Juniata Men's Basketball Show

Holiday Cheer, Doc Greene and The Glum

• Thomas Frank, Drew Besket, Greg Curley, The Glum • Season 3 • Episode 67

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Join hosts Tom Frank, Drew "Biz" Beskett, and head coach Greg Curley for a festive episode of the Juniata Men’s Basketball Show. The crew reflects on holiday traditions, shares favorite Christmas movies (spoiler: Die Hard is in!), and dives deep into the upcoming Doc Green Tournament. Hear insights on the competition, including matchups against Immaculata, Hood College, and New Jersey City University. Plus, a special guest appearance from “The Glum” adds a touch of mystery and excitement to the holiday vibes. Will Juniata secure its first win and ride the momentum to victory? Tune in to catch all the action and predictions for the year ahead! 🎄🏀 #GoEagles

🎧 Subscribe on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you catch your podcasts! Got a burning question for the guys? Hit us up on Instagram @JuniataBasketballShow and show some love for the show at https://juniatabasketballshow.buzzsprout.com. Let's hoop it up! 🏀

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TOM:

I'm Tom Frank, I'm Drew Beskett, I'm the head coach, greg Curley, and this is the Juniata Men's Basketball Show. Welcome listeners. I'm Tom Frank. I'm joined each and every week by Drew Beskett, aka Diz, and your Juniata head basketball coach, greg Curley. As we talk, all things Juniata Men's College Basketball. First, let me say this to both of you and to all of our listeners Merry Christmas, hey Merry Christmas, happy New Year. How was your holiday?

Biz:

Happy Hanukkah to some of our listeners, happy.

TOM:

Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa, happy Festivus for the rest of us.

Biz:

Oh, did we air grievances? Hey, maybe we should actually. Next year we do a Festivus episode.

TOM:

I actually think that's a great idea and we could. You know what. You know what we need to do next year. I'm going to throw this out there we need a live call-in show.

Biz:

I'm in.

TOM:

Like one episode that we put out there way in advance and we have a call-in number, all right, and people can call in and ask anything they want to ask. I love it. What do you think of this Coach?

Biz:

Absolutely.

Curley:

One day at a time, tom. One day at a time, that's what I think.

Biz:

All right, I'm on board. We'll start planning.

TOM:

All right your number Tom. Well, that's a good question. No, no, no, we'll have a number built into the system. I think I can figure this out and call the system.

Biz:

You are a smart man.

TOM:

Yeah, I'll figure it out. I'll figure it out. All right, what did we do for the holidays? Anything Was the school shut down? There's nobody there, right?

Biz:

School shut down, just a nice, easy, quiet little church on Saturday you know my uh once a couple times a year to church.

Biz:

That's bad, but yes, that's uh that's how it goes yeah, yes, um, and then yesterday, you know, hung out with the kids, had some, uh, flank steak on the grill. A little flank steak, a little ham, it's delish, did the twice baked potatoes? Always a crowd favorite, um, but that's it, man. Just nice and quiet. It was nice. What about you, thomas Coach? Hey, coach Hager, what's up? Ours was pretty quiet. You keep them in the closet, carl? Yeah, that doesn't seem very nice, man.

TOM:

You can tell. If Hager is just walking around on a Thursday night, tell him to jump on with us Air some grievances, mine. Tell him to jump on with us Air some grievances. Mine was good as well. Not very, very low key I am. I am heading up to Pennsylvania tomorrow, are you? Yeah, I'm going to swing by. I'm going to swing into State College real quick in and out.

Biz:

Wow, all right In. And out.

TOM:

I got to get back here to finish my painting that I've been doing all day. Oh yeah, what? We're painting the basement. We're going to make a man cave, maybe down there.

Biz:

It's going to be half eagles, half skins.

TOM:

Well, we're thinking two TVs so that the constant fight between DC and Philly we can have it all times, and then maybe sometimes we put Juniat on both screens watch the game very big, and then I'll really be able to pick it apart a little bit more.

Biz:

All right, yeah, I like that.

TOM:

So that's, that's the holiday plan.

Biz:

Nice Coach. How's your holiday season?

Curley:

I was good. Obviously, kids, you know, seven and ten doesn't get much better. So we they were. They were blessed with a PS five and some 2K, so they were pretty pumped up. Yeah, so that's a big one, right, that is a big one. That's a big Christmas. So, yeah, it was a lot of fun. I mean between recruiting I mean recruited a lot, which was good, Chance to get out a lot of places, but then had a couple days, you know, to spend with family and stuff, so it was great. Watched a lot of tape, T to spend with family and stuff, so it was great. Watched a lot of tape. Tried to get ready here for the second half of the year. We actually are back and started practice tonight and then we'll play Immaculata here on Sunday and the Dock Green. Did you just finish up practice? Yeah, we just finished, literally four or five minutes before we jumped on here.

TOM:

Oh, all right, nice, he still has his sweats on.

Biz:

Oh all right, nice, he still has his sweats on. He looks like he could go.

TOM:

I like that sweatsuit. I keep saying that on every episode, thinking that maybe that'll trigger something.

Biz:

But it hasn't yet You've matching sweatpants, curls or what are you yeah, are you a full?

Curley:

gray or what's going on. I generally I'm not monochromatic. I generally have a gray and gray top, blue pants or switch it. Do you go pants or do you go shorts? I'm usually sweats during the winter months. Summer I'll wear shorts, but earlier in the season depends because we're in here all day and I'm blessed to have a job where I can wear sweats to work pretty much every day.

TOM:

I would love that. Now I will say this the all the same color is kind of in right now, yeah. Yeah, I noticed that in my children's gifts they got like all gray, all brown, all white, all blue sweatsuits. I'm with you, though. I kind of like to go two different colors, I totally agree.

Biz:

Yeah, I think maybe it's an old thing, I don't know. Yeah, now let me ask you this uh, question man eggnog or no?

Curley:

oh, absolutely, I can't stand eggnog no I'm with you curls.

TOM:

I love it, I put it. I even put it in my coffee during christmas day really oh yeah.

Biz:

Give me that eggnog Rum or whiskey.

TOM:

We have a local Irish place down the street. They make their own eggnog and I like to buy it. I don't even know what I'm drinking, but it's very good. They got to put whiskey in there. I think it is whiskey.

Biz:

Yeah, it's Irish.

TOM:

Yeah, irish whiskey.

Biz:

All right, I just had that. I don't know why that popped up, but I'm with you, curls, give me an eggnog, hold the nog, just the whiskey Later, coach.

TOM:

I like the whole eggnog, my man, the whole eggnog, I like it, I like it. I digress All right, we do have a listener question that is Christmas related. Oh, all right, we do have a listener question that is Christmas related. I feel like we might have answered this in the past, but we'll go with it again. We'll go with it again. This one is from Dion. No last name, just first name Dion Dion says it's a two-part question.

TOM:

First part is Die Hard, a Christmas movie. And number two what is your favorite holiday movie to sit down and relax to over the little mini break? So let's um, let's go right down the row is die hard, a christmas movie I say yes I would say yes, yes 100. I don't even know why this is debatable anymore well, because bruce willis said, it's not a christmas bruce bruce.

TOM:

Bruce willis said that he not a Christmas movie. Bruce Willis said that he did say that Because you know they came out with a movie called Carry On. Did you see this? That is supposedly the new Die Hard movie. I watched it Really. Yeah, it takes place same kind of thing at an airport on Christmas Eve. Huh, jason Bateman's in it. It's entertaining. Please get out there and watch it. It's entertaining.

Biz:

Please get out there and watch it. It's on Netflix, all right. Yeah, did you produce this thing? No, I had nothing to do with it.

TOM:

I just thought it was good. I like Jason Bateman, just curious, all right. Second part of the question Favorite holiday movie. I know what I watched on Christmas night.

Biz:

I mean, my favorite holiday movie's got to be National Lampoon's christmas vacation that's what I watched.

Curley:

That would be mine too I mean it's hands down.

TOM:

I thought, I thought a lot about this question and I do think that hands down, that nothing can match that listen, I'm a big christmas story fan I am too, but but for pure, just laughing out loud.

Biz:

Oh, so good yeah yeah that, uh, yeah, the the department store scene.

TOM:

It's one of my all-time favorites I like the uh drinking the eggnog when he got.

TOM:

When he gets, loses his mind actually the sledding scene makes me laugh uncontrolled there you go that's yeah, and I did think of you, curly, when I watched the christmas story, as I always do. When that kid gets his tongue stuck to the pole wait, did he get his tongue stuck to the? No, he, that kid, gets his tongue stuck to the pole Wait, did he get his tongue stuck to the pole? No, he didn't get his tongue stuck to a pole. But I can vary. I don't remember a lot of things from my childhood, but I do absolutely remember him getting his tongue stuck on a popsicle and just basically screaming because he couldn't get his tongue off the popsicle. My mom had to step in and help out. It was a very cold popsicle the first lick.

Curley:

I went in on Biz. It got me.

Biz:

Wow, man, that's amazing.

TOM:

What she just melted or what happened, Do we recall? I don't recall exactly how it went down, but I do recall having to call in some support.

Biz:

That's spectacular.

TOM:

Hey, I'll mention one other movie that I watched over the. I've been watching a lot of movies over the Christmas break. You got to watch this one. It's kind of all listeners should watch this. It's called Buy Now. Have you heard about this?

Biz:

No.

TOM:

All right, it's about. It's a documentary about just the enormous amount of waste that we have.

Biz:

Oh, I've heard, yeah, now.

TOM:

I want to point out I had the main guy on. It was on my other podcast on glossy. Really, yeah, the head guy of Adidas who left Adidas. He's now at Under Armour, but he went out on his own for a little bit cause he just couldn't do it anymore. He felt like he was ripping his soul out. The amount of plastic and sneakers and how many people bought so many different pairs of sneakers.

Biz:

Oh, wow.

TOM:

Very interesting stuff Huh.

Biz:

People bought so many different pairs of sneakers. Oh wow, very interesting stuff, huh. I encourage people to watch it, all right.

TOM:

Noted. All right, all right. So before we dive into the upcoming games, let's look back here. We're nine games in, is that correct?

Curley:

Yep.

TOM:

Okay, we don't have a win yet. No, we're not where we want to be, that's for sure. All right, worst start ever, or not For sure, it is For sure. If I recall, I don't think anything's even been close.

Curley:

No, I have not experienced anything like this. It's historically bad and we have a ton of improvement to make. Again, we played the last couple weeks without two guys that if we had to, probably pencil out our top eight. Hopefully we were able to practice tonight with a full house for the first time, without two guys. That if we had a probably pencil out our top eight hopefully, you know, we were able to practice tonight with a full house for the first time. Full house, a whole team, yeah. But then you have guys just coming off injury and coming back from that and break and so they're not in the conditioning or the shape you want to be. So but it's hopefully a starting point.

Curley:

I think we talked about that after Bridgewater game. That's a chance to kind of reset, get off to a better start, understand where we need to go and what we need to do to be successful. And you know right now we just make too many mistakes to win games. And you know you got to put the ball in the basket and we're shooting at historically low numbers. I mean to the point where you know you got to be able to step up and put some of those in the basket and give yourself a little bit of a chance, but some of this stuff can snowball. So it's going to take, you know, a heck of a lot of leadership and a lot of mental toughness to kind of work through this. And you know, the biggest thing we have to stay focused on is getting better and progressing and pushing through and doing all that kind of stuff.

Curley:

And that's a young group. Sometimes that's a little touch and go. I think sometimes in these situations you got a choice. You know which way do you go, right, and how do you want to do it. And I know the, I know the direction I go and, uh, we got to get everybody on the same page with that. Um, we just have to be better top to bottom, including coaches, um, uh, but I mean we can stack up. I mean I think it's a perfect storm of situations including, uh, schedule and injury and graduation, um, and youth, uh and and youth, and then even kind of the mix of skill sets. You know whether we can find that right mix.

Curley:

We've got to figure all that kind of stuff out and then you know it's on the player side. You're going to believe and buy in when you're not seeing evidence of success. Those are tough things you got to navigate. Seeing evidence of success, those are. Those are tough things you got to navigate, but I, you know, honestly, I do believe, for, for our guys, the experience, these kinds of experiences if we kind of focus back on what this is all supposed to be about, I do think these are kind of life shapers and we'll help them gather a skillset and what they need to do. So we can't forget and lose the positives and all this and the guys that that'll continue to work through this and come out the other side will be better for it. You know, not just as basketball players either- yeah.

Curley:

So we're trying to stay focused on that stuff, you know. But you know, yeah, there's a lot to battle. Biggest thing is, though, you got to just, you know, worry about getting better and eliminate the reasons you lose. And from when you get, when you kind of close the hatch on the submarine door and get in it, it's not really any different if you're 9-0 or 0-9. It's the exact same process. You're trying to go to practice to get better and you're trying to go to practice to eliminate the reasons you're not going to be successful and build on stuff. So, eliminate the reasons you're not going to be successful and build on stuff. So, when it gets to the day-to-day and the practice and the engagement it is, then you step back and realize, when you're experiencing it, it's tough, but we just got to. You know, kind of plow through and move through.

Curley:

I did think there were parts of the last couple games where there was a lot of positive things. Again, I think guys have made some progress individually. Just the collective chance. To put that together, I think it's a little bit of a kind of avalanche effect. Things build up and pile on, and so plays and shots and everything become more than they are. It's easier to abandon things and try to go get it. I think all from good places.

Curley:

But you got to play together. You got to stick together. You got to keep executing. You got to play together. You got to stick together, you got to keep executing. You know, you got to keep moving the ball. You can't get impatient, you can't go do it yourself, you know.

Curley:

And then we've got all the role changes we've had and sometimes the only teacher, the only thing that tells you the truth is experience and going out there and finding out really where you stand, and a lot of that information. Guys got to decide what they're going to do with it and how are they going to work at it and what are they going to do. But again, hey, you know the positive everybody's here. We haven't lost anybody, we keep going. I think that's a really positive sign, very positive sign. You know.

Curley:

I think guys want to do it. They're just still struggling with what it actually takes and what's demanded to do that, right from the smallest moment to how you have to concentrate on each little play within a play to the big picture and how you have to approach the day-to-day in terms of the discipline. You have to have to be good and the inner drive to do the extra or to be focused. There's a lot of wins in this stuff too. The big one is we had a full practice literally for the first time since the first four days of the season.

TOM:

Will this be the first game with the entire roster?

Curley:

on the bench, I should say Vernon Williams is out for the season, so he had a season injury. So I guess we've never made that threshold and it has happened in preseason. But in terms of the guys that we knew would be available after that, I mean, we still got two days. So who knows what happens? Knock on wood, but we're hoping, we're hoping and that you know. We hope that helps to have everything available.

Curley:

The challenge again, though, is it's a bit disruptive sometimes when you've got guys in and out of the lineup and coming back in and they're in different stages and they've missed a lot of practice, time and opportunity, and as much as you try to get guys to understand how to stay engaged in those moments when they're out, uh, again, that's a much harder thing for younger guys to do than older guys. When older guys are injured or out, um, the most crucial development stage is that first six weeks of your first year, um, in terms of your first season, and a lot of guys missed a lot of time in that stretch. Um, it's hard to get those those times back. So you're learning on the fly, uh, but, um, you know, I, I think uh, uh, again, positives or guys are here, guys came into practice. Uh, I think we're willing to work hard, Um, you know, but we we have to, we can't.

Curley:

Just, there's a little bit of a sense sometimes with you know it's just going to work out, we just show up and it solves its own problem and that's just not what it is. You know, you have to find, you have to find solutions and work through things and bring that extra and I think that's uh, that's a youthful approach to um, that like things don't change unless we do um, and how we approach things. So, uh, we're working through it. Uh, again, I it's crazy, I still really like a lot about this group.

Curley:

I really do, and I like the kids and I think there's a group there. We just got to figure out how to put it together and we got to do better job as coaches trying to navigate this, hopefully having everybody and getting some continuity in practice. That should go a long way to help with that. But then you just hope you're just not too far behind again where everybody else is. But we can't control that. We can control that. We had everybody and we'll get everybody again tomorrow and we put three good days of practice together and get as prepared as we can to go win the Dock Green.

TOM:

All right, so clean slate. We start with the Dock Green Before we get into the doc green. What it's season two of? Yes, let's. Let's give our new listeners who might not know doc green. Let's give a little history lesson. Like we're playing the doc green again. You do this every single year. For the last how many years?

Curley:

uh, I think this is. Uh, it's over 25, I don't. I'd have to look, I'm not sure where we are, probably in the 30s. Doc was the head coach in the, I think, early 60s and 70s. He actually was a dentist in town, played football that's great. So he played football at Pitt, was a big-time athlete, football player, but he was a dentist in town and the basketball coach and so he's just been long associated with the program and so it was started. Jim Zalzig, who was the head coach here late 80s, early 90s, started the tournament. So I guess that's where we're over 30 years. He started the tournament and we've kept it going ever since. When I was first here as an assistant, doc's wife was actually would attend. So you know there's a lot of connection to that and I know, still know, some of the guys that played for Doc, including Jen's dad, actually played, I think for a year. Oh wow, he played for Doc, including Jen's dad actually played, I think for a year.

Curley:

Oh wow, he played as Doc Green as his coach, I think for a year or he's connected there. I may be off by a year, but it might have been. Ralph Harden came in with him and that was the correction. But I think he came to play for Doc for a year and then his high school coach, actually Ralph Harden, came here and he played for him his last three years. So, um, yeah, there's a lot of connections, um, and so it's uh, yeah, it's a strong connection to our past and our history and it's uh, I'm glad we've been able to continue to do that and, uh, you know, keep his name relevant.

Biz:

So question was his actual name doc green or is that a nickname because he was a doc or is that a nickname because he was a doc?

Curley:

Well, it was because he was a dentist, so it was Doc Green, but honestly I don't know that I know his first name. I'd have to look it up. I'm sure I do, but it's just Doc Green Everybody calls him. I bet it was either Ernest or Herbert.

TOM:

We need to find this out. I'm going to know this by the next show.

Biz:

We're going to find it out. Yeah, I'm gonna know this by the next show.

TOM:

All right, we're gonna find it apologize to the green family for not knowing that.

Biz:

To be honest, but I mean no, I mean you only ever hear doc green?

TOM:

yeah, I wonder if his kids called him doc or they probably called him dad. Probably.

Biz:

You don't know, we don't know, I don't know my kids like use my first name now. It's kind of weird. Yeah, mine don't do, we don't know, I don't know my kids use my first name now. It's kind of weird.

TOM:

Yeah, mine don't do that yeah.

Biz:

Well, that's good, keep it that way and we'll be right back.

TOM:

The Juniata Men's Basketball Show is produced and distributed by Merrick Creative. Looking to skyrocket your business's visibility and drive growth. At Merrick Creative, we solve your brand and marketing woes With big ideas, decades of experience and innovative solutions. We'll draw in your target audience and keep them hooked. Remember, creativity is key to success. Partner with Merit Creative and unlock your brand's potential. Learn more at meritcreativecom. And now back to the show. All right, so we got three teams in here for the Doc Green. I did a little research on each one of these schools. Let's start with Immaculata. Immaculata is four and seven. They're called the Mighty Max.

Biz:

Dude, that sounds like a Starbucks.

TOM:

The Immaculata Mighty Max. Huh, that's terrible. I do like their uniforms and they're a Nike school. They got nice uniforms. They kind of look like Villanova a little bit Wait.

Biz:

are they a Jordan school?

TOM:

I just saw a little swoosh. I didn't see the Jordan on there, but they're 4-7. I'll give you their last three games. They lost to Elizabethtown E -Town E -Town, I know them 92-84. They beat Stevenson 71-68. Then they went and played an exhibition game versus D1 school in Philly, lasalle on Saturday.

Biz:

Yeah, all right.

TOM:

They lost 108-48. So they are coming off of that for whatever that's worth. Their head coach do we know their head coach, jason Hyman? Ninth season.

Curley:

I just know him a little bit. From seeing him this will actually be the first time. I've probably seen him on the road and would know, but I don't really know him well. I know they've won minus the LaSalle game, which is an exhibition, so it doesn't count. I think they've won four of their last six.

TOM:

Why did they do that? Why would they go play LaSalle? I mean, they got beat by 50.

Curley:

No, more than that they got beat by 60. Two things. It's just like you know, fcs football team playing FBS. I mean you get a guarantee, you get some money.

TOM:

Is it guaranteed you do get like decent money?

Curley:

Yeah, it depends. I mean, for them that's probably across the street, so they're going to get probably maybe five grand to just walk across the street. And it's also it's kind of the experience factor. You know, for division three guys to go play division one game can be a big deal. I told you we've done that in the past and you know we prefer the scrimmages. We always kind of look at it and consider We've done it both ways. You know, sometimes those games, like you said, it's kind of so far out of the norm that I'm not sure from a development standpoint. It's always what you think. But where they positioned it makes sense. You know, after break, after break gonna have time off anyway, get recentered and come back, um, so it makes a lot of sense and they they have a little, it's a little easier. They're obviously access to a lot of division one schools in that little region yeah, that's right you know you don't have to travel a lot, there's not a lot put put into it.

Curley:

So, yeah, I think it was a good thing. But they're, uh, you know they've really improved. I think they dropped their first four games and and, uh, you know, like I said, if, uh, I mean I think one four of the whatever, the last six, at least somewhere in there. So, um, you know they got a good, solid team. They're well coached. Um, they have some veteran guys in some spots. Um, you know they got some depth. A couple of guys off the bench, they got different guys that can score. Um'll kind of spread you out and attack and they're solid defensively. They really help each other well. They're tough physical. They play well together. So, yeah, I mean they're playing well. I mean they took E-Town to overtime.

Curley:

Stevenson, I think, was like five and two coming in and you know they came back to beat them late. So that's a really good win and, like I said, they have some veteran guys. So, yeah, it's going to be a challenge. Good guard position, a couple of guys inside get off the bench I think had 20 in the Stevenson game and so be a big challenge for us. And you know where we are. I mean anybody, anything's a challenge right now for us to just go play well. So yeah, we have to have three good days and be ready to roll.

Curley:

That's the Sunday game I believe we play at 5 and 7 on Sunday, 5 and 7.

TOM:

7 and 4 on Monday. You're the late game, you're the 7 o'clock game, 7 o'clock Sunday night. Hey people, if you're not doing anything on Sunday night, come on out 7 o'clock. We'll get to our predictions in a minute, but I feel like this could be the win. Yeah, I smell it, the Mighty Macs. Come on, give me a break. Mighty Macs, the Mighty Macs, that's a horrible nickname.

Biz:

I'm going to go to Starbucks and order a Mac. Yeah, I'm going to go get a Big Mac, all right.

TOM:

On the other two teams did some more research. Here we have the hood blazers. The hood blazers, I don't think. I don't think it's a jacket, I think it's a horse the hooded the hood blazers. It reminds me of like I'd be weird.

Biz:

It's where a blazer with a blazer with a hood that I don't get them.

TOM:

They're. They're six and three. They come in six and three. They're an under armor school. We have actually three different uh shoe brands represented in this tournament Nike, under Armour and then New Jersey City is an Adidas school. It's a little fun fact for you, biz.

Biz:

Under Armour is a little lame, but continue All right, I kind of like Under Armour.

TOM:

I'm here in Maryland Really.

Biz:

Yeah, and so is Hood.

TOM:

Hood's a Maryland school, it's a Baltimore school. That's why they have Under Armour.

Biz:

Yeah, he also changed his Skins fan from a Steelers fan. It's disappointing.

TOM:

Although the Steelers suck.

Biz:

But anyway continue.

TOM:

Let me continue this Now. Interesting fact about Hood they beat McDaniel 86-65 on November 16th. I had to do a double take on that. Am I correct in saying that?

Curley:

Yeah, that's McDaniel's only loss so far.

TOM:

That's their only loss to Hood.

Biz:

Yeah, did you ask your brother for a little recon?

Curley:

If we get to that point, we will. I mean, honestly, our focus right now is obviously us and Immaculata, but Hood is historically an exceptionally good program. They have a lot of grad changes. They're very good. I think New Jersey City is very good this year too. So, yeah, I mean there's like I said. I mean, when you talk about perfect storm, including the schedule, we're going to have to play exceptionally well to win any game for us right now and we're going to have to do that in any of these. So, yeah, it's a strong tournament. They're a good team, they're a good team.

TOM:

It's a strong tournament. They're a good team. They're a good team. Hood Absolutely Last three. They lost to John Hopkins 96-75,. A tight one they beat.

Biz:

Hopkins, are they D? They're D3?. They're D3 in basketball, right.

TOM:

Yeah.

The Glum:

Are they?

TOM:

Yeah, they beat not LaSalle, but DeSalle.

Curley:

DeSalle DeSalle, who's an exceptionally good program.

TOM:

They beat them 86-84. It must have been a good one, the sales. And then listen to this they beat Goucher 101-45.

Biz:

Holy smokes.

TOM:

What happened to Goucher?

Curley:

Goucher, yeah, I don't know. I haven't tried to pay too close of attention to that but, like I said, they're good. New Jersey City is good. Yeah, they're good, new Jersey City is good. New Jersey is an NJAC school. If you're in the NJAC, you're good. I know they've won some games. I think the last I had looked a while ago, the only team they lost to was Stockton. I'll get to them.

TOM:

You're getting ahead. I got some more facts here. I got some more facts on the hood. They're led by Colin Robinson. He's averaging 15. Chad Dickman he's only the second ever coach for hood and he was named their head guy in April of 2015. He's 128 and 81 overall. Do we know Mr Dickman?

Curley:

Again, yeah, do know him a little bit, but not I mean acquaintance. He probably know who I am and I know who he is. But yeah, I mean he took over for his dad who started that program. His dad used to be the head coach at Thomas Johnson High School and was a great high school coach in the Frederick area and then started the program at Hood and I know Chad was his assistant and then took over from there. So the two coaches have both been the Dickmans and they're both exceptionally good coaches and had a lot of success. I think Chad might have played St Vincent at some point that's kind of what I heard, but they'll play zone. They play zone pretty much all the time. They're like the baby Bayhimes yeah, a little bit, and they have guys. So they're very, very good. They can really score, yeah. So it would be a big challenge.

TOM:

The only two coaches ever at Hood are Dickman. Yes, wait, when did?

Biz:

Hood, start their basketball it must have how long.

TOM:

I mean he's the second coach. He's been there since 2015. Did his dad coach forever there? He?

Curley:

probably started basketball I don't know around 2000, somewhere in there, I don't know. Okay.

TOM:

Basketball, I don't know, around 2000, somewhere in there, I don't know.

Curley:

Okay, all right, maybe I might have it off, but it was somewhere in there.

TOM:

All right. So so far we got two horrible nicknames we got the Blazers and we got the Mighty Macs. It only gets better. Good basketball teams All right, good basketball, we'll give them that. We'll give them that. But I got something All right. Now, new Jersey City. Remember we had this debate. I'm still not sure we solved the debate whether it's New Jersey City or New Jersey City, but regardless, they're the Gothic Knights. Ah man, I kind of like that. That's awful. If they were just the Knights, I'd be cool with it, but the Gothic Knights, actually, it'd be better if they were the Gotham Knights.

TOM:

Now that I would agree with, because that would go with like new jersey city, new jack city, gotham. Yeah, there could be something there, but yeah, they're in adidas school. You okay with adidas?

Biz:

yeah, I'm down with adidas are you? So these guys all have like long black hair and they're?

TOM:

they're all gothic, all goth kind of guys. Okay, so their last three they beat Rowan 80-75. As you said, they lost to Stockton 87-82. They also lost to Keene 79-73. They're led by Jaheim Lewis, who's averaging about 14 and a half a game. Here's an interesting thing about this one they're coached by Mark Brown. 18th year he replaced his father as well, but get this, His father won 483 games what At New Jersey City over a span of 25 years. It gets better, Biz. Guess what his name is Mr Brown. It is Mr Brown, it's Charlie Brown.

Biz:

Oh yeah.

TOM:

Charlie Brown won 483 games in 25 years at New Jersey City.

Biz:

How do?

TOM:

you like that? Hey, it gets even better about this guy. So this guy himself Tell me, he's married to Lucy. No no, but he himself has 143 wins at New Jersey whatever New Jersey City, Thank you. 249 wins overall and he's the all-time leading scorer at D1 Siena with over 2,200 career points and played 16 years in the CBA.

Biz:

The CBA. Wow, that's a long time in the CBA.

TOM:

That is a long time in the CBA.

Biz:

That's a guy who loves basketball.

TOM:

Yeah, this guy is going to be an interesting character. Do you know him?

Curley:

They came to our tournament, I don't know five, six years ago.

The Glum:

But yeah.

Curley:

I mean again, a great pedigree Was a heck of a player. Obviously. I mean that's a pretty high-level player and has done really well. Has had really, really good teams in New Jersey City. They had a couple down years there, but they've historically been very, very strong. I know when his dad was a coach they were really good. So, yeah, I mean it's uh, yeah, really really good teams. Uh, I mean, hood in New Jersey city should be a heck of a game. Uh and uh hopefully.

The Glum:

The.

Curley:

Immaculata Juniata game is is just as strong and and uh, we can find a way to get into the finals there and play one of those teams.

Biz:

I think so.

TOM:

This finals there and play one of those teams. I think so this is, this is good, this is quite a tournament here I'm feeling it, yeah, really yeah. I mean it's gonna be good basketball all right, fellas, we have very special guests on here who we cannot reveal his identity. You're only gonna hear his voice, his cameras off. But we actually have d glum live with us. He wanted what he wanted to make a special christmas visit to the juniata men's basketball show.

Biz:

Is that because he's pissed because you're using AI against him? Well, I, guess.

TOM:

I guess I started using AI. He found that offensive and wanted to show up. So the Glum. Welcome to the show.

The Glum:

Thank you very much for having me.

TOM:

This is amazing. I mean, we needed a little something special for the holiday show. Uh biz, we went all in on a celebrity and we got the glum here. All right, let me first just give you the floor, if you'd like to say anything to coach and, and then we're going to dive into the doc Green tournament.

The Glum:

Well, I didn't really come prepared with a speech. I did some research beforehand, though, and I like the way we're looking going into the tournament.

TOM:

Why is that the glum?

The Glum:

Well, do you want me to get into the line for this first game?

TOM:

Please, please, please. Sir, I know you like to get right to business.

The Glum:

Yeah, I do so. It's Immaculata. Is that the team? I know you like to get right to business.

TOM:

Yeah, I do, it's Immaculata. Is that the team? Yeah, yeah, and you want to know something interesting about them? Yeah, they're called the Mighty Macs.

Biz:

That has to affect your line.

TOM:

Immaculata Mighty Macs. I was thinking it would be Immaculata, something more religious, unless I don't know something that is Mighty Macs, a religious statement of some sort I don't know.

The Glum:

You're asking the wrong guy. I'm gonna be honest you know tom immaculata.

Curley:

I believe this is correct, but they were an all-girls school for a long time and they were one of the premier women's basketball programs in the country. Um and reeney portland won a couple national championships there on their team wait a minute minute. She played for the yeah and at that time there was no NCAA. They couldn't have been called.

Curley:

So I forget what it was called, but they were like a premier program in the country, kind of like a UConn level at that time and you're telling me back then they were called the Mighty Macs. I believe. So I don't know what their nickname was, but yeah, so they have like a really strong basketball tradition in that sense. And then, I don't know, probably 15, 20 years where a lot of these small schools decided to go co-ed. They went co-ed, but that's the background of Maculata.

TOM:

That's an outstanding fact.

Biz:

We're learning a lot of crap today, yeah.

TOM:

It's a very, very educational show. All right, naglum back to you. Yeah, it's a very, very educational show. All right, the Glum back to you. Tip off. We're going to have Juniata versus Immaculata in the Doc Green tournament. What are you thinking?

The Glum:

I'll say you. So I was doing a little bit of research on Immaculata and they're not great on the road. They're one and four on the road, I think. Correct me if.

TOM:

I'm wrong, but this Juniata squad is pretty young right, Very young, Quite young.

The Glum:

It's going to take some time to round into form. I think this week is the week and I'm honestly. I'm going to give Juniata the favorite minus one and a half.

Biz:

Ooh, that's like a pick-em, but a minus one and a half Free throws. Get over that number, all right. What's the?

TOM:

over-under.

The Glum:

Over that number. All right. What's the over under, over under? Uh, we'll throw it at. Uh, we want to put on the show for the people for the duck green tournament, so I'm gonna put it at 149 and a half we're gonna biz, biz.

TOM:

What are you going with on this one? This is I mean. Listen, I thought they were going to be underdogs and I was going to take Juniata immediately, but now they're the favorites.

The Glum:

I knew you guys wanted to do that. I out-psychologically brain war.

Biz:

Listen, once you get that one victory, you get the one. Then it starts to snowball. You've got to get the one. This is going to be the one. He's got the full squad. When does a Mackie Luda come in, or a lot of? When do they come into town? They'll come in.

Curley:

Sunday. They don't come in until Sunday. They're Philly, so it's just like.

Biz:

Oh, they're going to have.

TOM:

Very interesting, very interesting.

Biz:

They're going to be All right, I'm definitely going Juniata. I believe the shooting like listen, watch the last game. I mean the shooting, it just wasn't there. So you can't shoot that bad forever, right? So I will take the one and a half and my friends at Juniata or I'll give it I'm sorry and then I'm going to go under.

TOM:

I hate to agree with you, but I had written it already down. I'm going with Juniata and the under, I think this is our first win, I think Immaculate. They don't even know what's going on. They're coming into Huntington. They have no idea what they're about to experience.

Biz:

Have they ever been to Huntington Curls?

TOM:

Huntington curls.

Curley:

I don't know I, I, I would have to think.

TOM:

I don't know it might've been here, but I don't know Chance, they know what these, especially these, these young kids. They don't even know where they're going. They're coming out of the city, they're going into come in.

TOM:

They're going to look for wawas. They're not going to know what's going on. All right, that's an easy one. All right, we got a tough one for you, glum, and maybe you didn't do your research on this one, but we're going to ask you anyway. On the other game, we got Hood versus New Jersey City. They come in at 6-3 and 6-4. Both solid teams, both good coaches.

The Glum:

Where's Hood located at. Hood is in Baltimore. Oh, frederick, I think it's Frederick, it's a Baltimore jersey.

TOM:

Oh, it's Frederick, it's not actually Baltimore.

Curley:

No, it's not Baltimore, oh that changes my opinion significantly.

The Glum:

Mine too, actually. So I'm going to say I know a couple people from Frederick, maryland and I'm going to be honest, not really a fan. I'm going to go with Jersey Minus 5.5 for this one Oof and then for over under. I'll do a little lower. Both teams aren't from Juniata. They're not going to be as motivated to light it up on the scoreboard. I'm going to go over under 137.5.

TOM:

Benz. What are you going with?

Biz:

I'm going to go with Hood, I'll take the points and I'm going to go over Very interesting Biz.

TOM:

I'm going to take New Jack City and we're going with the over.

Biz:

All right.

TOM:

All right. So that means that I'm going to put for Monday's big game. I'm putting Juniata versus New Jersey City, coach Curley versus Coach Brown, you're going to put Juniata versus Hood.

Biz:

Well, not necessarily.

TOM:

Not necessarily, but if you go, you're right, you're right, you're right, you're right. All right. Well, glum, we certainly appreciate you coming on. A happy holiday to you. We appreciate you, uh, laying the line, as do all of our listeners each and every week. Anything else, anything else you'd like to say to coach, while you have your chance, coach, actually I have a question, oh so a listener question. This is a live listener question. Yeah, so my question A live listener question yeah.

The Glum:

So my question is I've kind of wanted, as I've gone through school, I kind of want to get into coaching one day Probably not basketball, I'm not a big X's and O's basketball guy, but for football and I just wanted. What do you say to a team that's probably not playing up to expectations, as I would assume you think you are playing up to expectations right now? What do you say, what's the pregame speech like to a team that's been struggling?

Curley:

Well, I mean, it's really more about the day-to-day right, like I told those guys. I mean, you've got to lock in and, just like anything else, you've got to eliminate the reasons you're losing. You've got to go to work. There's no quick, quick, easy solutions. You got to play harder and play more together and you got to play smarter and got to execute what you're trying to do.

Curley:

So, uh, it's really about process and just trying to stay focused, um, and trying to push through. I I mean, honestly, a lot of times the answers in a win or a loss aren't really that much different. Um, now, the, the human element is harder, right, uh, motivation and getting guys focused and on the same page, um, but hopefully, uh, just probably staying consistent at message and continuing to go to work, um, deserving the win. You know, the thing we'll talk about is all we can control right now is we deserve the win, um, and we've got to honestly do a little bit better at that at times, um, from where I sit, and so if we can get to that point consistently, then generally good things happen and take care of yourself. So that would be our message.

The Glum:

Gotcha. All right, let's rip that leg straight this weekend.

Biz:

Yes, sir.

TOM:

Glum, thank you for joining us, happy.

Biz:

New Year Glum. Happy New Year, glum. Happy New Year, thanks Glum.

TOM:

All right, Coach. Wow, the Glum man, the Glum. We got the Glum on the show. People have been wanting to hear the Glum's voice. They have now heard it.

Biz:

A potential football coach in the main team, maybe.

TOM:

Maybe a Juniata coach. You think you can get them in there. How'd the football team end this year? They actually won a few games this year, didn't they?

Curley:

Yeah, I think they were two and eight, so they're making progress.

TOM:

All right, Baby steps right Baby steps, there we go.

Biz:

Hey, and then, as we were talking about pre-show, we have two of the four collegiate division champions that reside in women's volleyball within a half hour of each other.

Curley:

Yeah, our women's volleyball team won their third straight, so congrats to them. It's amazing, obviously an amazing accomplishment to be around that Doesn't get any better than that. So they lost a match.

Biz:

The last three years, I don't want to miss.

Curley:

I think it's 97 straight is what they won, but I could be wrong.

Biz:

They were 35-0 going into this.

Curley:

It's the second longest street in NCAA history right now, I believe, wow, yeah, it's street in ncaa history right now, I believe, um, so yeah, uh, it's just amazing stuff and uh, well deserved, and uh, yeah, so, uh, we want to use a little bit of that magic dust on ourselves and get going ourselves.

Biz:

So well, let's get it going. And uh, the penn state lady lions won their division one volleyball championship. A bit of a cinderella story. And then another little known fact the high school that my daughters go to, north Allegheny, they've won the last eight state titles in girls. Very impressive, so it's yeah, it's turning into a volley. I'll tell you what I watched the lady lines. Man, they can hammer that ball. Let me tell you what.

TOM:

I want to end the show with this. I know that we had the glum on and this might upset him, but I did put in the chat GPT a simple question Get mad glum. Give us predict the outcome of the Doc Green tournament. Here's what it came up with.

Biz:

Wait, you should ask AI what Doc Green's real name is. I should do that, but I didn't.

TOM:

All right, here's what they say. Yes, First, the first matchup Hood College versus New Jersey City University. This game could be close, but NJCU has historically been a tough competitor. Let's give the edge to them based on their physical style of play.

TOM:

All right, they're picking New Jersey Second game Juniata versus Immaculata. With the home crowd behind them, juniata likely comes out strong and advances to the championship game with their first win of the season. Boom Monday's game consolation game. Hood College eds out Immaculata in a tight matchup to claim third place. Juniata versus New Jersey City. Juniata capitalizes on their cohesive team play and familiarity with their home court to claim the championship in a thrilling game. Juniata College predicted winner Chat GPT.

Biz:

AI let's go. I like that, I just put it in there.

TOM:

I didn't tell it what to say.

Biz:

Listen, with the talent, with the coaching, with the leadership of this team, they get that one win. Maybe it snowballs Get that one win, yeah.

TOM:

All right, that's what I like. We're going to be back next week after the tournament. We got to be back on Coach. We got to hear everything that happened, everything that went down. Maybe we need some excitement, maybe uh, I don't know maybe maybe you and mark uh brown, maybe you get into a little tussle or something I'm not messing with that guy? Is he a big dude? How big is he?

Curley:

he tall, I don't play. I think he's a guard, if I remember, uh but you're tall, I think a little.

TOM:

I think a little one-on-one yeah, you're probably younger than him I, I don't know.

Curley:

I think we might be around the same age, but I don't know.

Biz:

I think a little one-on-one Curly versus Brown, yeah I think I'd like that.

TOM:

I don't know. I think maybe shove him one time, go and buy him see what happens. Just a suggestion.

Biz:

Yeah, that might not be politically correct.

TOM:

Probably not, probably, not, probably, not, probably get suspended.

Biz:

If he was a football coach, though, he could get away with it. He could maybe get away with it, glom, listen to that. You can get away with a little shoving, a little pushing, that's right.

TOM:

All right, let's do this. We need a dub. We need a dub. We're going to get the dub. We need a dub. I can't sleep at night. We're getting it. All right, let's go get it. Let's get it against Immaculata and let's go on to the championship game.

Biz:

That's right Two big, awesome games to start 2025.

TOM:

Yeah, clean slate. All right, folks. Merry Christmas, happy New Year. Happy New Year. Follow the show on Instagram at Junior Out of Basketball Show. Subscribe to the Junior Out of Men's Basketball Show on Apple Spotify. Wherever you listen to podcasts, leave us a comment on Instagram. And until next time. I'm Tom Frank, I'm Biz, I'm head coach, greg Curley let's go Big Doug this Sunday Eagles. Flock to the nest White out, blue out, gold out. I don't care, just be there.

Biz:

Or be square.

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Drew Besket

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Greg Curley

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Tom Frank

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