No Shot Clock

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen get started on a new season of the podcast.  The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions. After that we break down the preseason Top 10, which is revealed for the first time.  The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.  Topics include: -How COVID-19 has changed recruiting -What is the status of Public League basketball? -How will Evanston look without Jaylin Gibson? All that and a ton more. Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, it helps new listeners find the podcast.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions. After that we break down every Class 3A and Class 4A sectional semifinal, since that is the last basketball fans across the state will get this season.  The podcast concludes with a look at the possible top ten teams for next season.  Topics include: -The Illinois High School Association's decision to cancel the state tournament -Fenger's terrific season -What is the deal with sub-sectionals? -Is there a clear-cut preseason No. 1 team next season? Is it Notre Dame, Simeon or Evanston? All that and a ton more.

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode opens with a quick preview of the Class 1A and Class 2A supersectionals and then we breakdown the five players that received votes for the Sun-Times All-Area team but didn’t make the final list of 20 players. After that it is all sectional talk. We break down every Class 4A sectional semifinal in the state and hit on all of the Class 3A semifinals in the Chicago area. Topics include: -Aurora’s two underdogs -Appreciating Wauconda’s season -The Fox Valley’s chances at Peoria -Very in-depth looks at Bloom vs. Marian, H-F vs. Thornton, Curie vs. Morton All that and a ton more.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode opens with an in-depth discussion of the Illinois High School Association’s tentative schedule for the new state finals weekend format. Topics include: -Why is the IHSA playing third place games at 7 pm on Thursday and Friday in the new state format? -Is Notre Dame the clear favorite in Class 3A? -Could Joliet West really play for the Class 4A state title? -Don’t miss a possible Dom Martinelli vs. Max Christie matchup on Friday -Why the state tournament has to move to Champaign -The top ten regional games in the Chicago area -Watch out for Lincoln and Peoria Notre Dame All that and a ton more.

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode starts up with our Two Takes.  Then we get into the feature segment, where we dive into a huge listener mailbag full of all types of questions. Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include: -Could Barrington make a state tournament run? -Will Evanston make it to Peoria? -What trades would you make to improve teams? -How will Rolling Meadows and Buffalo Grove fare in March? -Rants on the seeding process -Will Oak Forest finally win the conference? -More on Indian Creek -Aquan Smart’s commitment to Maryland   All that and a ton more.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode starts up with a big listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, where we answer some of the season’s big questions.  Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include:  -Does Joliet West have enough to make a run to state? -Player of the Year talk -What is the state’s best conference? -The season’s biggest surprise? -Our favorite teams to watch -Which player would you want to take a game winner? -What team has the most to prove in March? -This season’s biggest disappointment -The team no one is talking about but should be All that and a ton more.  

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, Conference Surprises, where we breakdown some of the things that have surprised us so far in various conference races. Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include: -Should the Public League ditch the super conferences? -Sleeper picks for state in all four classes -Top five candidates for Player of the Year -Undefeated Indian Creek and the Little Ten -Should non-boundaried schools play for a different state title? All that and a ton more.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode starts up with a quick listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, The Stock Report, where we each breakdown five teams whose stock we think is overvalued and five teams whose stock we would purchase.  Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include: -How good was Ronnie Fields as a pro prospect? -A look back at the When Sides Collide Shootout -Which White Division teams could pull off upsets in the city tournament? -Has Simeon turned the corner? -Previewing the Public League playoffs -Undefeated Indian Creek   All that and a ton more. Please rate and review us on Apple Podcasts, it helps new listeners find the podcast. The podcast is on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, so please subscribe.

Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball. The episode starts up with a listener mailbag followed by Mike and Joe each giving their Two Takes. Then we get into the feature segment, talking about eleven teams that have flown under the radar while putting together excellent seasons.  Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include: -Why didn't a Chicago venue bid on the state basketball tournament? -Has Orr considered moving up in class? -DePaul Prep's resurgence -Appreciating Thornton -Why it appears the state tournament is moving back to Champaign -A look at Buffalo Grove, Naperville Central, St. Patrick, Richards and more as we get into the under the radar teams All that and a ton more. 

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the past week of action in Chicago high school basketball.  The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag and then Mike and Joe each pick five breakout players that have opened eyes this season. Things finish up with a brief look at the week ahead. Topics include: -DeKalb’s new status -More shot clock talk -The state bracket has been determined. A look at the draw in Class 3A and Class 4A -The Pat Gordon situation at Lincoln Park -Fun White Division basketball -Aquan Smart’s recruitment All that and a ton more.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien take a look back at the past decade. The episode opens with a small mailbag of listener questions and a brief discussion of some happenings from the last several days.  Then it is time to dive into the 2010s. First we discuss the ten best players of the decade, breaking them down into a first and second team.  Up next is an in-depth discussion of the 13 best teams of the decade, including a handful of great teams that just missed the cut.  Both those lists have been revealed previously, but there is some No Shot Clock exclusive content as well. We reveal the ten programs that arrived on the scene this decade. It's a list of teams that never had winning programs or had been dormant for ages and came alive and experienced great success the past ten years. 

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review all the holiday tournament action from around the state, including tournaments at Pontiac, Proviso West, Hinsdale Central, Wheeling, York, Maine East, Effingham, Pekin, Centralia and more.  The episode starts up with a huge listener mailbag and then Joe and Mike each pick five players or teams to give a post-holiday tournament stamp of approval. Things finish up with a brief look at this weekend’s games. Topics include: -Would AJ Casey be putting up the same numbers at Simeon? -Could Max Christie or Bryce Hopkins win Player of the Year this season? -Status checks on Bloom, Cary-Grove, Marian Catholic heading into January -Don’t forget about Zion-Benton’s Amar Augillard -Rich East’s rugged schedule -Joliet West and emerging star Jamere Hill -Why Curie started the season at No. 12

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen preview the state’s major holiday tournaments. Full previews of Wheeling, Pontiac, Proviso West, York (Jack Tosh) and Hinsdale Central. -Which teams have the most to prove at the holiday tournaments? -What player in each tournament is the most underrated? -Three players to watch at each holiday tournament -The best first round game at each holiday tournament -The favorites to win, a sleeper pick to win and our picks to win each holiday tournament -Has the Pontiac title game lost steam in the last few years and would switching to Pekin’s schedule be a good move? We also take a look at some of the other holiday tournaments around the state, including Effingham/Teutopolis, Bloomington (State Farm), Rich South (Big Dipper), Centralia, Pekin and Plano.

Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review all the action from the past week of Chicago-area high school basketball including the Team Rose Shootout. The episode opens with a mailbag of listener questions. Then we each give our Two Takes, which includes a breakdown of Thorton’s big win against top-ranked Thornton last week in Harvey. This week’s major feature is early season surprises. Mike and Joe each reveal three teams and/or players that have surprised them so far this season. Also discussed on this episode: -Notre Dame’s statement week -Why Bloom’s Christian Shumate is the area’s most-feared player -Is Bogan’s Antione Bloxton the top scorer in the city? -How will Orr and Corliss stack up in Class 2A? -Did anyone see Kendrick Nunn becoming an NBA star? -What’s the point in committing before senior year? -Watch out for Collinsville    

Michael O’Brien and Joe Henricksen review the Chicago Elite Classic and the other major events of the past week. The episode opens with a mailbag of listener questions. Then they each give their Two Takes. Then it is time to dive into what has been the elephant in the room in December the last few seasons: Why doesn’t the Chicago area have a major holiday tournament? Proviso West has slowly diminished over the past few years and nothing has replaced it. Can any of the current tournaments step up in its place? Can Proviso West rebound? Also discussed on this episode:   -Is Corliss a major factor in Class 2A? -How good is Evanston? -Will it be a rough December for Simeon? -Appreciating Niles North’s Aquan Smart -How does Joe determine the Top 35 games? -Why weren’t their programs at the Chicago Elite Classic?  

The season is up and running in full swing. Joe Henricksen and Michael O’Brien review the Thanksgiving week storylines, including six teams that surprised everyone by pulling off undefeated starts. Then they each give their Two Takes from the first week. The episode opens with a big mailbag of listener questions (everyone is asking about Dom Martinelli). On this episode: -Breaking down No. 2 Morgan Park vs. No. 3 Young -The south suburbs live up to the hype in Week 1 -Six teams that surprised everyone over Thanksgiving -Is Willowbrook senior Everett Stubblefield underrated? -Could Glenbrook South’s Dom Martinelli be the Player of the Year? -How firm is Adam Miller’s commitment to Illinois? -Barrington is 4-0. Can the Broncos keep it up? -Don’t judge Westinghouse by the 1-2 start

The 2019-20 basketball season starts on Monday. Welcome to the 100th episode of No Shot Clock. Hard to believe we've made it this far. Thanks to everyone for listening and sending in questions every week.  This episode is all about the upcoming season. We revealed the rankings on last week's episode, so check that out. We go in-depth on each team, starting with No. 1 all the way down to No. 25.   This week's topics: -Six sleeper teams that were not ranked in the preseason Super 25. -Five players that will have breakout seasons. -Five under-appreciated players to keep an eye on. -Five storylines we will be watching this season. -Previewing Morgan Park vs. Young and the Thanksgiving tournaments.

Welcome to the 2019-20 basketball season. It’s the sixth year of No Shot Clock. Thanks to everyone for listening and sending in questions every week. The games start in just a week so there is a ton to preview. This episode is all about the Sun-Times preseason Super 25. The rankings are revealed for the first time and we go in-depth on each team, starting with No. 1 all the way down to No. 25. Things begin with a mailbag of listener questions. Topics include: -DePaul's recruiting bonanza -Updates on uncommitted seniors -What new teams are on the radar? -Which newly promoted teams will survive in the Red? -Will the state split into boundaried and non-boundaried tournaments?

No Shot Clock, Ep. 98: State finals review, season wrap-up Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen answer a bunch of listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state finals this past weekend in Peoria.  -A ton of Evanston analysis -Rockford East appreciation -IHSA gossip -Southwestern vs. CPS shootout? -Who is next season's 4A favorite? -Henricksen on Liddell -O'Brien gushes on Terrence Hargrove That and a ton more…

No Shot Clock, Ep. 97: State finals preview Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien answer listener questions, give their Two Takes and discuss the state finals this weekend in Peoria. It's a historic episode: We finally have a guest. Ben Pope, the Sun-Times intern, joins the show to give his Two Takes and give an outsider's impression of our basketball scene. -Genuine state finals weekend excitement -So much Rockford East talk -Discussing the North Lawndale-Farragut brawl -Where does Providence-St. Mel rank among small school title winners? -Will Belleville West repeat as Class 4A champs? -Analyzing Evanston -Can anyone beat Curie? That and a ton more…