Few people in the country get to see as many college basketball games each year as television sportscaster Jimmy Dykes. Before getting into broadcasting Dykes was an assistant coach at several major college programs including Kentucky, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State and so he definitely knows his basketball. The following are some his thoughts on the game:

1. Coaches want ‘everyday’ players. (Play hard every possession, Go to class every day, Do the right thing all of the time)

2. Coaches must look at themselves first after game. (What did I not get done to prepare?)

3. If you are not tough, you will not win consistently!  (Get loose balls, Refuse to get screened, Don’t let one mistake compound)

4. If you can’t talk it – You can’t execute it.

5. You must score consistently from these three areas: 1. Free Throw line 2. Around the basket 3. Open shots

6. Quality of our shots vs. quality of our opponent’s shots determines Wins vs. Losses

7. Cut with a purpose. Cut like you are going to get the ball!

8. Must shoot 30% or better from the 3-point line. (Shot selection, Who is taking the shots?)

9. It’s not the number of plays you run, it’s how well you run them that matters. (Execution is everything!)

10. Great players embrace contact and get through it. They make plays regardless.

11. Protect against straight line drives to the basket. (Guard your yard)

12. Contain the ball in middle third of the floor.

13. Communicate on all ball screens.

14. Any form of selfishness must leave. It can’t be tolerated! (On the court and off the court)

15. Substitutions (Trust their effort, Trust their memory, Trust their talent)

16. Emphasize who you are every practice and every game. (Create and maintain an identity!)

17. Everything in your program is either taught or it’s allowed.

18. Fix problems immediately. Don’t let something small turn into something big.

19. Work them as hard as you are willing to love them.

20. Hold everyone in your program accountable for everything they do.

Bookmark It

Still looking to buy a last minute Christmas present for your “favorite” basketball coach? Then by all means consider subscribing to Basketball Classroom! (Especially if your favorite coach is you!)

Basketball Classroom is the first of its kind in terms of coaching programs. It’s no nonsense, straight to the point information produced by real coaches for real coaches and is presented in several multimedia formats to accommodate all learning styles – just like a real classroom. The program contains dozens of videos, special reports, audio files, charts, diagrams, interviews, and animated plays. It doesn’t matter if you are just starting to coach your first team or if you’ve been pacing the sidelines for years, you can benefit from the information in Basketball Classroom.

Some Christmas gifts lose their value almost as soon as they are opened. The benefits from enrolling in Basketball Classroom can be career changing and will last forever! The best part is that you can check out the first module absolutely free at www.BasketballClassroom.com.

Check it out – you and your players will be glad you did!

Merry Christmas from your friends at HoopSkills!!

Bookmark It

• Do you have set plays that can be run from all locations on the court, regardless of how much time is left on the clock?
• If you are behind 1, 2, or 3 or if the game is tied, do you want to take the last shot or will you take the very first good one?
• When do you start fouling?
• When do you quit fouling?
• If you play with a shot clock do you want a “two for one” even if it means taking a rushed shot that first possession?
• If you are ahead by 3 do you foul to prevent your opponent from shooting a 3 to tie the game or do you trust your defense to get a stop?
• After gaining possession with time running out do you call time out to set a play (and allow the defense to set up as well) or do you just push the ball and attack?

Bookmark It

It’s pretty common for coaches to tell their players to get into the gym and work on the weakest parts of their game. But is that really great advice? Anson Dorrance, the women’s soccer coach at the University of North Carolina, and possibly the most successful coach in NCAA team sport history, had this to say about aspiring to greatness in his book Vision of a Champion. It certainly applies to basketball players of all ages.

A lot of players focus on correcting weaknesses, but as any good coach will tell you, to develop into a great player you have to highlight your strengths.

That doesn’t mean that you stop working on your weaknesses, but you want to focus on getting even better at what you’re already good at. Seek to become truly excellent in a t least one or two areas of the game. After all, what sets you apart is what makes you great to begin with.

If you are going to rise to the highest possible level, you need at least one quality that permits you to dominate in some aspect of the game.

So the next time to head to the gym work on your weaknesses but don’t neglect your strengths!

Bookmark It

I was watching a video recently entitled The Pick, Pop, and Roll Offense, which is produced by 5 Star and features NBA assistant Scott Adubato. I thought the tape was going to talk about a specific offense but instead it was a very thorough discussion of the pick and roll and all its many options.

According to Coach Adubato, the pick and roll, which is basketball’s oldest and still most widely used offensive action is effective for four main reasons:

1. It forces the defense to make quick decisions
2. It causes mismatches which result in match up problems for the defense
3. Gets defensive players in foul trouble
4. It forces defenses into rotations and eventually into scrambling to recover

These four things are what we  should be looking for in any offense. Now I must admit that the pick and roll hasn’t been a huge part of our offensive playbook but after watching this tape I am going to make some additions. You might want to think about doing the same!

Bookmark It

In an article written for Winning Hoops magazine in May 2009, Coach Kevin Sutton offered some great insight into what it takes to “own the paint.”  According to Coach Sutton, a player “rents” the paint by simply posting up on the block. If that player actually wants to “own” the paint then he needs to do the following things:

1. Have the proper mentality
2. Be legally physical
3. Score against contact
4. Be efficient with post moves
5. Get to the free throw line
6. Be a relentless rebounder

As a player you have to ask yourself whether or not the paint is just a place to hang out or is it really your “house” – a place that you own and dominate.

Bookmark It

Pete Newell was once asked, “What is the key to good coaching?” to which he replied, “Good players.” Rarely, if ever have we seen a team win a championship – at any level – with a roster where all players were average. It is certainly possible to have a very good basketball team without a “go to” player, but not a championship team. Basketball is a game of plays, especially on offense. Players make plays. All the coach can do is devise a system where players receive the ball in a position where they have an advantage that may enable them to score, But it is the player that ultimately has to make that play.

Taken from Playing Big by Pete Newell and Swen Nater

Bookmark It

76. Anytime a teammate is subbed, he should exchange a towel and tell his teammate who he is guarding. (The bench should also rise and clap.)

77. Have a bench captain.

78. At halftime talk about these things: a. Shooting % b. Rebound totals c. Turnovers d. Trips to the foul line e. Adjustments f. Deflections

79. Three most important times of a ball game are: a. First 2 minutes of the game b. Last 2 minutes of the half c. First 2 minutes of the 3rd quarter

80. Know opponent’s poor foul shooters.

81. Know your poor foul shooters.

82. Know the floor conditions and the basket conditions.

83. When you’re an obvious underdog, shorten the game as much as possible.

84. Know the opposing coaches strengths and weaknesses.

85. Have a 4-minute 4th quarter plan.

86. Have a 2-minute 4th quarter plan.

87. Your post scorer should get a touch every time in half court offense.

88. Have your assistants watch the weak side on offense and defense.

89. Use a soft press to control tempo.

90. Use a shot chart during the game.

91. Do not give up lay-ups.

92. Force opponents out of zones when you’re ahead.

93. Games are won or lost in mini-runs. 6-0, 6-2, 4-0. Understand these runs and they lead to major runs.

94. Remember, this is just a game.

95. Keep it fun for the kids. Get them to work hard and understand the effort needed but stress the essential ingredient—fun.

96. Practice free throw situations offensively and defensively.

97. Spend 15 minutes daily on pressure offense. 5 minutes against full court zone press. 5 minutes against 3/4 court zone press. 5 minutes against half court trapping defense.

98. Have one assistant on the bench in charge of match-ups.

99. When you have fouls to give in the 4th quarter, foul to run down the clock.

100. Special Situations: a. Up 3 and less than eight seconds remaining. Foul. Trust your player’s ability to defensive rebound all free throws. Practice this. b. Anytime it is a 2-possession game, look to score with a quick 2. Attack the rim. They do not want to foul. Then follow with a quick timeout. c. When up or down in the last 2-minutes, switch all screens. When tied, play it within your philosophy. d. On the road, down by 2. Best two offensive scorers are on the bench. Go for the win.

101. Chart your opponent’s last 3 games and take away all their shooting locations.

Bookmark It

51. Early in the season, institute a 6-pass rule.

52. Look to bomb twice a game on opponents made field goals.

53. Have a FREAK defense.

54. Use fouls at the end of a ball game to stop clock and lengthen the game.

55. Have offensive and defensive subs at the end of the ball game.

56. Huddle on all free throws.

57. Save all great set plays for the end of the game.

58. Develop a hierarchy of scorers.

59. Develop a spark plug or sixth man. (Have a man for instant offense and instant defense.)

60. Your point guard should be coaching on all dead ball situations.

61. Use non-verbal communication.

62. Listen to your players. (Your learning should never stop)

63. No technical fouls. Leave the refs alone and coach your kids.

64. Always be thinking ahead.

65. Play possession by possession; always make the quarters like CBA games. (This can also be charted in the games within the games.)

66. Foul hard on drivers and post players early in the game to set the tone.

67. Be physical, bump cutters, screen hard, go hard through screens, always box out, take charges and dive for loose balls.

68. When defending a star: a. Deny him the ball. b. Trap him occasionally to make him give up the ball. c. Be physical and attack him on offense. d. Make him run through a lot of screens. e. Try to draw charges.

69. Be positive, tough, and challenging with your team.

70. Do not be afraid of your players.

71. Whenever you are up or down big at the end of a ball game, do not stop coaching.

72. Always practice game ending situations.

73. Give your team a chance to win every night, no matter what the style

74. No talking before the game, make things tense.

75. Save the Knute Rockne stuff for the big games when you really need it.

Bookmark It

26. When playing a crazy team, play conservative; do not extend the floor. Make sure to walk the ball up the floor.

27. Be inside oriented. You can do this with post-ups, drives, passing and cutting, offensive rebounds and pick and roll.

28. Look to get multiples in the steal and lay-up department. Man who makes the lay-up pressures the ball.

29. When playing a team that sends five to the offensive glass, send a rabbit or cherry picker deep.

30. Use a match-up zone to confuse opponents.

31. Swing the ball with a purpose on offense. Don’t just whip the ball around and go nowhere.

32. Clear out against all man-to-man pressure and against a run and jump. You may want to have a big man bring the ball up the floor.

33. Your set plays should be for: a. Lay-ups b. Jumpers c. Backdoors d. Drives

34. Have conditions of play. They serve as a traffic light. You gain the ability to control situations without a timeout. Red - Danger, must increase tempo, in trouble White - Normal style of play (your philosophy) Blue - Blue skies everything is fine. No fouls, no 3′s; limit to one shot

35. During timeouts keep it simple. Mention 1 offensive idea and 2 defensive ideas at the most.

36. Chart the games within the game. a. Score first in each quarter. b. Timeout situations; do we score or do they? c. Do we effectively score on offensive out-of-bounds plays and do we defend them effectively.

37. Have designated spot-ups for players and situations and work on them during practice.

38. Have an organized offensive rebounding system.

39. Rebound, Rebound, REBOUND!!!

40. On all defensive rebounding situations for free throws, have 5 guys on the line.

41. During offensive free throws, have at least two guys back.

42. Tip out all offensive rebounds when you can’t get two hands on the ball.

43. Have a saving location. Everyone on your team should know that if someone jumps out-of-bounds that they are going to save the ball to the same spot.

44. Look to find and utilize mismatches.

45. Sub and change strategy on free throw situations.

46. If you are below average, play only 7 players, if you are average play 8 players, if you are above average play nine, and if you are outstanding play 10.

47. Know how to play at three speeds: slow, medium and fast.

48. Have 2 to 3 control games.

49. Develop a balanced offense.

50. 3-point shots should come after post entry.

Bookmark It