The Notebook Volume XI

The Notebook Volume XI

Author: Martin Plum April 17, 2026 Duration: 49:55

Welcome back to "The Notebook"! We crack it open once again to discuss a bunch of different angles in the game, including the transfer portal in both the men's and women's game, North Carolina's hire of Mike Malone, player movement in the WNBA, the WNBA draft, NBA playoff predictions and 'Controlling what you can control'. Enjoy this Friday edition of "The Notebook"!


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-Episode #295 Bruce Dall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:16
Really excited to feature Bruce Dall, the girls basketball coach at Cedar Rapids Prairie (IA) High School. Dall, the 2024 National High School Basketball Coach of the Year, has won multiple state titles and has chosen to…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #294 USA Gold Camp Drils Part II [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:05
Here is part II of our two part series breaking down the clinics and drills that were shared at the USA Gold Camp in Omaha over Labor Day weekend! Excited to have John Jungers from Omaha, Dominic Amorosa from Houston, Te…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #293 USA Gold Camp Drills Part I [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:20
This week's interview series is of the "Quick HItter" style; we've got four coaches that worked the USA Gold Camp with me in Omaha a couple of weeks ago, and we're going to break down their clinics and what they did in t…
A Pen And. A Napkin-Episode #292 Scott Fitch [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:50
USA Basketball Gold Medal winning coach Scott Fitch is our guest for episode #292! Coach Fitch led the U16's to another gold medal this summer, and he comes on this week's podcast to talk about relationships, things you…
"The Coaching Staff" Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #142 Lute Olson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:26
Lute Olson is, at times, forgotten in the history of college basketball, but this week, Tony and I are here to make sure that Coach gets his flowers for his career. Starting out as a high school teacher and coach for 13…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #291 Jason Simons [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:12
Omaha Westview (NE) GBB HC Jason Simons makes his maiden voyage on APAAN this week as he discusses a lot of great topics! We chat about his move from a smaller school to a bigger school, player development, starting a pr…
Basketball's Greatest Teams-Episode #1 The 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:19
NEW PODCAST ALERT!!!!!!!The game of basketball has been around since December of 1891, but have we ever really settled this question . . . what team, at the game's highest levels, has been the most dominant single season…