Mike goes solo and picks one fact for each of the 30 NBA teams to show where every season is headed. Early standouts include the 7-1 Philadelphia 76ers behind Tyrese Maxey's 29.1 points per game, Luka Doncic at 38.3 points per game for the Lakers, and Warriors rookie Yaxel Lendeborg, whom Mike calls the Rookie of the Year front-runner. He also flags big concerns, such as Anthony Edwards missing about two months with a knee injury, Oklahoma City's injuries to Jalen Williams, Cason Wallace and Chet Holmgren, and Nikola Jokic's 22 percent shooting from three. Along the way you hear his takes on the Zion Williamson question in New Orleans, Cooper Flagg's start in Dallas, and the rookie guards drafted in the same range, including Darius Acuff in Sacramento and Mikel Brown in Brooklyn. If you want a fast, opinionated lap around the whole league, this is your episode.

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Jean Bain is in his 8th season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Brandeis University, compiling over 100 victories during his tenure. Bain previously held assistant coaching positions at Columbia University, Dartmouth College, the University of New Hampshire, and Worcester Polytechnic Institute.

Bain played college basketball at Northeastern University where he was named America East Rookie of the Year in 1999, served as team captain in his junior and senior years, and received All-America East honors in 2002.

On this episode Mike & Jean discuss how pickup games, mentors and years of unpaid assistant work shaped the coach he is today. The conversation moves from Medford parks, where older player Tom Blanchard brought Jean along, through prep school and Northeastern, then to WPI, New Hampshire, Dartmouth and Columbia before he landed the Brandeis job. Bain shares how he recruits nationally for academics and financial fit while looking for high character and selflessness, and how he builds player development and five-on-five practices at the Division III level. He also explains what loves about competing in the UAA, which has no conference tournament, unique travel, and often sends multiple teams to the NCAA tournament.

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Have a notebook handy you listen to this episode with Jen Bain, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Brandeis University.

Website - https://brandeisjudges.com/sports/mens-basketball

Email - jeanbain@brandeis.edu

Twitter/X - @JFBAIN5

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Aaron Jacobs is entering his first season as the Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Rockford University. Jacobs previously served as the head assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at North Park University.

Prior to North Park, Jacobs served as an assistant coach at Wabash College from 2022-24. Jacobs began his collegiate coaching career at Wisconsin Lutheran College during the 2021-22 season.

As a student-athlete, Jacobs competed at Holy Family College from 2017-20, where he helped lead the program to the best record in school history and its first national tournament appearance in 2020. Jacobs later attended Lakeland University, earning a bachelor’s degree in business administration while serving as a student-athlete and member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.

On this episode Mike & Aaron discuss how he rebuilt the Rockford roster that started at nine players into a team with eighteen new faces, including twelve transfers, and shares the daily habits that build trust, from an open-door office stocked with snacks to "family announcements" and a practice plan built around competition. He closes by defining year-one success by habits instead of wins and naming his biggest challenge (building slowly) and his biggest joy (his players), which is essential listening for any coach thinking about the leap to head coach.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @hoopheadspod for the latest updates on episodes, guests, and events from the Hoop Heads Pod.

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Hoop Heads Pod on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts and while you’re there please leave us a 5 star rating and review. Your ratings help your friends and coaching colleagues find the show. If you really love what you’re hearing recommend the Hoop Heads Pod to someone and get them to join you as a part of Hoop Heads Nation.

Grab pen and paper before you listen to this episode with Aaron Jacobs, Men’s Basketball Head Coach at Rockford University.

Website - https://rockfordregents.com/sports/mens-basketball

Email - ajacobs@rockford.edu

Twitter/X - @CoachAJacobs

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