{"podcast":{"title":"X's and Joe's","slug":"x-s-and-joe-s-6715022","podcast_index_feed_id":6715022,"rss_url":"https://rss.art19.com/xs-and-joes","website_url":"https://art19.com/shows/xs-and-joes","image_url":"https://content.production.cdn.art19.com/images/9c/64/c6/96/9c64c696-d505-4684-b21d-b2003394fc0f/9d5001cd25f7ce8f59a565ee9317ae97eef05e29f5af21c6084fd4f8abafc8a4ebf2d3078ee333fdfb67d73bfa5e57c92d737ddcb427be9e14c3115365581d28.jpeg","author":"Back Home Network","episode_count":60,"summary":"X's and Joe's, part of the Back Home Network, is a podcast that lets you eavesdrop on an ongoing, 25-year conversation between two friends and Indiana University grads who have an unusual passion for exploring the formula for winning in today’s modern college basketball. Hosted by Bob Moats (cbobmoats) and Mike Wiemuth (iu-in-philly), this show examines trends in recruiting, metrics, strategy, and coaching -- with an emphasis on debunking myths and challenging popular assumptions. And while Bob and Mike's rooting interests may lie with the Hoosiers, this show takes an expansive view of the college basketball landscape beyond just Bloomington. In other words, it's a show for ALL serious college hoops fans who truly appreciate the nuances of the sport.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-21T10:19:42.402309+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/x-s-and-joe-s-6715022"},"episode":{"title":"[34] Negative Recruiting -- Does It Really Work?","slug":"34-negative-recruiting-does-it-really-work","published_at":"2025-07-14T05:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/x-s-and-joe-s-6715022/34-negative-recruiting-does-it-really-work","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/x-s-and-joe-s-6715022","url":"https://rss.art19.com/episodes/b24cabd3-09e2-4db0-8e32-6984a2e67be7.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","audio_url":"https://rss.art19.com/episodes/b24cabd3-09e2-4db0-8e32-6984a2e67be7.mp3?rss_browser=BAhJIg90cmFuc2NyaWJyBjoGRVQ%3D--952c5701c84ad333c69d5faa668f8177091704f0","summary":"Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth dive deep into the shadowy world of negative recruiting in college basketball, exploring the tactics, effectiveness, and ethics of programs steering players away from rival schools. Main Topics Sports Dead Period & Pacers Reflection [00:00-15:00] Bob and Mike discuss the dreaded summer sports lull and reflect on the Indiana Pacers' surprising playoff run. They examine the team's selfless ball movement, Tyrese Haliburton's devastating injury, and what the season meant for bringing fans back to NBA basketball after years away. Negative Recruiting Parallels to Politics [15:00-25:00] Drawing parallels to political campaigning, Bob and Mike establish how negative recruiting works as a persuasion contest. They discuss: Key differences between political ads and recruiting (multiple \"candidates,\" shadow operations) The concept of \"kamikaze\" recruiting to prevent rivals from landing recruits Strategic timing of when to go negative in recruitment battles The Intelligence Game [25:00-35:00] The conversation turns to how programs gather intelligence on recruits and families. Topics include: Assistant coaches' extensive networks and relationship-building Understanding family dynamics and decision-makers The role of third-party surrogates like AAU coaches How specific intel can get (down to restaurant preferences) Variables & Vulnerabilities [35:00-45:00] Using a comprehensive list of recruiting factors, they explore how different variables create opportunities for negative recruiting. The discussion covers playing time, facilities, academics, party scene, geography, and more, emphasizing how each recruit's priorities differ dramatically. The Scott Drew vs. Bob Knight Story [45:00-55:00] Bob and Mike recount the legendary bathroom confrontation whe…","meta_description":"Bob Moats and Mike Wiemuth dive deep into the shadowy world of negative recruiting in college basketball, exploring the tactics, effectiveness, and ethics…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":5375,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/x-s-and-joe-s-6715022/episodes/34-negative-recruiting-does-it-really-work/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/x-s-and-joe-s-6715022/34-negative-recruiting-does-it-really-work.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}