In the first Talkin Vols of 2024, Mike Murphy previewed a week filled with Lincoln Trail and Vincennes with John A. Logan men's basketball coach Tyler Smithpeters.

Matt Varney sat down with the new coach of the Pinckneyville Panthers, Matt Laur, on Friday - just days after the former Freeburg coach was hired by the Pinckneyville school board as their next Athletic Director, Dean of Students, and head boys' basketball coach.  They covered a variety of topics including the history of Pinckneyville basketball, how daunting is it to step in to the role of Panthers head coach, his son Ty who will join the team, how he plans to run the team, and a whole lot more:

Photo taken by Paul Brinker//Brinker Photography

The Carbondale Terriers are hoping to shock the South 7 on Friday night with a win over the Marion Wildcats, who come in to Carbondale as favorites to split the crown with the Terriers and Cahokia.  Terriers coach Bryan Lee spoke with Roger Medlen on Friday's matchup: