they do

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provide a sense of normalcy within

the program and the building.

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And but we're, we're really excited

about the new group, and I'll try to go

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in order that these guys committed so

and we'll save the, the freshmen for the

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end, um, even though they, they pretty

much committed in in last November.

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Bubu Benjamin was the very first one.

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Bubu signed coming from George

Washington and Tarleton State.

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Um, we played against Bubu last year.

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Uh, Bubu is an incredible

defender, incredible athlete,

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um, but Bubu's a leader.

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He was frustrated a little bit at

his previous stop because of the

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way he was used within them, their,

uh, their scheme offensively, but

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he clearly was their best defender.

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When we played him KC Shaw was having a

great game, and they switched and put Bubu

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on him to try to limit him, and if you

watched any of GW's games last year, um,

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a lot of times he got the toughest, uh,

offensive assignment from the other team.

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If you go a year previous to that,

uh, at Tarleton Bubu played pretty

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much every position for them.

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Played some point, played off the

ball averaged just under 15 points

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a game, uh, had a very good number

of assists shot the ball at a pretty

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decent clip, um, and really showed

some of his offensive versatility.

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So, uh, we're, we're very happy.

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Um, we, we worked really hard to get him.

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He is gonna help us in so many ways.

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A lot of them will be intangibles that,

fans will never see, but just know that

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he is a true leader, uh, and we could not

be more happy, uh, more happy to have him.

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Uh, next up is Jotham Nweke.

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Jotham D2 player is You know,

you see him and he's big.

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He's a big dude.

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He's probably 6'6, 220,

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25 pounds.

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An incredible athlete.

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Can make shots.

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He shot over 37%, um, his seasons

in college so far from three.

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Um, but he's an, uh, an incredible

athlete and he is an all-league defender.

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Um, and we've seen that

firsthand in our workouts.

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Um, he can guard pretty

much every position.

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Somebody that we're, we're

gonna be relying on to affect

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us on both ends of the floor.

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Um, but, and somebody that, again, we're

extremely happy to have in our program.

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Um, as he put his name in the portal

from the D2 level he had a tremendous

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amount of interest and, uh, again just

really lucky to be able to lock him in

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on our culture and our family environment

and our fan base and that's one of the

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reasons why he decided to sign with us.

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Um, again, happy to have him.

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Next up is Adante' Holiman.

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A lot of Monarch fans should know

him very well from his days at

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Georgia, uh, Georgia Southern.

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Um, and, you know, lighting us up a

little bit and, uh, you know, he was

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an all-league, All-Sun Belt performer

at Georgia Southern, one of the

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leading scorers in the conference.

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Top five, I believe top three

actually in the conference in scoring.

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And did so well that, uh, he had plenty of

Power Four, Power Five opportunities after

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the '24, '25 season at Georgia Southern

and decided to go to Arizona State.

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He, while there, uh, before he could

even play a game they were in a drill

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in practice and he and another teammate

dove for the ball and he he got injured.

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I'll just leave it at that.

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He got injured and was not able

to play for the entire season,

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uh, because of that injury.

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He is fully healthy now.

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Uh, I, I got a big smile on my face today

'cause, uh, we, we had a pretty intense

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intrasquad scrimmage today and the Adante'

Holiman that I remember from Georgia

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Southern showed up guns blazing today.

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So, that was really good to see and

somebody who, uh, his leadership but

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obviously his ability to score the

basketball, he has a very f- uh, good

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and strong familiarity with the league.

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He's bigger than he looks.

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Um, he is a legit 5'11, six feet.

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He's not light.

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Um, you know, he's, he's got some

muscle to him and, uh, again,

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he's somebody that we're gonna

rely on to do big things for us.

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So, um, getting him in the fold was huge.

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And then you have Khoi Thurman Khoi was

a JUCO All-American two seasons ago.

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Um, a lot of guys know him

because he played on Bronny's AAU

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team, uh, while in high school.

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So he was, part of all

the hoopla that they got.

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They played together.

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But you know, Khoi is

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I think most people are gonna

look at him and it's gonna say

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Jaden Johnson from two years ago.

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They look very similar just physically,

but they play very similar, too.

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They're both defensive first guys.

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Like Khoi, again, so strong.

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He can switch off and guard

the other team's center.

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That's not what you want to happen,

but he is strong enough to do that.

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Um, and just like Jaden was, I

mean, he's, he's a fire hydrant.

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Like, you cannot move him.

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He's got a very strong base, um, and when

he just locks in and anchors down like

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he is, he's just a load to get anywhere.

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But the one thing that I've

been so pleased with, with

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him is he is a connector.

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He passes the ball so well.

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You know, he, he can get in the lane.

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He's a big guy, but he's so fast.

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He's quick.

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And he's got some juice to him.

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Khoi comes to us.

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Again, he was Juco All-American,

almost averaged eight

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assists a game two years ago.

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Played at Oakland last year.

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Not necessarily his style of play, um,

with the way they wanted to use him, so

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you know, again, we're fortunate enough

to get him to come join our family,

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so somebody that we'll rely on a lot.

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Um, and then next up is, uh, Kylan Howze

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Kylan, comes in six ten.

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His wingspan is something

just … His, his, his, his

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wingspan is way taller than six ten.

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I believe he's around seven four uh,

in his wingspan, so he's a plus six.

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Just watching him move, he's, he's

a great young man, but watching

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him move, he's a shot blocker.

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Um, he can finish things at the rim.

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Um, but you know, he gets those

long arms and he shoots jump hooks

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like it's no way you can get to it.

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He's somebody who I still think his

best basketball is ahead of him.

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Um, he's coming from Louisiana Tech.

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I do know, uh, when I was

talking to him about coming he

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I mentioned to him about Tech joining

the Sun Belt, and if he was wavering

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at any moment, I think that might

have been what pushed him over, 'cause

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he was like, "Yes, I would love to

play against, uh, my former team."

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Very happy to have him.

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I, I think he'll be one of those

guys that, as he gets better and

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grows in, 'cause he's still kind

of growing into his body, but I

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think the fans are gonna love him.

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Absolutely love him.

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So we got Kylan.

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And then Lucio Martini.

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We're extremely excited about him.

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He has given us some size that we craved.

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You know, the one thing with Cal

graduating you know, we wanted, as much

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size as we possibly could to be able to

compete and how physical the Sun Belt is.

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Um, Lucio's not here yet.

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He'll be here by the time school

starts, and we're still working

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on, uh, him getting his visa.

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We can have a conversation about

that later, but you know, he's got

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a visa appointment for late August.

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Uh, we're doing everything and trying to

use every connection we have to get that

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moved up so he can get over here sooner.

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But the biggest thing for us is just, uh,

we are so happy, so happy to have someone

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with his experience, his skill set.

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Um, the NCAA has approved him to have

two seasons of competition remaining

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in his, in his college career.

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Um, and he brings just a ton, a

ton of experience, poise, skill

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level, and just size to our lineup.

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I wish I could start talking about,

you know, how he fits in, but I don't

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wanna do that until I actually see it.

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I know we have a plan, but, you know,

to have him here and with the other guys

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that we, we need to get to that first, uh,

before we just start jumping out there.

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Um, and then one of the last

guys is Zamoku Weluche-Ume.

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He is from the Unit- the UK.

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Uh-

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Double figure score at A&T, played

at George Washington before that.

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You talk about somebody who

just works, somebody that is

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just in the gym all the time.

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He grabbed me today after practice,

um, and wanted to get up some shots.

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He is-- He-- People, he's

six-eight and a half.

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He's got a seven-two, I think, wingspan.

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He is bordering on two

hundred and thirty pounds.

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You know, I, I-- And this is no

offense to last year's roster, but I

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mean, when Steph Walker went out just

everybody knows we had to start KC Shaw

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as our quote-unquote power forward.

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KC's six-three and a half, six-four.

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Uh, we have a true power forward

now, uh, somebody that can slide over

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and play some three, somebody that

can slide over and play some five.

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But he is going to be just a

horse for us, uh, at the four.

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He does a little bit of everything.

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Uh, the one thing that we're really

excited about, and I hope you guys can

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hear a common theme, is on the defensive

end of the floor he can guard so much.

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He is aggressive on the ball.

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He attacks the ball.

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He rebounds at a very high level.

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He finishes around the rim.

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You know, all of these guys got things

that we wanna work on with, but just

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in terms of just playing hard and

with a motor Zam is what everybody

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calls him, is, oh man, uh, we, we,

we're, we're really lucky to have him.

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Really lucky to have him.

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Um, those are the, the portal guys

that we have and then, you know-

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Aaron: Before we move on to the, your

freshman signing class, To build on

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what you just said, Mike you mentioned

it there with Zam, you mentioned it

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with Kylan about being a plus six.

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It reminds me of a conversation that

Mike and I had with Coach Seiler, I

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think it was Coach Seiler that we were

talking to a few weeks ago, with regards

374

to philosophies and defense and length.

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So in basketball so many people are

looking at how tall the guys are, and

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that's kind of the primary conversation.

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Can you talk a little bit about

length and what that does on the

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court, and what that allows you

and your coaches to be able to do?

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HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

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So wingspan is just as valuable,

maybe even slightly more in

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terms of your positional size.

382

Your weight also greatly affects

your quote-unquote positional size.

383

So you know, I can be, we- no,

there's only two players on our

384

roster that have a, an even wingspan.

385

Their, their height and

their wingspan match.

386

Everyone else is a plus.

387

That is intentional.

388

Uh, we wanna be longer.

389

We wanna have more positional size.

390

We wanna be able to … Like you'll

see Kylan go up against another 6'10"

391

kid this year, but if they both just

reach their hands in the air, Kylan's

392

reach will be three, four, maybe even

five inches bigger than the person

393

that's also raising their hand.

394

Like that is an advantage for him.

395

He can get to more

rebounds because of that.

396

He can block more shots because of that.

397

He can deflect more

passes because of that.

398

And that is something that again,

with the way we're gonna play defense

399

you know, we'll talk about the new

coaches but the defensive mindset

400

that they're bringing to our program

that positional size is paramount to

401

us being able to be successful there.

402

So, you know, we talked about last

summer how we wanted to get better

403

offensively, and we did that.

404

We did that.

405

We absolutely 100% did that.

406

Uh, we lacked the defensive

focus and intensity that we

407

needed to maybe be better.

408

But We were intentional in

getting better offensively.

409

This off-season, we've said we don't wanna

sacrifice any of that offensive progress

410

that we made, and I don't think we have.

411

But we had to get bigger so that we can

be a much, much better defensive team.

412

And, you know, at least

on paper, we've done that.

413

Obviously the games will kinda

solidify that for us, but again we had

414

a mission and I think we've done it

415

Mike: All right.

416

So when you were building this roster

together, you had two new staff

417

members that took part in that.

418

Talk to us about Jim and Orlando.

419

HC Mike Jones: So yeah you know, it,

it was our intent to, add to our staff

420

people that were going to specialize

in that end of the floor, the defensive

421

end of the floor, that would be able

to come in and help us in that area.

422

We recognize we have to get

better there in order for us to

423

be a consistent competitor in our

league and outside of our league.

424

And last year, we scored plenty

of points, plenty of points.

425

That was not the issue.

426

We couldn't get stops when

we absolutely needed it.

427

And Hiring Orlando and hiring Jim

were both two moves that we felt

428

like were necessary in order for us

to, again, we have a goal of being a

429

better defensive team, and both of the-

They're, they're just as important as

430

any player that we put on the floor

because of the mindset they come with.

431

Orlando comes from UVA.

432

Um, he was on the staff when they won

433

He's been an assistant at UVA.

434

He's been an assistant at Charlotte.

435

He's been a u- assistant

at Boston University.

436

He's from Boston.

437

He's contributed to a lot of

winning in the programs he's been

438

a part of and learned so much.

439

Especially, again, I know everybody

thinks about the great defensive

440

UVA teams that have been through the

ranks, but he was there with them

441

pretty much every step of the way.

442

So his mentality and bringing

that defensive mindset to

443

our program has been great.

444

And then Coach Mo has gone from, uh,

assistant coach to head coach back to

445

assistant coach and his just experience.

446

And again, he sat in the big chair

so, you know, his contribution

447

to me personally is invaluable.

448

But you talk about just

a defensive person.

449

Like, you know, we joke about

it, like Coach Mo might not

450

know much about what I play.

451

He might not even know what our

plays are called offensively, but you

452

better b- rest assured he is going

to be coaching every single defensive

453

dribble, pass, every step you take.

454

He is a very intense coach that our

guys love and feed off of his energy.

455

So, it's a pleasure to have both

of those guys join our families.

456

Both faith-filled men that align with

who we are as a staff already, and, uh,

457

again, just very happy to have them.

458

Mike: So last season, uh, we had this f-

we had a great, uh, rim protector in Cal.

459

If he got into foul trouble,

the defense kinda went with

460

him when he went to the bench.

461

'Cause w-e, we were not great at

stopping penetration and there wasn't-

462

HC Mike Jones: There's

a reason you say that.

463

That's

464

… Mike: i, I wanna kinda build on that.

465

So this season it looks like what

you've brought onto the team with Lucio,

466

Kylan, and Zam is you have a lot more

options for that five position if any

467

one of those guys is in foul trouble.

468

HC Mike Jones: So we have that option,

but I, to be honest with you, I think

469

even more important than that is the first

line of defense prevents you from getting

470

to, you know, where Cal would've been.

471

You know, you … I'm not saying those

guys won't get in foul trouble, but the

472

defenders that Khoi and Jotham and Bubu

and even, some of our returning players,

473

again, d- different defensive strategy

is bringing out the best in them, too.

474

So, um, we, we are, again- Who the hell

knows until we actually throw the ball up?

475

But I am I'm looking forward to this.

476

Uh, we, we, we see a lot of good

things, uh, each and every day when

477

we're on the court with those guys

478

Aaron: All right, so you got

your freshman signing class.

479

You got three coming in.

480

Let's talk about those, Mike.

481

HC Mike Jones: Yeah, so the

latest one is Theo Gerges.

482

He comes from Prolific Prep.

483

Prolific Prep used to be out in

California, but last season they moved to

484

to Florida and he was on the team there.

485

Prolific Prep is one of the top two or

three high school programs in the country.

486

Theo comes from them as a

walk-on to us, uh, somebody that,

487

again, we're very happy to have.

488

He can shoot, really shoot the ball,

but just he's gonna be a program guy.

489

He's gonna be somebody that comes in

and does whatever this team needs in

490

order to contribute in any way possible.

491

And to be honest with you, having a

relationship with Prolific Prep is not

492

the worst thing in the world either.

493

So, um, you know, Theo joining us

kinda opens up a pipeline for us there.

494

Coach Bernardi, uh, really good coach.

495

Uh, I, I recruited his program, uh, when

he was at the Burlington School in North

496

Carolina when I was at Virginia Tech,

so I've known him for a few years here.

497

And, uh, Coach Ryan Bernardi called

me and was just like, "Hey, I got

498

a kid that wants to walk on to ODU.

499

Um, would you mind talking to him?"

500

And we had a conversation with Theo,

conversation with his parents, and,

501

uh, we're very happy to have him.

502

CJ Lyons is a DMV kid.

503

Comes from a very successful

high school program.

504

A super athlete, a very fast player

plays much bigger than his frame.

505

He does need to put on weight.

506

He knows that.

507

But you talk about, you know,

somebody that's got five years to

508

play college basketball now he's

gonna be one hell of a player.

509

And the one thing that I wanna make

sure that he understands is, hey,

510

there's no timetable on when you do it.

511

It's-- we're gonna be patient,

but we don't want Theo excuse me,

512

we don't want CJ thinking that,

"Hey you know, I'm a year away.

513

I'm two years away."

514

I want CJ every single day to be

out there pushing and pushing.

515

Because first of all, that's gonna

help us get better, but that's

516

just gonna have him, probably be

a, a little bit more ready before

517

maybe some would expect him to be.

518

So I'm looking forward to coaching him.

519

Again, uh, not the worst thing in the

world to have a relationship with the

520

program that he's coming from either.

521

So

522

And then CJ Harper coming from Atlanta.

523

I went to see him when he was a

freshman and I was leaving Virginia

524

Tech right when I got to Maryland.

525

Uh, it was the end of his freshman

year going into his sophomore year.

526

Was incredibly impressed with him then.

527

He's used to playing with older guys.

528

He's used to playing with much more

bigger guys and experienced guys.

529

Both of the CJs are lefties.

530

When it comes to some things, CJ

Lyons is a little ambidextrous

531

when it comes to some things.

532

Both of them are incredibly athletic.

533

And to be honest with you, CJ Harper has

been so impressive in our workouts so far.

534

He is somebody who I think will

be a surprise to a lot of people.

535

Again, somebody that needs to understand

the physicality of the college game,

536

needs to get stronger, but both CJs

are going to give us opportunities to

537

have some young guards in our program

that we hope to be able to keep.

538

Um, but young guards in our program

that you know, definitely say that

539

the future, um, as long as we can

keep these guys around, that the

540

future's gonna be pretty bright.

541

CJ Harper is … I think

fans are gonna love him.

542

Both of those guys play above the rim.

543

It … Yeah.

544

They're, they're, they're,

they're really good.

545

CJ's been shoot- CJ Harper has been

shooting the ball really well, um,

546

since he basically landed in Norfolk.

547

You know, his dad's a trainer.

548

He's used to being in the gym and he,

he's been a pleasure to have, uh, thus far

549

and, uh, we expect big things from him.

550

Aaron: I think if- All right.

551

So- … I remember correctly, we

had a former Old Dominion point

552

guard from Atlanta that has seen

CJ Harper play a little bit and-

553

HC Mike Jones: Yeah

554

…

that was pretty good 'cause Ahmad Caver when CJ was coming here for his visit

555

so he's, him and his family were on the

flight from Atlanta to come for his visit.

556

Ahmad happened to be on

the flight with them.

557

And Ahmad, being from that area down

there, had worked out with CJ's dad

558

with all the other pros and European

players that, uh, work out in that gym.

559

And CJ plays with them all the time.

560

That's when I say he, he's used

to playing with older guys.

561

CJ plays with them all the time.

562

So I'm assuming Ahmad was in first

class 'cause when the plane landed,

563

he was the first one off the plane

and we saw him probably 15 minutes

564

before we saw CJ and his family.

565

But he immediately walked up to us as

we waited to pick CJ and his family up

566

at the airport, and he was like, "Yo

the kid y'all have coming to visit,

567

like I've, I've worked out with him."

568

He was like, "Hey, like that kid can go."

569

And he was very complimentary

of him 'cause he had been in so

570

many workouts and played with him

in pickup and things like that.

571

So, he got, he got the stamp

of one of the Monarch greats.

572

And, uh, again, I, I

didn't need to be sold.

573

I already knew how good he was,

but it just gave me a little

574

bit more confirmation that that

was a young man that we wanted

575

Mike: And we should mention that

he is family with an ODU alum?

576

HC Mike Jones: Dave Harvey.

577

Yes, sir, David Harvey.

578

So Dave is in Richmond and Big

Dave, my man, Big Dave will be down

579

here at a lot of games, I'm sure.

580

Uh, we gotta roll out the red carpet for

him when he does, 'cause I'm assuming,

581

and I, I don't I know no different at

some point in time the Harper family had

582

to ask Dave, like, what he thought, and

I'm sure Dave helped us close that deal.

583

So, yeah, we, we gonna

take care of Big Dave

584

Mike: All right.

585

Uh, I kinda wanna talk about the NCAA

does rule changes or evaluates rules

586

every year and makes some tweaks.

587

This is not a rule change year,

but they've made some changes.

588

They're changing how they're

gonna do the 10-second rule.

589

Now it has to be 19 seconds

on the clock instead of 20.

590

But there's four points

of emphasis this season.

591

So I'm gonna mention the

first points of emphasis.

592

You talked to me about that.

593

So post-play physicality.

594

HC Mike Jones: So it's

a war in there anyway.

595

Those guys beat the crap outta each other.

596

It'll be interesting to see

how they adjudicate you know,

597

what's a foul, what's not a foul.

598

Displacement.

599

You know, you get guards that

get switched on to bigs, and you

600

know, they try to kinda root 'em

out, get as low as possible, and

601

get under 'em and, and move 'em.

602

Will they allow that?

603

Sometimes coaches teach

players that, you know what?

604

You're way bigger than me, and I can't box

you out, so I'm just gonna face guard you.

605

Well, they've started to k- kinda

call that a foul if you don't turn

606

and at least try to pursue the ball.

607

It'll be interesting to see if that

affects the whole point of emphasis on

608

physicality, if that affects it at all.

609

It's a great thought.

610

It, it's really gonna be curious

to see how they, how they enforce

611

whatever the rules are gonna be

612

Mike: All right, point of emphasis

number two, offensive three second

613

violations, which I can't remember

the last time that was called.

614

HC Mike Jones: Well, they called

it on us twice last year, and I

615

remember I said that to a ref.

616

So it was at Richmond and

he kinda laughed at me.

617

I was like, "Yo, I haven't…

618

No one has called three

seconds in a decade.

619

Like, what are we doing here?"

620

And he was like, "Mike, he was in there."

621

And I was like, "Yeah,

but like, who calls that?"

622

And they called it twice.

623

They called it twice in the same game and,

you know, that was one of them road games.

624

You know, we wound up losing by eight

or nine points, I mean, but that

625

was at a crucial point in the game.

626

And, at least this time around, like

you're telling us it's a point of

627

emphasis, so now we can coach to it.

628

It's almost like charges.

629

Like, no one calls a charge anymore,

so no one tries to take a charge.

630

Everybody tries to just stay

vertical and go straight up.

631

If you're all of a sudden gonna c-

start calling charges again, you need

632

to tell us so that we can coach to that.

633

And, uh, I kind of felt a little miffed

last year because that wasn't a point of

634

emphasis and, for just one, one single

game, you know, you decide that you're

635

gonna be the enforcer on three second

calls for all of college basketball.

636

And then the funny thing was you

know, that was an afternoon game.

637

I come home that night, I'm mad, and I'm

watching college basketball, and I saw

638

it called in two other games that night.

639

And I'm just like, "What?

640

Was there a mImo that was sent to

officials this morning or something?"

641

But then you didn't see it called

for the rest of the season.

642

So it…

643

Yeah I don't know.

644

I don't know.

645

Clarity is the biggest import- most

important thing, and I'm, I'm hoping we

646

have clarity so that we can coach to that.

647

Mike: All right, third

is freedom of movement.

648

Which is a very, like…

649

That is, talk about everything.

650

Like, that's too- Yeah … superfluous.

651

Like, it's,

652

it doesn't, what does it mean?

653

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

654

So again it'll be interesting

to see how it's adjudicated.

655

You got guys with the ball and, you know,

what do you allow hand checking wise?

656

You got guys that are cutting.

657

What you allow physicality wise?

658

Like, you know, you have the majority of

college basketball, shoot, probably even

659

in high school at this point, you teach

your players if somebody comes across

660

the lane, somebody better touch 'em.

661

And when you say touch, you

mean more than just touch 'em.

662

That invo- is, is attributed or, or

I'm inclined to say that's gonna be

663

part of freedom, freedom of movement.

664

It'll be very interesting to

see how they adjudicate that.

665

Obviously going from one block to

another in the post, and again,

666

we've already talked about the

physicality there, but you know, how

667

free will you be able to move there?

668

If the purpose is to

increase scoring, I…

669

if you really do what we're

talking about, it will.

670

Um, offenses will become

way more efficient.

671

Houston, one of the best defensive

teams in the country, they beat you up.

672

They are as physical as you can get

673

I'm not convinced you're gonna be

able to get them to not be that way.

674

So it, again it'll be very

interesting to see how these rules

675

are implemented or these points of

emphasis are kinda, kinda whistled.

676

Mike: And then fourth one,

another one that you don't re-

677

you rarely see called traveling.

678

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

679

We'll see.

680

I'ma just leave it at that.

681

We'll see.

682

We'll see.

683

You, everything that happens

in the NBA some way, somehow

684

eventually trickles down.

685

And the ability for those guys to,

get their giddy-up steps before

686

they get going and things like

that has started to trickle down.

687

Again, I don't care as long as it's

consistent and you can coach to it.

688

If you're gonna allow guys to kinda

get that rocker step going before

689

they go, if it's that way every

single game, and you can actually,

690

when you're working kids out, you can

work out with that in mind, great.

691

I remember the first time I played a game

my very first game playing in Finland, my

692

very first professional basketball game.

693

I got the ball on the fast break.

694

The ball pass got thrown ahead,

and I got it and threw it ahead

695

and went in and dunked the ball,

and I got called for a travel.

696

Because in Europe you have to get

two feet on the floor and then start.

697

You, you…

698

And they've eased up from that throughout

the years because of the NBA and because

699

of so many Americans going over to play.

700

So, it, it'll be interesting.

701

It'll be interesting.

702

I said I was gonna leave

it at that obviously.

703

I said a lot more, but it, it'll be- And

704

Mike: there's one…

705

And then the r- well, the article

I referenced from the NCAA on the

706

rules being evaluated, they are still

considering going to quarters from halves.

707

Um, I'd love to hear your thoughts on what

how you feel about quarters versus halves.

708

HC Mike Jones: Okay.

709

So, I think it'd be a good thing for a

number of reasons, 'cause it's a layered-

710

Going to quarters it's not just timing

or breaking it down differently.

711

One, I think you get to

coach more doing it that way.

712

You get to coach more.

713

So think about it.

714

We've all been in attendance at

games that, you've got your media

715

timeouts every four minutes, but,

sometimes the flow is just going, and

716

you go so far past when the media was

supposed to happen, you start running

717

into whatever the next media is.

718

Well, quarters prevents that,

at least for that timing period.

719

So that under 12 and under eight

media timeout there's a timeout in

720

there whether you want it or not,

'cause 10 minutes is gonna run out.

721

So I think that allows us to

722

In my opinion, it will keep games

closer because you're going on

723

that run between that under 12

and under eight media timeout.

724

Well, there's a stoppage of play in there.

725

You get your team together.

726

Things are going well,

you get to talk about it.

727

Things are not going well,

you get to talk about it.

728

There I think there's more coaching.

729

So I would love that, one.

730

Two, most likely if you go to quarters,

you change the foul situation.

731

So it's not seven fouls to get into the

bonus, it becomes five fouls per quarter.

732

That changes the flow of a game now.

733

So now af- at the start of every

quarter, you start back at zero.

734

You know, you have those games where,

you know, the refs are just whistle

735

happy early on, and you wind up being

in the bonus with 11 minutes left.

736

Okay, but now horn goes off in

a minute and you start back from

737

scratch for the second quarter.

738

So that allows a little

bit more flow for the game.

739

You're not just shooting

a bunch of free throws.

740

Strategy-wise, you know, hey,

we're, we're one shot away from,

741

or one foul away from the bonus.

742

Let's just put our head down and

go to the hole because we can shoot

743

free throws for the rest of the half.

744

That changes it.

745

We can shoot free throws for the

last minute of this quarter, but

746

then we gotta start all over.

747

So it, it definitely is layered and

it has different effects that again,

748

I think help our game, especially

from an offensive standpoint.

749

Every, every, everybody loves, uh, buzzer

beaters, and you just added a couple too.

750

Um, I think that's also a benefit

just in terms of excitement.

751

So you don't just have the buzzer beater

at the end of the half, end of the game.

752

Now you have four of them

four opportunities for one.

753

Aaron: Going back a couple minutes

ago when you were talking about the

754

CJs you mentioned what you thought

that they could do in five years.

755

A interesting opportunity a few

days ago, Mike published an article

756

on our webpage where we were

talking at odumonarchists.com.

757

This article right here,

The Five in Five Rule.

758

A lot of good stuff in there, but

wanted to ask you your thoughts on

759

the five in five rule, how it's gonna

affect college basketball overall,

760

and Old Dominion specifically.

761

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

762

So, it, for at least the next year it's

gonna be a little funky because- How

763

have you recruited in the last 12 months?

764

And now you have to look at your

roster and figure out who's in

765

their fourth year, and now they

potentially could stay and play.

766

So now your number of scholarships

available, which you're

767

recruiting to, that is impacted

by what those young men do.

768

You don't know what those young

men will do until next spring.

769

So it definitely, for at least until

we get our bearings about us it

770

changes and it gets funky a little bit.

771

And, you know, unfortunately,

once again, the high school player

772

gets screwed over a little bit.

773

Now, in a couple years it'll balance

out and everybody, this is what the

774

norm is and we'll be able to go there.

775

And, and you'll be able to plan for that.

776

Um, but you know, the first

year, maybe two years, it's

777

gonna be a little squirrely.

778

So that's one.

779

Two, again, your players and your,

I'm a senior this year, and I now

780

know I can play again next year.

781

What motivates my decision-making?

782

I just wanna play in a program that I

got a chance to go to the Final Four.

783

You know what?

784

I know I may not play, but shoot, I just

played four years, had a great career.

785

Let me go sit on the end of a

bench at a Power Five school that

786

maybe gives me a chance to do that.

787

I get a little bit of

money, and let's do that.

788

Or you know what?

789

Man, I've been at this school and I've

done really well, but I got one more year.

790

I've averaged, you know, eight points a

game throughout my four years of playing.

791

I really wanna play in Europe.

792

I really want the opportunity to

play after this, so you know what?

793

I'm just gonna go to whatever school

I can where I'm gonna be able to be

794

featured offensively so that I can have

the resume so I can go play overseas.

795

So that impacts my decision.

796

For a coach it, it impacts us

too because my relationship

797

with you now can be extended.

798

If…

799

let's take Jordan Battle.

800

If Jordan Battle was in his fourth

year of school and now Jordan, we just

801

got told, "Hey, Jordan gets a fifth

year," man, like how excited would we

802

all be if Jordan Battle was able to

put the uniform on for another season?

803

Jordan Battle also would've

been very expensive because of

804

Aaron: the- He would've had to buy a

lot more, uh, grape Uncrustables too.

805

HC Mike Jones: But truthfully, I mean, you

think about how he ended the season, but

806

the year he had overall, as effective as

he was, Jordan Battle's one of those young

807

men that could've wrote his own price

this off-season to go wherever he wanted

808

to, uh, because of his ability to play.

809

It's the five and five.

810

The really good thing about it is

it does away with all the waivers.

811

It does away with all of 'em.

812

So, let's just say one of our

guys this year, you know what?

813

He needs a year to develop.

814

Let's redshirt him.

815

Now there's absolutely no

motivation to redshirt anybody.

816

You get five years only,

no matter what you do.

817

So get 'em in here.

818

And I think that's a good thing.

819

There is no more, "Well, I got hurt

and I did this and I did that."

820

Like, it's everybody gets five years.

821

The negative side, if there is one, is

there's a whole lot of records that are

822

gonna get broken 'cause what you did

in four years, I get five years to do.

823

You know, the all-time games played

at every school, if a kid decides to

824

stay in some place for four years,

like those records are all gone.

825

All-time leading scorer and all

three-pointers made, all of that, like

826

all of those records are gonna be gone.

827

So, like again, I think that's a very

small thing, but you know, record-wise.

828

Mike: Well, they're made

to be broken, right?

829

Aaron: I- And lots of asterisks.

830

HC Mike Jones: I guess so.

831

But like Patrick McGee and Reggie

Vennie, I mean, excuse me, Keith Vennie

832

and those guys that, you know, were

breaking records for threes made in a

833

career, like they're gonna be outside

the top 20 in a blink of an eye.

834

You're gonna have…

835

Obviously three's a shot at a higher

rate now anyway, but for guys that

836

were just elite at it, like they'll

be afterthoughts at this point, even

837

though they're some of the best shooters

to ever play college basketball.

838

Mike: All right, so before

we started recording, we

839

always talk like we always do.

840

You told us about a scheduling

announcement that you would

841

like to share with the crowd.

842

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

843

We found out today who game

number one's gonna be against.

844

We have the, uh, Western

Michigan Broncos coming to

845

Chartway on Monday, November 2nd.

846

They have a brand-new coach from

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

847

Uh, his reputation definitely

precedes him as one of the

848

toughest, hard-nosed, grinding…

849

we're, we're in for, we're

in for a dog fight there.

850

It, uh, we get one extra exhibition

game to or preseason game, whatever

851

you wanna call it, to prepare for that.

852

But I w- I was very, excuse me, very

excited today when I got, uh, the email

853

from the league and from the scheduling

people to announce all the matchups.

854

I'm very excited about just getting

back in Chartway and, and trying

855

to start the season one and O.

856

Aaron: All right, so emails came out

the other day from Kieran Donohue

857

about the men's basketball ODU golf

tournament in September, September 14th.

858

Can you spend a minute or two,

talk about the golf tournament, why

859

it's so important for the program?

860

HC Mike Jones: So other than the fact that

I love golf I really just, I look forward

861

to this every year because of the, the

people that I get to spend some time with.

862

You know, it might be just a passing

conversation on the driving range.

863

It might be, a longer

conversation as we stand in line

864

to get food at the end of it.

865

But you know, at the core

of our program are our fans.

866

At the core of our program are all

the, the men and women that support us.

867

So I think that this opportunity

to play in the golf tournament,

868

obviously you are supporting ODU

men's basketball when you do that.

869

But to be able to meet the players, to

meet the coaches, and to spend time around

870

everyone who is rooting for us to win,

everyone that we're-- You know, we, I

871

talk to our team all the time about we're

all pulling in the same direction, and

872

that's how we're gonna be successful.

873

Well, you know, when you come to

something like that or any event that

874

we have, everybody in that room's

all pulling in the same direction.

875

Everybody wants to see

us win and be successful.

876

So, uh, just to be around that

energy is important to me.

877

I think it's a great thing for

our players to see provided that

878

the weather's great, but you know,

usually those days are warm and, guys

879

are out there having a good time.

880

But you know, our players are, you know,

meeting you on the, the greens of all

881

the holes and then they spread out in

the little luncheon afterwards to be

882

able to sit with everybody and, you

know, our fans get to meet our guys.

883

I think it's just a great thing

for our guys to be able to see.

884

Again, these are the people

we're trying to make proud.

885

These are the people that are a huge

part of the reason why you're even here.

886

I, I would just beg Monarch Nation to

support that as much as you can because

887

through that you're supporting us.

888

But give us the opportunity

to just to tell you thank you.

889

And, and we do a lot of

that on, on, on that day.

890

So September 14th, we'll be

saying thank you an awful lot.

891

Mike: Well, we will be there.

892

It's always a great opportunity

to check out a great golf course.

893

Yeah.

894

It's always in fantastic shape.

895

Uh, they treat us so great,

feeding us before and after.

896

Eh, and one of my favorite moments last

year was we roll up to a par three,

897

an island o- right over the water,

and we see the whole basketball team.

898

And we s- chill with them for a minute

and let them take their shots at this par

899

three, and it was fun watching these guys.

900

Some had never swung a golf club before.

901

Aaron: Made me feel better about my game.

902

Yeah.

903

Mike: I think Coop was the one that

looked, was the only one that looked

904

like he knew what he was doing.

905

HC Mike Jones: Yeah, but Coop

906

Aaron: worked on- but Jared

Turner was very confident.

907

HC Mike Jones: Yeah, Coop worked

on a golf course though, so

908

that, he's cheating a little bit.

909

He he, I think he worked at

Bayview for a couple of summers.

910

So yeah, he…

911

that's not fair.

912

That's not fair.

913

Mike: Well-

914

Aaron: And I have…

915

Oh, sorry, Mike.

916

I- That's okay.

917

Go ahead I, I have to be

completely honest here too, Mike.

918

So we recorded an episode last night, it

hasn't come out yet, with Robbie Duncan.

919

He's a ODU football alum.

920

He's the head coach.

921

You're shaking your head like

you might even know him, over at,

922

uh, NansImond Suffolk Academy.

923

And I kind of put some pressure on you and

Matt Hamilton, a- and I did call it out,

924

in saying that this is the golf tournament

for a team that always has the best swag.

925

The best door prizes are always at

this particular golf tournament.

926

It's the only one I ever have a chance

of winning at, it's been that way for

927

a long time, so we're, we're expecting

it to be that way this year too.

928

HC Mike Jones: All right, so let me take

my name out of that it's on me and Matt.

929

It's on Matt and KD.

930

KD, K- and let me just…

931

KD is amazing.

932

Amazing.

933

He- he's the jack of all

trades if there ever is one.

934

He- if I need anything or if anybody asks

me about something I don't know, like I…

935

And KD I'm sure doesn't

necessarily appreciate it all

936

the time, but it's it's Ask KD.

937

It's like it's a button.

938

He's like Siri to us, like, 'cause

he knows a little bit of everything.

939

But I'm so appreciative of him.

940

Uh, ever since I've gotten here,

uh, he has been so helpful.

941

Helping us onboard our new coaches.

942

If we got an issue with, whether it be

housing for a player or meals or whatever,

943

he's had his hands in everything.

944

He…

945

You know, the president gave the

guys the blueprint to be able to

946

get that athletic dining hall.

947

KD is one of the guys that drove around,

uh, with Coach Rahne to be able to

948

visit different dining halls at other

institutions in the state of Virginia.

949

And he's he's the man.

950

He…

951

You know, if you're an MVP, KD is an MVP.

952

He is so impactful and helpful

in so many different ways.

953

I, I don't know what, I would do

if I didn't have the luxury and

954

the confidence that if I needed

something, I, I know there's one

955

person I can call that, he, he's gonna

find, find a way some way, somehow

956

Mike: So, uh, I can't

wait for the tournament.

957

It's always a blast.

958

But I'm gonna close on this, 'cause

I heard the ESPN, uh, alert pop up on

959

your phone while we've been on the call.

960

I imagine that was probably the

Kawhi Leonard trade that popped up

961

to your phone while we were talking.

962

HC Mike Jones: Actually, I

didn't button, but he got traded

963

before we started talking.

964

Mike: Okay.

965

Well, I don't…

966

W- what news was it?

967

I think it

968

Aaron: was part of the US,

uh, World Cup game probably.

969

HC Mike Jones: Could have been.

970

Could have been.

971

Mike: Okay.

972

Well, I was gonna ask you- I, I, this

973

HC Mike Jones: one, I'm locked in here.

974

I did not check.

975

Mike: Right.

976

HC Mike Jones: So I

977

Mike: don't- So behind you

is Jeremy Grant's jersey.

978

HC Mike Jones: Yep.

979

Mike: He will have to send you a new one,

'cause he got traded to the Grizzlies.

980

HC Mike Jones: So that's his Olympic

jersey, that's his Portland jersey.

981

Um, I always cringe a little bit

'cause, some of these guys do bounce

982

around a little bit, but yeah, we

will be getting a new jersey in.

983

I, this isn't breaking news but, I'm

gonna wait for that jersey just because

984

he potentially may not remain in Memphis.

985

He may be on the move elsewhere.

986

So we shall see.

987

We shall see.

988

Mike: Well, I was gonna ask

you, there's been a lot…

989

Like, every time I look at my phone,

there's someone else has been moved.

990

It's been a really crazy f- first day

of, or first couple days of the NBA

991

off season with all of these movements.

992

Yeah.

993

W- what's your big thought

so far as a big NBA fan?

994

HC Mike Jones: So did you see and

I don't know if it's confirmed,

995

that Paul George and Jaylen Brown?

996

Mike: Yep.

997

Aaron: No.

998

HC Mike Jones: So yeah.

999

I did

00:52:30,066 --> 00:52:30,586

Aaron: not.

00:52:31,096 --> 00:52:31,576

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

00:52:31,586 --> 00:52:35,036

So I think that's one of the

ones that's a little shocking.

00:52:35,036 --> 00:52:35,256

I've…

00:52:35,886 --> 00:52:37,786

And Paul George is really

good, don't get me wrong.

00:52:37,836 --> 00:52:38,056

I just still-

00:52:38,096 --> 00:52:38,956

Aaron: For each other?

00:52:39,516 --> 00:52:41,446

HC Mike Jones: And, and-

Yep … it's Paul George and picks.

00:52:42,276 --> 00:52:42,696

Mike: Okay

00:52:42,696 --> 00:52:46,782

… HC Mike Jones: I, I felt like-

Boston will get a little bit more.

00:52:47,422 --> 00:52:49,712

And again, that's no offense

to Paul George, but I know he

00:52:49,712 --> 00:52:52,892

is winding down, so to speak.

00:52:52,892 --> 00:52:56,462

So I'm gonna think they got two

first rounds or f- first rounders

00:52:56,462 --> 00:52:58,382

and two second rounders for him.

00:52:58,462 --> 00:53:02,772

I would've thought they would've gotten a

little bit more for a guy that very easily

00:53:02,772 --> 00:53:08,192

could have been an MVP last year if it

weren't for, you know, craziness um- A-

00:53:08,192 --> 00:53:13,042

Aaron: and as a Celtics fan for

forever, Jaylen's been so durable.

00:53:13,832 --> 00:53:18,772

So hearing that, Paul George

has not been so durable.

00:53:18,772 --> 00:53:18,802

Yeah.

00:53:18,802 --> 00:53:19,852

So I don't know.

00:53:20,372 --> 00:53:21,122

HC Mike Jones: Yeah, that also- I

00:53:21,122 --> 00:53:22,752

Aaron: don't know how

excited I am about that.

00:53:23,172 --> 00:53:27,942

HC Mike Jones: It also says to me

that whatever the disconnect with

00:53:28,852 --> 00:53:34,592

with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen is way

more than maybe the public knows.

00:53:35,072 --> 00:53:35,332

Um-

00:53:35,362 --> 00:53:35,752

Mike: Yeah

00:53:35,942 --> 00:53:39,532

… ' HC Mike Jones: cause you got you

gotta give more than that, or and

00:53:39,532 --> 00:53:42,072

again, shoot, Boston prove me wrong.

00:53:42,492 --> 00:53:47,622

I don't know if Tatum and Paul

George together makes the most sense.

00:53:48,012 --> 00:53:50,842

So definitely makes Philly relevant.

00:53:50,842 --> 00:53:50,852

I

00:53:50,852 --> 00:53:52,722

Mike: guess, what's the

status of his contract?

00:53:52,732 --> 00:53:55,082

How much time does Paul have

left on this current deal?

00:53:55,382 --> 00:53:56,252

HC Mike Jones: That's a good question.

00:53:56,812 --> 00:53:59,422

Mike: Because they might be

thinking ahead like, "All right,

00:53:59,422 --> 00:54:01,622

well, he's got a big deal.

00:54:01,892 --> 00:54:04,842

It might be expiring, and he

might be a really valuable trade

00:54:04,842 --> 00:54:06,382

asset at the deadline next year."

00:54:07,932 --> 00:54:08,502

HC Mike Jones: Let's see.

00:54:09,732 --> 00:54:10,162

Let's see.

00:54:10,202 --> 00:54:10,492

I just…

00:54:10,952 --> 00:54:13,622

If y- if you don't want him, if

he plays for you for one year and

00:54:13,622 --> 00:54:17,262

then he's out of there in free

agency, y- you definitely didn't

00:54:17,262 --> 00:54:18,562

get enough for him unless you wanna-

00:54:18,562 --> 00:54:19,092

Aaron: He's got…

00:54:19,092 --> 00:54:21,802

It looks like he's got two

years, this year and then a

00:54:21,802 --> 00:54:23,252

player option for next year,

00:54:23,642 --> 00:54:23,942

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

00:54:24,072 --> 00:54:24,382

And

00:54:24,972 --> 00:54:27,682

Aaron: it- At roughly $55 million a year.

00:54:27,992 --> 00:54:28,402

HC Mike Jones: Yeah.

00:54:28,502 --> 00:54:29,582

It'll be interesting to see.

00:54:30,632 --> 00:54:33,472

Yeah, people gotta realize

those player options versus team

00:54:33,482 --> 00:54:34,792

options, that's a huge thing.

00:54:35,342 --> 00:54:39,872

And unless Paul George is trying to do

someone a favor, he's definitely picking

00:54:39,872 --> 00:54:46,972

up his player option, 'cause who is

gonna wanna pay him $55 million, um,

00:54:47,032 --> 00:54:49,252

for someone that is on a downward trend?

00:54:49,702 --> 00:54:51,552

So for what it's worth.

00:54:52,112 --> 00:54:55,332

But anyway, Jeremy Grant, still one

of the best defenders in the league.

00:54:55,692 --> 00:54:56,582

Ever improving.

00:54:56,952 --> 00:54:59,932

Um, I'd love to see him get

with a team that's compen- uh,

00:55:00,122 --> 00:55:01,242

contending for a championship.

00:55:01,242 --> 00:55:03,342

So, I'm, I'm hoping that happens.

00:55:03,822 --> 00:55:05,772

The rebuild in Memphis is ongoing.

00:55:05,782 --> 00:55:07,062

Obviously they got Zach Edey.

00:55:07,082 --> 00:55:08,152

They just got Boozer.

00:55:08,672 --> 00:55:12,642

Um, but getting Jah out of

there, what they really will have

00:55:13,292 --> 00:55:17,822

outside of Boozer, Edey, and now

Jeremy it, it'll be interesting.

00:55:17,822 --> 00:55:22,572

So, if they're not ready to compete

I'd love to see Jeremy get on somewhere

00:55:22,572 --> 00:55:24,302

else with a team that is ready

00:55:25,674 --> 00:55:28,574

Aaron: And then from a, a Monarch

perspective, Zach's brother

00:55:28,574 --> 00:55:29,764

Aaron's on the move too, right?

00:55:29,834 --> 00:55:31,124

Atlanta, I think I saw?

00:55:31,384 --> 00:55:31,634

HC Mike Jones: Yep.

00:55:31,634 --> 00:55:35,714

So it makes it a little closer to

home for him and, uh- Yeah … you

00:55:35,714 --> 00:55:36,924

know, back on the Eastern Conference.

00:55:36,924 --> 00:55:41,154

And even forget the fact that he's

just in Atlanta now, so, you know,

00:55:41,164 --> 00:55:43,554

from where they live in North Carolina,

getting to Atlanta's really easy.

00:55:43,554 --> 00:55:46,554

But now all the teams he

plays are also over here.

00:55:46,634 --> 00:55:50,914

Oakland AC only comes to Eastern

Conference teams once a year.

00:55:51,394 --> 00:55:56,374

Now, shoot, they can go to Orlando,

they can go to Charlotte, they can

00:55:56,374 --> 00:55:59,614

go to DC, they can go to Philly.

00:55:59,634 --> 00:56:01,174

They, all the teams

that are on this, uh…

00:56:01,194 --> 00:56:02,074

They go to Miami.

00:56:02,664 --> 00:56:05,104

I get this is a, a huge thing for them.

00:56:05,134 --> 00:56:07,304

Cleveland, everything

is just so much closer

00:56:09,926 --> 00:56:11,316

Mike: Thank you for answering my question.

00:56:11,316 --> 00:56:15,176

I, I'm really excited 'cause as a

Laker fan, it's gonna be interesting

00:56:15,186 --> 00:56:20,936

to see how Luka, Walker Kessler,

Mamu, Reeves all look together.

00:56:21,416 --> 00:56:22,056

It's gonna be,

00:56:23,036 --> 00:56:27,186

Aaron: uh- Have you seen the social

media all, all the, like, AI pictures of

00:56:27,226 --> 00:56:30,046

LeBron in different jerseys and stuff?

00:56:30,186 --> 00:56:33,376

I mean, I th- yeah, one for the

Norfolk Tides earlier today.

00:56:34,426 --> 00:56:34,796

HC Mike Jones: Hey.

00:56:37,206 --> 00:56:37,526

And-

00:56:40,262 --> 00:56:42,802

it's gonna be very interesting

to see what happens.

00:56:43,222 --> 00:56:49,642

Um, I, I did see somebody talking about

the timing of LeBron's announcement that

00:56:49,642 --> 00:56:54,402

allowed Bronny to pick, have his $2.3

00:56:54,962 --> 00:56:59,252

million salary picked up first

and then LeBron said, "I'm out."

00:56:59,902 --> 00:57:03,172

Um, had he done that a couple of

days earlier, you know, maybe Bronny

00:57:03,232 --> 00:57:06,032

doesn't remain a Los Angeles Laker.

00:57:06,032 --> 00:57:07,682

So, that, that was interesting,

00:57:08,092 --> 00:57:11,752

Mike: yeah, he's always protected his

son a little bit like any good dad does.

00:57:13,682 --> 00:57:14,732

HC Mike Jones: I, no comment.

00:57:18,332 --> 00:57:19,002

Mike: All right, Coach.

00:57:19,002 --> 00:57:21,432

Well, we really do

appreciate your time today.

00:57:21,532 --> 00:57:22,792

Thank you as always.

00:57:23,202 --> 00:57:23,632

Aaron?

00:57:26,056 --> 00:57:26,516

Let's do it.

00:57:26,546 --> 00:57:27,346

Go Monarchs.

00:57:27,866 --> 00:57:28,806

HC Mike Jones: No, not yet.

00:57:29,006 --> 00:57:29,466

I got one more thing.

00:57:29,466 --> 00:57:29,646

Oh.

00:57:30,436 --> 00:57:30,706

Mike: Oh.

00:57:30,926 --> 00:57:31,456

Aaron: There's more.

00:57:31,706 --> 00:57:31,956

That's-

00:57:32,016 --> 00:57:32,506

Mike: All right.

00:57:32,986 --> 00:57:33,336

HC Mike Jones: I got one more

00:57:33,336 --> 00:57:33,366

Mike: thing.

00:57:33,366 --> 00:57:34,426

Sorry for jumping ahead.

00:57:35,256 --> 00:57:38,886

Mike, uh, do you have a closing

message for Monarchs out there?

00:57:38,986 --> 00:57:42,596

HC Mike Jones: Oh I, I got a little

tease here, so, and this is a tease and

00:57:42,606 --> 00:57:47,096

I do apologize for making it that, but

by the time this gets worked out this

00:57:47,096 --> 00:57:51,956

will have been published already, and

this is g- I hope will move pretty fast.

00:57:52,036 --> 00:57:56,376

Uh, I mentioned earlier we are allowed

to have three preseason games now.

00:57:56,886 --> 00:58:00,896

In the past we've only been allowed to

have two, um, and then before it was,

00:58:00,946 --> 00:58:02,836

exhibition scrimmage, all that stuff.

00:58:02,836 --> 00:58:05,656

So, we're, we're in the red zone.

00:58:05,796 --> 00:58:07,416

We're, we're inside the five.

00:58:07,416 --> 00:58:12,446

We're, we haven't scored yet, but,

um, that, that school in Richmond that

00:58:12,456 --> 00:58:17,056

we all would love to play potentially

will be coming to Chartway Arena for

00:58:17,056 --> 00:58:19,436

an exhibition game this preseason.

00:58:19,496 --> 00:58:25,586

Um, if that happens, I think that

is huge in at least taking that step

00:58:25,646 --> 00:58:30,576

towards potentially, uh, getting back

on each other's schedule going forward.

00:58:30,626 --> 00:58:32,066

Um, looking forward to that.

00:58:32,366 --> 00:58:36,296

Coach Martelli and his staff, uh, I know

those guys really, really, really well.

00:58:36,776 --> 00:58:41,766

And I'm looking forward to them just, you

know, the, the, if it happens, the game

00:58:41,776 --> 00:58:46,256

allowing us to just be even more prepared

for what our regular season will be.

00:58:46,766 --> 00:58:49,226

But I know our fans, that's

something that our fans want.

00:58:49,326 --> 00:58:52,966

And, uh, again, it'd be

something we, we hope can happen.

00:58:52,966 --> 00:58:57,596

So it's not a done deal yet, but

we are as close as you can be

00:58:57,596 --> 00:58:58,756

without it being a done deal.

00:58:58,936 --> 00:58:59,546

Aaron: Well, that's cool.

00:58:59,686 --> 00:59:01,326

I mean, I saw the post on NC State.

00:59:01,336 --> 00:59:02,486

They don't hide from the smoke.

00:59:04,826 --> 00:59:06,156

HC Mike Jones: We shall-

00:59:06,156 --> 00:59:06,666

Aaron: That's me not you.

00:59:07,746 --> 00:59:09,066

HC Mike Jones: We shall see what happens.

00:59:09,096 --> 00:59:10,216

We shall see what happens.

00:59:10,256 --> 00:59:13,606

Nonetheless, it's just a

exhibition game, just a scrimmage.

00:59:14,116 --> 00:59:16,646

Obviously, you know, we're

gonna try to play our best, just

00:59:16,766 --> 00:59:20,766

preparing us to, potentially have

the best year we possibly can.

00:59:20,886 --> 00:59:22,816

Um, and that's what that

game will be used for.

00:59:23,096 --> 00:59:27,626

But again, just underlying taking another

step towards, hopefully getting them

00:59:27,636 --> 00:59:29,096

back on our schedule is really good.

00:59:29,456 --> 00:59:31,396

And I'm really happy with our

schedule this year, by the way.

00:59:31,636 --> 00:59:34,006

So just real quick, sorry you

didn't ask, but I'm gonna tell you.

00:59:34,266 --> 00:59:37,226

So last year we had 13

home games, 18 on the road.

00:59:37,566 --> 00:59:40,526

This year we have 17 home

games, 15 on the road.

00:59:40,946 --> 00:59:43,316

A much more manageable, uh, schedule.

00:59:43,476 --> 00:59:46,296

I'll be the first to admit, you

know, we bit off, in hindsight

00:59:46,296 --> 00:59:49,656

way more than we could chew uh,

with our scheduling last year.

00:59:49,686 --> 00:59:52,316

And obviously that affected our

confidence and things like that.

00:59:52,716 --> 00:59:57,886

But nonetheless we're very excited,

um, with, uh, the leadership of Wood

00:59:57,906 --> 01:00:01,636

Selig and Michael Ruett and our athletic

administration, you know, getting

01:00:01,636 --> 01:00:03,046

our schedule together this year.

01:00:03,496 --> 01:00:06,866

We're excited about potentially

what, what it, what it looks like.

01:00:06,866 --> 01:00:12,076

And, having Richmond come here,

uh, for a game in December, um, you

01:00:12,086 --> 01:00:15,436

know, we get to play at UVA and at

Virginia Tech and at George Mason,

01:00:15,456 --> 01:00:17,806

all in-state, uh, institutions.

01:00:17,806 --> 01:00:19,526

Um, we've got Hampton coming to us.

01:00:19,526 --> 01:00:20,886

We go to Norfolk State.

01:00:21,126 --> 01:00:22,656

We have Drexel coming here.

01:00:23,116 --> 01:00:26,836

Yeah we're, we're really excited

about uh, what our schedule look like

01:00:26,916 --> 01:00:29,626

amongst other, uh, games that we have.

01:00:29,626 --> 01:00:30,306

Um, so yeah.

01:00:30,566 --> 01:00:32,686

Mike: Th- that Norfolk State

game will be at Echols?

01:00:33,640 --> 01:00:34,050

HC Mike Jones: Yes, sir.

01:00:34,300 --> 01:00:37,847

Uh, that was the s- the contract

we scheduled or signed last year.

01:00:37,847 --> 01:00:39,747

We'll play them on Veterans Day.

01:00:39,777 --> 01:00:43,337

And, you know, after the game this

year, uh, Coach Jones and I'll talk

01:00:43,557 --> 01:00:45,497

and, uh, see if we can keep that going.

01:00:47,027 --> 01:00:47,337

Mike: Awesome.

01:00:48,597 --> 01:00:48,787

Good

01:00:48,787 --> 01:00:49,237

Aaron: deal.

01:00:49,707 --> 01:00:51,097

Well, thanks for sharing that, Coach.

01:00:51,157 --> 01:00:52,467

It's awesome to have you back.

01:00:52,797 --> 01:00:55,527

This is the first episode

of the new season.

01:00:55,877 --> 01:00:59,187

Um, so look forward to having you back

and talking more Monarch basketball.

01:00:59,197 --> 01:00:59,227

Yep.

01:00:59,907 --> 01:01:01,793

And go Monarchs.

01:01:02,103 --> 01:01:02,623

HC Mike Jones: Let's go.