College Hoops Today With Jon Rothstein

Miami's Jim Larranaga led the Hurricanes on a tremendous run in the NCAA Tournament last year that ended in the Final 4! Is it National Championship or bust for coach and the Canes this year? Reflecting on last year's team and season. Reasons for playing "small". Which returning players make the biggest jump this year? Why he believes their bench needs to get more experience. Could he imagine a life without basketball in it? Thoughts on the ACC/SEC matchup with Kentucky. Why the ACC regular season is all about sustained effort. And find out the one goal coach has left to accomplish! Plus, don't miss this week's 5-Good Nuggets.

Florida Atlantic's Dusty May led the Owls to a historic season that ended with an appearance in the Final 4! Was it a surprise to him that they had such a great year? Can they sustain this type of success into the future? Dealing with being the "hunted". Lessons learned from Bob Knight. How were they able to keep their core nucleus intact in a time when player movement is the new normal? Thoughts on moving up a weight class and joining the American Athletic Conference. Tackling a daunting non-conference schedule. Why he coaches confidence and fearlessness. And how do they put themselves in a position to achieve this same success again? Plus, we are only 9 weeks away from the start of a new season!

Saint Mary's Randy Bennett has been the head coach of the Gaels for over 20 years... How has he built what he has up in Moraga, California?! Can he lead them to a third NCAA Tournament in a row for the first time in school history? Is the door open in the WCC to win the conference outright? Gonzaga vulnerable? The Saint Mary/Gonzaga dynamic. How they've cracked the scheduling code. When did he start thinking about implementing an international pipeline? His unique coaching tree. Thoughts on his team this season... one that returns 70% of their scoring from last year. Why there is no skipping steps. And why he's doubling down on development. Plus, a full WCC offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season!

Auburn's Bruce Pearl has consistently led the Tigers into the NCAA Tournament but knows it will be harder to sustain success moving forward. What will it take for the Tigers to get back to a Final Four? Could this be the team to do it? Why team depth is a strength for them. Discussing his philosophy of "getting old and staying old". The sense of pride he feels coaching at Auburn. Using Non-conference scheduling to send a message to the fans? Could we see eight SEC teams back in the NCAA Tournament this year? And why he believes they can be the best offense team in the conference. Plus, a full SEC offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season! Is there a true "Great" team in the conference?

Villanova's Kyle Neptune is thankful the Wildcats are finally healthy and ready to be the best they can be in 2023. What was it like for them to lean into the transfer portal this offseason? Why he believes they have a deep and committed team. What are the expectations for Justin Moore? Why basketball is the lead sport in the Big East. Discussing their difficult non-conference schedule and why it's nothing new for them. And how iron sharpens iron... Does this squad have a chance to be a "vintage" Villanova team? Plus, a full Big East offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season! Could they get up to seven teams in the NCAA Tournament?

San Diego State's Brian Dutcher had a season to remember; leading the Aztecs to the Final Four and their first ever National Championship game appearance! How can they get back and finish the job this year? It might start with the starting back court from last season returning... Why coach loves his team depth and mix of returning and new players. Why rim protection and rebounding will be of the up most importance this season. The importance of getting better every day. And is this their toughest non-conference schedule ever? Plus, a full Mountain West offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season! Will the league expand?

Colorado's Tad Boyle has his core nucleus of players returning and is looking to make some noise in their last season in the Pac-12. What went into the decision to leave the conference? His initial feelings on this year's team? Why he believes in building, developing and buy in. What are realistic expectations for freshman Cody Williams? Why he likes the continuity of his team. And can they win the Pac-12 title outright this year? Plus, a full Pac-12 offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season! Who will emerge in this re-tooled league?

Cincinnati's Wes Miller is entering his third season as the Bearcats' head coach and knows they need to up their game as they enter the Big Twelve. What's the biggest thing he's learned about being the Cincinnati head coach? Why they must "maximize" everything and be at their best entering a new league. How can they get back to the NCAA Tournament? The power of a strong schedule. Creating team chemistry with old and new players. Getting back to their "standard". And why it's all about having the discipline to continuously get better. Plus, a full Big Twelve offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season! Will the Big Twelve still be the best conference in college basketball?

Northwestern's Chris Collins knows the Wildcats can't rest on last year's success and must shift their mindset from being the hunter, to being the hunted! How different has his summer been after an NCAA tournament appearance? What will the make-up of this team look like? Discussing the Big Ten's lack of success in the NCAA Tournament. Why they must hang their hat on the defensive end of the court. Utilizing the transfer portal. The importance of a home-court advantage. And how do they make history and put Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years for the first time ever? Plus, a full Big Ten offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season!

Louisville's Kenny Payne enters year two wanting to prove that the Cardinals have grown a lot in a short time. Well, a four-win season in year one didn't deter him from recruiting a top 10 incoming freshman class! And they added two dynamic players from the transfer portal as well. Can he get his talented roster to buy into his team concept? What are realistic goals for this season? Why Skyy Clark "has the keys to the car". The importance of playing well in the early season Empire Classic tournament. And why he knows they are heading in the right direction. Plus, a full ACC offseason breakdown and preview of what's to come this season!

With adversity comes opportunity and West Virginia's Josh Eilert has been on a roller coaster of emotions over the past few weeks. Being named interim head coach of the Mountaineers basketball program is an extremely exciting opportunity, but also bittersweet because of the Coach Bob Huggins situation. How was he able to navigate bumpy waters and keep key players in the program? Discussing how he compartmentalizes doing the best job he can this season and becoming the permanent head coach. Why he wants to keep defensive principles in place but open up offensive play. Thoughts on the current roster. Not shying away from the Big 12 competition. And what are realistic expectations for the upcoming season? Plus, Kentucky re-loads.

Temple's Adam Fisher is thrilled with the caliber of his first head coaching job and excited at the prospect of getting the Owls back in the NCAA Tournament. What are his year one goals? How coaching lessons from Jay Wright, Micah Shrewsberry and Jim Larranaga helped shape his philosophies. What has he learned about the Temple job since taking the post? Recruiting the Philly area. Thoughts on his current team. Why grit and toughness will be staples of the program. And how will he get Temple back into the national mix? Plus, Jon gives you his bullet points for the week... West Virginia solidifies its coaching vacancy. And could we see stricter rules for future transfers?

Georgia Tech's Damon Stoudamire is getting integrated and learning his new surroundings but ultimately wants to be a force in college basketball. What will it take to get the Yellowjackets back on track? With coaching stops at Pacific and the Boston Celtics, as well as a successful playing career at Arizona and in the NBA, how does he view today's game? Did he always want to come back to college coaching? Thoughts on his current roster and why he favors athletic, interchangeable players. Exploring why great guard play wins but why you always must stay ahead of the curve. Thoughts on a transitioning ACC. And what are his year one goals? Plus, Bob Huggins resigns from West Virginia. Where do the Mountaineers go from here?

VCU's Ryan Odom is excited for the responsibility of leading the Rams' prestigious program into its next chapter. Why he didn't take the job to be comfortable. Leaving Utah State. How is he a different coach now? Can the Atlantic 10 get more bids into the NCAA Tournament? Why he's thrilled with the current roster and excited to get going. Are they looking to add any other games to an already challenging non-conference schedule? Year one goals? And why coach believes a title can be won at VCU in the near future. Plus, more transfer news. Purdue and Arizona set to meet in Indy in December. And how does Rutgers rebuild?

Georgetown's Ed Cooley is excited but still getting comfortable in his new surroundings as he endeavors to bring the Hoyas back to national prominence. How does he go about getting the brand back? Balancing freshman players with transfers. Implementing his philosophy of playing basketball. Why Providence College holds such a special place in his heart. Why he choose to leave and take the job at Georgetown. What will it be like to go back and coach at Providence as the head coach of Georgetown? And what are his year one goals? Plus, Jon gives you an NBA Draft deadline recap. Who's staying and who's leaving?!

Providence's Kim English isn't satisfied with just being the head coach, he wants to leave his mark on the Friars program. What are his expectations for year one? Discussing his rise through the coaching ranks. Did playing in the NBA help shape his coaching style and philosophy? Thoughts on playing in the multi-bid Big East. Why player retention has become the life blood of a college basketball program. Non-Conference scheduling. And why he hopes a team trip abroad will help build team bonds. Plus, who's playing where? The NBA draft deadline is looming, and Jon is tracking some key player decisions!

Notre Dame's Micah Shrewsberry has deep roots in the state of Indiana and is excited for the opportunity to lead the Fighting Irish. Coach takes us behind the scenes and gives us insight into the hiring process and how he landed at Notre Dame. What are his year one goals? Thoughts on his roster. How is he different as a coach now versus two years ago when he had yet to run a program at the power conference level? His recruiting and program building philosophy explained. And why he wants this year's team to have an "underdog" mentality. Plus, a deeper look at the ACC. Does it go through Durham? And Michigan gets tough news on the transfer front... Where do they go from here?

The New Coaches Series continues! Penn State's Mike Rhoades looks to build off the success of last year's team and turn the Nittany Lions basketball program into a perennial power! How does he plan to raise the bar in Happy Valley? What is it like for the Pennsylvania native to call Penn State home? Discussing some of the "out of the box" ideas he has for scheduling. Building a culture of winning and sustained success. The importance of establishing a home court advantage. The challenge of coaching against legends in the league. Thoughts on his initial roster. And does he feel there is a level of separation from power conferences to non-power conferences? Plus, St. John's, USC and Indiana all land top players.

Bronny James commits to USC. Will the PAC-12 go through the Galen Center? Cal Berkeley head coach Mark Madsen joins the podcast. Spelling out some Goals heading into his first season with the Golden Bears. What wisdom did he receive from Phil Jackson? Is the program close to breaking ground on a new practice facility? How does a Stanford alum feel about coaching against its biggest rival?

Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland makes his debut on the College Hoops Today Podcast. What went into the decision to take over the job at Texas Tech? His thoughts on the transfer portal and how that will impact the roster heading into his first season as the head coach. How did he balance coming off winning the NIT to move on from his tenure at North Texas. When did he officially know he was leaving for Texas Tech?