Start With a Win, End With a Win

The 2025–26 season is officially in the books… but not before the Eagles close it out the right way: two home wins, a 10-win finish, and a little chaos (the fun kind).

Tom, Biz, and Coach Curley break down a 79–60 win over Lycoming sparked by a defensive flip-the-switch moment (plus big bench minutes), then cap the year with an 85–78 season finale vs. Moravian where Juniata shoots nearly 57% and delivers a very real “playoff game” vibe — including knocking Moravian out of the postseason picture.

Along the way: Coach talks about the first emotion when the clock hits 0:00 (spoiler: relief), Biz tries to define “emotion” in Biz terms, Tom admits he got Flow Sports’d mid-game, and the fellas set a completely reasonable goal for next year: borrow the pep band’s drum for a day (Coach does not endorse this message).

Plus: game balls, key performances, and what’s next for the program — exit meetings, development plans, recruiting, and turning this year’s progress into the next step up.

Transcript

Cold Open: There Was a Drum

SPEAKER_03 0:00

This is Americ Studios Podcast. This week on the Juni Adam Men's Basketball Show. Now, Biz, you sent me a picture at when I was texting you trying to get your credentials. I I didn't know if you were rubbing it in or what, but you you sent a picture of a drum.

SPEAKER_02 0:14

Ah, there was a drum. And so I I couldn't look at it at that point because I'm locked out. But tell me more. There's a drum on like a big stand, man. Now I don't know. Did they because when you go into breaks, they cut the sound off.

SPEAKER_03 0:28

Hey football fans, you could win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement events. In person in Canton. How do you kick this off? Grab Snapdragon Apples at your local store. Then go to SnapdragonApple.com for official rules and enter. No purchase necessary. Ends February 28th, 2026. Open to U.S. residents, 18 and older, void where prohibited. I'm Tom Frank. I'm Biz. And this is your Junior Adam Men's basketball show.

Season's Over. 10 Wins, and 1,030 in Program History.

SPEAKER_03 1:00

Well, we did it. That's a wrap. Let's have a little applause. We ended on a nice two-game win streak. We got to 10 total wins. But just like that, just like that, the 25-26 Junior Adam basketball season is over. That's nuts. That's crazy. I felt like this yesterday we kicked this thing off.

SPEAKER_02 1:24

I know. Start with a win, end with a win. I did I did a little research.

SPEAKER_03 1:30

Yeah, I like to do that every once in a while. With those 10 wins. Yes. Let me ask you guys a question. Do you have any idea how many overall program wins in the history of Juniata there are?

SPEAKER_02 1:43

Let's see, Curly 300, he took 100. I'm gonna say 500. Ooh, not no, way low.

SPEAKER_03 1:53

Oh, really? 1200? It is it is 1,030 wins, overall wins. Wow, that's okay. And Coach Curly has 318 of those. That's outstanding, Coach Curly. You got a third of them. Well, you get you gotta coach until you get at least a half. Right? That's a lot, that'd be a long way. Although, wait a minute. Now, did you finish your did you just finish your 25th year or your 26th year? 25th year. Wow. So if I do the math, if I do the math correctly, that means you're averaging uh in totality about 13 wins a year. So that's on average. All right. So we're a little below average this year, but but I think we're heading in the right direction, fellas. Oh, hell yeah, we're heading in the right direction. We're heading in the right direction. That's way more. We're gonna break down two big wins this week. And then I don't know if we're gonna get too much in the season reflections, because uh we have to have the podcast player exit interviews still. Do we do we schedule those directly with the players or do we go to Hager for that? Oh, we work with Hager.

SPEAKER_04 3:01

Uh work through our people and so we'll work with Hager.

SPEAKER_03 3:09

Once we have those player podcast exit interviews, then I think we have to have a reflection on the whole season.

SPEAKER_02 3:14

I agree.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

Yeah, but let we're gonna focus

Listener Question: The First Emotion When the Clock Hits Zero

SPEAKER_03 3:17

on our our our last week of the season, and we have a great question this week. A great question from Carol T. From Carol T. When the clock hits 000 on Saturday, what's the first emotion that runs through each of you guys? We'll start with Coach. What what's that first emotion?

SPEAKER_01 3:40

First one. Very first one. Uh uh, I mean, relief when you win the game. I mean, relief. Uh it's it's odd. I mean, the the the winning thing really is more of a relief. Um and when you lose, it it's like a gut punch. But uh yeah, I mean, it's relief that we and I I'm just happy how we finished the year and how we finished the week. Um we we had our best week of practice all year, and I thought uh played uh really well uh Wednesday and Saturday in certain areas. Um there's a lot we can clean up, but I I was just proud. I was really proud of uh kind of if you think about the choices these guys had to make with the the season we had last year in terms of our returning guys, the growth they've they've made, and then the choices our incoming guys made to trust us and come here and be a part of it. Um I mean, just really proud of how they did it. And then we set some um goals at the beginning of the year about you know what we really wanted, and it was all about being a team and how hard we played and seeing everything through. And to finish uh the way we did on Saturday, uh, you know, just was uh really proud. And then that's a good team. That's a team playing for the playoffs and in the moment itself. Uh I thought we made a heck of a lot of plays. I mean, we really made a lot of plays in that game. Yeah. And uh, you know, it was great to see, and it was a lot of from a lot of different guys. And, you know, that's you know, you're happy for those guys because that's what they do it for. And they we had a really good crowd, uh, a lot of energy. Uh, you know, you bottle those up, you only get so many uh afternoon Saturday games in your whole career. And to win them and play well as a group, yeah. Uh I we always talk, I talk about it before those games. I mean, we talked about it Saturday morning, you only get so many of these. And it doesn't matter where it stacks up or where it is, and it's really I think all the guys that have played or been a part of it, those are the ones you remember. Like those at home weekend games uh that matter or mean something, uh, it's a big deal. And and uh to win that kind of game uh with some of the accomplished players they have and some of the talent that they have, uh, a group that we didn't beat last time uh to improve or to come out the way we did. Uh I was just really proud of the group. And uh honestly, I was on a coach level relieved that we got it and happy

Witness Protection, Golf, and Half a Tooth

SPEAKER_01 5:53

uh you know how we played. Bez, what was your first emotion?

SPEAKER_02 5:59

My first emotion was the tone is set for next year. Is that an emotion? The tone is set for next year? Well, yeah, I mean excitement then. How's that? Okay. All right, I'll accept that. Can I ask you a little bit? You're still stuck on the bridge, man.

SPEAKER_03 6:12

Yeah, what let me ask you a question. Are you in witness protection right now? Why are you why are you why can we not see you? And why do you have like why do you have pictures of like birds behind you and a and a and uh something hanging on the wall?

SPEAKER_02 6:25

Well, like I said, I'm redoing my studio, which used to be my daughter's room. That's those are my boys. That's team gold, man. Those are my homies back then.

SPEAKER_03 6:33

I like it's so dark in your with your protection location. I I can't I was having trouble seeing it.

SPEAKER_01 6:38

Guys, did you lose money? Did you lose money at your golf match today?

SPEAKER_02 6:41

Are you on the we won go into the US? Oh, you're in the semis now? You want to get victory? Let's go.

SPEAKER_03 6:50

All right.

SPEAKER_02 6:50

It was a good round today. It was a good day overall.

SPEAKER_03 6:53

You got your team US stage, man. It was. It was the end of the end of Juniata and the end of the Olympics today.

SPEAKER_02 7:00

So yeah, how uh so how uh on a totally side note, how drunk do you think those guys are right now?

SPEAKER_03 7:07

Well, if you're the dude that lost half his tooth and and continued to play and scored the winning goal, I hope you have a I hope you drank enough to numb your whole mouth. You know what I mean? Hockey players, what are you talking about? Hockey players? What are you talking about?

SPEAKER_02 7:18

Hockey, man. Oh, all right. Dude, if that was a soccer player, that guy'd be in the hospital. Oh, that guy's not coming back in the game.

SPEAKER_03 7:26

No, he lost half his tooth. It's insane. I know. No, basketball players aren't coming back from that.

SPEAKER_02 7:33

They're coming back.

SPEAKER_03 7:35

You're telling me if you run him into a basketball game with a stick, and I hit one of your players, knock out his tooth. You don't have a stick.

SPEAKER_01 7:41

You don't have a basketball. Hey, Mason, Mason Hardy had it happen twice. Yeah, he lost the tooth in the middle of the game. Cut um knocked in half. I've seen a lot of things. Shout out to Mason.

SPEAKER_02 7:53

Dude, what nobody's carrying sticks on a basketball court anyway. What do you mean? What if coach throws a chair? And there's a whole other set of problems.

SPEAKER_03 8:05

All right, guys.

Coaching Is a Drug

SPEAKER_03 8:06

Can I ask you my emotion? My emotion? Yeah, let's hit it. What was your emotion? It was sadness. The year's over. All right. That's fair. I was a little sad. I was a little sad. I wanted more. We were on a roll. I wanted more.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

After the game, I mean that doesn't hit me right after the game, but I was in the office with Nick talking about that. And um, and I I I told our managers, and we'll have to get Alex Mullen in here. It was his senior day.

SPEAKER_03 8:34

And uh, I was just gonna ask if he was a senior. He is a definite. We gotta get him on. Those managers do a fantastic job. I really kind of noticed them this year. Yeah, and they they really do a lot.

SPEAKER_01 8:45

But but the uh my my college coach used to say, like, curls, this stuff's a drug, man. It's not healthy for you at all, coaching. Like it, like the coaching thing is like an addiction and a and a drug, you know, uh fix. And um, I I just said the assistants, I said to Nick, like, you know, man, like it hits me probably in two to three weeks, but like late spring, I'm not the the most pleasant guy because it's just uh you don't have the fix of improvement every day and the highs you get when you have a good day, um, when you play a good game, when it all comes together, when you put all this kind of work in and you or you game plan, and it's not even so much game plan, but you just watch guys like really work at practice or maybe have a tough practice and hope they pull through. Um, as a coach, that's kind of the juice. I I I tell the guys, and um when you lose that, uh it's good to relax and it's good to recruit, and I still enjoy that and the game and all the other stuff we have to do as coaches, which everyone asks what you do in the offseason, but it's more than a full-time job year-round. But you don't get the uh you don't get the competitive fix the same way, and you don't get the preparation. The fix of the preparation I think for coaches is more of it, and like just getting like locked in the submarine and staying focused and locked in. Um, so uh that's part of that kind of set in a little later. That's a lot. I think last thing I said to Coach Hager as we were walking out, and I said that to my managers like this stuff is not healthy for you, this isn't good for you. You gotta be sick for this, but um, yeah, I mean, it's it's so that that's probably a lingering, the last, the, the last feeling. But now you turn the page and you're excited to have uh some exit meetings, and now you're thinking about how can you get these guys better and what can their summer look like and their spring look like, and what are our next steps and how do we build this again? And uh so it it it's just uh an ongoing cycle. Um, and it is important, there needs to be beginnings and ends, and and you move to the next. Um, so it's uh good that way, but uh bittersweet. Uh so there's a lot of stuff that goes through there. But the immediate aftermath is relief and and thank goodness, and you get to shake a hand and walk off feeling pretty good.

SPEAKER_02 10:50

I like it. Yeah, it sounds a lot like golf. Yeah, it really does. Golf's miserable, but man, it's a it's a drug.

SPEAKER_03 10:59

It's an addiction.

SPEAKER_02 11:00

It is.

SPEAKER_03 11:02

Well, uh let's get into our two games

Wednesday vs. Lycoming: The Bench Flips a 12-Point Hole

SPEAKER_03 11:05

from this past week. We had we had two home games, had to win them both to get to 10 wins, and we did it. First up, like like combing at home on Wednesday. We turned up the defensive pressure to spark a 79-60 victory. Ty led all scores with 23 points, led with rebounds, 11 rebounds, double double squad with five assists. He also threw in a block. Biz. I'm thinking he was uh purposefully filling the stat sheet for you. I mean, you know, whatever motivates you, Tom. Jaden uh totaled nine points, eight rebounds. That kid, man, that kid's been rebounding. Yeah. Two assists, a steal off the bench. William Little Jr. uh put up 13 points, two rebounds, two steals. Malcolm Griffith had 10 points, three rebounds, two steals, and Jaden Bilger amassed six points and eight rebounds. This one came down to turnovers. You guys 15 to 5 edge. I think we talked about that last week or two weeks ago, that you kind of needed to get that that those turnovers going again and the defense to step up, and it came through in a big way, versus like coming.

SPEAKER_01 12:05

Yeah, I mean, I I think the story of that game is our bench really came through in the first half. You know, we got down 12-0 or by 12, not 12-0, but we got down 12-12. You were down 12 early, yeah. Big time out there, coach, to get that.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

That wasn't a big time out.

SPEAKER_01 12:19

If anybody, if anybody really wonders if Biz watches, he does because I got real time text from him. I get real time text. I got immediate text after the game on Saturday, and I got a real time text. Um, afterwards, I looked at the uh the timestamp, and it was a real time text. Hey, great time out, coach. So Biz, uh, he plays it humble, but his preparation is beyond and his he's he's locked in.

SPEAKER_03 12:42

Um, that was the perfect timeout.

SPEAKER_01 12:48

So I just want to make sure not that there's any doubt out there, Biz, but I want to make sure that uh I give you a lot of credit for that. Because a lot of times you you you deferred to Tom on that stuff, and I appreciate that. I appreciate the knowing it's his creation, it's his it's his company, curls.

SPEAKER_02 13:04

I don't want to overshadow anybody.

SPEAKER_01 13:05

That's you, biz. That's you, biz. Giving it away, man, all the time.

SPEAKER_02 13:08

Giving it away. That's right. Selfless.

SPEAKER_01 13:10

I'm just here for fun and excitement. That's right. That's right. Um, but no, I you know, we we we got off to uh uh not a great start. We weren't playing bad. It's one of those I always tell you if you're playing well, it it works itself out, and if you're not, you're not. They made shots and they have a lot of shot makers. Um, you know, we we took us a little bit to get our footing on thought a little bit defensively, and we weren't real fluid offensively, but we went to the bench uh and those guys came in uh and really did a phenomenal job. You know, Trey came in, uh uh uh Noah Bailey gave us really big minutes, uh Jade Nazai, uh Ben Landisman off the bench. Uh, but those guys really kick-started it for us and they did it through the defensive end, got us out running. Um Jaden was actually was able to be effective inside and kind of get loose off some cuts and finish. And I think once those guys pushed back and kind of got the energy, everyone settled in and settled down. And then we when we went back to the to the first group, they they started picking up on that and started playing really well too. And I think it was our depth in that game for sure. And uh that was uh really that's what I was super excited about is how we played there, and then we really did. We defended exceptionally well. I think I don't know what the run was, but I think eight minutes left in the first half we're down 12, and I think eight minutes eight minutes into the second half, we were up twenty. So it was an unbelievable turnaround.

SPEAKER_03 14:32

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

It was like one of those the just flip the switch flipped in that one, man. And it was the same thing that gets us going. You know, we defended, we were able to rebound um and get out and run. And when we consistently do that and kind of put pressure, and whether we score quick or we just put them on our heels and start moving the ball, and then I think kind of what we do offensively can kick in. Uh, I thought that uh, you know, it was a really good team win for that reason. We've been in that situation a number of times this year and haven't been able to kind of uh keep pushing through and get out the other side. But to come to walk into the locker room up five uh in that game when we were down 12, uh, you know, that that we we took a step there. And uh, you know, that was one of those games where somebody's got to decide. You know, they they were out of the playoff hunt too, and you know, who wants it and who's gonna win it? And I I I just thought you could see it from the beginning to the end. Our guys are determined to win the game. And I I think when we've had that mindset and attitude this year, uh, and any game we've played, uh, you know, we've we've at least taken it down to the wire, if not come away successful more times than not. So uh it was a really good game. And I just I think the credit in that one goes to the bench and how they played and how they picked us up, and then I thought everybody else fed off that.

SPEAKER_03 15:43

Solid win. Yeah.

Moravian 85-78: Winning a Playoff Game That Wasn't One

SPEAKER_03 15:46

And then we go, then the season finale, our Eagles shoot nearly 50 57% from the field to beat Moravian 85-78 Saturday afternoon inside Memorial Gymnasium. Hey, correct me if I'm wrong. When you beat Moravian, you knocked him out, right? We did correct. We're gonna talk about that. Yeah, that's play that's a playoff atmosphere, kid. That was great. That was great. Ty, efficient all afternoon. He finished eight of eleven from the field, a perfect two for two from behind the arc uh for 23 points while adding four rebounds. He also went six of eight from the foul line, which I appreciate. Recorded three steals and a block. Jaden Bilger added 14 points and seven rebounds, knocked down two three-pointers. And Trey Young provided a major lift off the bench with 14 points on four of six shooting and six of eight at the stripe. Good team, good offensive way to go out.

SPEAKER_01 16:36

Uh yeah. I mean, we talked about that, you know, you're gonna have to outscore some teams and win games that way. Uh, you know, halftime, I think it was 40 to 28, 40 to so like first half, we really established ourselves defensively. And again, that's the thing that gets us in the game. And we played with the lead. You know, we got off to a good start. Uh, we played with the lead uh pretty much the whole game. I don't think they ever had the lead. I think they tied us 51-51, and then we pushed back. Um, so to kind of lead start to finish uh against a team like that, playing for uh a playoff berth. And we did, we we talked about that going into that game for where our where our group is. Um and I'm sort of looking forward. No, we talked about what you said that this is essentially a playoff game. So we're gonna get their best. So we're gonna get their best. Like they have to win the game, and they're gonna come in focused and ready, and they have uh, you know, um real talent. You know, Marquise Radcliffe, I said, was is on the hundred top hundred players in the country. He's on the player national player of the year watch list, a small college player of the year watch list. He just set Moravian's all-time scoring record. He's the all-time leading scorer in Moravian history. I think he has their blocks record. I think he's up there in rebounds. What year is he? He's a senior. So he's a senior. He better be a senior. So he was a senior senior, and you knocked him out of the playoffs. Chad Tratzer, you know, Chad Kratzer, Chad Tratzer's been an all-league guy. Um got a little angry in that game. Well, yeah, we we won't, but uh, he's a talented, very, very, very good player. And very dangerous. But keep going. Uh yeah, very and very dangerous player. And they have a lot of talent across the board. They, you know, they press, they get up and down, they score a ton of points. Uh they were averaging 85 points a game. Um, and to hold him to 79. Uh, and a lot of those were kind of desperation late shots. Uh, but I, you know, we talked specifically about this as an opportunity to be in a playoff game and learn what that's gonna be about. Um, and a lot of this whole year has that been that theme, first times and understanding that. So we need to to use that as a gift to how we approach it. And I our guys really took that on. I told you we had the best week of practice we've had all year. And um we and we practiced and we practiced hard and they wanted to practice hard. That's awesome. And that enthusiasm preparation again carried over to us being able to execute um, you know, both games. Uh, and you know, I thought we got out early and you know, we were able to to kind of create some easy baskets early. Uh, and then we just did a really good job defensively. We really it was a good game in terms of executing uh our game plan. And I know I talked last week that our challenge and execution and small things and details and focus, there's a lot of possessions in that game, and I thought uh largely we did a good job. I thought the second half we lost our poise a bit and got a little rattled. Um they had they made a run, they made a strong run there. Yeah, but I thought we got a little tight. You took it back. The growth, right. Uh the the number of plays guy made when they push back on us. I'm not sure at any other time we we win the game that way. I mean, we had guys come through time after time. The way you win those games is you just have players that step up and make plays. Yeah it's not a coaching thing. And we we had uh, you know, the the play at the end of the half that Will Littles makes uh set up, I think, on a pass from Bilger that won the length of floor and and one to go in with that kind of momentum. Uh, you know, the play, um, you know, uh the couple plays of the basket Trey makes late. I think he got to run three straight times, got fouled. Yes. Uh the two jump shots Jaden Bilger made, the two threes he made, I mean, in big situations, uh, were huge. Um, you go go down the list, and I'm sure I'm missing guys. Ty's play. Um, you know, Ty was in foul trouble.

SPEAKER_02 20:17

He had a big block at the end.

SPEAKER_01 20:19

Yeah, and Ty was in foul trouble the whole game. So we did a lot of offense, defense. Um, and so like I thought Ben Lannisman came in and did a really good job defensively. Um I thought uh you know Jill Bruce had the one kind of open floor play to that pull-up jump shot, um, which kind of got the place going and and and a lot of energy. Uh, you know, I thought across the board guys made plays. And as a coach, it's you know, like I always said you know, this time the year is up to the players. And I I thought I was super proud of that. Now we have to get better in terms of I thought we just threw the ball away a lot. Um it wasn't, you know, we threw the ball out of bounds too many times. Um, but part of that is their pressure, and that's what they do, and they they they press you the whole game and force turnovers. Uh, I thought the poise piece, I I think if anything, the last three weeks, I think we've got to be able to operate under pressure a little bit better. If I look back on the games where we struggled, I I think it was the pressure of getting in the playoffs and the reality that that hit. And that that came out of a few conversations I had, and I hadn't really kind of thought of that. I also think we had a back off preparation in that stretch and didn't quite have the maturity to handle that. And when we could get back to full practices this week, um, that certainly showed up and helped. Uh, but with all the road games and the challenges we had there, that that was hard to do in that stretch. Um, you know, I I wish you know, could we have managed it a little bit better for a week or two? But you know, that goes into margins, and when your margins are where ours right now, you got to get it exactly right. And we got it pretty darn close. Uh, but yeah, yesterday was a like a complete team win. I thought, you know, and you could go any way you want to go with that game. You know, it's really up to the players completely. What are they? want to do once you're done with the prep work, it's where there's there's does their mind go. You know, what do they want to do? What do they want to accomplish? And I just really, really, and that's what I told them afterwards that how proud uh we were of how they played that game. But more importantly, like the preparation, the energy, the focus they had, uh, that our walkthrough. I mean, if if you didn't know any different, we would be the ones playing for the playoff uh spot and what we're doing. And I think for this group to get to 10 wins like that and and to win that game that way and knock those that group out that went to the playoffs last year. It was one of the favored teams coming in with clearly some of the the the preeminent players in the league really just says a lot. And I think it was done with a bunch of guys making a bunch of plays uh and putting kind of their ability on display so that was great to see. And we'll be right back. Welcome to Merrick Studios where stories take the mic and culture comes alive.

SPEAKER_03 22:53

We're not just a network we're a family bringing you smart, soulful, unfectured conversations.

SPEAKER_00 22:58

And this season we're bringing the heat in our biggest lineup yet. Whatever you're into music, sports, business, we got you covered. Merrick Studios where the conversation starts and keeps going.

SPEAKER_03 23:10

Check out our full lineup including on Glossy with Bun B, Jeffrey Sledge, and myself, Tom Crank. Now streaming at wearmeritstudios.com Master the art of lyricism with Pendulum Mink, the first school for rap.

SPEAKER_00 23:23

Learn elite techniques through immersive lessons, real world exercises, and guidance from hip hop icons. This is where MC sharpen their skills and glow boldly on the mic. Ready to level up? Visit pendulummink.com and start your journey today.

SPEAKER_03 23:38

And now back

Flo Sports Cut Me Off Mid-Game

SPEAKER_03 23:39

to the show. Now I need to tell a little story about that game.

SPEAKER_04 23:43

Oh boy.

SPEAKER_03 23:45

So let me tell you what happened to me during that game. So I'm I I I have my computer up. I'm in State College, Pennsylvania. I went up for Thawn never been to Thon before for those who don't know that's a big fundraiser at at Penn State.

SPEAKER_02 23:59

The largest student run philanthropy in the world in the world and they made over $18 million. 18 million that's unbelievable research that's yeah that's damn impressive.

SPEAKER_03 24:10

So I'm up there and I and I had to I had to produce another podcast. So I'm I'm on my computer with that and then on my phone I have the game up right and about I finished the podcast about three I put it on my my my computer because I wanted to watch the end of the game and around 315 or so Flow Sports decided Mike my uh my subscription no longer is active because I think I paid for it for the year last year at around this exact time. And I must have a day well listen to me. So I I I must have had an old credit card in there from last year that I don't have anymore. So they just stopped it. And so I thought well you know what I'll text Biz and I won't flat out ask but I'll say hey man I can't log in right now like hinting at how about throwing me your credentials so I can watch the rest of the game bizarre man I don't want you to be messing up my game wanted to score and I just kept seeing the score get tighter and tighter and I was getting nervous and I couldn't see it. So Flow Sports how about letting me watch the rest of the game for you the day dude how down to the hour is cut off like right around 315 330 maybe something like that and it just gone and said subscription canceled. That's that's huh not happy with flow sports right now. And then I thought about man maybe I should put a new credit card in there and get it but I was like it's only a half left do I really want to do that wow that's dedication. So I tried to get Biz to give me his credentials and he didn't give them to me.

SPEAKER_02 25:46

I was watching the game you're not allowed to interrupt my watching it was very stressful for Biz

The Double Technical, and Coaching the Edge

SPEAKER_02 25:52

all right so speaking of the game curls towards the end of the game our friend Kratzen Moyer or whatever his name is what happened there?

SPEAKER_01 26:00

Because the announcer said he got teed up but what like I don't I mean I don't care what happened to him and he got kicked out of the game because he turned he really there was a double technical oh it was a double okay they weren't so there was I was wondering because you didn't get the ball to shoot three so I was just curious. Yeah it just became uh his fifth foul so those are technicals are personal fouls now so it became his fifth foul so he was done. And so uh you know that that was it. And I didn't know it was a double that's the only reason I asked because I never got an explanation I didn't ask I I wasn't I you know again where I talk about our pulleys and keeping our head and stuff I'm I'm not a big fan of that stuff. We need to win the game and stay focused on what's going on and that's where I say sometimes uh and I think comes out of competitiveness and and uh honestly our guys probably have a little bit of toughness and a little bit of edge in places but we gotta we gotta and that's maturity we got to harness that in the right direction and and stay focused on what we need to do and take stay locked in on the task at hand. Now I thought we we for the most part did a a good job of that. And I I do think edge is important to us uh but you know edge you can fall over the edge or you to the line to the edge but you gotta be on the edge and any more or less is not enough. So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 27:17

Well hey I mean if you're gonna get a double technical you might as well get the second leading scorer out of the game right Tom I mean that's the fan point of view anyway. Don't listen to us players but the fans enjoyed that.

SPEAKER_03 27:26

Now Biz

Operation: Get the Drum

SPEAKER_03 27:27

you sent me a picture at when I was texting you trying to get your credentials I I didn't know if you were rubbing it in or what but you you sent a picture of a drum. Ah there was a drum I and and so I I couldn't look at it at that point because I'm locked out but sorry what what was tell me more about this drum there was a drum on like a big stand man no I don't know today because when you go into breaks they cut the sound off so is he going to get the drum maybe the drum's at his house wow wouldn't that be something we might have to cut this part. He's coming back in with the drum hey there he is did you bring the drum did you bring the drum sorry about that guys I'm doing this at home oh I thought you went out to get the drum the drum I thought maybe you had it in your house and you were going to present us with a drum.

SPEAKER_01 28:14

Now there was a drum there am I correct?

SPEAKER_02 28:16

Yeah there was a drum drum we had the pet band so there was a drum yeah it was like way up on this like stand dude I don't even know how they played it now how do you look I know you're coaching and you're wrapped up in the whole coaching thing but they cut the sound during the drum did do they like actually play and stuff?

SPEAKER_01 28:34

Honestly I I swear to god I'm I'm not even sure there's music and stuff going on we had a pretty good crowd.

SPEAKER_03 28:39

They were there and uh I I don't mean that like I just mean I wouldn't know the difference music being played uh but I don't think they ever just played the drum solo all right so part of the uh and there were two leaders it was the whole nine yards okay so we're gonna tag it's great we're gonna tag the pep band in this episode and pet band I want you to listen to this and I want you to contact us on Instagram because next year this is my mission we need to we're gonna take you guys out for a happy hour and in exchange we get the drum for one game we get to control he's gonna cancel us man we get to just do whatever we want with the drum for one game live next year. He's gonna cancel us no this pet band pet band listen to me I'm serious about this biz is gonna take you out for dinner and then we're we get control of the drum as soon as I get my Merrick Merrick creative uh business credit card I'll take your credit card shit we'll get you we'll get you Americ Studio credit card and then you can take the pet band out but we want that drum like we've been trying to get that drum all year and the drum finally shows up the last game of the year. Hey man better late than never buddy I want that drum yeah it was in no way is this a good idea and um the head coach does not support it in any way oh man hey that's a good disclaimer if we get that drum for alumni game next year yeah unbelievable and we get the drum there you go have it for the alumni game no no no I want it the whole day the whole day just I pull in at 10 o'clock they're meeting me there and I they hand me the drum we do like some kind of I don't know ceremony or something and then I get the drum for the day and then I'll get the drum back when I'll get it back to them at Muddy Run.

SPEAKER_02 30:25

No you know you know when you need the drum when when they go to play at Catholic oh that's not a bad idea yeah could you fit the pet band on the uh oh my god on the bus with you guys I mean there's only how many of you 15 that bus is big no dude there's more than 15 how many guys come with you our travel party is usually around 30 a little bit less than okay but those buses hold at least 50 well hey you only need one drummer like 40 44 passenger 46 48 okay well then we got room for 10 pet band members this has gone off the rails yeah I like this a lot they did have the drum in all right well that's hold the nest they had the drum the cheerleaders are there we're making a difference though we're making a difference well done juniata yes yeah we're coming together as a community

Game Balls: Ozzie, Trey, and Two for Ty

SPEAKER_02 31:19

I love it well I mean that's it biz you got you got game balls to end the year and I'm well equipped this time and we'll save the game ball of the year this season ball all right we'll do next week I mean that's fine it's not necessarily a secret but uh it's not gonna be a secret but maybe there'll be a wild card all right so let me I know who my game ball goes to but let me uh I want to make sure we get the honorable mentions in because you know what the team like it was a total team effort in both games yes it was which I loved the offense looked uh you know the cuts were there it there's a it was good man whatever you did and whatever those guys dug into it worked yeah all right so honorable mention let's see I like you know what for the uh liecoming game the honorable mention in that one goes to uh Jaden Oze as I said his name correctly yes eight boards nine points two assists one steal but of course the game ball goes to uh Captain Double Double Ty Kozak what there it is there it is it's back wait are we upside down whoa yeah there we go and as it's still upside down what the hell's happening here whatever and you can see there are no scuff marks Tom tried to say I went outside that balls I thought you lost it to be honest with you I thought maybe um here's what I really thought happened to that ball.

SPEAKER_03 32:49

I thought you were out there shooting around some 12 14 year old kid said one-on-one for the ball you lost and with the ball was down the street at some 12 year old's house like a there's like a hill behind the uh hoop court I throw him down the hill that's terrible all right and then uh you know what man I mean honorable mention in the uh raving game goes to everybody who played man everybody did their job in that game you know who I would have given it to who Trey Jan yeah no Trey had a great game bilger had a great shot I mean big shots at the end I mean the game ball itself has to go back to time he really stepped up still upside down God bless better now it's like backwards whatever now it's perfect now he stepped up really big at the end he scored I love the way he goes to the basket he's making foul shots and he had a big block at the end too man that was a key block to kind of just kind of put it away so there you go two game balls for him but honorable mention everybody dug in man like coach said the greatest practice week he had this year and

Exit Meetings, Recruiting, and "You Just Get Better at It"

SPEAKER_03 33:58

it showed big time so what's next coach what's next break down how the year ends for your team for your staff right because you still got you got some meetings let yet to go and some stuff like that.

SPEAKER_01 34:12

Nah maybe first of all we have to huddle up I have to huddle up with you guys here and get your opinion and your advice uh right uh and then natural and then no um but uh next steps for us uh we'll we'll do exit meetings and and uh have some meetings and get more perspective on the season from the players uh and then we'll follow that up with the information we get out of that then we'll follow that up with with more individual meetings that go the other direction and talk to guys about their development plan where they need to get better what we need to do uh and there'll be some team components into that we'll have to uh you know look at our uh summer uh our spring and summer plan and our fall plan and uh see if we want to make any adjustments what that'll entail. Uh we'll be with the strength uh and conditioning staff uh uh probably in this next week to talk about what our goals are for the spring and we'll we'll get right back in the cycle and do that. Uh coach and I obviously this is a big recruiting time so we have to finish up what we hope is another really strong uh recruiting class and right now it has the makings of that. So um yeah I mean just the kind of the normal cycle of what we need to do. But a lot of this now is is to to uh pull the lessons out of the year, uh talk about those and and then figure out the plan on that act on those to to uh maybe you know figure out where we uh fell a little bit short and what we did well and and keep going to that and that was a a part of the talk right after the game um and how we have to do this again. So uh I think obviously the the growth from where we were last year an eight game improvement is pretty significant. But I I think the next step now if you want to get in the upper half of the league um into that upper tier that's a whole nother standard and a whole nother challenge and um you you have to I mean that's where the detail and the discipline and the individual levels of improvement, those things have to come, but you can't lose the rest of it and you have to keep working and you have to keep going at it. And so this is this year either kind of gets us going and and excited for what we can accomplish or we feel like if we just kind of keep at it it just takes care of itself and I I so we have to guard against that. But I don't think we accomplished enough to get to that point for sure. I think there's so much left out there and I think guys felt that down the stretch that I'm excited for another offseason and uh a lot of growth for those guys. Immediately right now we need to get some rest uh they need to take a few weeks uh uh it's been a a long year because of the challenge to come back and and how hard we worked uh and for our guys you know the offseason conditioning program uh we ramped up and was a lot uh you know the the rigor and challenge of our practices uh we really practiced pretty hard uh through the season until those last few weeks um because we had so much we had to do because we're just so young and so all of that gets a bit easier uh but like coach Hager texted the guys you know he's like it doesn't really get easier you just get better at it you know like nothing gets easier the practices will be the same but we'll be more efficient at it so you won't waste the energy um it's not as challenging um you know winning doesn't get any easier you just get better at it and and preparation doesn't get any easier um you just get better at it so the work still has to be in but it it it allows you uh to use the energy for some other smaller things that hopefully can get you over the top um but yeah that that's where we'll go and we'll get to that tomorrow so we'll we'll start with those meetings and uh check-ins here um you know in the next four days I like it I do too well and and I do like your idea now are both your managers seniors or just just one uh well Alex uh uh Mulan was a senior uh yeah and then uh our our other Alex is a freshman so we have two uh you know Alex and Alex um and so um you actually I'm just wondering why they both answered to Alex that's a that's a good point yeah no we don't just call our managers Alex that knows I just assume yeah actually you know what maybe you should yeah maybe only get Alex's well we need to get Alex on yeah because uh I I'd love to get Alex's perspective maybe we put him on on on the reflection show next week okay I mean well we gotta decide whatever our plan is and we'll have to figure out what availability is but yeah we'll get

Landmark Playoffs, D3 Selection, and No Bridges This Week

SPEAKER_01 38:32

him on now we transition to the offseason shows which is a whole another uh or a whole whole other not another other I think we need to I think we need to be back next year or back next year back next week to reflect on the season and maybe maybe we take a peek at the landmark playoffs.

SPEAKER_03 38:50

We could give some opinions who we think who we think is going to win that. When do the playoffs officially start? Is it this week?

SPEAKER_01 38:57

Yeah the first they'll they'll have a we'll have a champion crown by Saturday. By Saturday so maybe we'll talk about the champion on Sunday. So yeah there's six teams in uh two through six play uh the uh the first round on Tuesday uh one and two have a bye and then the semifinals are on Thursday and the finals are Saturday all at the high seed.

SPEAKER_03 39:18

All right so it'll go quick. It'll go quick it does go quick and then and then I guess we'll see you'll you'll get at least one that goes into the tournament and maybe you think you think we have a chance for multiple teams?

SPEAKER_01 39:31

I think like the last it's all like uh math based now for the most part is not as uh subjective so there it's pretty objective uh I I haven't looked I know at one point a lot of the mock stuff had at least two in so they had uh had Catholic and Scranton in now with the finish Dure Drew actually finished ahead of Scranton uh and if you remember Drew has a pretty strong resume too so I don't know uh if we didn't beat each other up too bad uh but I I would think there's a fair amount of strength of schedule in our league because of the the success of everybody through it but it's a it's gonna be a heck of a week I mean there's a lot of good teams and I would think I hope uh if there's if there's if it works out that the best teams are there we should we should have more than one but I like I've always talked about the division three tournament it's it's it isn't what people see in the division one tournament uh just because you don't have the national perspective with media and the ability to follow and see and watch it's just not quite the same. But it's now just really uh a mathematical formula based on uh your schedule who you play strength of schedule all that stuff and it's kind of preset so I would imagine going into Saturday whoever's left in that game they'd probably be pretty strong projections but then in the other leagues you you know if the the highest seeds hold you know the guys if there's upsets it changes that or it could help it.

SPEAKER_03 40:52

Why do you think uh in Division I they don't make it more of a mathematical equation like they do in division three?

SPEAKER_01 40:58

Uh that's a good question. I mean all we went to this uh two years ago so uh because there's already committee base before and there were there were part there were some numbers part of it but they went to this across the board in pretty much all Division III sports uh I don't know because money right there's a lot of things involved there uh it takes away I think you would you have all the projections and all the shows and think about if if it was just the mathematical formula and easy to know how much it would take away from kind of the buildup and what you would do. So I don't I don't know business model would that make sense? Would you want that at that level or do you like the debate and the chance for people to talk about it and it's not super easy to figure out you have to look at it and understand that there is some uh subjectivity in the room and you never know and all that kind of stuff. So I I think it probably has more to do with that. Listen our model's okay too but when you just go by numbers are the best teams always into you know you feel like you feel like if you're trying to get the best quality teams there's probably going to be a human element and you've had to have seen everybody. They have the ability to do that at Division I and so I think it it probably maybe is a better balance they strike but I think we're all pretty aware that that level is different.

SPEAKER_03 42:11

And it goes back to I I don't the disparity at that level the power fours fives and then Rs you know those kind of things so in division three you're in your tournament it's what four hundred and twenty some division three teams in the country is that the entire poll is I mean is that is that is that tournament open to every division three team in the country?

SPEAKER_01 42:35

Yes. So it's just like a lot different there too. Right so pool A is the automatic qualifiers pool B are the ones that are in conferences that have an automatic qualifier then pool C are the independents that aren't attached to a call and and that's how they filter out and put them in. So uh yeah I mean it's it's pretty much the same way um you know our conference is not unique to this level a lot of conferences not everybody gets into the tournament I'd say probably more than that I again I really like the way we do it um and we're not in right now but you know what it meant down the stretch and how much it meant to those games. And a lot of the argument is well if you're out there's nothing to play for but if everybody's in there's nothing to play for it's right it's more like you sometimes get these first round games where like a nine seed is traveling four hours to play a two seed you know and it doesn't it's not the same kind of build up and and you cram a lot of games in there and so I like I really do like our format. I think it rewards uh success over a season it makes the regular season mean a lot I think it's an access point for teams that are in the lower half with you know goals to set and meaningful things to reach I think it's a great benchmark that way for success and where you are uh and then I think you can say hey we're a playoff team this many times and that that uh that carries something to mean something yeah right yeah it's consistent success and and and and what I I think the the D three datacast that I'd have to look at it again, but I know as of a few weeks ago, the landmark was ranked the eighth best best conference in the country. I think there's like forty-four, forty-five conferences in the country. Um so you know, top twenty percent. Um that's saying a lot. I mean that's a pretty I mean, you know, that's pretty pretty good company and and I would say the level play this year definitely met that. And uh we had some really good teams and uh hopefully uh those experiences our growth happened in a really tough situation, tough environment. So hopefully uh that sets us up for for more success in the future. Can't imagine it wouldn't.

SPEAKER_03 44:37

Um your bridge analogy really caught a lot of fire last week. Uh do you have anything to end the uh episode with uh this week? That that could be as good as what happened last week.

SPEAKER_02 44:50

You know what? I mean that may just need to be my drop the mic moment. Although I will tease that I will have I'm gonna have a uh mantra for your squad next year, Curls. I'll unveil it later. It's a good one. Really good one. I can't wait either, bit. You know what?

SPEAKER_01 45:08

Actually, there's no bridges involved in this one. Good. Because if you think about the success of the week, it may just have been your words of wisdom.

SPEAKER_03 45:15

It might have been the bridge analogy. It might have been people not wanting to die, you know, fall off the bridge and go to a subject. You wouldn't want to fall off a bridge. I wouldn't either. And there was no boat, and so I I feel like you know that the the fear you put into this team just you know, the momentum just built it. I do what I can.

SPEAKER_01 45:33

Yeah, I thought it was there was just enough mystery to it, you know. Like you had a really you know, I think, man.

SPEAKER_02 45:39

It's a thing to ponder for a while, right?

SPEAKER_01 45:41

I thought about it all week. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 45:43

Yeah. Did you ever figure it out? Never. I didn't think so.

SPEAKER_01 45:46

Never figured it out. Because you're like one of the great thinkers of of all of in history, right? Like they always came up with those things, like Sun Zoom, Confucius, go down the list.

SPEAKER_03 45:56

You probably don't get the honor that you should while you're alive, but it might happen one day when we look back at you and think that guy was a genius, and we never realized it in present time.

SPEAKER_02 46:07

When some kid in 3026 picks up the uh Junietta men's basketball podcast, and they're playing it on like whatever they're gonna get a real.

SPEAKER_03 46:17

I'm gonna be on the head square. Yeah, it's gonna happen, bitch.

SPEAKER_02 46:21

Hey, you know, we could by that time we could be cryogenically frozen. My head might still be around.

SPEAKER_03 46:26

Yeah, we might still be doing the show 100 years from now because we're both frozen. Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 46:31

We'll have to pass it on to our children.

SPEAKER_03 46:33

Yeah, I like it.

SPEAKER_02 46:34

I do too. Um, all right, people. Yeah, keep up, keep your uh ears open for the mantra for next year.

SPEAKER_03 46:40

Mantra for next week. We're gonna reflect on the season. So, you know, come prepared. Biz is gonna buy a uh a lamp so that we can see him next week. A little better. Yeah, we'll get a lamp. We'll do something. We'll get a lamp so we can see him, and maybe he'll clean up what's going on behind him back there, and and it'll be a good time.

SPEAKER_02 46:58

Hey, man, this is my thinking zone. This is how I get those ideas.

SPEAKER_03 47:03

All right, people, send us your thoughts and follow the show on Instagram at Junior Adam Basketball Show. Subscribe to the Junior Add Men's Basketball Show on Apple, and now video on both Spotify and YouTube to always be watching. You can always be checking it out or wherever you listen to your podcast. I'm watching this. You better be watching. And until next week, I'm Tom Frank. I'm bizgred curls.

SPEAKER_02 47:27

Oh, you should have pointed curls. We all know there it is.

SPEAKER_03 47:30

All right, there you go. There we go. That signal to be at hot damn