16 Great Lessons from Sweet 16 Coaches
Mar 23, 2023 8:04 pm
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Sweet 16 is here, the Madness keeps going!. Here are 16 Great lessons we can learn from the coaches that made it this far!
Houston HC Kelvin Sampson “It is not about running the play, it’s about EXECUTING the play”
Our job is to make our players the best they can possibly be. This can only be done by putting them in position when they are uncomfortable. When we do these half-court rebounding drills, we work on simulating the in-game scenario, but we are also making it harder than usual - we send all 5 players on offensive rebounds. Watch how Coach Sampson breaks down his favorite rebounding drill below:
Kelvin Sampson - 10 Point Rebounding Drill
Michigan State HC Tom Izzo - “We are always playing defense with one hand up. Not to always contest shots. Contesting shots is easy. Not many people contest passes. We always contest passes”
Coach Tom Izzo breaks down basic principles of defensive stance and contesting passes while in the defensive stance.
Alabama’s HC Nate Oats - “Always make the ONE MORE pass”
Big part of the reason behind Alabama’s success was being able to combine talent with great ball motion and team game. Coach Nate Oats always wants his players to make “One More Pass” and he simulates “One More Pass” situations with drills. See the drill below:
Arkansas Head Coach Eric Musselman - “Have your beliefs and standards, but be willing to tailor your system for your personnel you have for the year”
Coach Musselman talks about how to be adaptable and how to adjust your offense based on your personnel
Importance of Being Adjustable
UCLA HC Mick Cronin - “It is your responsibility to teach players how to communicate”
Coach Cronin has been a big believer in disadvantage drills. It forces the players to talk. Especially if you can make them compete for stops. See more below:
Teaching Your Players To Communicate
UConn’s HC Dan Hurley - “Having good transition Defense, ball screen defense and closeouts are the easiest ways to having a winning team”
Defensive guru Coach Hurley shows his Toughness Tester Drill that focuses on stopping the ball while also making defense communicate to stop transition.
Texas AC Chris Ogden - “If you pressure us, we’re driving”
What should we do if defense tries to pressure us and deny the pass in the half court? Coach Chris Ogden with short input on why he likes to speed cut. It’s simple, you can get a cheap foul or easy basket on a speed cut when defense is denying the ball.
Xavier AC Adam Cohen - “Have your bigs to show lengths on the Pick n Roll defense”
Xavier Coach Cohen does a full breakdown on how to guard middle-ball screens
Gonzaga’s AC Stephen Gentry - Pitch Ahead Buffalo in Transition Offense
Coach Gentry breaks down couple of Transition Offense scenarios and goes over the Pitch Ahead Buffalo Action
Transition Offense - Pitch Ahead Buffalo Action
Coach Sutton talks about how to successfully navigate your coaching career by building relationships
Kevin Sutton - Building Relationships for Successful Coaching Career
UCLA’s HC Mick Cronin - “Don’t ask your players to do something they are not fit to do”
Coach Cronin talks about the importance of knowing your players and their abilities. Don’t have set rules for your players, just learn how you can utilize them and build your style around them.
Former Miami Assistant Coach Chris Caputo - “Always locate 3pt shooters on transition defense”
Coach Chris Caputo breaks down how to locate open shooters in transition after you stop the layup.
Uconn’s Kimani Young - Pinndown Sprint Aways
UCONN’s Kimani Young talks about proper development of in-game shot situations and introduces his Pinndown Sprint Away drill.
Alabama’s HC Nate Oats - Defense’s Non Negotiables
Figure out your Non-negotiables and drill them every day. It is that easy. Watch how Coach Nate Oats figured out his Non-negotiables.
Kelvin Sampson - “ Build their confidence in the offseason. In the offseason, you never lose. You either win or you learn. Basketball players are made from April to October. Teams are made from October to March”
Kelvin Sampson talks about how to build player’s confidence during the offseason.
Offseason is winning and learning
Arkansas HC Eric Musselman - What To Have Ready In Your Arsenal
Coach Muss talks about which plays you should have in your arsenal ready at all times.
Hope we can all take away something from some of the best coaches in the game and start implementing them for years to come!
Always be growing,
-The Coaches Clinic Community of Coaches helping Coaches