November 6th, 2026 - Head Coach Ed Cooley

Bob Rathbun (0:05)

Hey there, you've got the latest edition of A Trophy Life, the official podcast of the Naismith Awards here in Atlanta, presented by Jersey Mikes. This is your host, Bob Rathbun, and we are off and running with a brand new college basketball season, and already spectacular performances turned in by players on our top 50 watch list for the Jersey Mikes, Naismith Men's Women's College Player of the Year Award. We'll run down a few of those for you, and we'll also hear on the podcast a little bit later from Georgetown head coach, Ed Cooley. He's got a big one with Maryland over the weekend. We'll talk with Ed about that and his thoughts on the college game when we continue in just a moment. But first, we begin with the news and notes of the week, and some of these men's performances have been outstanding already. They begin in Arizona. Montieas Crevats scored 38 boards. Arizona beat Cal Poly, but the big story there was his great game and the fact that Arizona looking to bounce back after that opening loss to UCLA. How about Tyler Tanner down at Vanderbilt? They hosted Wake Forest in midweek and crushed the Deeks 74 to 51 Tyler Tanner had 17 points and 10 rebounds in that game from his guard position. On the women's side, already a statement game in Ann Arbor as No. 5 Michigan defeated No. 2 UConn 76, 77 rather to 66 on Thursday. The Wolverines outscored the Huskies 22 to 13

In the fourth quarter of that game, recorded the highest ranked win in program history and the result also ended UConn's 39-game regular season winning streak. Olivia Olson of Michigan, outstanding, 19 points, 8 rebounds, 4 dimes, 4 steals, terrific. And UConn's Sarah Strong, a major force for the Huskies, of course, this year, fouled out of the game, scored 13, didn't score in the first half because she was fouled, sadly with foul trouble early on. She hit 3 in that first half, limited her effectiveness, but UConn, fouling in Michigan and a great game in the season's first week.

Madison Booker, Texas, 24 points, 5 assists, in their opening win over Fairleigh Dickinson. And how about Hannah Hidalgo at Notre Dame? Wow, what a performance to open her season. 32 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, in Notre Dame's win over Villanova.

And that game, of course, was in Rome last weekend.

Now, we've got some big games coming up. And we call your attention to the big men's game on Friday night that will be played at TD Garden in Boston. It will air on TNT at 8 p.m. Eastern Time. And this will be the Michigan-Yukon game. That is going to put two top 20 teams head to head, lots of stars in that one. Maryland at Georgetown on Peacock that Saturday. And we'll talk with Ed Cooley about that in just a moment. Also at the Capital One Arena in DC on ESPN Sunday, it will be number 12 Arkansas against number nine Virginia. And Sunday, the big women's doubleheader at the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, it begins at 3 p.m. Eastern Time on ESPN 2 Kentucky takes on NC State. And for Kentucky, Clara Strack will be the featured player for the Wildcats. Of course, she was a podcast guest earlier this summer. And then the nightcap in Charlotte at 5.3 on ESPN, No. 1 South Carolina takes on Katie Harpring in North Carolina. Katie getting on the big stage in her freshman season. She was our 2026 Jersey Mike Naismith Girls High School Player of the Year. And we'll see her on national TV as she leads North Carolina up against No. 1 South Carolina.

When we come back, my conversation with Ed Cooley, but first this from Jersey Mike's.

Ed Cooley (4:02)

A Jersey Mike sub bowl is any sub without the bread. They're great anywhere.

SPEAKER_3 (4:06)

So you can have a Mike's Chicken Philly sub bowl on the beach?

Ed Cooley (4:09)

Sure can.

Bob Rathbun (4:10)

Or a BLT sub bowl when you're at the airport?

Ed Cooley (4:12)

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_3 (4:13)

So I can have a Turkey Provolone sub bowl on a date with my mom's lifelong best friend?

Bob Rathbun (4:18)

Uh, are you sure it's a good idea?

SPEAKER_3 (4:21)

Linda knows how to handle me.

Ed Cooley (4:22)

Yeah, it's like we've known each other forever. Because you have, Linda. Your favorite sub in the bowl for any time, anywhere.

Bob Rathbun (4:29)

It's a Jersey Mike's thing, a sub of both.

It was so great Cooley in DC this week. You just had to have him on the podcast. Ed Cooley, our 2022 Warner Ladder Naismith Men's Coach of the Year, joins us. Coach, how are you so?