A TEACHER

"I would rather be thought of as a teacher than a coach."

-Bob Knight-

COACH WOODEN'S LISTS

One of the topics always talked about by Coach Don Meyer is that we as coaches should all study John Wooden -- truer words have never been spoken. Upon Coach Wooden's graduation from junior high school, his father gave him a list -- a recipe for success. Coach Wooden never forget and lived his live around this formula.

1. Be true to yourself.

2. Make each day your masterpiece.

3. Help others.

4. Drink deeply from good books.

5. Make friendship a fine art.

6. Build a shelter against a rainy day.

7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day.

TAKING CARE OF LITTLE THINGS

Odds and ends of the Carolina Way under Coach Dean Smith include a variety of topics that bring forth clearly the importance of details in a successful program. In fact, in Coach Smith's outstanding book titled "The Carolina Way" he has a chapter called Taking Care of Little Things. In it Coach Smith goes over a variety of areas that he felt were important to his program. Some could even be considered traditions within the program that are done from year to year and were passed down from seniors to freshman. Here are a few of them:

THE UNIVERSITY'S FRONT PORCH

Our basketball team was on television constantly, and millions of people got their first impression of UNC from the appearance and behavior of our basketball team. Therefore I wanted our players in coats and ties for road trips, and they also dressed and acted accordingly when we stayed at fine hotels.

SWEARING

We discouraged it in our program. When a player cursed in practice, the entire team ran for him. This is not an easy subject to talk about because it can sound pious. I'm not offended when other people use profanity, and I'm certainly not suggesting that not swearing makes me better than anyone else. However, I believe to this day that anger can be expressed without using profanity.

UNIFORMS

I wanted our players dressed the same.

THROWING AN INBOUNDS PASS

Unless a player could show me that he could hold the basketball in one hand and pull it back once the arm and shoulder moved forward in the throwing motion (none could), I insisted he use two hands to throw the ball inbounds.

SCOREBOARD GAZING

Although I don't think many of our players listened to me on this one because it was so hard to do, I didn't want our players looking at the scoreboard and worrying about the score until there was five minutes left in the game. At that point managing the clock became an important factor.

ENDGAME

We spent much practice tie working on end-of-game situations. Anytime we got the ball late in the game with the shot clock off and the score tied, we were going to win it at the buzzer or at the worst go to overtime. We would start our offensive more with eight seconds left on the clock; that left a couple of second for an offensive rebound if our shot missed. In most instances I didn't want to take a time-out in these late-game situations. After all, we had worked on these things in practice and knew what to do. Calling time-out allowed the opposing coach to set his defense and make some defensive substitutions.

OPPONENT'S LAST SHOT

If the opponent had the ball in a tie game with the shot clock off, we weren't about to back off defensively and let it hold the ball without a problem.

HITTING THE WALL

To improve shooting mechanics, we'd have our players stand fifteen feet from the wall and shoot the ball at it.

WATER BREAK

We had water breaks during our practices, and they were timed on the clock -- exactly two minutes.

SPRINT TO THE BENCH

When the horn sounded for a time-out, we expected our players to sprint to the bench. The same held when they were taken out of the game for substitutes as well as when they left the court at halftime. If we were fouled at our defensive end of the court, I wanted our players to sprint to the other end to take the foul shot.

HITTING THE ROAD

We did not include plans about the return trip. We wanted the players to focus on the reason for going on the trip in the first place and not worry about what time we would get home. They received the return trip information in the dressing room after the game.

COME TO WORK

Practice was the foundation for everything we did in our program. Therefore I told our players, "Practice is a privilege. If you're not here to work, then leave."

FALLEN TEAMMATE

If one of our players took a charge, or dived for a loose ball, or hit the floor fighting for a rebound, his teammates ran to help him get on his feed. If it happened in practice, the coaches also assisted him. The player took the fall for all of us, so we should show our appreciation.

THE TOP PRIORITY

We checked on the class attendance of our players, as well as their grades and academic progress. They knew we were serious about it.

ONE MORE REMEMBRANCE OF COACH NEWELL

Yesterday I received my email newsletter from Hoop Tactics and Ernie Woods. Besides the normal great stuff, Ernie opened up with a memoriam of Coach Pete Newell and reminded us of not only one of Coach Newell's greatest quote, but of how he approached the game of basketball -- and how we should also approach it.

“Coaching lasts only for a game,

but teaching lasts a lifetime.”

-Pete Newell-

BO KNOWS (#3)

Bo knows how to lay down the laws!

The most important meeting you will have with your people is your first one -- because it is absolutely vital that everyone knows exactly what your values are, from Day One.

1. RESPECT OTHERS

Respect must be shown for your immediate supervisor. If you have a problem, you to go your position coach. If, after that, the issue warrants coming to me, I might handle it in conjunction with your coach, but I can tell you right now that if there is a conflict between a player and an assistant coach, I will be taking your coach's side. Every time. I have confidence in your coaches, and they're going to be here long after you're gone.

2. HONESTY

Honesty has got to be the hallmark of everything we do, or nothing we do here is going to mean a thing. Any dishonest player will be dropped from the program. Dropped means dropped, because we will not tolerate dishonesty in any part of this program. I don't have to elaborate on that for you any more, men, do I? Why so tough? Because if you catch a guy lying, what are you going to do? Sit down and have a nice chat with him? He'll just lie to you again! It's the one problem that I just can't work with.

3. YOUR ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR GRADES

I introduced Dean Eugene Nissen, our academic advisor, and added that the ultimate academic advisor was Bo Schembechler -- and he was the toughest! Like every other aspect of their lives, I was aware of everything about their academics -- their attendance, their classes, their credits and their grades -- because I had it all right there in my files.

4. KEEP OUTSIDERS ON THE OUTSIDE

When you're part of a top-flight program -- and you are -- you're going to attract a lot of attention you don't need. Ignore it. Ignore the press, ignore the alumni, ignore the 'instant friends' who will come around looking to gamble or be your agent or be your drinking buddy. Once the players saw that I didn't care about outsiders, they didn't either.

5. THE TEAM, THE TEAM, THE TEAM

As the end of the day, all we have is each other, so you need to get to know your teammates. That's why we decide who rooms with whom, in the dorms and on the road. This was be design. I didn't see any point having two seniors room together on the road, because they already knew each other. No, you split them up and put each of them with a freshman who could benefit from a little guidance.

From Bo's Lasting Lessons

By Bo Schembechler and John Bacon

THE WAY TEAMS WIN

"A team wins with the elimination of mistakes and with people who want to win and can't stand losing."

-Lou Holtz-

OFFENSIVE MYTHS

Some time ago, Coach Meyer introduced me to a book written by Bob Ligouri titled Building A Championship Offense: Modern Keys to Defeating Half-Court Man Defense. It is a fascinating read because Bob spent years covering a variety of college basketball teams, observing their games and compiling statistical data as to how teams scored. He studied both men's and women's college teams and the information he compiled is very interesting. From some of the data that arose, he come up with the following offensive myths:

MYTH #1
Good teams do no put the basketball on the floor- Analysis proves otherwise. Even solid passing game teams do allow their players to put it on the floor. The dribble is used to score, improve passing angles, create scoring opportunities for teammates, and escape trouble.

MYTH #2
Good teams do not allow 1 on 1 play- Analysis shows that 1 on 1 play is effective for both women and men. Good offensive teams break their opponents’ defense down and 1 on 1 play is critical to achieving this goal. They keys to 1 on 1 effectiveness are recognition and timing. Good teams have players that recognize legitimate opportunities within the team concept, and use the move to not only create a shot for themselves, but also for teammates. A coach must teach spacing and spot ups if they want to maximize the efficiencies of the 1 on 1 move. In addition, good teams do not allow 1 on 1 play on initial entry movement unless they enjoy a clear advantage. Usually, against good teams, the most effective 1 on 1 moves come after 2 or more court reversals.

MYTH #3
The ball screen is obsolete- Analysis shows that the ball screen is effective. Many top teams use it, and with great success. Against good defenses, teams use the ball screen after 1 to 2 court reversals or after 4 to 5 passes. As with both the use of the dribble and 1 on 1 play, ball screens are more effective when the coach teaches spot ups and proper weakside spacing.

MYTH #4
A team must have a center for effective low post play- Analysis showed that come of the top men’s and women’s teams in the country developed strong low post attacks without a true center. They flashed forwards or guards into the strongside low post, or they set solid off the ball screens to create mismatches in the low post area. In many games, pass selection, spacing, and patience all had more of a negative impact than size on low post play.

MYTH #5
A player/team must have quickness to effectively penetrate a defense- Naturally, blur quickness was an advantage for point guards, but tape analysis showed many excellent teams with average speed point players. They good teams structured opportunities for the perimeter players to penetrate. Ball screens, high post step outs, and flash cuts all provide ball penetration within the defensive perimeter. The ability to break down a defense is critical to offensive success. The top teams structured their attacks to feature the strengths and hide the weak areas of their players. Winners found effective methods to penetrate, even without good quickness at the point guard spot.

THE SECRET TO SUCCESS

A young man asked Socrates the secret of Success. Socrates told the young man to meet him near the river the next morning. They met.

Socrates asked the young man to walk with him towards the river. When the water got up to their neck, Socrates took the young man by surprise and ducked him into the water. The man struggled to get out but Socrates was strong and kept him there until he started turning blue.

The young man struggled hard and finally managed to get out and the first thing he did was to gasp and take deep breath.

Socrates asked "What you wanted the most when you were there?"

The man replied "Air!"

Socrates said, "That's the secret to success. When you want success as badly as you wanted that air, you will get it. There is no other secret."

"ADVANCED" REBOUNDING

This is not the first time we have wrote about Ernie Woods and won't be the last time. In fact, if you haven't already did so, you need to link the following site down on your favorite lists:

http://www.cybersportsusa.com/hooptactics/HoopTactics.asp

It is a site hosted by Ernie and Bob Kloppenburg. There is a load of information available for coaches at no costs at the site along with the opportunity to purchase some great books and videos. Advanced Basketball Defense by Ernie is one of the best out there -- and below are just a few thoughts he has on rebounding before he goes into great detail on the various methods, techniques and drills:

Most players and coaches have a tendency to look at rebounding in terms of total rebounds, and view rebounding as a single endeavor. However, offensive and defensive rebounding are entirely two very distinct basketball techniques that must be addressed and perfected separately.

While offensive rebounding is mainly an individual effort requiring agility and movement, defensive rebounding relies mainly on positioning and strength. Defensive rebounding also requires a total team effort. However, offensive and defensive rebounding do have four things in common:

1. Anticipating a missed shot

2. Determining rebounding location

3. Flight time effort

4. Determination

WARFARE: CONCENTRATION & SPEED

The following are some tactics from Warfighting: The U.S. Marine Corps Book of Strategy and these particular passages come from the chapter: Style of Warfare. As you read them, I think it will be easy for you to translate them to basketball philosophy.

"It would seem in theory that fire and movement represent opposite ends of the spectrum. But in reality, one cannot exist without the other, for fire and movement are complementary and mutually dependent."

"Tempo itself is a weapon -- often most important. The need for speed in turn required decentralized control."

"Successful maneuver depends on the ability to identify and exploit enemy weakness, not simply one the expenditure of superior might. To win by maneuver, we cannot substitute numbers for skill."

"Some factors in combat power are quite tangible and easily measured, such as superior numbers, which Clausewitz called 'the most common element in victory.'"

"Of all consistent patterns we can discern in war, there are two concepts of such significance and universality that we can advance them as principles: concentration and speed."

"Concentration is the convergence of effort in time and space. It is the means by which we develop superiority at the decisive time and place...concentration does not apply only to the conduct of war, but also to the preparation for war."

"Speed is rapidity of action. Like concentration, speed applies to both time and space. And, like concentration, it is relative speed that matters. Speed over time is tempo -- the consistent ability to operate fast."

"In other words, speed is a weapon, Superior speed allows us to seize the initiative and dictate the terms of combat, forcing the enemy to react to us. It is a prerequisite for maneuver and for surprise."