Hardwood Hustle
Episode 673 - Building a Winning Preseason
In this episode, Sam interviews TJ and takes us behind the curtain of his college program's preseason, organized around the Key 5 framework. TJ explains how he reverse engineers the season from the first game, why leadership looks different every year, and how to spread its weight across players and staff. He makes the case for an 80/20 approach that puts habits like effort, competitiveness, and fundamentals ahead of X's and O's. They also cover developing basketball IQ by helping players live in their strengths, setting roles by pairing every "no" with a "yes," and being honest with players about playing time early. Whether you're in preseason now or planning ahead, you'll leave with practical ideas for your own team. Show Notes Preseason through the Key 5 lens Maximizing limited four-hour gym windows Reverse engineering from the first game Leadership changes every single year Spreading the weight of leadership Handing off without skipping preparation The 80/20 of systems Practicing to beat the best opponent Onboarding freshmen: standards with support Building IQ by living in strengths Anticipation, angles, and off-ball answers Roles: pair every no with yes The 200-minute playing time exercise Key 5 rapid-fire takeaways Send us a Message. If you'd like us to reply, include your contact info. After analyzing over 100 million shots, basketball data scientists at Noah Basketball have uncovered the formula of the perfect shot, helping players on 28 of 30 NBA teams improve their accuracy faster than ever before. This same patented shot-tracking technology is now available to you in the Noah Backboard for a fraction of the cost. Learn more today at noahbasketball.com . Inquire while supplies last!
