sports – Bill Torgerson

NFL Week 3 Chaos: Eagles’ Wild Finish, Fever Upset Aces and Torg Game Ball Winners

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast! On this episode, we’re looking at Sunday’s NFL Week 3 Games, Looking Ahead to Week 4, and Finishing Up with the WNBA Final Four. Anne, I asked you to come up with some headlines from yesterday’s games. Give me your first one!

NFL Headlines from Sunday, Sept 21, 2025:

1. Eagles vs. Rams: Philly Special Teams Steal a W

A wild comeback game in Philadelphia ended with a special teams touchdown that you’ll have to see to believe. The Eagles were down 26-7 in the third quarter before scoring 26 unanswered points to seal the victory.

Key Stats: Jalen Hurts had 226 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. A.J. Brown led all receivers with 109 yards and a touchdown.
Play of the Game: With the Eagles up 27-26 and time expiring, Rams kicker Joshua Karty attempted a game-winning 44-yard field goal. But Eagles DT Jordan Davis broke through the line, blocked the kick, and then rumbled 61 yards for a touchdown as time expired to secure the 33-26 win.
What the win meant: The Eagles move to 3-0 on the season and look like a true NFC powerhouse. For the Rams, this loss stings and drops them to 2-1, but the late-game drama shouldn’t overshadow the fact they held a commanding lead for much of the game.

2. Bears vs. Cowboys: Caleb Williams is D-A-N-G-E-R-O-U-S

The young Bears QB put on a show against a tough Dallas defense, cementing his status as a top-tier quarterback and giving Chicago fans plenty to be excited about.

Key Stats: Caleb Williams had a career-high 142.6 passer rating, throwing for multiple touchdowns to a variety of receivers. Rookie WR Luther Burden III had 101 receiving yards on just three catches, including a 65-yard touchdown. The Bears defense also forced four turnovers.
Play of the Game: A 65-yard flea-flicker touchdown from Caleb Williams to rookie WR Luther Burden III in the third quarter, which stretched the lead and showcased the explosive potential of the Chicago offense.
What the win meant: This was a statement win for the Bears, who are now 2-1 and looking like a legitimate playoff contender. For the Cowboys, it’s a significant setback, dropping them to 1-2 and raising questions about their offensive consistency.

3. Jets vs. Buccaneers: New York’s Heartbreak Hotel

The Jets’ quest for their first win came agonizingly close, with a blocked field goal for a touchdown, before a last-second field goal spoiled the party and sent them to 0-3.

Key Stats: The Buccaneers are now 3-0. Baker Mayfield orchestrated a final drive to get into field goal range. Jets pass rusher Will McDonald IV had a blocked field goal touchdown.
Play of the Game: The Jets’ Will McDonald IV blocked a 43-yard Buccaneers field goal attempt with just under two minutes left in the game and returned it for a 50-yard touchdown, giving the Jets a shocking 27-26 lead.
What the win meant: The Buccaneers continue their undefeated season, but not without some serious scares. For the Jets, this loss is a huge blow to their morale and playoff hopes. Being 0-3 makes their path to a winning record incredibly difficult.

4. Packers vs. Browns: A Kick to the Gut for Green Bay

In a defensive battle, the Packers and Browns exchanged blows, with the game coming down to a final field goal attempt that was met with a brutal twist.

Key Stats: The Browns’ defense blocked a potential game-winning field goal from the Packers with 27 seconds left. The Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs extended his franchise record to 10 straight games with a touchdown. The Browns’ kicker Andre Szmyt hit a 55-yard walk-off field goal.
Play of the Game: After the blocked field goal, Browns kicker Andre Szmyt calmly nailed a 55-yard field goal as time expired to give the Browns a stunning 13-10 victory.
What the win meant: A massive upset for the Browns, who move to 2-1. This is a tough pill for the Packers to swallow, as they drop to 2-1 after looking like one of the league’s most dominant teams through two weeks.

5. Seahawks vs. Saints: Seattle’s Special Teams Are More Than Just Hot Coffee

The Seahawks put on a clinic in all three phases of the game, with their special teams unit delivering two of the most explosive plays of the day.

Key Stats: The Seahawks’ offense scored on their first seven possessions. Punter Michael Dickson’s first punt came in the fourth quarter. The Saints were held to just 13 points, with their star RB Alvin Kamara only managing 42 rushing yards.
Play of the Game: Rookie Tory Horton’s 95-yard punt return for a touchdown in the first quarter, which was not only the longest punt return in Seahawks history, but also helped set the tone for the 44-13 blowout.
What the win meant: The Seahawks are now 2-1 and look like a formidable force in the NFC. For the Saints, this is a painful loss, as they drop to 0-3 and are now in a deep hole to start the season.

NFL Categories Segment: Anne and I pick from a list of categories and share our selection:

Game balls:

Rogers passes Favre for all time TD passes.
Coach Dan Quinn takes the hit, cracks his skin on his nose, bleeds, and pops up to keep coaching.
Eagles Davis blocks game winning field goal attempt and returns for a TD.
A’ja Wilson becomes WNBA first 4 time MVP winner.

Play of the day:

Browns block game winning field goal try by Packers.

I’m in…

Dynamic kickoff. Working great!

I’m out…

On the Eagles. Mostly the tush push.

Best uniforms this week… (or helmets)

Panthers black matte helmets. Stripe across the top. Panther graphic in turquoise. (helmets often silver)
Old school center hiking it on Patriots helmet. Red uniforms. Patriots in the end zone looked like Red Sox font. Reminded me of the 1985 Bears Super Bowl!
Bucs looking like TN. Orange, also the stripe in the top, orange on white.

What were they thinking?

Colts timeout. Titans timeout. Titans delay of game. MIssed Titans field goal.
The Packers quarterback Love INT for Packers w 3 mins to go up 10-3.

Holy Cow Award

Herbert gets away from a potential sack, runs to his left and throws with right hand side arm for a 20-yard touchdown as he’s hit.

What were they thinking…

How many fumbles for Pats? 5 turnovers. Don’t get the last 4th and 2 on a screen pass.

Anne, before we do Colts Corner, I have a new announcement:

“For all our show notes and information on upcoming episodes, visit TheTorg.com. If you’re a brand or business that believes in what we do, we’d love to partner with you to help share your story.”

Colts Corner:

Is this the best start for the Colts in a long time?

The Colts beat the Titans 41-20, improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2009, a season when Peyton Manning led them to the AFC Championship. This is a huge statement win for the team, especially against an AFC South rival.

How much credit does Jonathan Taylor deserve for this 3-0 start?

Jonathan Taylor was the star of the show, running for 102 yards and a season-high three touchdowns. This performance helped him break a 38-year-old franchise record for rushing yards through the first three games of a season, previously held by Eric Dickerson.

We learned that Daniel Jones is off to a fantastic start with the Colts.

Through three games, he has an impressive 111.7 passer rating, has completed over 71% of his passes for over 800 yards, and has thrown three touchdowns with zero interceptions. He’s also been tough under pressure and has made big plays, like his 29-yard cross-body throw against the Titans.

What should we expect in Week 4 against the Rams?

The Colts’ next game is a tough road test against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium. With the Rams coming off a devastating comeback loss to the Eagles, they’ll be fired up and looking to prove they’re still a contender.

The Blocked Kick Segment:

Three different games featured a blocked field goal on Sunday, September 21, 2025. Here is the list, ranked from most important to least important in terms of its impact on the final outcome of the game.

1. Los Angeles Rams vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Significance: This block was the most important because it directly resulted in a game-winning, walk-off touchdown. After mounting a furious comeback, the Eagles were clinging to a one-point lead as the Rams’ kicker lined up for a potential game-winning 44-yard field goal. Eagles DT Jordan Davis broke through the line, blocked the kick, and then returned it 61 yards for a touchdown as time expired to secure the 33-26 victory. This was the Eagles’ second blocked field goal of the game.

2. Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns

Significance: This block was critical because it prevented the Packers from winning and set up the Browns for their own game-winning kick. With 27 seconds left and the score tied, Packers kicker Brandon McManus lined up for a go-ahead 43-yard field goal. Browns DT Shelby Harris blocked the kick, which allowed the Browns to take over possession and drive into position for a walk-off 55-yard field goal to win the game.

3. New York Jets vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Significance: The Jets’ blocked field goal was significant because it capped a stunning fourth-quarter comeback and gave them a late lead. With the Jets down by seven points with less than two minutes to play, their special teams unit blocked a Buccaneers field goal attempt and returned it 50 yards for a touchdown to take a one-point lead. However, the Jets’ defense couldn’t hold on, and the Buccaneers drove down the field to win the game with a last-second field goal.

Next Week’s Biggest Games:

Baltimore Ravens at Kansas City Chiefs

Why it’s a big game: This is a potential AFC Championship preview and a battle of two of the league’s best quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes. The Ravens are coming off a big win and are a favorite to win the AFC, and the Chiefs will be looking to re-assert their dominance after a tough Week 3 loss.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Why it’s a big game: This is a battle of two undefeated NFC powerhouses. Both teams had a dramatic, down-to-the-wire win in Week 3, and the winner will get a leg up in the race for the top spot in the conference. The game has a lot of star power and is a rematch of their exciting Week 3 game from last season.

3. Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams

Why it’s a big game: This is a fascinating matchup of two teams with a lot to prove. The Colts are surprisingly 3-0 and will look to validate their hot start against a strong NFC opponent. Meanwhile, the Rams are looking to rebound from a devastating and improbable loss to the Eagles and prove they can still be a top contender.

Bill’s Bets From Week 3 and How He Did:

1-0. Bills in survivor pool to beat Dolphins. Vikings losing to the Falcons last week put me out of one of my two pools.
1-1. Rogers 200 passing yards and 2 TDs was +124. Rogers didn’t get the passing yards.
2-1. Colts moneyline to beat the Titans and Daniel Jones to go 175 yards passing with a 50% profit boost was +126. Win!
2-2. Raiders moneyline to beat the Commanders was +134. Raiders lose.
2-3. Rams +100 to win with 1:48 to go. Lose on blocked kick.
3-3 win. Fever to be at least within 8 and Mitchell to score 15 was -102. Mitchell 34 points.
3-4. Lose. Lynx to beat Mercury and Collier to score 25 was +209. Collier had 18.
3-5. Lose. Cowboys moneyline to beat Bears. +150
4-5. Win. Chargers moneyline to beat Broncos +118
4-6. Cardinals moneyline less than 2 mins to go. -138.
4-7. Loss. Chiefs moneyline, Mahomes 2 TD passes and 200 yards. +210. Mahomes only had one TD pass.

Indiana Fever 89, Las Vegas Aces 73

Why the Fever won: The Fever’s offense was incredibly efficient, shooting 50% from the field compared to the Aces’ 40.8%. Indiana also had a dominant third quarter, outscoring the Aces 28-19 to extend their lead and take control of the game.
Key individual performances: Indiana’s Kelsey Mitchell was unstoppable, scoring a playoff-career-high 34 points on 52.2% shooting. For the Aces, the newly-crowned four-time MVP A’ja Wilson was held to just 16 points and shot a terrible 27.3% from the field.
What to watch for in Game 2: The Aces must find a way to contain Kelsey Mitchell and get A’ja Wilson more involved and efficient on offense. The Fever, meanwhile, will need to prove their upset was no fluke and that they can continue their hot shooting.

Minnesota Lynx 82, Phoenix Mercury 69

Why the Lynx won: Despite trailing at halftime, the Lynx used a strong defensive effort in the second half, holding the Mercury to just 22 total points. Minnesota’s dominant fourth quarter, where they outscored Phoenix 23-10, sealed the victory.
Key individual performances: Lynx guard Courtney Williams was instrumental in the win, scoring a game-high 23 points and adding five steals on the night. For the Mercury, leading scorer Satou Sabally was held to just 10 points.
What to watch for in Game 2: Phoenix needs to find its offensive rhythm again after a brutal second half. The Mercury dominated the paint early on but struggled after halftime, so they must make adjustments to find ways to score against the suffocating Lynx defense.

Anne, we’ve got our new announcement:

“For all our show notes and information on upcoming episodes, visit TheTorg.com. If you’re a brand or business that believes in what we do, we’d love to partner with you to help share your story.”

Podcast file name: nfl-week-3-chaos-eagles-fever-aces-torg-game-balls.mp3

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Indiana Pacers Lose the NBA Finals, Haliburton Injury, and A Fan Reflection

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast! We’re recording Mon June 23rd, the day after the Pacers lost in game in 7 of the NBA Finals to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Anne, I’m fresh off of Day 1 of the Watauga Girls Basketball Camp. Did you used to go to camp as a kid?

What’s most prominent in your mind after this game 7 of the NBA Finals?

It’s two things for me: Haliburton slamming the floor and after the game when his teammates came off the court and he greeted them one by one.

How would you describe the single overwhelming emotion you felt in the final minute of Game 7, win or lose?

Deflated. After the game the camera was following the Pacers back to the locker room. Haliburton was waiting on everyone. Felt like the producers missed the big story when they went to the championship celebration.

How did you think Haliburton going out impacted each team? Did you see anything?

Two recent experiences that might inform some of what happened in Game 7:

Kate having a knee injury as a junior and missing at least a half.
RJ Reynolds point guard spraining an ankle in walk through and not playing us.

Keys to the outcome:

Haliburton injury. What do they lose when they lose Haliburton? (vs. McConnell)
Stifling defense that made Indiana go long stretches without scoring and forced Indiana into 21 turnovers. 32-10 points off turnovers.
SGA can get 29 one way or another when no one else in the game could.
Five blocks by Chet Holgrem

Go over the team stats and the box score click here.

X-Factor:

McConnell going 8-13 for 16 points off the bench. Chet Holmgren getting 18 on 6-8 shooting with 5 blocks. He’s not always doing that.

How does this Game 7 performance alter your perspective on the current Pacers team and their potential for the future?

Regardless of the final score, what was the biggest surprise for you in how Game 7 unfolded? Did anything completely go against your expectations?

The Pacers leading at halftime was a pretty big surprise.

Game Notes on a Timeline:

Pacers could win the title and never get picked for like three rounds.
Dort hang and over the shoulder lay up to cut to 11-8. Just fancy.
Nesmith 2 fouls at over 7 mins in first.
Freaking Caruso.
Haliburton 4:12. Down 18-16.
Everyone trying to hit a little extra tougher shot, but hanging in there 20-22 45 secs in 1st. 22-25 at QTR. Reminds me of Durant. Toronto fans seemed to cheer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBv99Orq9Ys
It barely touches Haliburton’s hands. TJ dribbles a lot but he scores and forces a timeout cutting score 36-37.
SGA splitting help on ball screens.
Nesmith diving on floor for jump ball 40-42 2:19 in half.
Dort flop with less than a minute in half.
Dort hail Mary 10:37 48-52.
That Dort can slide over to someone else makes it hard.
Two turnovers in a row by TJ. Threes by OKC. 56-65.
TJ big third quarter. Pacers trying to free him with a ball screen near half court and he gets trapped. 5 second violation 66-75 2:17 in third.
Suffocating defense 8:27 68-89.
27-5 points off turnovers up 68-89.
I feel irritated with the finger twirl.
Wow, OKC out of timeouts with 4:11 left.

Best Commercials:

State Farm Logo Commercial. Everything is easier from the logo. Sheboygan, WI!
Progressive can’t protect you from becoming your parents.

Pacers Trivia Game Created by Google Gemini:

1. Question: Which legendary Boston Celtics player coached the Pacers to their first and only NBA Finals appearance in 2000?

2. Question: Who is the Pacers’ all-time franchise leader in blocked shots?

3. Question: Before moving to Gainbridge Fieldhouse (originally Conseco Fieldhouse), the Pacers played in what famously domed arena from 1974 to 1999?

4. Question: In the 1987 NBA draft, the Pacers famously selected Reggie Miller with the 11th pick. Which Indiana University star did many local fans want the team to draft instead?

5. Question: What was the well-known nickname of the 7’4″ center from the Netherlands, Rik Smits, who played his entire career with the Pacers?

6. Question: The Pacers acquired their current All-Star point guard, Tyrese Haliburton, in a major trade with which Western Conference team?

7. Question: During the Paul George era in the early 2010s, which Eastern Conference rival, led by LeBron James, eliminated the Pacers from the playoffs in three consecutive seasons (2012, 2013, 2014)?

8. Question: The number 529 is retired in honor of legendary ABA coach Bobby “Slick” Leonard. What does the number 529 signify?

9. Question: Who was the last Pacers player to win the NBA’s Most Improved Player award, doing so in 2018?

10. Question: Which player, known for his defensive prowess, won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year award as a Pacer in the 2003-2004 season?

Answer Key

Answer: Larry Bird
Answer: Myles Turner
Answer: Market Square Arena
Answer: Steve Alford
Answer: The Dunking Dutchman
Answer: The Sacramento Kings (in a trade for Domantas Sabonis)
Answer: The Miami Heat
Answer: His total number of wins as the Pacers’ head coach (a combination of ABA and NBA victories).
Answer: Victor Oladipo
Answer: Ron Artest (now Metta Sandiford-Artest)

Indiana Pacers Haliburton achilles NBA Finals

Thanks for checking out the website and this edition of the Torg Stories Podcast!

Pacers in NBA Finals, Worried about the Fever, and Reasons for Living in LA and Boone, NC

Welcome to the Torg Stories Podcast. On this episode we’re talking about the Pacers in the NBA Finals, deciding if we should worry about the Indiana Fever, and explaining why we live where we live: Boone and Los Angeles.

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We are also a video podcast. See window below:

Indiana Pacers Notes and Discussion Prompts:

From Game 1:

I’ve been harping on how bad team’s sideline out of bounds plays have been. There was no timeout on Haliburton’s game winner. (same with Cleveland game winner)
I texted you 19 turnovers in the first half but I was still hopeful because the game was still somewhat close. Ended with 24 to Thunder 6. Thunder ended with 16 more shots.
With this team, you just keep watching if they are within 20.
Pacers hit 18 threes to Thunder’s 11.
Think these two teams are more even than thought before. Pacers probably won’t shoot that well but they also might not turn the ball over that much. Great chance Dort from OKC won’t hit 5 threes.

We read Ramona Shelburne’s ESPN article titled “Why Tyrese Haliburton’s superstar ascension actually began three years ago.” Click here for article.

We have listeners who will say, I don’t watch the NBA. What would you tell them about Haliburton?
There’s this quote from the article: “This season he has hit an astounding 13-for-15 game-tying or game-winning shots in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime — the best field goal percentage in a single season since play-by-play was first tracked in 1996-97, per ESPN Research.”
It’s understood that if you take these shots, you’re going to miss plenty of them. The thing is to have the courage to keep taking them when you’ve missed. That’s not what is going on here.
When do you first remember noticing Haliburton as an NBA player? For me, it was his appearance on JJ Reddick’s podcast, “Old Man and the Three.”
From trainer Drew Hanlon: “The big quote that we always say is, ‘Sometimes being too unselfish is actually being selfish,'” Hanlen told ESPN Thursday night, as he waited for Haliburton by the Pacers family room in Oklahoma City. “When he’s unselfish, it actually negatively impacts his teammates’ success and negatively impacts his team’s success.The more aggressive he is, the more his team wins.”
I’ve never given a player a goal of shots to take but it makes me think of a couple of high percentage – low volume shooters that maybe I could have done this for.
Haliburton certainly doesn’t sound entitled. It sounds like he is self critical and needs to be pumped up occasionally.
Think this is a good sign that Haliburton would say this after hitting the game winner: I know I was terrible. I made the shot and everything, but there’s a lot of room for improvement. I can be better.”

Haliburton is 13-15 from the field with a chance to tie or take the lead with 2 mins or less to go. From @pitlessball on X. Click here for video.

Reminds me of this quote about LeBron from Rotella’s book How Champions Think:

“I did tell him that I thought he could benefit from one of the standard methods of sports psychology, visualization. I wanted him to see himself making three-point shots. I suggested that he ask the Cavaliers’ staff to make a highlight video for him, about eight to twelve minutes long. This video would be a LeBron James long-range shooting montage. It would have LeBron making threes off the dribble. It would show LeBron catching the ball and making threes spotting up. It could have some of LeBron’s favorite music in the background, helping him to attach the good feelings associated with that music to the act of shooting threes. He would watch it every night. As he fell asleep, he could conjure up images of himself making three-point shots against tall, quick, tenacious defenders. He could let them fill his dreams.”

Are we worried about the Indiana Fever?

Can Clark get and stay healthy? The team was constructed really well around Clark but she hasn’t been able to play. She’s like Curry and Jokic to the Fever. Just not very good without her.

Fever vs. Chicago Skye Notes:

(1st ever prime time national network game)
Anne, you said no stars. Angel Reese isn’t a star? Reese leading rebounder in W.
Lexie, what is she from 3 in league?
Vandersloot injured.
Fever are a team without a point guard.
Up 21-13 at the quarter. Chicago doesn’t have basket makers including Reese and Cardoso.
Lexie Hull so much better than she used to be. Playmaking. Creating opportunities beyond stand and shoot.
Game in United Center.
Jordan Kent (play-by-play), Isis Young (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline reporter).
So much traveling!
41-28 at half. Ball popping better for the Fever. Seeing some of those extra passes that we’re used to with the Pacers.
Ball goes from being in someone’s hands most of the time to moving from player to player more quickly.
Team chemistry looks good.
McDonald, Clark’s replacement, will be gone.
Skye playing with two offensively unskilled bigs. Reese is Rodman, Gordan

Living on Purpose

I like to say I live in Boone, NC on purpose. You wanted to live in LA so much that you moved there without a job. Here are five reasons I live in Boone:

Green Mountains Water: Something inside me that is moved the most when I see green, water, and mountains. It doesn’t something to me that wide open landscape of corn fields, the Rocky Mountains, or the Grand Canyon doesn’t do. I think sitting next to the ocean is a close second. Mountain River Water: I think Stackhouse Access and The Ledges on the French Broad River are the two places that first evoked that feeling. Now I regularly am regularly standing in the shallow water of the Watauga River at the Valle Crucis Park.
College Town of Appalachian State
Place other people come on vacation.
The way 50 minutes in the woods can unwind tension.
People are friendly, chill, and helpful. That was not my experience driving the Grand Central Parkway in Queens, NY.

Other notes:

Anne went to see Phoenician Scheme.
I bought Landman from Amazon.
Anne was moved by the TikTok of the elephant rescuing the antelope. Click here to see video.
Anne thought one of these pens looked a lot better than the other and the one she liked the best didn’t work.

Thanks for checking out this episode of the Torg Stories Podcast!

Coaching Influences, Basketball Analytics, and Coaching Our Daughters with McDowell’s Zack McCartha

In this episode I talk with the North Carolina Basketball Coaches’ Association 2024-2025 Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year, McDowell’s Zack McCartha.

click above for audio post or listen on Apple or Spotify / video podcast below

Coach McCartha and I discuss some of the keys to his team’s undefeated season, our coaching influences, how we use analytics to aid in our coaching decisions, and what it’s like to coach our daughters on our respective teams.

There are even some book recommendations at the end!

Coach McCartha with his daughter Clara and son Everett

Coach, you’re at McDowell High School in Marion, North Carolina. Your team went undefeated in the regular season last year. What are a couple things you’d point to that made your team so successful?

Torg: Best player in the state, Pace, the three point shot, basketball IQ which goes with game planning on both sides of the ball

Is there a Zack McCartha brand of basketball? To what degree do you have a way of playing that you try and install vs. adapting your way of playing depending on the players you have?

Torg: shooting in practice, custom scheme for the group, adaptability for each opponent, limited fundamental reps and high on Small Sided Games SSGs.

Coach McCartha at the Final Four in Winston Salem 2025

I’d like to hear about your education in basketball, your coaching influences if you will. Could you look back and start naming coaches and maybe telling me what you took or adapted from them to get you to the way you think about basketball now?

Torg Influences:

Coach Knight at Indiana: game planning with film and walk through, motion concepts, the phrase “surprise and change” when it comes to defense even though that isn’t what Coach Knight believed.
Don Meyer from David Lipscomb – comprehensive skill development, mini solutions to fundamental problems such as traveling with poor footwork. 4-out motion offense. Could pair this with Majerus.
Rob Irwin who I assisted at Carroll High School in Indiana: gave me 1 min three shooting drill. Just one thing but it was a big one that we do almost every single time we come together.
Laura Barry who I assisted at Watauga: teaching transition def, teaching the 1-3-1 defense, intro me to PGC where I found a modernized version of a lot of what I liked about Don Meyer. Footwork especially but also things such as lighting your team up with enthusiasm. Coach Barry gifted me the Legacy book which I take the term blue head from.
Bill Belichick – game planning. From his book The Art of Winning: “We did what any winning team should do: we looked at our opponent, and we adapted to what we saw.” ALSO… “I’ll say it again: not the same plan; the same planning.”
Brian McCormick – mostly for small sided games SSGs. Read quite a few of his books but 21st Century Guide to Skill Development is one that sticks out as memorable.
Doug Lemov – author of The Coach’s Guide to Teaching. Coach Barry also pointed me to this one. Focused feedback. Short term memory processing while you might be trying to listen to a coach and read the defense.

Has your coaching style changed over the years and how so?

More shots per practice. Brief on reps heavier on small sided games. I am more calm and patient. I used to to stay with things in practice until we got every detail right. I think I used to spend a lot of time on getting something right that wasn’t going to matter that much. Now I get in what I want to get in and I keep coming back to it with hopes of cleaning up.

How much influence do you put on analytics when it comes to the high school game?

What do we mean when we say analytics? Torg answer: using numbers and probability to aid in decision making about practice and games
we shoot a lot of threes in practice and we are trying to shoot a lot of threes in games. Last season we averaged 9.4 threes made per game on 27.4 attempts for 34.2%. (that’s up over 4 made threes per game over a 4-year period. When I started at Wataga as an assistant, I think we averaged something like 2-12 per game. We had games of 18, 16 and 14 twice made threes.
I like to look at our defensive points per possession depending on what defense we are playing.
I look into when to call timeout. For example, after a made free throw. Also, is it really advantageous to foul up 3 with less than 10 seconds to go? The execution of this can be really shaky and even when executed, it’s an incredibly slight advantage to foul. Another: Should I take a player out in foul trouble?
Don’t know but think yes: should most of our players take the wide open 15 footer? How much should we practice it?

Do you have any thoughts as it relates to load management throughout the course of a high school season? This could be in practice and/or games. If so, is this a change?

The is Coach McCartha’s question. For me, not much thought about load management other than that was a tough game last night. I know you once asked me if Kate practiced.
Also, playing 2-3 games in a day. I def just take my lumps if I have to and I don’t play anyone big minutes.
We do things like take charges and dive for balls.
More film and rehearsal than live

Coach McCartha and daughter Clara competing for McDowell HS in Marion, NC

We each coach our daughters. Let’s try and talk about that a little bit:

Are there parts of it we enjoy? Chance for them to know me and see how I am everyday instead of if I went off to work for 12 hours a day and saw them once in awhile. Riding to and from in the car. We’re sometimes working on a project together.
What’s difficult about it? People, including teammates, treating my kids in a different way because of things I do. Incorrect assumptions about what my kids know. She must have told Coach X whereas people come to me all the time with good and bad they think about what our players do.

What is one non-negotiable that you have for your teams?

Torg: non-negotiable and culture are not phrases I use. The best I can do is to share what I emphasize. I call these things out when we fall short and I find as many ways as I can to praise them when I see them: enthusiasm, team first attitude, 9 and 7 shots on offense, sportsmanship, positive body language, being a blue head, bolting, the extra pass

We’ve got the NCAA exposure event coming up in June at the RISE facility. Let’s talk about that, recruitment, and then travel basketball. Is your daughter playing?

What is a book or a movie possibly that you feel like all coaches should read or see?

The Coach’s Guide to Teaching by Doug Lemov. Click here for Torg’s post about the book.

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Trying to Enjoy the Victories, NBA Playoffs, and Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 8

Thanks to the listeners who have recently read my novel Love on the Big Screen and took the time to write me about it. I appreciate you! Anne, the Kindle version is only $2.99!

News from my house:

-I did an enormous amount of weeding. Found and cooked some morel mushrooms. Classes are over at App State, and I’m collecting late work and final assignments. Mom has been going on a daily walk. She’s got a memoir book to fill out and Charlotte is coming home from college this week.

There has been some good feedback on people enjoying hearing about what we read and watch. Here’s what I read and watched last week:

read Kindle sample of Lorne (as in SNL Michaels) by Susan Morrison. Still might buy it. I did buy David Sedaris’s collection of essays titled Calypso. There are stories about Sea-Section NC beach house, Fit Bit walking, and his sister’s suicide.
watched the movie the Gray Man with Ryan Gosling. Made it to the end. Could use a cut of 15% of the fight and chase scenes. Really good little girl character. Billy Bob Thorton is in it too.
Started first episode of The Last of Us. Might stay with it a little longer on the treadmill and see how it goes.

The Big News of this Ted Lasso episode:

There’s a massive internet hack of celebrities and an explicit video video that Keeley sent becomes public.
Ted fears Michelle and Dr. Jake are going to get married.
We get a lot of couples to start: Jack and Keeley, Michelle and Dr. Jake, Nate and Jade

Golden Lines from the Episode:

You can’t worry about something that hasn’t happened yet. -Crimm to Ted (added: Find out before you flip out). This is during a Diamond Dogs meeting about Michelle and Jake. The Diamond Dogs are very much in the spirit of my Brothers in Pursuit college group.
You should enjoy your victories. -Jade to Nate

5 Observations or Questions Related to NBA Playoffs

I’ll name the NBA team and you say the first thing that comes to mind: Thunder, Nuggets, Clippers, Timberwolves, Cavaliers, Pacers, Knicks, Celtics, Warriors, Rockets
Anne, you said the Clippers are your new team. Why them over Pacers?
In each series, do you feel yourself rooting?

Let’s give Anne a chance to see if she can guess any of these NBA Playoff Stat Leaders:

Points per game: Giannis 33, Brunson 31.5, Tatum 31.3
Rebounds per game: Giannis 15.4, Jokic 11.6, Sengun 11.5
Assists: Haliburton 11.6, Jokic 10.1, Harden 9.1
Blocks per game: Holmgren 2.8, Edey 2.5, Turner (IND) 2.2
Three point field goals per game: Gary Trent 4.4, Steph Curry 4.2, Fred VanVleet 4.0
Free throws per game: Tatum 9.2, Giannis 8.8, Luka 8.2
Minutes played per game: Murray 42.1, Anunoby 42.0, Luka 41.6.

Ted Lasso Season 3, Episode 8 titled “We’ll Never Have Paris”(a few more items to potentially discuss)

Nate has a meeting. Calls it the Love Hounds to talk. Disco has been divorced 3x. Other guy says to insult her. An Oscar Wilde quote:
Roy says he’s sorry and then ruins it.
Ted, Beard, and Henry go to West Hamm.
Jack says Keeley is her friend.
The story behind “Hey Jude.”

In 1968 the longest song to ever reach number one on the Billboard charts was Paul McCartney’s epic “Hey Jude”—clocking in at seven minutes and twelve seconds. The song was written to soothe John Lennon’s son Julian amid his parent’s divorce. Click here for Wikipedia entry.

Michelle tells Ted Dave Grohl learned to play drums on pillows.
Henry no dap for Dr. Jacob. Michell no kiss. She looks up to see if Ted is watching her go.

Tag: sports