Barry Jacobs wrote a wonderful book titled, "Dean: Four Decades of Basketball as Seen by Dean Smith." It is complete with quotes from Coach Smith on a variety of quotes as well as quotes from those who played for him. It's a short book but one that gives insight as to why Coach Smith was one of the games greatest. Here are a few samples: ON DEFENSE
"Most of our thoughts are directed toward how we're going to stop the other team."
"The offense will always have the advantage against a defense that just sits there waiting to be attacked, waiting for somebody to take a shot. So, if you're on defense, you've got to go get the ball."
ON FREE THROW SHOOTING
"The free throw is the common denominator whether there's 23,000 people or there's two people, or it's practice. It's the same person shooting the foul shots."
"The best offense game is to get to the foul line."
ON REBOUNDING
"We spend more time on that than anything."
ON MOMENTUM
"Momentum going into a tournament doesn't mean anything. It's trying to get your momentum within the tournament that does."
ON STATISTICS
"I only use statistics to reinforce what I already think, or it it's something unusual."
"People ten to look too much at numbers and not enough at where those numbers come from."
"The key statistic is still to get to the foul line."
ON SUCCESS
"Too often we think of basketball in terms of points. That's why our players always point to the man who set up their basket. The fellow who rebounds and sets screens may go unnoticed, but he's just as important as the scorer. If I have a great one-on-one player who wants to do it all, I tell him, 'Fine, but I don't think I can come up with four players to put on the court with you.' He gets the idea."
