Episodes

Thursday Feb 25, 2021
No Shot Clock, Ep. 119: The surprise teams
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
Thursday Feb 25, 2021
On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien reveal the five teams that have surprised them the most with major success so far this season.
The episode opens with a listener mailbag and then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.
The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.
Topics include:
-What's going on with Player of the Year and All-Area?
-Is there really a holiday tournament happening on Saturday?
-Diving in to Kankakee's success under Chris Pickett
All that and more.

Thursday Feb 18, 2021
No Shot Clock, Ep. 118: Previewing the Public League
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
Thursday Feb 18, 2021
On the latest episode of No Shot Clock Michael O'Brien and Joe Henricksen debate the recently revealed season-ending tournament, the Chipotle Classic.
Then we preview the top six basketball teams in the Chicago Public League, which begins its basketball season over the next week.
Then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes, a regular weekly feature of commentary and opinion on high school basketball.
The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.
Topics include:
-A look at Hersey's high-scoring Ethan Roberts
-Is St. Rita's James Brown the state's next star?
-Appreciating Mundelein big man Scottie Ebubue
-Why Notre Dame's ceiling is still so high, despite losing the No. ranking
All that and more

Friday Feb 12, 2021
No Shot Clock, Ep. 117: First impressions of the new season
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Friday Feb 12, 2021
Joe Henricksen and Michael O'Brien talk about their initial impressions of the very young and very short high school basketball season.
The episode opens with a brief news update and a listener mailbag. Then Joe and Mike give their Two Takes.
The podcast concludes with a look at the week ahead.
Topics include:
-Which players may have their recruitment hurt by the lack of a full season?
-What is the best way to find streaming games?
-How are we going to pick a season-ending No. 1 team?
-Lincoln-Way East's potential
-Bolingbrook's ceiling this season
-Why white numbers on white uniforms just don't work
All that and a ton more.

Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
No Shot Clock, Ep. 116: Breaking down the preseason Top 10
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
Wednesday Feb 03, 2021
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.
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Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
No Shot Clock, Ep. 115: Wrapping up the season and a look ahead
Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
Tuesday Mar 17, 2020
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.

Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
No Shot Clock, Ep. 114: Sectional preview, All-Area next five
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
Tuesday Mar 10, 2020
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.

Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
No Shot Clock, Ep. 113: Regionals preview, Peoria predictions
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
Tuesday Mar 03, 2020
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.

Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
LISTEN: Listener mailbag | No Shot Clock, Episode 112
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
Tuesday Feb 25, 2020
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.

Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Answering the big questions | No Shot Clock, Episode 111
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
Tuesday Feb 18, 2020
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.

Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
No Shot Clock, Ep. 110: Conference surprises
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
Tuesday Feb 11, 2020
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.