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X's and Joe's

X's and Joe's

Von: Back Home Network
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X's and Joe's, part of the Back Home Network, is a podcast that lets you eavesdrop on an ongoing, 25-year conversation between two friends and Indiana University grads who have an unusual passion for exploring the formula for winning in today’s modern college basketball.

Hosted by Bob Moats (cbobmoats) and Mike Wiemuth (iu-in-philly), this show examines trends in recruiting, metrics, strategy, and coaching -- with an emphasis on debunking myths and challenging popular assumptions.

And while Bob and Mike's rooting interests may lie with the Hoosiers, this show takes an expansive view of the college basketball landscape beyond just Bloomington.

In other words, it's a show for ALL serious college hoops fans who truly appreciate the nuances of the sport.

© Back Home Network 2023
Basketball
  • [62] The Twilight of the NCAA (with Galen Clavio)
    Jul 8 2026

    In this episode of Xs and Joes, Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth welcome Galen Clavio for a wide-ranging discussion about the NCAA's uncertain future. From tournament expansion to NIL, governance, and amateurism, the conversation explores some of the biggest questions facing college athletics—and why there may not be easy answers.


    Catching Up on the Summer

    Before diving into the main topic, the guys touch on a few offseason storylines.

    • Updates on IU football and basketball as summer rolls along
    • What to watch for in the coming weeks
    • A few thoughts on where the Back Home Network is headed this fall

    Is the NCAA Still Built for Today's Game?

    The heart of the episode centers on a simple but fascinating question: what exactly is the NCAA supposed to be in 2026?

    • Why the organization's original mission looks very different today
    • A look back at how college athletics arrived at this moment
    • Whether the NCAA can still govern the modern landscape
    • An entertaining historical comparison you probably won't see coming

    Tournament Expansion and the Bigger Picture

    The recent talk of expanding the NCAA Tournament sparks one of the episode's most interesting conversations.

    • Is expansion solving the right problem?
    • What questions should be asked before adding more teams?
    • How expansion fits into the NCAA's larger challenges
    • A spirited debate that goes beyond simple "for" or "against" arguments

    Where Does College Sports Go From Here?

    The discussion closes by looking ahead.

    • How NIL and the transfer portal continue changing the coaching profession
    • Whether college sports needs an entirely new governance model
    • What today's environment means for coaches, schools, and fans
    • A few predictions about where things could be headed next


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    1 Std. und 16 Min.
  • [61] Where Have All the Character Coaches Gone?
    Jun 23 2026

    Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth are joined by Scott Caulfield for a fun and thought-provoking discussion about the evolution of college basketball coaching. Looking back at some of the sport's most memorable personalities, the guys explore why coaching icons once loomed so large over the game—and why today's coaches often feel very different.


    The Golden Age of Coaching Personalities

    The conversation begins with a trip down memory lane as Bob, Mike, and Scott revisit some of the unforgettable characters who once dominated college basketball.

    • Why coaches like Bob Knight, Jim Valvano, John Thompson, Jerry Tarkanian, Lou Carnesecca, and Rollie Massimino became household names
    • The quirks, stories, and larger-than-life personalities that made coaches stars in their own right
    • How many of these coaches became synonymous with their programs and even their conferences
    • Which legendary coaches would make the best dinner companions

    Along the way, the guys share plenty of stories, laughs, and memories from college basketball's colorful past.


    Why Today's Coaches Feel Different

    The discussion then turns to the modern game and why today's coaches often seem more corporate, measured, and interchangeable.

    Topics include:

    • The "nerdification" and professionalization of coaching
    • How media scrutiny, social media, and 24/7 coverage have changed coaching behavior
    • Why modern coaches often look more like executives than old-school basketball lifers
    • The impact of shorter coaching tenures and increased job movement

    The group also debates whether the sport has simply changed—or whether we've lost something valuable along the way.


    NIL, Realignment, and the New Coaching Reality

    As the conversation evolves, Bob, Mike, and Scott examine how NIL, the transfer portal, and the changing economics of college sports have fundamentally altered the coaching profession.

    • Why college coaching may now be more difficult than NBA coaching
    • How roster management and fundraising have reshaped the head coach's job
    • Whether today's coaches are being hired primarily to win games rather than build programs and young men
    • Why the modern environment may discourage the kind of eccentric personalities that once thrived in the sport

    The guys also discuss Dusty May's departure for the NBA and what it says about the future of college basketball coaching.


    Is There Room for Characters to Return?

    The episode closes with a fascinating discussion about whether coaching personalities could eventually make a comeback.

    Could larger support staffs and general managers eventually free coaches to simply coach again? Or has college basketball permanently moved into a more corporate era?

    It's a thoughtful conversation about leadership, culture, nostalgia, and where the sport may be headed next.

    Bottom line: This episode is equal parts basketball history, cultural analysis, and old-school storytelling as Bob, Mike, and Scott explore why college basketball once felt full of unforgettable characters—and whether those days are truly gone for good.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    1 Std. und 25 Min.
  • [60] Indy 500 Weekend, Curt Cignetti, and the State of College Sports
    Jun 2 2026

    The show opens with a look back at an unforgettable Indy 500 and some thoughts on why events like that become part of Indiana's identity.


    • Why this year's race was one of the most memorable in recent years

    • Curt Cignetti's comments on the future of college athletics

    • The growing pressure on college sports to figure out NIL and governance

    Is Indiana's Roster Actually Better?

    This is where the basketball discussion really gets rolling.


    • Why the guys think IU largely accomplished what it needed to in the portal

    • The additions that could have the biggest impact next season

    • How Marcus Burton changes the equation offensively

    • What makes this roster feel different from recent IU teams


    There's also a deeper conversation about spacing, shot creation, offensive rebounding, and why this team may have more answers when games get tight.

    How Much Should Fans Trust the Hype?


    Preseason rankings are starting to appear, and Indiana is showing up in some interesting places.


    • What the early projections are saying about IU

    • Why portal rankings are harder to evaluate than recruiting rankings

    • The gap between talent on paper and actual results

    • What a successful first full season under Darian DeVries would really look like


    Bottom line:


    The roster looks better. The projections are encouraging. But as the guys discuss throughout the episode, the real question isn't whether Indiana won the offseason—it's whether all of these pieces can come together once the games start.

    This episode brought to you by the Back Home Network and Homefield Apparel.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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    1 Std. und 20 Min.
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