"Baby steps", that's the best way I can describe the first official practice for the 2008-09 Mount Aloysius Men's basketball team. There are a lot of changes taking place from last year's team, different offense, experienced players, higher expectations, higher emphasis on defense and the opportunity to make the playoffs. With the culture change, for the better, our approach to the first week of practice is taking the time to teach more and fine tune the details with a focus on doing the little things fundamentally. Our first practice was filled with bad passes, missed shots and nervous energy, much of what is to be expected. However, the first practice was also filled with eagerness to improve, high energy and talent...all things that you cannot teach! Those are all good signs of what's to come. The passes will get better, the shots will fall and the confidence levels will increase with time and patience. A few eye openers for me, coaching for the first time at the college level, was certainly the amount of talent. As I walked into the gym and looked around and saw guys reaching a foot above the rim to snatch an alley oop pass for a dunk, I knew I would be working with a completely different level of competition. However, the most exciting thing for me was the number of players who are eager to improve and get better! What an exciting time!
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