Episode Archive for The Assembly Call IU Podcast and Postgame Show

In this edition of Hoosier Storytime, we get the inside scoop on one of the greatest teams in IU basketball history from one of the greatest examples of player development: Brian Evans.

Brian played on the last few IU teams that were truly at the epicenter of college basketball. He was a redshirt on the 1992 Final Four team and a key rotation piece on the 1993 Elite Eight team that many people think would have won it all were it not for Alan Henderson’s knee injury. We talk at length about what it was like playing with so many great players like Henderson, Calbert Cheaney, Greg Graham, Damon Bailey, etc.

Plus: why Brian wanted to kick the Fab 5’s ass so badly, who from those early 90s teams would win in a shooting contest, and whether or not he felt threatened by Bob Knight’s recruitment of Ivan Renko (or Bob Knight’s offseason threats that there might not be a spot for Evans on the next year’s team).

We also discuss player development in general, the shooting woes of the current program, and what it was like popping his shoulder back into place on the court.

All of that and much more in this edition of Hoosier Storytime.

Listen to the podcast here:

[Read more…] about Hoosier Storytime: Talking 1992-93 with Brian Evans

On this special episode of Assembly Call Radio, it’s a Tonsoni Takeover!

Coach is behind the wheel with his boys Brent and Brandon alongside for an in-depth discussion about what it’s like behind the scenes of a Division 1 basketball program. (Brandon was a manager at IU under Tom Crean and Brent was a manager at Indiana State under Greg Lansing.)

The boys also discuss this week’s headlines: Jerome Hunter’s departure, the new grad assistant, and the Big Ten opponent announcement.

And stick around after Segment 3 for the debut of new Bob Thompson music! When he sent it to Jerod, he billed it as the best song he’s created yet and … it doesn’t disappoint. Then, during AC After Dark, Jerod shares the story of his email exchange with Mark Cuban and explains why it’s time for sports fans to start paying a little closer attention to NFTs.

All that and more on this week’s edition of Assembly Call Radio.

Listen to the podcast here:

[Read more…] about AC Radio: Tonsoni Takeover!

On May 7th, Jerod had the opportunity to resume his chat with Devonte Green (listen to Part 1 here), one of the few players who straddled the Tom Crean and Archie Miller Eras, and a player who brought flashes of explosive offense during one of the more offensively challenged eras of IU basketball.

We cover a wide variety of topics in this follow-up conversation, including:

• Whether the media should be given more access to players while they’re in college
• How will more lenient NIL rules affect college players? Will it cause problems in locker rooms?
• His experience leaning on IU resources for mental health support
• What his childhood was like and when he started playing basketball.
• How is relationship with his brother has evolved over the years
• How he evolved as a young basketball player
• The two guys on the current team he thinks will thrive under Mike Woodson.
• What it’s like playing pickup games with guys IU is recruiting
• The time he dunked on OG (whether OG will admit it or not)
• The best shooter, players, dunker, leader, and passer he played with at IU
• What traditions meant the most to him at IU? And what should IU do to modernize the program?

And a lot more. We also talk about some of his lowest moments as a player, after celebrating the best moments in our last episode.

Our thanks to Devonte for being so generous with his time.

Listen to the podcast here:

Or watch the video:

[Read more…] about Hoosier Storytime with Devonte Green (Part 2)

This week on Assembly Call Radio, we take an in depth look at Miller Kopp’s game.

All that and much more on this edition of The Assembly Call.

On the mics: Andy Bottoms, Brian Tonsoni, Ryan Phillips

[Read more…] about AC Radio: Miller Kopp Scouting Report and Hoosier Headlines

On May 5th, Jerod had the opportunity to chat with Devonte Green, one of the few players who straddled the Tom Crean and Archie Miller Eras.

We cover a wide variety of topics about his career at IU, including:

• The recent health diagnosis that ended his first professional season prematurely (and how it will impact his career moving forward)
• His memories of the Florida State game and the feeling in the locker room when that season was cut short by COVID
• Reflections on the Iowa game and how he views the way he fit in Archie Miller’s offense
• What it’s like to be scorching hot on the basketball court.
• His very strong opinions about the packline defense.
• His role in the two Michigan State wins his junior year, and the impact of his suspension prior to the first Michigan State win (and how that drove him moving forward)
• His relationship with Archie Miller and how it evolved over time.
• Archie Miller’s surprising reaction to Devonte’s famous shoe-in-hand steal … and does he steal have the shoe??
• How he reacted to Tom Crean chewing him out after throwing an alley-oop to Freddie McSwain as a freshman

And so much more, including a hilarious story end to end the interview about an interaction he had with Archie … and why his ex-coach still owes him a million dollars. It’s a wide-ranging, fun conversation. Enjoy!

Here is the article by Eddie Koton that I mentioned: Devonte Green: More than just a cheat code

Listen to the podcast here:

Or watch the video:

[Read more…] about Hoosier Storytime with Devonte Green

On April 28th, Jerod had the opportunity to chat with Steve Green, Bob Knight’s first recruit and a member of the vaunted 1975 team.

If you’ve ever heard an interview with Steve, you know that he is gregarious, high-energy, and very engaging. He certainly did not disappoint in this conversation.

We cover a wide variety of topics:

• What he and Brian Evans are up to with Arora Sleep.
• The connection he made with Branch McCracken before ever meeting Bob Knight.
• How the 1976 team has welcomed he and John Laskowski as one of their own, even though they graduated in 1975.
• The story of his first technical foul, and why it was extra hypocritical for Bob Knight to chew him out that day.
• His IU recruiting story.
• His thoughts on why Mike Woodson will be such a good fit at IU
• How he would fix IU’s program-wide shooting woes.
• The advice he would give to an incoming freshman.

And so much more. It’s a wide-ranging, fun conversation that I think you’ll really enjoy.

Listen to the podcast here:

Or watch the video:

[Read more…] about Hoosier Storytime with Steve Green