What the Seniors Are Up To — and One Story That'll Make You Smile

Coach Jones gives an update on every senior from his two years at ODU. Most of them are playing professional basketball — Cal, KC Shaw, and Jordan Battle among them — but the story that might stick with you longest is the one about the senior who chose not to play pro ball. What LJ Thomas has been building since leaving ODU, and what he recently asked Coach Jones about, is genuinely impressive. You'll want to hear it.

A Roster Built Differently This Time

Coach Jones walks through every new addition individually — portal transfers and freshmen — and the theme is unmistakable: this roster was built to defend. Length, physicality, and positional size were the mission. He explains what wingspan actually means on the court, why almost nobody on this roster has an even wingspan-to-height ratio, and what that translates to once the ball goes up. One incoming transfer missed an entire season due to a practice injury before playing a single game at his previous school — and Coach Jones says what he saw from that player in a scrimmage the morning of this recording put a big smile on his face.

One Freshman Got the Ahmad Caver Stamp of Approval Mid-Flight

The story of how one of ODU's incoming freshmen — a prospect from Atlanta — got an unexpected endorsement from one of the greatest Monarchs ever is worth the price of admission alone. Coach Jones tells it in full, including what Ahmad Caver said the moment he walked off the plane. There's also a family connection to an ODU alum that helped close the deal.

New Coaches, a New Defensive Identity

Coach Jones is direct about last season: they could score — that was never the problem. Getting stops when it mattered was. Both new assistant coaches were hired specifically to fix that, and one of them was part of a national championship staff. Coach Jones explains what each brings to the program and why the fit goes beyond basketball.

Rules, Quarters vs. Halves, and the Five-in-Five Take

Coach Jones has strong opinions on all of it — the NCAA's four points of emphasis this season, why he got miffed at a referee at Richmond last year over a rule nobody enforces, and what going to quarters would actually mean for the game beyond just the clock. His breakdown of how the Five-in-Five eligibility rule plays out differently for a senior who wants to chase a Power Five ring versus one trying to get on film for an overseas contract is some of the most honest coaching commentary we've had on this show.

The Schedule Is Better — and There's a Big Tease at the End

Last year ODU played 13 home games and 18 on the road. This year it flips to 17 home and 15 away. Coach Jones talks about the opener, the in-state matchups on the schedule, and then closes with something he teases carefully — a potential preseason game against a Richmond program that Monarch fans have wanted back on the schedule for a long time. He says they're "inside the five" on making it happen. Watch the full episode to hear exactly how close it is.

Watch the Full Episode Above

There's plenty more in the full conversation — including Coach Jones's NBA Finals breakdown, his thoughts on the Kawhi Leonard and Jaylen Brown trades, a shoutout to an unsung ODU athletics MVP, and his message to Monarch Nation heading into what he believes is going to be a special year. Hit play and enjoy.