Tough Love!

Sometimes when you have too much success, players and coaches get comfortable. They start feeling like things should be given to them because of past success. However, that's not the case for Billy Donovan. How do you get players to understand that especially today, you must work hard to get what you want. Success must be earned, it is not given to nobody! Sometimes tough love will change that attitude. Change your mindset, stop feeling sorry for yourself and get out there and work hard for what you want! The article below explains how head coach Billy Donovan felt that his players were not deserving of the state of the art facilities and fringe benefits that come along with being apart of a program such as Florida, who has won the last two Men's NCAA basketball championships. Sounds like a little bit of tough love went a long way for the players at Florida.

Florida’s Donovan Kicks Players Out of Practice Facility
By MARK LONG, AP Sports Writer Mar 17, 4:18 pm EDT
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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP)—When the Florida Gators lost in the first round of the Southeastern Conference tournament, they knew it knocked them out of the NCAA tournament field.
They had no idea it also would get them kicked out of their practice facility.
Coach Billy Donovan, feeling like his players had settled into a state of complacency and entitlement, banned them from Florida’s $12 million facility. He also told them they couldn’t wear any Florida attire.
“Probably in some respects the confetti is still falling down around them,” Donovan said Monday. “When you have great success like we’ve had, I think it’s very, very easy to become complacent and to lose sight of how good things are around here and to have an attitude of, ‘I’m at Florida. This is just what’s going to happen.”’
The two-time reigning national champion Gators (21-11) lost eight of their final 11 games, including the last four, and missed out on the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1998. They became the first defending champion to not make it back to the tournament since probation-stricken Kansas in 1989.
Florida settled for a spot in the NIT, where they will host San Diego State on Wednesday night.
The Gators also found themselves fighting to get back into their state-of-the-art facility, which houses the team locker room, the practice court, the video room, the weight room, both national championship trophies and pieces of both floors on which Florida won it all.
Players spent the last four days shuffling between the O’Connell Center practice floor and the antiquated Florida Gym.
“He just wants to teach us a lesson that it takes time to earn stuff,” freshman guard Nick Calathes said. “He’s really going to make us earn it. I like that. I don’t see that as a problem at all. I think it will help us in the long run.”
Added freshman Jai Lucas: “When he feels we’re ready and playing like the University of Florida should play, then we’ll move (back) in.”
It might not happen anytime soon.
Football coach Urban Meyer, who has developed a close relationship with Donovan, pulled a similar move in summer 2005. Meyer barred players from the locker room and told them they couldn’t wear orange and blue or anything with the Gators logo on it.
He also removed the large replica gator head that was on display between the locker room and Florida Field. Players typically rub the head for good luck before games.
Meyer’s players responded by winning nine games for the first time in four years. They won the national title the following season.
Donovan can only hope for similar results from a team he has criticized for not having enough dedication, passion to win and willingness to play defense.
“One of the things that creates a tremendous level of complacency in anybody is after something very, very big happens,” said Donovan, who has used motivational tactics extensively in recent years. “It’s very easy to have a letdown. It’s not these guys’ fault. They walked into this. They walked into what happened.
“They got a facility that the administration has invested a lot in. It’s one of the best in the country. They’ve got a massage therapist to make sure they’re OK after games. They’ve got a private plane that they take to games. The meals that they eat. All those things, these guys came here and went right to the penthouse.”
Calathes and Lucas acknowledged that players felt a sense of entitlement during this season. They also echoed Donovan’s remarks that none of the players knew what it took to win at the college level or what they needed to do every day in practice to make the NCAA tournament.
Now, Donovan hopes missing the tournament—they actually practiced during the selection show since there was no reason to watch—will prove to be a humbling experience that will pay off down the road.
Kicking them out of the locker room could help, too.
“I think we’re going to have this taste in our mouths all the way until we make the NCAA tournament,” Lucas said. “This is something that will never leave us. This pain is unbearable. If this doesn’t (motivate us), I don’t know what will. This might be one of the worst things that could happen to the team.”

It's All About Building Relationships

For Head Coach Brad Stevens, it's all about building relationships with players and other program supporters. I knew the first time I heard about Brad Stevens and his coaching philosophies, that we had a lot in common. The article below speaks highly about Coach Stevens and his relationships that he is building with his players and staff members. Like me, he is young and lacks head coaching experience, but he cares for his players, has a desire to build on his basketball IQ, is organized and is passionate for teaching the game of basketball.

Newest Basketball Coach Gives Fresh Insight
By Maggie Cannon Dawgnet Contributing Writer http://www.dawgnetnews.com/archive/080318/4822.html

Butler University’s newest head basketball coach is inspiring students and continuing the team’s winning record this year. Brad Stevens, who graduated from DePauw University in 1999, said that he doesn’t plan to make any structural changes because of the successful formula, and that he has a unique relationship with the team since he played not too long ago. “I remember the ups and downs,” Stevens said. “I know how it is with a high level of course work.” He said that he is close with everyone on the team and has their best interests at heart. Stevens said, “There are times when they’re not happy with me, but we recognize that we want to achieve a common goal.” Stevens, who said his family, faith and close friends influence him the most, admitted that his own experiences as a college basketball player have influenced the way he coaches. “I didn’t play for one person that didn’t affect me in some way this year, and I try to utilize that with our own team,” he said. “I do watch a ton of basketball to get ideas.” Stevens said that he decided to coach full time because he liked being a part of a team and wanted to get a chance to compete at an academic institution, and that Butler was his best option to learn. “It was different than (what) I’d been a part of, and it had some of the best coaches in the country,” he said. He said that his favorite part of coaching is being with the players every day and the relationships he has with them. Matthew Graves, an assistant coach who joined the staff in 2000, said that the players feel comfortable coming to him just to talk about anything from job interviews, how to get better in the game, their struggles or just for comfort. “Either way, his age helps because of his ability to relate a little better,” Graves said. He said that the biggest thing Stevens had going for him was that he’d been involved at Butler for so long, and hiring him showed confidence in his abilities. “He’s doing a great job,” Graves said. “He balances what needs to be done and living in the moment.” He said that Butler’s record speaks for itself, and that after hiring Stevens they’ve seen the same teamwork, playing hard and academics. The team had a 3.1 GPA last semester. “He’s passionate, hard-working and analytical, he analyzes statistics and sets up goals and game plans,” Graves said. He said that some of the best times he’s had with Stevens have been out on the road talking about basketball. “We share values, we’re close in age, he has a son that’s two and I have two daughters, ” Graves said. “We’re going through some of the same things off the court as well.” Ben Slaton, a junior on the team, said he thinks Stevens’s son Brady is awesome. “He brings him around and we like to play with him,” Slaton said. “We know his family and go to his house. We’re all pretty close.” He said that Stevens is always in his office trying to make the team better. “He’s having a fun time,” Slaton said, “and I enjoy playing for him.” He said that Stevens is more approachable than typical coaches and that it’s easier to talk to him. “You listen to what he says and respect him,” he said. “You try to learn. He knows the game really well. He has a high basketball IQ.” Slaton said that the team doesn’t think about Stevens’s age. “The fact that he’s younger means he relates to us better, it’s helpful,” he said. He said that Stevens doesn’t let the pressure of his job get to him. “He’s always looking at the next game,” Slaton said. Slaton said that Stevens was the reason he decided to come to Butler. “He pushes me to improve,” he said. “He was my individual coach the first two years. I got to know him better and I enjoyed that.” Stevens also recruited Grant Leiendecker, a sophomore on the team, who said he has a good relationship with him. Leiendecker said that Stevens pays attention to detail and gets them prepared for the next game. “He’s a smart guy,” he said. “It seems like he’s always working and looking forward to the next game.” He said that Stevens knows there is a time for fun and a time to be serious. “He’s a pretty serious guy, and when it comes down to the game he gets down to business,” Leiendecker said. He said that Stevens is like a boss, but he has a good relationship with everyone. “He inspires me to improve my game every day,” Leiendecker said, “to be the best person and player I can be.” Avery Jukes, a sophomore on the team, said he was excited about Stevens becoming head coach even though he didn’t know his coaching style. “I was excited that it wasn’t someone outside of the organization,” Jukes said. “I didn’t want someone else to come.” Jukes said that he likes the way Stevens coaches. “Practices are geared toward defense, other coaches are geared toward offense,” he said. He said that Stevens has helped him grow up a little bit, and that he teaches the team how to be better people. “He’s inspired me just to be a better person,” Jukes said. “He taught me about honesty, trustworthiness, loyalty, teamwork and unselfishness. He’s coaching really well and doing a good job.” “Focus on today,” Stevens said. “Just worry about today and do the best job you can.”

Get Well Soon, Coach Wooden!

Last week the greatest coach in all of sports was hospitalized after falling and breaking his collar bone. Legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden is healing but remains hospitalized and is still in good spirits. Below is an article written by Rick Riley of Sports Illustrated. The article is an inspiring read about integrity. If there has ever been an example of a person with integrity, John Wooden is it.

"A Paragon Rising above the Madness"-- By Rick Reilly, Sports Illustrated
On Tuesday the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again. Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again. The stack will be 180 letters high then, because Tuesday is 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between, with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm. There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA (7 in a row), the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him. He won 88 straight games between Jan. 30, 1971, and Jan. 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since. So, sometimes, when the Madness of March gets to be too much -- too many players trying to make SportsCenter, too few players trying to make assists, too many coaches trying to be homeys, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many freshmen with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men -- I like to go see Coach Wooden. I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of L.A., and hear him say things like "Gracious sakes alive!" and tell stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot. Lewis Alcindor, that is. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals. He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot." Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes. "Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," Coach would say. "Earn the right to be proud and confident." You played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity, and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect. He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say. No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" he'd say. No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say. That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him. It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer and the teams so much worse. As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around. The framed report cards of the great-grandkids. The boxes of jelly beans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair. The dozens of pictures of Nellie. He's almost 90 now, you think. A little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles. "I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again." Problem is, we still need him here.

-----------------------Site Note:

John R. Wooden was a three time All American basketball player, including college player of the year his senior season at Purdue. He is the only person to be inducted into both the Players' and Coaches' Halls of Fame. Through his word and deed, he taught people how to be successful. Coach Wooden, and his record, remain the standard by which EXCELLENCE is measured. As a youngster, watching his teams win it all, year after year, I became a huge fan of John Wooden... and an even bigger fan after reading about his philosophy, his teachings, his quotes (see below) and his life. Coach Wooden, like Paul "Bear" Bryant in football, had the best prepared teams in the country, year after year, and won it all year after year. He built his dynasty with this philosophy: "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."

Some Inspire21's Ecards with quotes by John Wooden are:

"Consideration for others brings many things."

"You have success within. It's up to you to bring it out."

"Never mistake activity for achievement."

"Be quick, but don't be in a hurry"

"Bad times can make you bitter or better."

"Bad times can make you bitter or better."

"Talent is God-given; be humble. Fame is man-given; be grateful. Conceit is self-given; be careful."

Coach's Corner with John Thompson

COACH'S CORNER with John Thompson of North Carolina Wesslyan

THE COMMUNITY

Yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with one of our local Kiwanis Clubs. These are always great situations for me because I get a delicious lunch out of it…More importantly, though, is I have a chance to promote our program and build the connection between our basketball program and the community.After having lunch with former Wesleyan history professor a month or so ago, I developed the premise of yesterday’s talk. Dr. David Jones, whom I respect greatly, and I have lunch twice or three times a year. He is an avid basketball fan and so knowledgeable…about everything. I always feel a little bit smarter after I have lunch with him. During the course of our lunch, which ended up being a couple of hours, the subject of teams performance and their practice preparation came up. At one point Dave asked, “Well, what are the three or four core things you try to teach?” I believe he expected shooting, defense and rebounding to be in there somewhere. Ultimately, my answer became yesterday’s Kiwanis Club talk.The 4 C’s…Commitment was number one. Our players must be committed to what they and we as a team are doing. Communication was next. The better job we do of communicating, player to coach, coach to player, and player to player, the better team we will be. The third C is Correct Decision-Making. (We have always discussed decision-making, but added the “correct” because we want the right decisions, good decisions….and the 4 C’s sounded better than the 3C’s and 1D). Ones life is full of decisions. Do you get up when the alarm goes off, or do you roll over and sleep in? Do you shoot a pull-up jumpshot on a 3 on 2 fastbreak, or do you drive to the basket, or instead, pass to a wing? Hundreds of decisions to be made on a daily basis. We want correct decision making. Lastly, we want consistency. We want to know we can count on our players for consistent effort and performance, consistently good effort and performance.When I finished, Dave said, “That’s what most employers want. That’s what most business’s want. That’s what most teachers want from their students. If you ever talk to a Kiwanis Club or something like that, you’ve got your speech right there.” So yesterday I tried it out and know I’ve given it to you. Hope it helps.

MUST READING

As most of you know I like books and I like to read. I like sports, so sports books always interest me. I also like books that somehow make me better, make me smarter. Two books that I have been reading concurrently are: How to be Like Mike (that would be Michael Jordan) and How to be Like Jackie Robinson. These are not biographies and they really aren’t sports books, although they are dealing with sports figures. These books analyze and detail what made these two people great. The things that separate athletes like Jordan and Robinson can help anyone be successful in life. Pat Williams, Senior Vice President of the NBA’s Orlando Magic, is the author of these two fine books. Through countless interviews with coaches, teammates, opponents and others, Mr. Williams gleans the information on what took these stars to unique levels of success on the court, the field, and in life. In no way are they depicted as perfect, but their special qualities are examined and offered as things to be incorporated into our lives as we pursue success. There are three more books in this series that I have not read, however, based on “Mike” and “Jackie,” How to be Like Jesus, How to be Like Walt (Disney), and How to be Like Women of Influence are sure to be outstanding. (Another of his books that I would recommend is Go For The Magic. It is about dreaming and working, attitude and focus, goals and motivation. Check it out).

THE POINT GUARD MUST HAVES – A Baker’s Dozen

1) Knowledge – of the Game, of the Program, of his teammates, of his Coach

2) Leadership Skills

3) Communication Skills – Knowledge, Ability, Willingness, Projection

4) Vision

5) Ball Skills – Passing, Dribbling, Shooting (Scoring)

6) Defensive Pressure

7) Good Decision Making Ability

8) Defensive Breakdown Ability

9) Reasonable Quickness

10) Selflessness

11) Presence-Poise, Confidence

12) Toughness-Emotional, Mental, Physical

13) Positive relationship and bond with coach

PLAYER DEVELOPMENT
Player development is something that is very important in every program and it is here, as well. We work very hard at trying to maximize a players potential. I try to talk with as many coaches and players as I can to get new ideas, new drills, maybe a different way to teach a certain technique. Sometimes these conversations (on occassion they become mini-clinics) cause me to pause and re-evaluate how I am doing something...sometimes they confirm what I already believe. I am convinced that you can always learn, and I try to do that.I also watch a lot of tape. I watch anything and everything: our games, other college teams, NBA games, the USA National Team and instructional videos by any number of coaches. I want to see how we can do things better. We believe in our philosophy and aren't trying to reinvent the wheel; we are trying to make the wheel we have better...trying to make it the best it can be. I also think that when you can introduce new drills or variations of drills, it keeps the players fresh and interested.Below is an example of a shooting drill that a player could do on his own (or with a teammate) between classes or whenever he has a small window of opportunity to get in the gym.

We call this our "20 Minute Workout" and if a player is working hard, shooting at game speed, he can get up 150 shots in that time frame.

1. 30 Shots-10 in front/10 right side/10 left side (1'-2')

2. 20 Layups-10 right-handed/10 left-handed

3. 20 shots-10 outside right block/10 outside left block (get angle and bank)

4. 30 Shots-10 from FT line/10 right elbow/10 left elbow

5. 50 shots-10 each from right/left corners, right/left wings, and the top of the key (all 3's unless a players position or ability mandates otherwise).

THE CHAMPION INSIDE
Adonis "Sporty" Jeralds has spent a career in the sports and entertainment business. Currently working with the Charlotte Bobcats Areana, "Sporty" has a book out that should be in the collection of every player and coach. The Champion in You is a collection of short, easy to read vignettes that provide valuable lessons for life and success. I have given many copies of this book as gifts and this summer I have been re-reading it. To order a book visit www.championinyou.com or call (704) 543-7150. I highly recommend it.
I am a big fan of quotes and themes. We start practices, meetings, shoot-arounds, and other events with a "Thought for the Day." This thought is often a quote from someone far smarter than me. French Renaissance thinker Michel Eyguem De Montaigne said, "I quote others to better express myself." That is precisely the way I feel. Hopefully I can get my point across to the team, but sometimes I may need help. Hearing the words of Larry Bird or Larry Brown, Michael Jordan or Mike Krzyzewski, or even a thought from Aristotle or Thomas Jefferson, sometimes helps the players understand what I am trying to teach. After George Mason's win over UConn, Coach Jim Larranaga used a quote that I love, from William Jennings Bryan: "Destiny...is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved." Hopefully we are all making the right choice and trying to achieve all that we are capable of.

CONSISTENCY

This is an absolutely vital component to the success of any organization. A basketball team is no exception. Great teams are very consistent, in terms of their attitude, their preparation, their effort, and their performance.One of my favorite quotes regarding consistency is: Consistency is better than occasional greatness.It is important that everyone on the team be able to expect a certain level of performance from each other. If a guy gets 25 points and 10 rebounds in a game, that's great. However, if he doesn't score in double figures for the next three games and only gets 4 or 5 rebounds in the same series of games, the 25 and 10 fade in importance. A guy who can get you 18 and 9 every night out is much more valuable. His coach and his teammates know what they can count on when they hit the floor.A consistent approach to the game and consistent effort in practice and in games also leads to steady improvement. This steady improvement helps players and teams grow, and succeed. Joe Paterno, Penn State's iconic football coach, says that performing at a consistently high level is, "...the mark of a true professional." Consistency provides reliability, which leads to trust. When you get to that point you have a chance to flourish.

THE MENTORS
There are many coaches who have assisted me, taught me, guided me, and set an example for me in my career. All coaches are a mix of all of their experiences. They are influenced by everyone they come in contact with. They take something from every coach they play for, or work with, and figure out what works for them in their given situation. In some cases the influence is very evident and in others it is more subtle. I am undoubtedly in debt to a number of coaches who have helped me through the years.This is a small thank you to all of them.Herman Paschal -Durham, NC YMCA He taught me so much about the game playing 2 on 2, 3 on 3, critiquing my summer league games, watching games on TV and just sitting around talking.I was very fortunate to meet him as a seventh grader.John Avery -Jordan High, Durham, NC I had no idea how good a high school coach I had until I got to college. I realized it ten-fold when I became a coach. Coach Avery taught sound fundamentals, great team concepts, and really how to play the game, read situations, and adapt and adjust. A very good teacher and coach.Doug Riley -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC Coach Riley taught me about organization and preparation. Ed Douma -UNCG, Greensboro, NC (now at Hillsdale College-Michigan) Positive feedback and flexibility dependent upon personnel are the top two concepts I learned from Coach Douma. Pete Gaudet -Duke University, Durham, NC (now at Ohio State University) Anyone who ever worked camp at Duke while Pete Gaudet was there knows what I know...every night was a clinic. The once daily coaches meetings covered the station teachings for the following day. No matter what station you taught, you got the information for all stations, and you got it from one of the best teachers in the game. I am so lucky to have started my camp and my coaching career there at that time.Mark Simons -St. Andrews College, Laurinburg, NC (most recently at Elon) Coach Simons gave me a start in this profession. Without making me feel stupid, he showed me how much I had to learn. I realized in that first year how little I really knew about the game and what it took to be a coach.Jack Jensen -Guilford College, Greensboro, NC This NAIA Hall of Famer has won a national championship and coached four players who played in the NBA. In seven years as his assistant I learned so much about the game, teaching, life...He is a tremendous coach, a great friend and has been like a second father to me.Mike Krzyzewski -Duke University, Durham,NC In 1986 Coach K gave me my start by allowing me to work all four weeks of the Duke summer camp. He has supported me throughout my career and I learn something every time I am around him...and I always have. I cannot begin to say enough about how much he has helped me.John Chaney -Temple University, Philadelphia, PA A random phone call landed me at the Chaney/Hill Camp (that's John and Sonny) and thus began a relationship that I am blessed to have. Coach Chaney is an outstanding person, coach, and a kind friend and he has had a tremendous influence on me.To all of the coaches who have touched me and influenced me, thank you. To the gentleman mentioned above, a special thank you for all you have done for me.

SOME GOOD BOOKS
I am a big fan of books and of reading. I consistently give my team reading material. There is always something to learn, some insight to gain, a philosophy to consider, or a technique to evaluate. There is also great enjoyment to be derived from books. Whatever your interest is, there is something out there for you. I am a basketball junkie, so the majority (but not all) of the things in my library are basketball related. Below is a top five countdown…sort of:

5. All-Time Favorites:-

-FOUL! Connie Hawkins by David Wolf

- They Call Me Coach John Wooden (As told to Jack Tobin)

- Values of the Game by Bill Bradley

- Winning is an Attitude A Season in the Life of John Chaney and the Temple Owls by Steve Wartenberg

- The City Game Basketball From the Garden to the Playgrounds byPete Axthelm

4. Leadership Favorites:

- Leading with the Heart by Mike Krzyzewski

- Dr. Jack’s Leadership Lessons from a Lifetime in Basketball by Dr. Jack Ramsey

- Russell Rules Bill Russell (with David Falkner)

- The Winner Within by Pat Riley

FIVE LITTLE THINGS

The following five things may seem small in comparison to shooting or rebounding. However, consistent execution of these five little things can make any player better.

1) Development of both feet. Learn to operate offensively, pivoting off of either foot. We utilize the inside pivot foot (foot closest to the basket) here at Wesleyan. Jumping, jab-stepping, and pivoting off of either foot makes a player hard to guard.

2) Pivot to pass. Don’t get caught flat-footed. Improve the passing angle or increase the window of passing opportunity by using your ability to pivot.

3) Catch and Face. Get in the habit of facing up when receiving the ball. Opportunities to score or to hit open teammates are effectively seized when a player sees the floor. Triple threat position is a key.

4) Play the game low. Whether you are in triple threat position, playing defense, or blocking out for a rebound, this game is played with the knees bent. The more this becomes a habit, the better one can play the game.

5) Communication. Good teams communicate. This is true at all levels and on both offense and defense. The better you communicate the more valuable you are to a team.

Coach K on Win #800

Coach K thanks Bobby Knight
Brett Friedlander

RALEIGH — Mike Krzyzewski’s 800th career coaching victory was barely in the books, but even as he began accepting congratulatory hugs from those he loves most — his players — his mind had already begun racing back to others who helped him reach the milestone.
First, he took a quick glance toward the heavens as a tribute to the late Jim Valvano, a close friend whose former team his Blue Devils beat at the RBC Center on Saturday.
Then the normally stoic Coach K looked directly into the television cameras at courtside, let his guard down and with tears welling in his eyes, waxed poetic about a man whose name isn’t often associated with such warm and fuzzy moments.
“I’d particularly like to thank Coach (Bobby) Knight,” he said. “As a point guard for him for three years, he taught me the game — sometimes in a manner in which I didn’t want to be taught. But I learned it and he’s been a friend and teacher and mentor ever since.”
Chances are, Krzyzewski learned as much about what not to do from watching Knight as he did from following the example of college basketball’s winningest coach.
It’s like when an impetuous father tells his impressionable son to “do as I say, not as I do.” Only in this case, it’s a General providing the sage advice to his favorite young lieutenant.
For all Knight has accomplished in basketball, including a record 902 victories, his professional genius is often obscured by a hair-trigger temper and the boorish behavior it has helped inspire.
No Bobby Lite
Krzyzewski has managed to avoid that same encumbrance by combining many of his old Army coach’s most favorable qualities with a public persona that is much more refined and upbeat.
It’s a combination that has led some national commentators to describe him as Bobby Lite. But that’s not the case.
Because he’s such a substantive, improved version of the original, a more accurate description of the 61-year-old grandfather with the self-deprecating sense of humor and difficult-to-pronounce surname might be Bobby 2K.
“I think if you try to mimic someone’s style, whether it’s great, medium or not-so-good, you’re never going to be truly who you are,” said Krzyzewski, who is on pace to surpass Knight as his sport’s all-time wins leader sometime late in the 2012-13 season or early the following fall. “But you can certainly try to mimic core values — teaching points, preparation the type of kids you want to recruit.”
You can also add discipline, loyalty and an intense, sometimes intensive drive to win to the list.
Other voices heard
Unlike Knight, though, Krzyzewski hasn’t become so intoxicated by power or blinded by praise that he has lost the ability to adjust or even listen to the advice of others.
It is inconceivable that the dictatorial Knight would let anyone’s voice but his own be heard in the huddle during a time out late in a close game.
And yet, as Duke struggled to rally from a 13-point half deficit with history in the balance against State, that’s exactly what Krzyzewski did when he stepped back and allowed his players to come up with their own solution for the problem at hand.
“Every once in a while, they don’t hear you or they don’t feel what you’re saying,” Coach K said. “Teams become really good when they talk to each other. What happens is that they take ownership (of the situation).”
That’s not to say Coach K is always so player-friendly.
There are times when his point is driven home more effectively when served with a side order of tough love.
Through the years, he’s resorted to stripping his team’s locker room of all its creature comforts, using colorful language to challenge somebody’s manhood and splicing together elaborate video loops highlighting a player’s mistakes to be shown in front of the entire team.
He might even have thrown a chair or gotten a little too up close and personal in a player’s face to get his point across. But if he has, he’s smart enough to have done it behind closed doors in the privacy of his own practice rather than on national television for all to see.
“Coach has taught me so much and made me both a better player and a better man,” That’s the way you want it,” Blue Devil senior captain DeMarcus Nelson said. “You don’t want somebody who is going to pat you on the back all the time and tell you what you want to hear. You need somebody to discipline you and tell you what you don’t want to hear.”
You can say that Krzyzewski sometimes teaches the game in a manner in which his players don’t want to be taught, which could explain the transfers of numerous McDonald’s All-Americans including Mike Chappell, Chris Burgess, Joey Beard, Michael Thompson and Eric Boateng.
The reward for those who stay, though, is much greater than just basketball knowledge.
As was the case with Krzyzewski at Army, they come away with a friend, a teacher and a beloved mentor they can count on for the rest of their lives.

"Why I Coach..."

As I lay awake last night, disappointed and questioning our loss, our record, our team and their inability to be enthusiastic, I continued to reflect on one thaught...Why do I coach?

There are many different reasons people take on the great committment of coaching our young athletes. Some might say they do it because they love the sport. If that was the case for me, I would be sharing my love for the sport with my friends and former teammates every Tuesday evening, playing pick-up at our local rec center. I play every day at lunch time because I love the sport, but I coach basketball because it's my passion. Everybody is passionate about something in life, whether it's hunting, fly fishing or playing golf. For me, my passion is coaching basketball. I love to read about it, write about it, watch videos about it and talk about it.

My passion for coaching basketball started when I became the point guard for Windber and then later selected as my team's co-captain during my senior year. As a point guard at Windber, expectations and responsibilities were high demanding. I had to become the floor general, the communicator, the extension of the coach...I had to become a leader on and off the floor for my teammates. When something broke down or was not communicated on or off the floor, it was my fault. This was a honor that I took very seriously, and with the coaching and teaching from my coaches, I learned to become passionate about leading others which eventually turned into a passion for coaching young athletes. Following my playing days, I was offered my first volunteer position as an assistant junior high coach. Even as a volunteer, with my commitment being limited to holiday breaks and weekends, it was something that I took very seriously and became very passionate about. I began to listen to coaches post game news conferences, read books, watch videos and even analyze plays while watching college basketball games. For me, I no longer sat down to watch a college or high school basketball game for pure enjoyment, my enjoyment came from analyzing and picking up plays, strategies and philosophies from other coaches.

Following graduation from college, I was unsure about alot of things...job, money, paying bills, etc. But I was sure of one thing, which was that I wanted to get into coaching basketball. It was something that was taught to me by my father, who also was a long time coach, it was called taking the knowledge that you have and opportunities that you experienced and paying it forward. I will never forget one of the last conversations my father and I had before he passed away, as I remember it like yesterday. We were at a local high school football game, suprisingly he didnt have any football games to referee himself that night, so we decided to take in a local game between two rivalries. As we stood along side the field watching the game, Lance Loya, who is now the head men's coach at Mount Aloysius College, came to me and offered me an assistant varsity coach position at Berlin High School. Immediately I began to smile. Here I was a young recent college grad, in search of an opportunity to get into coaching. After our conversation I turned to my dad to explain what had just been offered to me with excitement. However, an important lesson was about to be taught to me. My father, who cared for Windber athletics as much as he cared for his family and friends, spoke in his soft gently voice of concern..."what has Berlin basketball ever done for you?" At first I didnt understand, why is he not supporting me with this, why is he not excited for me? He later explained on the drive home from the game that he felt I needed to look for an opportunity to coach basketball at Windber, where lessons in pride, commitment, teamwork and hardwork were taught to me. It then hit me...I want to coach because I want the kids from Windber to experience the same things that I was able to experience, the memories, the summer workouts, the pre-season open gyms, the Rotary Tournaments, the district playoffs, the state playoffs, the proud community support, all the great things about being apart of such a great tradition, all the great things about being a WINDBER BASKETBALL PLAYER!

Not long after that important discussion with my father, he unexpectedly passed away. This also happened to be the same time that I was offered my first coaching position at Windber. Saddened by the loss of my father, I would later find out that my father knew about the position at Windber even before I did. This is another reason why I have such a passion to coach. One of the final lessons taught to me by my father turned out to be the last thing that my father would know me as doing...sharing my experiences and paying my lessons and knowledge learned forward so that others can experience the same.

As I have learned through my experiences through the passed 6 years in coaching, there are many more important reasons for my passion for coaching. One of the these reasons is to watch young athletes grow in many ways, grow athletically, personally, academically and grow in character. As a coach one the most rewarding things for me is watching an individual or group of individuals reach their potential. So, as we are faced with adversity and times of unsureness and weakness, we have to remember that life is about choices. We cannot control the past, we cannot control our previous losses, we cannont control our previous mistakes, we cannot control our missed opportunities. We can, however, choose our attitude, choose our energy, choose our work ethic, choose our commitment, choose to learn, choose to take on the opportunities that present themselves with enthusiasm and choose to make best of what is available. I choose to continue to coach with passion, teach lessons that I have learned and push athletes towards reaching their potential, even if that potential is not reached until the final buzzer sounds.

Legendary High School Basketball Coach, Bob Hurley

On defense at St. Anthony's
By Jill Lieber, USA TODAY
JERSEY CITY — Bob Hurley is a giver. As head basketball coach at St. Anthony's High School the past 31 years, he has given 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year to aspiring students from the downtrodden, drug-infested neighborhoods of this city.
Basketball star Terrence Roberts rests inside decrepit St. Anthony's gym. The wall behind him is rotten and falling apart.
He has given as a coach, teacher, father figure, advisor, mentor and friend.
He has nurtured his players with love and nourished them with meals. He has carted them to and from practice and found them jobs. His wife, Chris, has tutored them and prepared them for their SATs. The Hurleys have hauled them to tournaments in California, Hawaii and Florida and taken them on family vacations to their house on the Jersey Shore.
And when his players have been hassled, stabbed or shot at, Hurley has vehemently protected them, standing up to the gang members in the projects.
Now the time has come for Hurley to switch roles, and he's in quite a quandary. Because of a decrease in charitable donations since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, St. Anthony's has fallen into such dire financial straits that it will probably be forced to close at the end of this school year.
"St. Anthony's is a value center in that community," says Duke men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, who lists Hurley's oldest son, Bobby, among his prized pupils. "To remove that, you stand to risk losing the worst you can lose, a place kids learn to play together, to be honest people. That would be such a shame."
After saving hundreds of lives, Hurley has no clue how he's going to save the tiny, yellow brick school on Eighth Street.
"I'm very uncomfortable asking for help," he says. "I've never done it, and I don't know who to ask. Who is my potential audience? Do I say, 'These are good kids who grow up to become productive adults?' I'm happy with that, but is it enough for a potential donor?"
Being in a financial crisis is nothing new for St. Anthony's. Founded in 1952, it was the parish school of the Polish Catholic church five blocks up the street. "Konfesjonal" is still embossed on the confessional booths, but most of the congregation has moved on, a result of "white flight" in the late '70s and early '80s. The dying parish declared St. Anthony's an "independent" school, which eliminated the church from any financial obligation.
By 1991, the school was on the verge of shutting down. St. Anthony's now has a $1.6 million annual operating budget. But because of a steadily declining enrollment, and the school's inability to raise tuition because students can barely pay as is, the school needs at least $500,000 a year to remain up and running. A board of trustees was formed to raise the money each year.
"And every year it's a survival test," says Sister Felicia, the school's principal.
Dual-career track
Although he's too humble to do so, Hurley, 55, probably ought to tell potential donors his story, because that unique little school, and that legendary basketball program, truly are his heart and soul. He's Jersey City, through and through. Born in the Greenville section, in the southern part of the city. Raised in St. Paul's parish. His father a Jersey City cop. His wife a Jersey City girl, from neighboring Sacred Heart parish.
During his sophomore year at local St. Peter's College, Hurley realized he wasn't in the Peacocks' plans, so he walked off the varsity basketball team and right into a volunteer job coaching a CYO grammar school team in his parish. Although he'd wanted to be a teacher, a substitute stint after graduation turned him off. His father suggested he apply as a probation officer, and he held that post for 30 years until retiring last July. He now heads the city's department of recreation.
Coaching, Hurley says, is his avocation, his salvation.
"After working 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., supervising men on probation, poor souls who made bad decisions and wound up with no education and criminal records, I'd be wigged out," he says. "Then, I'd open the gym in the late afternoons, have kids from the same neighborhoods, but see they've got tremendous potential as people. There, I could make an important, lasting impact."
His youngest son, Danny, a former Seton Hall star who's now the head coach at St. Benedict's Prep in Newark, says his father's greatest gift is his ability to "penetrate the hardest hearts and the stiffest souls," a talent put to the test in the probation department and in coaching.
"He has an innate feel for kids and what they can do," Danny says. "He knows how to make the most out of what others see as seemingly very little."
Over the years, Hurley has built the Friars into a national powerhouse, and himself into a mythical figure in basketball, amassing a 755-86 record. His teams won 23 state championships, one shy of tying the national record held by Cheyenne (Wyo.) Central.
He makes $6,500 at St. Anthony's but ends up spending more than that on basketballs, Gatorade, water, pizzas, Quarter Pounders and anything else that fuels teenage boys. He regularly donates money to St. Anthony's from his speaking engagements and basketball camps.
Because the school has no gym, the Friars practiced at 25 facilities, the main site at the White Eagle Bingo Hall on Newark Avenue. Hurley renovated the joint, refinishing the basketball court and building a weight room in the basement.
The Friars have played "home" games in nine gyms, including the Jersey City Armory, where Hurley also constructed a court and put up a scoreboard. The team currently plays "home" games at the Golden Door Charter School, across the street from St. Anthony's.
His house is their house
All but one of Hurley's players have gone onto college. Five have played in the NBA, including his son, Bobby, an All-America guard at Duke. Two others are playing Major League Baseball: John Valentin of the New York Mets and Willie Banks of the Boston Red Sox. A dozen have become coaches. Three dozen work with at-risk, inner-city youth, teenagers and adults.
Hurley has inspired the faculty and student body to strive for excellence, too. Although 60% of students come from families living below the federal poverty line of about $15,000 a year, every graduate has been accepted to college each of the past 10 years. Last year's valedictorian, Joshua Madrid, who played basketball on the freshman and junior varsity teams, is now at Dartmouth. His parents are laborers who speak little English.
"We really have a place that's almost too good to be true in the way people care about kids," says Sister Alan, the school's athletic director. "You warm to these kids. You love them. St. Anthony's is a place you give your heart to."
It has often been said that kids don't play for Hurley, they enlist. A strict disciplinarian, Hurley demands total commitment. They attend study halls before practice, train all year and live by a narrow set of rules. But in return, the Hurleys are even more committed, embracing their players as family, showering them with unconditional love and support.
"Melissa has been to every game," Chris says of their 21-year-old daughter. "She started going when she was two months old. Bob would take Bobby and Danny to practice to give me a break, and they'd fall asleep on a bed made out of the players' coats."
Just the thought of the school closing has ripped people's hearts out. "Coach Hurley and the St. Anthony's program have been one of the few, if not only, pathways of light to getting out to areas of opportunity," says former Notre Dame star David Rivers, an '84 St. Anthony's graduate. "It's a place rich with discipline, tradition and honor. It prepared me for life. It would be a tragedy, a devastation to Jersey City, if St. Anthony's closes."

Missed Opportunities

We definitely are going to look back at last night's game with Shade and think about missed opportunities...we missed free throw opportunities, offensive opportunities and defensive opportunities. Most importantly we missed an opportunity to send a huge message to the rest of the West PAC last night with our loss to Shade 63-59.

No Need to Worry...Yet!
Even with the missed opportunities last night, there is still no need to worry about the direction that our season is heading. Once again, I stress that the win/ loss column does not indicate success! I am still extremely excited about how we are continuing to improve as both individuals and as a team. We continue to see positive things out of each and every game. One, we showed again that we have the capability of coming back from a 10 point deficit. Secondly, we showed last night that we are capable of going on the road to play a very good team and performing well. Our shooting is improving with each game and we continue to have guys step up and take shots and make shots in key situations. Our decision making on the court and ball handling is getting better, too.

A Tale of Two Halves
There is a famous saying from Coach Charney that there are 'four quarters to a basketball game'. He is absolutely right. We outplayed Shade last night for about 2 1/2 quarters, outscoring them in the 2nd half to cut their 10 point lead to take a 1 point lead in the 4th quarter. However, missed opportunities at the foul line and our defense did us in at the end. We also learned last night how important it is to get stops on defense, especially in critical times. So, we have showed that we can step up on offense at key times and make baskets, now we must be able to show that we can step up defensively at key times and get stops! We must, however, not take anything away from Shade. Their effort and preperation was excellent, especially on offense. They were disciplined on offense, handled our pressure, set good screens and stuck to their offense and worked for a good shot. Most importantly, they made their free-throws down the stretch by making 10-12 from the line in the 4th quarter, when it mattered most. There is a reason they are undefeated! They have a well balanced team with quality guards and strong post players. We are all starting to understand and see why we are getting beat, now we will have an opportunity to take advantage of a 10 day layoff to dive into the details and really work on some of the most important things.

Attitude is Everything!
Certainly, it is disappointing every time you lose because you go into every game expecting to win and compete at a high level, it does not matter if you are playing Meyersdale, Shade or George Jr. Republic...YOU ALWAYS EXPECT TO WIN! I am still excited with the direction we are heading. We must continue to improve each and every day and learn from each game. We must continue to work hard on our defensive positioning, communication and intensity. Offensively, we need to work on going strong to the basket, drawing contact and getting to the free throw line. Our attitude, togetherness, pride and desire to compete each and every day will determine the outcome of our season. We need to approach each and every practice and game with focus, energy and intesity. I am still excited to find out what we will improve on today!

One Under the Belt!

After the snow and ice cleared, all that was left was a well deserved win on Friday night against Meyersdale. Just when you think the program is experiencing difficult times, you face a team like Meyersdale! Give credit to the Meyersdale players and staff for continuing to coach and play hard! When you experience success like our program has experienced over the last 30 years, sometimes winning is taken forgranted, until you lose a few in a row and then that hunger for victory is restored!

Well, the hunger was restored on Friday night as we beat a Meyersdale basketball team who was not very good. Yes, we should have beat a team like that by 20+ points. However, there were still some very good things done. One, Blake Henger finally stepped in to take a charge! Secondly, our press was impressive and it had nothing to do with Meyersdale's inability to handle the basketball, but it had everything to do with us playing with alot of energy and intensity and being in the right positions. It does not matter if you are playing the best team in the state or the worst team in the state, when you play with energy and you are in the right positions, good things are going to happen. The energy was great, hopefully the couple days rest paid off. Now, we must continue to improve each day and forge ahead. Continue to practice and play with poise, focus and a sense of purpose! Prepare like a Champion! Shade has no idea what they are in for! What will we improve on today?

Ohhh and Four!

The Bad News...
Okay...so we definitely did not get off to the start that we had hoped for. The bottomline is that we can very easily be 3-1 instead of 0-4 right now. However, despite shooting a dismal 20% from the field against Richland, 22 turnovers against Westmont and giving up 29 points to Somerset in the 3rd quarter, we have had many bright spots in the first four games with some bad breaks. When you start the season 0-3 or 0-4 you start to question alot of things...normally. However, in this case when you factor in the amount of bad "breaks" that we have had, we feel pretty positive in the direction we are heading.
First, we get word at the beginning of December that we will be without our returning leading scorer and best defender from last year, Mike Webb. Then our starting point-guard and returning letterman, Taylor Keiper goes down with a sprained ankle against Westmont. During the very next game, our best outside shooter and 6th man freakishly gets kneed in the stomach, resulting in a hospital visit and bruised kidney. Ohhh, then you throw 2 players with stiches above thier eyes into the mix as well. What do you get...2 bum ankles, 2 bloody eyes and one bruised kidney!

On a more serious note, our basketball program revolves around several key personalities: precise patterns on offense which demands crisp passing and screening with judicious shot selection. It relys on position defense, that commits few fouls, and most importantly masters all those little things better known as fundamentals, discipline and teamwork. Over the past 30 years, those traits have turned our program into one of the areas elite programs.
We have yet to find not only the win column, but we have yet to find our poise. In our first four games, we have tossed the ball away too many times, looked on defense as if our feet were nailed to the hardwood, been out rebounded and consistentantly been inconsistant! There are many other issues that need to be addressed by the time the West PAC conference scheduled begins in January, but many of the issues are centered around one single fact. Our team is not yet as disciplined and fundamentally sound as it needs to be. The solution...more focused practice time. The repetition in practice is critical in teaching our young players how to play the game correctly.

The Good News...
The good news is that we will get healthy. The good news is that we are learning. The good news is that we are gaining experience. The good news is that we are still hungry for success. The good news is that we will have an opportunity to rest and become re-energized before the Rotary Tournament. The good news is that we are getting significant contributions from players unexpectedly. This however is bad news for the rest of the West PAC Conference and District. It will take some time, but these players will grow up, be fun to watch and be competitive! The scoreboard does not determine overall success.
The truth is that we have shown signs of becoming a great team. We have outplayed two of the top teams in the Laurel Highlands in Westmont and Somerset. Westmont, who lost by 2 points to the top single A team in the state (Kennedy Catholic), was on the ropes in the first half against us. Coach Roman's commented as we were jogging off the War Memorial floor, "Windber's jogging off and we are walking off...that's the story of the first half!" We are still holding teams to under 50 points defensively and our shooting on offense is starting to improve. The turnovers need to come down, preferably to what we had against Richland (12). But, our players are stepping up with great courage, especially Blake Henger who made his starting line-up debut by pouring in 14 points against Somerset. You can't forget about Chad Garlena's efforts against Richland, after being cut above the eye early in the JV game, he sprints the length of the floor to take a charge during the varsity game. If that is not an example of a "Rambler basketball player", then I must be from Township! Each and every day, I come to practice or games, not concerned, not down, not frustrated...but filled with excitement! I look forward to seeing what will come together today, what will we improve on today?

Our Identity...Play hard, Play smart, Play together, Play with Pride!
Maybe it is that our team identity is that we are a close knit, blue collared team full of pride, who plays hard, sometimes too hard, is most times under sized, out manned and out talented, but makes no excuses! Wait...isn't that always a Windber basketball team's identity? Play hard. Play smart. Play together. Play with pride!

Have we had some tough games with some tough breaks to start off the 2007-08 season? Yes, indeed we have experienced some adversity in playing some top local talents while missing some key players. Have we been undersized and out numbered in a few of our games? Yes. But, we refuse to make or except any excuses. We still must prepare to practice and play like champions through focus, discipline, determination and preparation. If we can do that, then we will make a habit of playing like champions. And, if you have the habits of a champion, then you will eventually become a champion! This segment of the season will make us better players, better coaches, but most importantly, it will make us better people!