Monarch Nation, we’re back with another episode of The Monarchists Basketball Show featuring Old Dominion Head Coach Mike Jones!
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Coach Jones opens up about the team’s growth since the early-season road trip — and the fellas don’t hold back. We ask Coach some tough, honest questions about the struggles, lapses, and inconsistencies the Monarchs have shown so far this season, including what’s behind the offensive stagnation, defensive breakdowns, and difficulty maintaining momentum on the road.
Coach breaks down the lessons learned from four challenging road losses (Miami (OH), George Washington, Xavier, Drexel) and the positives gained from strong home performances against Randolph, Norfolk State, and Morgan State. He also explains how he’s balancing a roster full of former “go-to guys,” the importance of trust, and why becoming a more connected team is the key to unlocking their true potential.
You’ll also get a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at ODU’s analytics system — from deflections to punctures to multi-side possessions — and how the coaching staff uses real-time data to guide decision-making.
The episode wraps with a preview of massive upcoming road matchups vs Villanova, William & Mary, Richmond, and George Mason… plus a powerful message to Monarch Nation about staying locked in as this team gears up for Sun Belt play.
Whether you’re looking for Xs and Os, honest discussions about growing pains, or pure ODU hoops passion… this episode delivers . . . despite problematic hotel internet towards the end.
Go Monarchs!
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Welcome to the Monarchists Basketball Show
00:32 – Coach Jones on Team Growth Since Miami (OH)
02:00 – Why Offense Sometimes Stalls & Breaking Old Habits
03:15 – Defensive Struggles: Technique, Trust & Fixing Blow-By Drives
05:20 – Inconsistency & Learning to Play Connected
07:10 – The Miami (OH) First Half & What “Good ODU Basketball” Looks Like
08:00 – Electric Atmosphere vs Norfolk State & Newcomer Reactions
09:00 – Home vs. Road: Fixing Runs & Stopping Momentum Swings
10:40 – Identifying a Leader When Things Go Wrong
11:00 – Zacch Wiggins’ Maturity & Freshman Impact
12:00 – Defensive Technique Deep Dive: Turning Hips vs Stepping Out
14:00 – What High School/AAU Doesn’t Always Teach Defensively
15:50 – Xavier Breakdown: Length, Matchups & Missed Responses
17:00 – Timeout Philosophy & Preparing for Sun Belt Crunch Time
19:00 – ODU’s Analytics System (Deflections, Punctures, Shot Clock Zones)
24:00 – Internet Chaos & Pepper the Dog’s Cameo
26:00 – Closing Thoughts from Mike & Aaron
28:20 – Final Message from Coach Jones
30:00 – Why Monarch Nation’s Support Matters
