WHY ARE EASY LAY UPS SO IMPORTANT?

With the score tied at 53-53 and only 20.8 seconds left on the clock, the unthinkable happens... the winner of this game moves on to the 2010 Final Four.

The easy shots must be made!

BACK WHEN 39-0 SEEMED IMPRESSIVE

Since 1995, the Uconn Huskies have captured six NCAA titles and are riding a two-year winning streak (75 games), trampling opponents by an average of 35 points a game. That makes them, arguably, the most dominant team in any American sport.

On Tuesday, the Huskies face Florida State in a regional final of the NCAA Tournament, just three wins shy of another title. They are nearing a hallowed record: The 88 straight victories the UCLA men achieved under Coach John Wooden.

When coach Geno Auriemma first arrived at Uconn, he told that first team "I'm not here to coach girls' basketball, uou're not going to play like girls. . . . you're going to play like basketball players."

The new guy established a merciless routine, his athletes practicing the same pick-and-roll, the same defensive switch over and over. Starters had to play short-handed in scrimmages, matching up four against six. "The situations we're put in seem impossible," current center Tina Charles said. "When we get into games, it's five-on-five and it's easy."

The word "perfection" gets used a lot around UConn, but not in terms of wins and losses. The Huskies think smaller. They are meticulous about each offensive possession; on defense, they're intent on stopping their opponent every time down the floor.

The team likes to quote football coach Vince Lombardi: "If we chase perfection, we can catch excellence."

(Thanks David Wharton, LA Times)

THE HIGH FIVE TOUCH EFFECT

Via Coach Eric Musselman comes a piece of an article from Mike Ganter of the Toronto Sun about a common denominator of good teams and players that care:

It was only after it was explained to Chris Bosh that the touchiness was referring to his penchant for high fiving teammates or making some physical connection of congratulations after a free throw or good play that Bosh caught on.

“Oh yeah, I’m a big fan of the high five,” a relieved Bosh said. “It’s a little thing, but even coming out of games I try to give everybody on the bench a high five because it keeps everyone in the game ... High fives are cool. It’s fun.”

The study, which was referenced in a recent New York Times article, showed Bosh and Boston’s Kevin Garnett touch their teammates more than any other player in the NBA and that “with few exceptions, good teams tended to be touchier than bad ones."

(Thanks Coach Starkey)

WHEN DID GREAT BEGIN?

At the end of the 1983 season, his third as Duke's coach, the Blue Devils were wrapping up a less-than-mediocre year. They were headed to the ACC Tournament where they had to face No. 2 ranked Virginia in the first round.

Duke didn't just get beat -- they got pummeled. The final score was 109-66, the worst loss the Blue Devils had ever suffered in the ACC tournament.

The next fall, Coach K welcomed his team back at the start of the basketball season. At that first practice, he walked them on to the court and above their heads, in bright red, the scoreboard was lit with the numbers 109-66, reminding them of the last game from the previous season.

Their coach wanted his players to remember how badly they had been beaten, and wanted them to remember how much it hurt. He started off a new season by remembering the pain of the previous one's ending.

Coach K will tell you that the moment when he went from good to Great wasn't in a championship game. That moment came in... a loss. And it was not just any loss, but one of the worst in his career. That painful moment was one he wanted to make personal for each and every one of his players. He made sure they remembered how much losing hurt and, by making that loss personal, made sure they would work overtime to never experience that feeling again.

Duke used that loss as the catalyst for becoming one of the most storied dynasty's in college basketball.

4:13

(Thanks Don Yaeger)

FRESH KICKS

Okay I figured I'd drop something on the new Jordan's and then realized that I couldn't ignore the new Kobe's...

Liz just bought a pair and she says they rock!

LOVE 'EM OR HATE 'EM

We haven't sported team J's since the '08 season when the J22's were a letdown following the awesome J21's. After sporting the very disappointing LeBron 3's this season... is it time to rekindle the J romance?

The new Jordan 2010 is either a "love it" or "hate it" shoe.

USE YOUR TIME WISELY

"Rowing harder doesn't help if the boat is headed in the wrong direction."

- Kenichi Ohmae

Players often use just as much time and just as much energy doing something the wrong way as they would if they were doing it correctly. Use your practice time wisely by going "in the right direction."

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ONE WAY TO MAKE YOUR COACH LOVE YOU

Communicate not with words, but with actions, that you are engaged and present at all times.

You see, there is a major flaw in the education system. We teach people how to read, write, and now, type. Unfortunately, we are missing a key piece in relation to communication: body language and gestures.

You might communicate with words that you want to be at practice, and you have a desire to improve. However, most athletes are unaware of their body language. Wavering stances, constant twirling of the basketball, and unfocused eye contact communicate the opposite.

Your gestures are a giveaway to what you really mean. Change it! Stand tall, if you're holding a ball, keep the ball at your hip, and be an active listener with great eye contact, adding in a few head nods if you want your coach to really believe you are present and engaged.

(Thanks Lyndsey Fennelly)

WEBSITE UPDATE

The updates to the website for the 2010 Ready Camp should be complete by the weekend. The Session dates are shown here (click pic).

START NOW...

On a wall in the office of a huge tree farm hangs a sign. It says, “The best time to plant a tree is twenty-five years ago. The second best time is today.” There is no time like the present to become an expert at your craft.

Average players spend the off-season having fun. Great players spend the off-season preparing for the regular season, which is how they become great.

Make no mistake, great players are made in the off-season.

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(Thanks John Maxwell)

READY CAMP DATES SET

We will be hosting two sessions of the Ready Camp this summer.

A few thoughts on toughness...

Mental toughness is the ability to handle problems and pressures without panic or surrender, to overcome negative emotions, and to rebound from disappointment, disruptive change, illness, or misfortune without being overwhelmed or acting in dysfunctional ways.

Physical toughness is derived from mental toughness. I don’t believe you can be physically tough if you are not mentally tough first because your mind will break your body down (“As you think so shall you be.” — William James).

You may be strong, but not tough. Physical toughness comes from the mind’s ability to stop negative thoughts from creeping in (fear, doubt, worry); this allows you to push yourself to limits that were previously considered uncomfortable by your body’s standard.

(Thanks Coach Czes)

"If you greatly desire something, have the guts to stake everything on obtaining it.”

- Brendan Francis

DID YOU KNOW IT WAS THAT IMPORTANT?

Other than shot selection, the factor that makes the most difference in the game of basketball is shooting percentage.

How much of a difference does shooting percentage actually make?

Although it makes sense that teams that shoot at a higher percentage give themselves a tremendous advantage but check this out...

Let's look at a statistical scenario: How many two-point shots are needed to make 78 points?

Well, you'll need to make 39 two-pointers. If your team shoots 40%, then you'll have to generate about 98 two-point attempts. But suppose your team shoots only 30% from the field. For two-pointers, you will now need to generate 130 shot attempts to reach 78 points - That's 32 more attempts than you needed with the team shooting at 40%!

A very small improvement in shooting percentage will win more games!

As you can easily see, if your team's shooting percentage falls by 10%, then the team will have to increase rebounds or forced turnovers dramatically to reach the same point total. Obviously, shooting at a higher percentage makes winning easier.

That is why it is so important to work on your shot during the Summer and not once the season begins.

(Thanks Breakthrough Basketball)

"It's about ownership -- players taking charge and assuming responsibility for their own destiny. Any coach wants players who obsess about winning."

- Tom Izzo, Michigan State

LEASED BY MANY... OWNED BY NONE

Poise is an emotional peace which is seemingly inconsistent with the challenge at hand. Poise is developed over time rather than learned. Poise allows practice to render the expected results. Poise is nearly invisible at its strongest, but obvious to all when absent.

Poise does not improve our physical skill, but rather is the state of mind with which the performance is rendered. Poise is understood by few. Poise is leased by many, but owned by none. Poise is relative. Everybody has a little, but few have enough.

Poise is not always passive. Poise is ready to fight, but always within the rules. Poise allows us the ability to remain focused on our objective rather than aimlessly gazing at distractions. As out temptation to become distracted intensifies, out needed amount of poise increases.

It impossible to have too much poise.

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(Thanks Coaching Toolbox)

THE IVAN BROTHERS RULE! ;)

NEW KICKS

Nike will unveil its next ‘Hyper’ sneaker, the Zoom Hyperfuse, later this year.

Although the Hyperize, Hyperdunk and the Hypermax all possess the ever-so-popular flywire attributes, the upcoming Nike Zoom Hyperfuse contains the newly-developed Torch technology. With that said, the Zoom Hyperfuse has the potential to be the lightest basketball shoe ever.

WHO IS OUR GLUE GIRL?

A Glue Girl is hard to define but easy to spot.

You certainly won't pick her out by reading the stat sheet. She's the girl who sets screens, dives for loose balls and makes the extra pass.

She embraces the chance to defend the opponent's best player and doesn't complain that she's not getting enough shots.

She is a leader and a good teammate. She has an unusual combination of skills, like a big who can shoot or a guard who gets rebounds.

And lest you think that naming someone a Glue Girl is throwing faint praise on her, she also demonstrates at times that she could be a featured performer if called upon.

Why does she suppress those abilities? Because that's what her team needs, and it's a Glue Girl's job to hold everything together.

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(Thanks Seth Davis)

WANT BETTER FT's?

One of the easiest things to work on over the Summer is FT's. Yet few players take the time to do so and it usually shows during the regular season. Whether it's at the gym or in your driveway, try and shoot 25 made FT's a day this summer and watch your FT% skyrocket.

Think deep

Don’t focus on just clearing the lip of the hoop. Aim about four inches past the center of it so the ball ends up a couple of inches from the back of the rim.

Get high

Shooting from a low position will make you chuck the ball, increasing potential for error. Release the ball as far from the ground as you comfortably can. But don't jump, as this is harder to practice in exactly the same way every time. A free throw is taken from a standing position.

Rainbow it

You want a gentle arc, launched at a about a 50-degree angle. At the peak of its trajectory, the ball should be about 2 inches below the top of the backboard.

Arc is in the knees

Bending your knees, crouching slightly before you shoot, and then using the knees as fluid springs to launch your shot gives your shot the consistent gentle arc. Adjust your knee springs to increase or decrease distance and to perfect the arc of your shot.

Control the orbit

Backspin is your friend. To deaden the rock on impact, go for about three full revolutions.

The shooting hand

On your shooting hand, try using the index and middle finger spread across the center back of the ball. These two fingers are the last contact with the ball as it leaves the hand. This allows a more consistent launch and left-right aim. Bring the ball up near your nose and sight between the two fingers over the ball. Whether you use two or three fingers, or have more palm launch, find what works for you, and then be conscious of this and consistent.

(Thanks e-wiki)

YOU CREATE YOUR TOMORROW TODAY

Each day is an opportunity for you to create a great tomorrow for yourself. Don't allow it to slip away. Seize it - grab it & make the most of it!

You can’t expect to be successful tomorrow if you haven’t paid the price of success today.

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POST PLAYERS - THE BIG FOUR

Four things that successful post players look to do:
1) Low Body Balance
..... --Straight head moves (medium- low- lateral)
..... --Post player get lower and lower every move you make
2) Be compact with your game because you can be more explosive

3) Economy of motion
4) Tight with your game

(Thanks Coach Starkey)

Take the 44-Minute Challenge

In order for us to continue taking this program to the next level, each player must improve their PERSONAL MOTIVATION.

In life, if you want to be successful at anything you do, you must put in the time and effort to hone your skills and give yourself the confidence to perform when it counts. The more you push yourself to work when no one is watching, on days you dont really feel like doing it, and without someone prodding you, the more pride you will take in your achievements.

From now until the day school starts, can you commit to 44 minutes a day? Why 44 minutes, you ask? There are 1,440 minutes in every day. 44 minutes represents a mere 5% of that day and is a small investment that will pay huge dividends. Even if you take into account that the average American teenager sleeps for 9.4 hours (564 minutes) during the Summer, there are still 876 minutes in your conscious day, and it takes is 5% of that day.

Ask yourself if taking 5% of your waking day in order to prepare yourself to be a great player and teammate is worth it. Well is it?

(Thanks Coach Czes)

YOU CAN'T MICROWAVE YOUR GAME

A day without learning is a day without living. Learning is an incremental process. No matter what the subject, you must first learn the fundamentals, putting in long hours to master the basics.

You have to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and divide before you can move on to quantum physics. An art student doesn’t sit down behind the canvas on the first day of class and say, “Show me how Rembrandt did it,” and a first-year writing student can’t expect to pen a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel in one sitting.

Only after you’ve mastered the fundamentals can you take the next step, and the next, and the next, progressing until you have reached your goal. All talented individuals develop their talents over long periods of time, and I was no different.

From "Wins, Losses, and Lessons" by Lou Holtz

DO YOU OWN YOUR TEAMMATES?

When talking with players from other teams and asking how their season went, the vast majority of them tell me how their coach isn't very good or how their teammates don't care.

How no one is as committed as they are. How their bigs won't rebound or how their point guard won't pass to them. How their team doesn't emphasize defense.... the excuses go on forever.

Then I ask the million dollar question... "what did you do in practice everyday to change the situation?"

What most fail to realize is that you must take ownership of your team. You are responsible for every practice and every drill.

Special players will not allow a teammate to do something incorrect over and over again throughout the season. Leaders that take ownership, usually end up as champions.

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(Thanks Tyler Coston)

REGRET

"Regret for wasted time... is wasted time." - Mason Cooley

Don't spend your time regretting what you didn't accomplish. Instead, set a goal and then make a comittment to accomplish your goal.

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LEA UPDATE

It doesn't matter where you play... what matters is why you play.

Lea's doing fine after her surgery (on Tuesday) and my guess is, that although she's probably not looking forward to physical therapy, she is looking forward to getting back onto the court with her teammates.

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THE ONE SECOND ADVANTAGE

As basketball players we should always try to gain a one second advantage. We can do so by using screens, moving on penetration, moving defenders with fakes, etc. Often that one second advantage is the difference between getting a great shot and having a shot contested or coming up with an empty possession and not even getting a shot off at all.

While it's important to create that one second advantage, it's equally as important to maintain it. The following are some habits that cause players to lose their one second advantage:

• where a one second advantage is created by moving a defender with a jab fake; and losing it by driving wide around the defender allowing the defender to recover

• catching a pass with straight legs, then forces the player to have to bend down to load for the shot (which takes one second); and losing their one second advantage for that open shot

• off the ball, standing still on penetration and therefore not gaining the one second advantage from the space or separation that's created when the helping defender hedges to slow down that penetration

(Thanks Coach Mike MacKay, Manager of Coach Education and Development for Canada Basketball and Chad Songy)

Courage to Try Something New

As a leader, you must have the courage to forge ahead with no clear path, only your faith in the mission. Leaders are similar to ice breaking ships in that they must breakthrough challenges and obstacles in trying to lead their team to explore unchartered territory.

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IS YOUR FIRE LIT?

Motivation is what starts the fire. Commitment to improving and turning your actions into habit is what keeps it burning.

Think about the player you want to be when you step onto the court for the first game next season. To become that player, you must prepare by making a commitment to productive practice. Productive practice means working on the specific areas of your game that need to improve.

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WHAT LEADERS DO...

1. Leaders relentlessly upgrade their team using every encounter as an opportunity to evaluate, coach, and build self-confidence... NOT constantly tear their teammates down.

2. Leaders make sure people not only see the vision, they live and breath it.

3. Leaders get into everyone’s skin, exuding positive energy and optimism.

4. Leaders establish trust with candor, transparency, and credit.

5. Leaders have the courage to make unpopular decisions and gut calls.

6. Leaders probe and push with a curiosity that borders on skepticism, making sure their questions are answered with action.

7. Leaders inspire risk taking and learning by setting the example.

8. Leaders celebrate.

From the book "Winning" by Jack Welch with Suzie Welch

DO YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LEAD?

Leadership can be thought of as an ongoing series of decisions and actions that require large and small amounts of courage. Because you must summon your own courage and that of your followers on a daily basis.

Courage to Put Yourself Out There

If you want to be a leader, you must be willing to stand for something. You must go out on a limb and profess and practice your belief in someone, something, and/or some cause. Rather than sitting idly by and doing nothing, leadership demands that you put yourself out there to be a passionate advocate for whatever it is you are supporting or defending. When you extend yourself, you must be prepared and courageous enough to take shots and criticism from those who do not support you or your cause.

"Leadership is a choice. It is the choice not to do nothing." Seth Godin

What are you willing to stand for?

(Thanks Jeff Janssen, Janssen Sports Leadership Center)

WINNERS DON'T USE THE WORD 'QUIT'

"If the word quit is part of your vocabulary, then the word finish is likely not."

- B.J. Jett