<![CDATA[The Data Behind the Game]]>The Data Behind the Game explores how data, analytics, AI, and technology are changing the way we play, coach, watch, and understand sports.

Hosted by Clay Morris, a high school senior with a growing passion for sports analytics, each episode goes behind the numbers with the people helping transform the games we love.

Clay talks with analysts, coaches, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, content creators, and sports industry professionals about how data is being used to find competitive advantages, evaluate performance, develop athletes, engage fans, and make better decisions.

From NASCAR and tennis to lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball and beyond, The Data Behind the Game explores questions like: How can analytics make an athlete better? What statistics really matter? How is artificial intelligence changing sports? And how can students and young professionals turn an interest in sports and data into a career?

Whether you're a sports fan, athlete, coach, student, aspiring sports analyst, or simply fascinated by what happens behind the scenes, The Data Behind the Game introduces you to the people, technology, ideas—and data—shaping the future of sports.

The game is what you see. The data tells you why.

]]>https://riverside.comRiverside.fm (https://riverside.com)Mon, 21 Sep 2026 06:13:30 GMTFri, 07 Aug 2026 17:47:58 GMT60Clay Morris<p><b>The Data Behind the Game</b> explores how data, analytics, AI, and technology are changing the way we play, coach, watch, and understand sports.</p><p>Hosted by Clay Morris, a high school senior with a growing passion for sports analytics, each episode goes behind the numbers with the people helping transform the games we love.</p><p>Clay talks with analysts, coaches, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators, content creators, and sports industry professionals about how data is being used to find competitive advantages, evaluate performance, develop athletes, engage fans, and make better decisions.</p><p>From NASCAR and tennis to lacrosse, football, baseball, basketball and beyond, <b>The Data Behind the Game</b> explores questions like: How can analytics make an athlete better? What statistics really matter? How is artificial intelligence changing sports? And how can students and young professionals turn an interest in sports and data into a career?</p><p>Whether you're a sports fan, athlete, coach, student, aspiring sports analyst, or simply fascinated by what happens behind the scenes, <b>The Data Behind the Game</b> introduces you to the people, technology, ideas—and data—shaping the future of sports.</p><p><b>The game is what you see. The data tells you why.</b></p>episodicClay Morrisclaymorris473@gmail.comno<![CDATA[The Invisible Race: How Data & Analytics Power NASCAR]]>NASCAR's use of analytics in competition and fan engagement is driven by a focus on data from race cars and fan feedback. The sport aims to improve racing quality, maintain fan engagement, and attract new audiences through strategic data analysis and insights. The conversation with Derek Thomas provides valuable insights into the role of analytics in NASCAR, the impact of AI on NASCAR analytics, and the importance of fan feedback. Derek emphasizes the significance of data in confirming hunches and making informed decisions, as well as the role of AI in enhancing efficiency. He also highlights the critical role of fan feedback and the future of NASCAR analytics.

Takeaways

  • NASCAR's analytics focus on improving racing quality and maintaining fan engagement.
  • The sport uses data from race cars and fan feedback to inform decisions and strategies. Data confirms hunches
  • AI enhances efficiency
  • Fan feedback is crucial
  • Future of NASCAR analytics

]]>19b186b6-a258-40aa-bd53-2a2044d838f8Mon, 24 Aug 2026 16:56:14 GMT<p>NASCAR's use of analytics in competition and fan engagement is driven by a focus on data from race cars and fan feedback. The sport aims to improve racing quality, maintain fan engagement, and attract new audiences through strategic data analysis and insights. The conversation with Derek Thomas provides valuable insights into the role of analytics in NASCAR, the impact of AI on NASCAR analytics, and the importance of fan feedback. Derek emphasizes the significance of data in confirming hunches and making informed decisions, as well as the role of AI in enhancing efficiency. He also highlights the critical role of fan feedback and the future of NASCAR analytics.</p><p></p><p>Takeaways</p><ul><li>NASCAR's analytics focus on improving racing quality and maintaining fan engagement.</li><li>The sport uses data from race cars and fan feedback to inform decisions and strategies. Data confirms hunches</li><li>AI enhances efficiency</li><li>Fan feedback is crucial</li><li>Future of NASCAR analytics</li></ul><p></p>no00:38:3112The Invisible Race: How Data & Analytics Power NASCARfull<![CDATA[Can Data Make You a Better Tennis Player? The Rise of Analytics for the Rest of Us]]>Can Data Make You a Better Tennis Player? | Tom DiVincenzo & Next Level Stats

Sports analytics has transformed professional sports—but what happens when you bring those same ideas to the everyday athlete?

In this episode of The Data Behind the Game, Clay Morris sits down with Tom DiVincenzo, founder of Next Level Stats, to explore how data and analytics can help recreational and junior tennis players understand their games, practice smarter, and improve performance.

Tom explains how tennis data can reveal things that players—and sometimes even coaches—may miss just by watching a match. They discuss which statistics actually matter, common mistakes recreational players make, how match data can identify strengths and weaknesses, and why the numbers can sometimes tell a very different story from what a player thinks happened on the court.

Clay and Tom also explore the technology behind modern tennis analytics, the growing role of AI, and whether data could eventually give everyday players access to the type of performance analysis once reserved for elite athletes.

They also discuss Tom's journey building Next Level Stats and what he's learned about turning sports data into information that players and coaches can actually use.

In this episode:
• How analytics can improve your tennis game
• The statistics junior players should actually track
• What tennis data reveals that the eye can miss
• Using analytics to practice more effectively
• AI and the future of tennis coaching
• Bringing professional-level analytics to everyday athletes
• Building a sports analytics business
• Advice for students interested in sports, data, and entrepreneurship

Whether you're a tennis player, coach, parent, sports analytics student, or simply interested in how data and AI are changing sports, this conversation shows how the analytics revolution is moving beyond professional teams and into the hands of everyday athletes.

The Data Behind the Game — The game is what you see. The data tells you why.

]]>90e55b20-4974-4263-8996-ba465409a5ceFri, 07 Aug 2026 23:38:49 GMT<p><b>Can Data Make You a Better Tennis Player? | Tom DiVincenzo &amp; Next Level Stats</b></p><p>Sports analytics has transformed professional sports—but what happens when you bring those same ideas to the everyday athlete?</p><p>In this episode of <b>The Data Behind the Game</b>, Clay Morris sits down with Tom DiVincenzo, founder of Next Level Stats, to explore how data and analytics can help recreational and junior tennis players understand their games, practice smarter, and improve performance.</p><p>Tom explains how tennis data can reveal things that players—and sometimes even coaches—may miss just by watching a match. They discuss which statistics actually matter, common mistakes recreational players make, how match data can identify strengths and weaknesses, and why the numbers can sometimes tell a very different story from what a player thinks happened on the court.</p><p>Clay and Tom also explore the technology behind modern tennis analytics, the growing role of AI, and whether data could eventually give everyday players access to the type of performance analysis once reserved for elite athletes.</p><p>They also discuss Tom's journey building Next Level Stats and what he's learned about turning sports data into information that players and coaches can actually use.</p><p><b>In this episode:</b><br />• How analytics can improve your tennis game<br />• The statistics junior players should actually track<br />• What tennis data reveals that the eye can miss<br />• Using analytics to practice more effectively<br />• AI and the future of tennis coaching<br />• Bringing professional-level analytics to everyday athletes<br />• Building a sports analytics business<br />• Advice for students interested in sports, data, and entrepreneurship</p><p>Whether you're a tennis player, coach, parent, sports analytics student, or simply interested in how data and AI are changing sports, this conversation shows how the analytics revolution is moving beyond professional teams and into the hands of everyday athletes.</p><p><b>The Data Behind the Game — The game is what you see. The data tells you why.</b></p>no00:38:3911Can Data Make You a Better Tennis Player? The Rise of Analytics for the Rest of Usfull