10 Pointers for winning the state championship

In preparing for the opening of our season I made the decision to look through some Don Meyer coaching notes! Everyone starts the season with the goal of a state title. These pointers are a great road map to start with. If you havent already get out and purchase How Lucky You Can Be: The Story of Coach Don Meyer by Buster Olney it is a great read. GOOD LUCK!

10 Pointers for winning the state championship
1. Get there
Gear for it.

Everything is pointing to getting there!"

Practice to beat the best" - Dick Bennett

Must have a system to accomplish that,

Chuck Daly had that system with the Pistons and stick to it. Princeton plays to beat the best

2. When your team gets there - it´s not a big deal.
Don´t make it a big deal. A big deal is winning the championship. Our Attitude: We are going there to win!!

3. Do what you did to get there.
Freak out with changes vs. Faith in the system.

Ordinary players making ordinary plays everytime = extraordinary players

On good team, two players will do the dirty jobs (take charges, get on the floor, etc).

On GREAT teams, all the players and coaches do the dirty jobs.

4. Be Aggressive.
Look for ways to win.

Play to win, don´t play not to lose.

Pete Newell like to press on the first possession and he wasn´t a press coach. He just wanted to come out and be aggressive early in the game.

Avoid Super Bowl Stupor.

5. Rest.
Mentally and physically; short, intense practices.

Duke goes dummy in tournament practice. No real contact.

More gold medals are lost by overtraining than undertraining.

6. Give no easy baskets.
No lay ups - no uncontested shots - block out - no putbacks.

7. Get easy baskets.
a. Run - Must run but don´t have to shoot.

b. Offensive rebounding - only possible flaw in Princeton system.

c. Get fouled - neutralize athleticism (make more free throws than apponents attempt).

d. Take the ball at their best player or any player prone to foul.

8. Make free throws.
Big part of our skill developement workouts.Free throw swish...swish = +1, rim make = 0, miss = -1...play to +2 or -2

9. Make lay ups.
Emphasis: perfect lay-ups in practice - no rim touches, net only.

Pressure lay-ups in practice with a defender.

You can also use reduced rims.

In all drills, if not using reduced rims stress the clean lay-up.

10. Give your team a reason to win.
"Deserving victory" - Pitino.

Those who work hardest are the last to surrender.

Fight the feeling of championship games against team that are inferior to a team you have already defeated.

In a championship tournament you will likely have a bad night. You must play hard enough to win when the ball doesn´t bounce right.

Bear Bryant's Secret to Success

1. Never compromise with what you think is right.

2. Find your picture, your own self in anything that goes bad. If it's bad, you're the head coach, you're responsible. If we have an intercepted pass, I threw it.

3. "Don't ever give up on ability. Don't give up on a player who has it."

4. "Dont over-work your squad. If you're going to make a mistake, underwork them. Our 1961 national championship team went five weeks without pads on for practice."

5. "Don't give up before a game starts."

6. "Don't lose your game at the half. Concentrate on winning the second half. Don't waste time on stuff that can't help you."

7. If you start to make a decision, go ahead and make it. Don't mealymouth around.

8. Don't ruin a practice by not disciplining yourself. If you're upset, don't take it out on your team."

9. "Make sure you don't kill your team off early. Have your studs ready when you need them. Rest that great football player some."

10. "Don't over-coach them. Let them play some."

11. "Don't do a lot of coaching just before the game. If you haven't coached them by 14 minutes to 2 on Sunday, it's too late then."

12. "Don't change your game plan if you don't have to."

13. "Don't talk too much. Don't pop off. Don't talk after the game until you cool off."