Defining Toughness in College Hoops

Once again, Jay Bilas hits the nail on the head: the word "tough" and "toughness" gets thrown around so much in the sports world- but what does it really mean? How does one show toughness?

Coaches, THIS IS A MUST READ ARTICLE(click here)!! Bilas details how toughness can be accomplished by executing each of the following fundamentals:








Set a good screen

Set up your cut

Talk on defense

Jump to the ball

Don't get screened

Get your hands up

Play the ball, see your man

Get on the floor

Close out under control:

Post your man, not a spot

Run the floor

Play so hard, your coach has to take you out

Get to your teammate first

Take responsibility for your teammates

Take a charge

Get in a stance

Finish plays

Work on your pass

Throw yourself into your team's defense

Take and give criticism the right way

Show strength in your body language

Catch and face

Don't get split

Be alert

Concentrate, and encourage your teammates to concentrate

It's not your shot; it's our shot

Box out and go to the glass every time

Take responsibility for your actions

Look your coaches and teammates in the eye

Move on to the next play

Be hard to play against, and easy to play with

Make every game important

Make getting better every day your goal

LINK TO PDF ARTICLE---- MUST READ!!

Quote of the Day:

"I am not what I ought to be, not what I want to be, not what I am going to be, but thankful that I am not what I used to be." -John Wooden

"Corner" BLOB Play

At Rhode Island, we have a misdirection play for a 3pt shot which worked really well for us. I got the idea to do something I've never seen before- a misdirection screen on a baseline out of bounds play.

The basic idea is to bring 2's defender towards the corner, then set a hybrid backscreen/flare screen for the overhead pass to a 3pt shooter. 

2 is usually open, but your inbounder needs to be an excellent passer in order to throw a crisp, clean and quick overhead pass to 2's shooting pocket.

**4 is almost on 2's tail coming off of those screens...timing is critical!

Coaching vs. Teaching

Following up on today's quote, below is an excerpt from an article written by former Duke basketball player and current ESPN analyst Jay Bilas on the difference between "coaching" and "teaching" basketball.

Generally, "coaching" consists of team preparation, the devising of game plans and
schemes to defeat opponents. When you are coaching, you are dealing with strategies,
different offenses and defenses, and putting in plays to take advantage of the skills,
strengths and weaknesses of your players. The measure of a coach is the quality of the
development of his system, and has been distilled into winning.

"Teaching" consists of instruction and training of individuals in the fundamental skills of
the game, and in teaching players how to play, instead of how to run plays. The measure
of a teacher is not in winning, but in the fundamental soundness and skill level of the
players taught. A player with excellent fundamentals and skills can play successfully in
any system.

We are basketball teachers- much more than simply a "coach"! Teachers have a great responsibility to develop and maximize student-athlete's potential; they focus on individual development and team cohesion.

For the full article in PDF format, click this link.

Quote of the Day:

"Basketball is often over-coached and under-taught."-Pete Newell

Quote of the Day:

"If you are irritated by every rub, how will you be polished?" -Rumi

Michael Jordan & 7 Ways to Listen

Pat Williams is an author, motivational speaker and senior vice president of the Orlando Magic who wrote a book called "How to Be Like Mike: Life Lessons About Basketball's Best" (link to Amazon).

I knew Michael Jordan was unusual from the second day of practice his freshman year. I was teaching some pressure defense principles and saw Michael was doing it incorrectly. I went over it with him. I thought it would take him two weeks to learn it. The next day, Michael had it down perfectly. I said, "What did you do, stay up all night studying?". He said, "Coach, I'm a good listener. I do what I'm supposed to do." -Dean Smith

There is no use even bothering with conversation if we are only preoccupied with our own concerns. The problem is that most of us don't utilize conversation the way we should- to absorb and consider the knowledge and view point of others. Instead, we filter everything through the lens of our own concerns, we worry about formulating an appropriate reply and we don't really listen.

Some simple solutions for listening more effectively:

1) Keep quiet. It signals your receptiveness.
2) Show positive non-verbal communication. Make eye contact and nod your head affirmatively.
3) Don't lead. Asking leading questions is a way of directing the conversation.
4) Resist giving advice unless they ask directly. Often, people are not searching for solutions to their problems; they just want someone to engage them.
5) Remain neutral. Don't agree or disagree, approve or disapprove.
6) Don't react defensively. If you hear something that bothers you, avoid showing it.
7) Avoid cliches. This only leads people to think you're anxious to get away from them.

Schedule Your Priorities: The 80/20 Rule

In April 2011, I led a presentation at the WBCA National Convention/Final Four in Indianapolis, IN for the Director of Basketball Operation's Roundtable.

The focus of my presentation was the 80/20 Rule (also known as the Pareto Principle)...essentially, how to effectively maximize results through efficient work habits. Here is a link where you can download the PowerPoint in a PDF format and here are a couple of key points from my presentation:

*There's no such thing as time management; it's all about self-management!

*Organize and execute around priorities...The way you spend your time is a result of the way you see
your time and your priorities (Schedule your priorities; don't prioritize your schedule).

*The Pareto Principle states that 20% of your efforts lead to 80% of your results.
     -In business, 20% of products usually account for 80% of profits 
     -At home, 20% of your clothes get worn 80% of the time
     -In college athletics, 20% of the sports get 80% of the funding
     -On the court, 20% of your offenses will get used 80% of the time

*We have been conditioned to think that high ambition must go with thrusting hyperactivity, long hours, ruthlessness, the sacrifice both of self and others to the cause, and extreme busyness. In short, the rat race.
A much more attractive combination is that of extreme ambition with confidence, relaxation, and a civilized manner. Think of Newton sitting under a tree with an apple....
We have more than enough time! Achievement is driven by insight and selective action.

Here is a link where you can download the PowerPoint in a PDF format.

Quote of the Day:

"When I quote others I do so in order to express my own ideas more clearly." -Michel de Montaigne

Quote of the Day:

"Winning is not normal and those who constantly win follow an 'abnormal' path. The discipline, dedication and sacrifices are incomprehensible to those thousands standing outside, looking in, who are capable of joining the winning team, yet unwilling to pay the price of admission. Winners win in a fair effort, on a level playing field because they deserve to win...they willingly pay their dues in full, time after time, after time."-Anonymous

Quote of the Day:

“Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable of becoming.” -John Wooden

The Motivation to Learn

The motivation to learn comes from focusing on reaching your own potential.  

Pete Blackman, a UCLA player under John Wooden, said "He drove everybody, but with a conception that always had value: Make yourself as good as you can be. Always. There was very little emphasis on the opposition...very little attempt to understand what they were going to do on the theory that if you do the best you can, you're going to statistically come out well. These are lessons of a profound nature. Focus on yourself, your own values, doing things correctly."

From You Haven't Taught Until They Have Learned: John Wooden's Teaching Principles and Practices.

John Wooden won ten NCAA National Championships in a 12-year period — seven in a row — as head coach at UCLA, an unprecedented feat.Within this period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games. He was named national coach of the year six times. (Wikipedia)