The Monarchists Basketball Show

The Monarchists

The Monarchists sit down with ODU Men's Basketball Coach Mike Jones and ODU Women's Basketball Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones to discuss upcoming opponents, recap games and interview members of the team and staff about the season.

  1. 5D AGO

    S4E8 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    The Monarchists are back with another edition of The Monarchists Basketball Show, joined by Mike Jones to break down the season, what went wrong, and what comes next for Old Dominion Monarchs Men's Basketball. Coach Jones gets brutally honest about expectations vs. reality, roster construction challenges, and the evolving landscape of the Sun Belt Conference. From recruiting JUCO talent and navigating the transfer portal to building a defensive identity that can win in March - nothing is off limits. 🔥 Topics include: - Season recap and tough lessons learned - Fixing the defense without sacrificing offense - Transfer portal strategy (April 7–21 window) - JUCO recruiting insights from Kansas - How to build a roster to survive the Sun Belt gauntlet - Rule changes that NEED to happen in college basketball Coach Jones also delivers a powerful message to Monarch Nation about the future and why ODU basketball is far from finished. 💙 Subscribe now and stay locked in with the BEST and ONLY ODU podcast on the planet. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro (ODAF Support) 01:00 – Season recap: expectations vs reality 02:30 – Tough non-conference schedule lessons 04:00 – Fixing scheduling strategy moving forward 05:00 – Sun Belt expectations & roster evaluation 06:00 – Year 1 vs Year 2 roster construction 07:30 – Offensive improvement vs defensive struggles 08:45 – The challenge of finding two-way players 09:30 – Recruiting breakdown: JUCO scouting in Kansas 11:00 – Evaluating players beyond film 12:00 – The importance of coaching networks 13:30 – Truth vs bias in recruiting intel 15:00 – JUCO vs Division I mindset differences 17:00 – What players value about ODU facilities 18:30 – Building culture through recruiting 20:00 – Transfer portal strategy explained 21:30 – Selling opportunity at ODU 22:30 – Coach Jones’ growth as a head coach 24:00 – Sun Belt style diversity & challenges 26:00 – How close the Sun Belt really is 27:30 – Rule change #1: Goaltending review issue 30:00 – Rule change #2: Unlimited correct challenges 32:00 – Officiating consistency debate 35:00 – Building a roster to beat multiple styles 38:00 – Vision for ODU basketball’s future 39:00 – Message to Monarch Nation

    41 min
  2. FEB 11

    S4E7 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    Monarch Nation, this was a must-listen episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show. Head Coach Mike Jones joins Aaron and Mike for a deep, honest breakdown of the week that was—what went wrong against ULM, how the team responded against Ohio, and why the next three games inside Chartway Arena will define the stretch run. Coach Jones takes you inside: - The emotional hangover from the road trip - A powerful 6:00 AM practice that reset the culture - Zacch Wiggins’ growth as a true freshman - Cal’s impact when he stays out of foul trouble - LJ’s clutch, ice-cold finish - The goaltending no-call everyone’s still talking about - Scouting Marshall and Georgia State - Game-day preparation during doubleheaders - What he learned from this season so far - Ronnie Valentine’s jersey retirement on Valentine’s Day - Why these final home games matter more than ever Plus: 🎙️ A special message about The Mane Event w/ Coach Mike Jones at Afterglow Brewing on Thursday, 2/19 at 6PM and a plug for our upcoming episode with ODU Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Clarisse Machanguana, Mozambique flood relief, and a rallying call for Monarch Nation. Go Fund Me: Rebuilding Clarisse's Home After Mozambique Floods https://gofund.me/00e5a6e74 The Mane Event: https://www.facebook.com/share/1C6K2q3pGu/ Buckle up. This one has everything. Go Monarchs! ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Intro & ODAF Message 00:45 – ULM Recap: “We Didn’t Answer the Call” 01:55 – Mental Hangover from Texas State 02:35 – Ohio Win & Late Rebounding Surge 03:55 – Chartway Crowd Energy Impact 05:00 – The Goaltending No-Call Breakdown 😬 07:45 – The 6:00 AM Reset Practice 10:05 – Zacch Wiggins’ First Home Start 11:25 – Freshman Development & Work Ethic 12:35 – Finishing Through Contact & Physical Growth 13:45 – Cal’s Impact When Out of Foul Trouble 16:05 – The “Pass of the Year” Moment 17:30 – LJ’s Crunch-Time Takeover 19:50 – 16-of-18 From the Line & Only 6 Turnovers 20:55 – ODAF Mid-Roll 22:30 – Marshall Preview & Doubleheader Setup 24:10 – Game-Day Prep Changes Explained 25:20 – The Mitch Advantage (24/7 Access) 26:55 – Spurs Practice Facility Experience 28:15 – Ronnie Valentine Jersey Retirement ❤️ 29:45 – Georgia State Preview 31:10 – Louisiana Game Reminder (President’s Day) 31:55 – Senior Day Discussion 33:40 – Conference Scheduling Frustrations 35:05 – The Mane Event at Afterglow Announcement 36:45 – Baseball Season & Clarisse Machanguana Tease 🌍 38:20 – Coach Jones’ Message to Monarch Nation 39:55 – Go Monarchs

    40 min
  3. JAN 21

    S4E6 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    The Monarchists Basketball Show is back with Head Coach Mike Jones as Old Dominion wraps up a critical road trip and turns the page toward two huge home games at Chartway Arena. We break down the heartbreaker at Georgia Southern, the gritty win at App State, and what Coach Jones learned about his team’s growth, toughness, and maturity along the way. The conversation highlights Jordan Battle’s electric performance, Jared Turner’s confidence and development, and what it truly means to learn how to win in Sun Belt play. Looking ahead, Coach Jones previews: - A massive Wednesday night matchup vs. Troy - A Saturday showdown vs. Louisiana - The jersey retirement of ODU legend Ronnie Valentine - Why alumni weekends, tradition, and fan support matter more than ever This episode is all about growth, belief, and momentum as the Monarchs fight for positioning and prepare for the stretch run toward Pensacola. 🎧 Presented by The Pride of ODU 👉 Be a Monarchist. Join The Pride. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU 00:30 – Road trip recap & growth since last episode 01:20 – Georgia Southern heartbreak breakdown 02:50 – Free throws, officiating & attacking the rim 04:45 – Practice focus & late-game pressure 06:05 – Boone, App State & rivalry mentality 07:10 – Jordan Battle’s big night & infectious energy 09:00 – A “maturity win” and learning how to close games 10:30 – Jared Turner’s development & confidence 12:30 – What the team learned from the road trip 14:00 – Troy preview: shooting, defense & adjustments 16:10 – Handling multiple defensive looks 18:10 – Louisiana preview & defensive challenges 20:30 – Ronnie Valentine jersey retirement meaning 22:10 – Alumni weekend & Monarch tradition 24:15 – What fans should see now vs early season 26:15 – February urgency & Sun Belt positioning 27:30 – Final thoughts & Here Come The Monarchs

    29 min
  4. JAN 14

    S4E5 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    Old Dominion Basketball Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show to break down a pivotal Sun Belt road trip, highlight standout performances, and dive deep into what it will take for the Monarchs to stay in the thick of the conference race. Coach Jones walks us through: -The defensive tone-setting win at Coastal Carolina -Robert Davis Jr.’s bounce-back performance and leadership -The heartbreaking finish at James Madison and late-game execution -What discipline really means in tight Sun Belt games -How injuries impact the frontcourt and rebounding -Preparing for major road tests at Georgia Southern and App State -Why every single possession matters in this league This episode is a must-listen for Monarch Nation as ODU battles through one of the toughest stretches of conference play. 🦁 Join the Pride of ODU 👉 https://theprideofodu.com/pages/memberships 🎧 Subscribe for weekly ODU Athletics coverage 👍 Like, comment, and share with Monarch Nation ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Presented by The Pride of ODU 01:00 – Defensive mindset & fast start vs Coastal 02:10 – Why road trips shape Sun Belt standings 03:00 – Robert Davis Jr.’s impact beyond scoring 05:00 – Creating energy in tough road environments 06:40 – Quick turnarounds & second-time matchups 08:30 – Dominant first half vs JMU 10:00 – Life in the paint without key bigs 12:00 – Robert Davis Jr. injury update 13:00 – Film sessions, ball movement & rebounding 15:00 – Discipline becoming a team identity 17:20 – Coach Jones on Mark Cline’s influence 19:00 – Late-game execution & timeout strategy 23:00 – Breaking down Georgia Southern matchup 26:00 – What to expect at App State 28:00 – Coach Jones’ message to Monarch Nation

    29 min
  5. JAN 2

    S4E4 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    Old Dominion Basketball Head Coach Mike Jones joins The Monarchists Basketball Show for an honest, in-depth conversation about where the Monarchs stand as Sun Belt play heats up. Coach Jones breaks down the challenges of a tough non-conference schedule, early-game struggles, offensive flow, defensive execution, rebounding analytics, lineup decisions, and the leadership emerging inside the locker room. He also previews a massive matchup with Georgia Southern and addresses fan questions head-on — from slow starts to young player development to Sun Belt scheduling frustrations. Despite the bumps, one thing is clear: everything the Monarchs want to accomplish is still right in front of them. 🎙️ Real talk. Real insight. Real Monarch basketball. 👇 Get involved, drop your thoughts in the comments, and Go Monarchs. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – The Pride of ODU & Show Intro 01:00 – Season reflection since Villanova 02:15 – Non-conference scheduling & roster health 03:40 – JMU win, Coastal & App State lessons 05:10 – Slow starts & early-game focus issues 07:40 – Defensive execution & rebounding fundamentals 10:00 – Offensive flow & ball movement concerns 13:00 – Injuries, rotations & continuity challenges 15:10 – Analytics: box-outs, crashing & idle possessions 18:45 – “I’m gonna get mine” offense discussed 20:40 – Leadership emerging on the roster 24:00 – Young players, rotations & Zacch Wiggins 30:00 – Special teams in basketball & execution lapses 33:10 – What Coach wants to see in the next 3 games 36:00 – Georgia Southern scouting report 40:10 – Sun Belt scheduling frustrations 42:40 – Message to Monarch Nation & closing thoughts

    44 min
  6. 11/25/2025

    S4E3 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    Monarch Nation, we’re back with another episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show featuring Old Dominion Head Coach Mike Jones! In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Coach Jones opens up about the team’s growth since the early-season road trip — and the fellas don’t hold back. We ask Coach some tough, honest questions about the struggles, lapses, and inconsistencies the Monarchs have shown so far this season, including what’s behind the offensive stagnation, defensive breakdowns, and difficulty maintaining momentum on the road. Coach breaks down the lessons learned from four challenging road losses (Miami (OH), George Washington, Xavier, Drexel) and the positives gained from strong home performances against Randolph, Norfolk State, and Morgan State. He also explains how he’s balancing a roster full of former “go-to guys,” the importance of trust, and why becoming a more connected team is the key to unlocking their true potential. You’ll also get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at ODU’s analytics system — from deflections to punctures to multi-side possessions — and how the coaching staff uses real-time data to guide decision-making. The episode wraps with a preview of massive upcoming road matchups vs Villanova, William & Mary, Richmond, and George Mason… plus a powerful message to Monarch Nation about staying locked in as this team gears up for Sun Belt play. Whether you’re looking for Xs and Os, honest discussions about growing pains, or pure ODU hoops passion… this episode delivers . . . despite problematic hotel internet towards the end. Go Monarchs! ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 – Welcome to the Monarchists Basketball Show 00:32 – Coach Jones on Team Growth Since Miami (OH) 02:00 – Why Offense Sometimes Stalls & Breaking Old Habits 03:15 – Defensive Struggles: Technique, Trust & Fixing Blow-By Drives 05:20 – Inconsistency & Learning to Play Connected 07:10 – The Miami (OH) First Half & What “Good ODU Basketball” Looks Like 08:00 – Electric Atmosphere vs Norfolk State & Newcomer Reactions 09:00 – Home vs. Road: Fixing Runs & Stopping Momentum Swings 10:40 – Identifying a Leader When Things Go Wrong 11:00 – Zacch Wiggins’ Maturity & Freshman Impact 12:00 – Defensive Technique Deep Dive: Turning Hips vs Stepping Out 14:00 – What High School/AAU Doesn’t Always Teach Defensively 15:50 – Xavier Breakdown: Length, Matchups & Missed Responses 17:00 – Timeout Philosophy & Preparing for Sun Belt Crunch Time 19:00 – ODU’s Analytics System (Deflections, Punctures, Shot Clock Zones) 24:00 – Internet Chaos & Pepper the Dog’s Cameo 26:00 – Closing Thoughts from Mike & Aaron 28:20 – Final Message from Coach Jones 30:00 – Why Monarch Nation’s Support Matters

    32 min
  7. 10/30/2025

    S4E2 - Monarchists Basketball Show ft. Coach Mike Jones

    The Monarchists Basketball Show is back! Coach Mike Jones joins Mike and Aaron to break down the Old Dominion University Men’s Basketball program as the season tips off. Coach Jones shares insights from the Costa Rica trip, talks about the team’s depth and personality, reveals what he learned from the exhibition vs. Hampton, and previews the upcoming matchup with Miami (OH). He dives into the development of Scottie Hubbard and Zacch Wiggins, the team’s scoring potential, defensive growth, and what makes ODU’s depth their “superpower.” Plus, he discusses leadership in the locker room, the fan experience, the challenging but intentional road schedule, and why this season feels special for Monarch Nation. 🏀 Be a Monarchist. Join The Pride. 📖 Chapters 00:00 – Intro & Welcome Back to The Monarchists Basketball Show 01:00 – Coach Jones on Goals for Camp and Building Team Chemistry 02:00 – What the Costa Rica Trip Taught the Team 03:00 – The Value of Personality and Team Bonding 04:00 – Scottie Hubbard’s Transformation and Hard Work 05:00 – Freshman Standout Zacch Wiggins Impresses Early 06:00 – Depth is ODU’s “Superpower” 07:00 – Building Trust Through Practice and Game Situations 10:00 – Takeaways from the Exhibition vs. Hampton 12:00 – Learning Moments, Metrics, and Why the Exhibition Was Valuable 15:00 – Offensive Firepower and Style of Play This Season 17:00 – Defensive Identity and Game Plan Versatility 18:00 – Scouting Miami (OH) and the MAC Challenge 20:00 – A Tough Road Environment and What to Expect from Miami 22:00 – Rotations, Injuries, and Building Chemistry 24:00 – The Excitement Around ODU’s Depth and Talent 25:00 – Playing Small Ball and Creating Mismatches 27:00 – Shooting, Rebounding, and Offensive Confidence 28:00 – Players to Watch: KC Shaw, LJ Thomas, Drew McKenna, and More 30:00 – The Road Schedule and Preparing for the Sun Belt 32:00 – Fan Accessibility and Intentional Scheduling 33:00 – How NIL and Revenue Sharing Impact Scheduling 34:00 – Building Momentum from Last Season 35:00 – Leadership in the Locker Room 37:00 – Team Personalities, Energy, and Culture 38:00 – Meet the Monarchs Night and Fan Connection 40:00 – Making ODU Basketball Events More Accessible 42:00 – Will There Be a Basketball Breakfast This Year? 43:00 – Looking Ahead: Selection Sunday Dreams 44:00 – New Dining Hall, Future Plans, and Coach’s Vision 45:00 – Closing Thoughts: Excitement for the Season & Go Monarchs!

    45 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
7 Ratings

About

The Monarchists sit down with ODU Men's Basketball Coach Mike Jones and ODU Women's Basketball Coach DeLisha Milton-Jones to discuss upcoming opponents, recap games and interview members of the team and staff about the season.