The Notebook Volume X

The Notebook Volume X

Author: Martin Plum March 31, 2026 Duration: 52:46

Welcome back to "The Notebook", where we take a look at a variety of topics within the game of basketball. In this edition, we break down the men's NCAA Final Four with a couple of predictions, we take a look at both the hot teams and the sinking ships in the NBA, some great quotes from some of the best coaches in the country and much more!


Imagine a whiteboard session after a big game, the kind where strategy gets scribbled on whatever's handy. That's the spirit of A Pen And A Napkin. This weekly conversation lives at the crossroads of sport and creative thinking, diving deep into the art of coaching basketball. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a gym office, listening to the nuanced discussions about player development, offensive sets, defensive adjustments, and the philosophy behind building a team. It’s less about Xs and Os in a vacuum and more about the why-the human elements and the creative problem-solving that define the craft. You’ll hear authentic breakdowns of game situations, reflections on leadership, and practical ideas that often start with a simple sketch. Think of it as a portable mentors’ roundtable, a clinic distilled into conversation, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re on the sidelines or just appreciate the deeper layers of the game. Tune in for a podcast that captures the ongoing, ever-evolving dialogue at the heart of coaching.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A Pen And A Napkin
Podcast Episodes
A Pen And A Napkin Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #311 Nick Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:03
Episode #311 features Nick Thompson, the head boys basketball coach at Elkhorn (NE). Coach comes from a lineage of great coaches and has learned from some of the best coaches in the state of Nebraska. Coach discusses his…
The Notebook Volume VII [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:23
We've got a lot of great stuff to talk about in this edition of "The Notebook", including:*College basketball achievements by freshman and old coaches*Fixing collegiate eligibility*Navigating up's and down's of January*P…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #310 Mike Neighbors Volume II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:37
It is GREAT to have Mike Neighbors, the former HC at the University of Arkansas and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Sparks, back on the podcast! Coach and I break down a bunch of different topics, including t…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #309 Blake DuDonis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:45
Blake DuDonis is the lead Assistant Women's Basketball Coach at Fairfield University, one of the best mid-major women's basketball program in the country. Coach DuDonis and the Fairfield staff have a unique philosophy to…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #308 Ryan Hintz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:24
Ryan Hintz is the head boys basketball coach at Blue Valley (KS) High School, where he has built a really consistent program. He comes on the podcast this week to talk about a bunch of different topics, including being a…
A Pen And A Napkin Presents "The Notebook" Volume VI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:02
The latest edition of "The Notebook" features an extended discussion of "January Season" and how to navigate perhaps the toughest season of the year, including growing your own team. We also have a segment on game situat…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #307 Chris Mayes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:03
Really excited to have on Chris Mayes, the author of the "Drive The Gap" Substack series! Coach Mayes has two decades of international basketball experience that he has brought here to the United States and is now sharin…
A Pen And A Napkin presents "The Notebook" Volume V [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
Merry Christmas from APAAN! We've got a bunch of things to talk about this week in "The Notebook", including game situations, a great 1 on 1 drill, analyzing the 49-0 stretch of the Heartland going into Christmas break,…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #306 Amy Eagan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:28
We had a terrific conversation with Amy Eagan, the Head Women's Basketball Coach at Lindenwood University (MO), a Division I program on the rise in the Ohio Valley Conference! Coach Eagan has been a winner at every level…
"The Greatest Teams" Podcast-Volume IX-The 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:09
Bonus Pod Time! Today we're dropping our "Greatest Teams" podcast covering the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers, owners (or previous owners) of some of the greatest records in NBA history, including the (perhaps) unbreakable r…