What I Can Control

What I Can Control To Help My Team - No Excuses!

These skills are NOT based on talent but require effort.  Preparation, desire, size, athletic ability, or age do not matter.  YOU will gain the trust and respect of your teammates and coaches if you focus and control the following.

DO YOUR JOB.  DO THE THINGS YOU CAN CONTROL

- PLAY IN/STAY IN A STANCE (max 35 seconds per possession)
- ACTIVE FEET, DO NOT LOCK UP YOUR STANCE (feet stop, you will get beat)
- ACTIVE HANDS
- ANTICIPATE YOUR OPPONENT'S NEXT MOVE (what can they do to hurt our team)
- BALL/YOU/MAN : SEE THEM ALL THE TIME
- BALL MOVES, YOU MOVE (constant adjustment as ball moves)
- BLOCK OUT WHEN ANY SHOT GOES UP
- KNOW THE SCOUTING REPORT AND TENDENCIES OF YOUR OPPONENT
- DENY CUTS
- DIVE FOR LOOSE BALLS
- TAKE CHARGES
- NO UNNECESSARY FOULS

Think about it, do you have to be Kobe or LeBron to do these skills? 
Very few teams do all of these each possession, but the ones that do are called  CHAMPIONS

- CUT HARD, POST HARD
- PASS AND CATCH WITH 2 HANDS, COME TO MEET ALL PASSES
- FAKE A PASS TO MAKE A PASS
- SET GOOD SCREENS, WAIT TO RECEIVE SCREENS
- GO TO THE BOARDS
- KNOW MY JOB IN OUR SETS, TIMING, LOOKS, ETC
- SHOOT WITH CONFIDENCE: FIELD GOAL ATTEMPTS/FREE THROW ATTEMPTS
- CATCH AND GET IN A TRIPLE THREAT POSITION
- TRUST, ENCOURAGE, AND SUPPORT YOUR TEAMMATES

Do you have to be Kobe and LeBron to do these things?

YOU CONTROL YOUR GAME.


(written by our head coach, Todd Landrum, and given to our team this year)

Newsletter

Here is a link to our Saint Mary's Men's Basketball Newsletter #1

http://www.saintmaryssports.com/documents/2011/11/22/mbbnewseltter-1.pdf?id=1230


Link below is to the archive of newsletters from last season as well.

http://www.saintmaryssports.com/sports/2011/11/22/MBB_1122112009.aspx?path=mbball

Dallas - pt 2

One of the highlights at Cowboys Stadium was freshman Evan Pederson kicking a 35 yd field goal. Kevin Hoffman was the long snapper and Tom Gores was the holder.
Despite being upset Saturday afternoon about an 0-2 start, Coach Adam Eberhardt, my wife Emmy, my brother and myself decided to go downtown Dallas and visit the 6th Floor Museum. This is the museum located on the 6th floor where they believe Lee Harvey Oswald fired the shots that killed President John F. Kennedy in 1963. A must see in Dallas and well worth the $13.50. They give you headphones and something the size of probably an ipod touch that walks you through the start of his presidency through the investigation and on to the legacy of JFK. I believe you could start the tour knowing nothing about the situation and leave knowing the whole story and wanting to learn more about other conspiracy theories. All 4 of us were so glad we took the time to go there. After the museum we spent some time outside at the grassy knoll and looking up at the angle from street to 6th floor. There are 2 X's on the street where the shots hit the President.
Saturday night we gave the guys a taste of Texas BBQ at "Off the Bone Barbecue". It was voted best BBQ in Dallas in 2009. Food was off the charts. We even had our picture taken for the wall of fame. Hopefully go up next to Jason Terry of the Mavs and former NBA coach Don Nelson. After dinner we took the team back to Dealey Plaza and gave them a little history lesson about what happened 48 years ago in that same spot. Guys had tons of questions and it was a cool experience for them to now say they've been there.
Although we didn't get the W's we were looking for, it was a good trip and hopefully we did some things that they will remember for a long time. That's part of the experience when taking a trip.

Opening Weekend

We opened our 2011-2012 season in Dallas, Texas on November 18-19 at the University of Dallas Tip-Off Classic. It was a good way for our team to get away from home and just be with their teammates for a few days. 

We left Minneapolis/St. Paul International on Thursday ( Nov. 17) and arrived in the Dallas area mid afternoon. Flight was good and we came in to Dallas by flying right over Dallas Cowboys Stadium and The Ball Park in Arlington. Pretty cool to have that be one of the first things we saw as we entered Texas.

We checked in our hotel, relaxed for a little bit and then went and got a good meal before practice. Thursday was a travel day, but still a work day. It was good to get in the gym, see the surroundings, get shots up and get a sweat going. Our legs were a little dead butit that was expected and that's why we went a day early.

Friday - November 18

We started off the day by jumping in 3 mini vans and a car and taking our caravan to Arlington and Dallas Cowboys Stadium for a VIP tour. What a phenomenal place. Tour took about 90 minutes and took us to lower level seating, private suite level clubs that can also be rented out for other various occasions (wedding receptions, etc), smaller suites, Cotton Bowl offices, Dr. Pepper standing room only deck, Miller Lite club on field level where players enter, media room, locker rooms of the cheerleaders and of the Cowboys, and finally out on to the field itself. The stadium cost $1.2 billion and they made it all back in year 1. They sold 13 tons of nachos at the Super Bowl, stadium includes 3000 flat screens, roof can open in 9 minutes and close in 12, lockers are made of wood imported from Africa and cost $9000 a piece, and the minimum lease for a suite is 10 years.  It was phenomenal to see the stadium and hear all the facts and figures that go along with a place like this.

We went right from the stadium to our shoot around at the Univ. of Dallas. Shot the ball better and we had pretty good focus when going through the scouting report. Not the ideal environment for doing scouting report with such an open space and the gym not enclosed, but no excuses. We made it work.

We finally tipped off about 8:20 pm Friday night against the Univ. of Dallas. It was their 2nd game, but it was the home opener. Crowd was good and it made for a fun environment. The first half was back and forth. We withstood their initial burst of energy and excitement but it was tough playing without our senior captain, Pat Freeman, for most of the first half. We were down a half dozen or so at the half. Second half saw Dallas build a lead but we continued to battle back. Had the ball a couple times with it being a one possession game but just weren't able to tie or take the lead. We lost 75-71.

Saturday - November 19

Quick turnaround. Got back to the hotel after 11 Friday night and had scouting report at 10 am Saturday morning. Our next opponent was the Austin College Kangaroos. They were a bigger, more athletic team than we saw on Friday. We opened the game very aggressive and got to the bonus very early in the game. Again we had to play with 2 of our main guys on the bench in foul trouble. Despite that we went to the locker room at half only down 1. We had the lead in the second half and Austin College really struggled guarding us when we had Pat and Mike in there, but both ended up fouling out and we couldn't over come that.

We left Dallas 0-2 but we did some very good things. The new guys got their feet wet, we shot 24 more free throws than our opponents but we just couldn't knock down open shots. Those shots will go in. We must stay confident shooting the ball and have a short memory.

More to come....

Remembering 'Hoosiers'

Remembering 'Hoosiers' Video Link

Basketball sneakers squeak and a ball thumps on the hardwood floor as players race to the hoop in the historic Hoosier Gym-where the 1986 movie Hoosiers was filmed-in Knightstown, Ind. (pop. 2,182).

Cheerleaders dressed in 1950s uniforms chant "one more basket" as the final seconds tick away on the electronic scoreboard. When the game horn sounds, the crowd goes wild as the Hickory Huskers defeat the Terhune Tigers 104-96 during the sixth annual Hoosiers' Reunion All-Star Classic.

"This is Hoosiers basketball at its finest," says Mervin Kilmer, 81, president of the Hoosier Gym Board. "I don't think there are many gyms left in the world like this."

It's been 26 years since actors Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, Dennis Hopper and a squad of basketball players arrived in Knightstown to make the movie Hoosiers, but townspeople continue to pay tribute to the enduring sports classic and the gymnasium where much of the movie was filmed.

"It's like stepping back in time to walk in here," says Bob Bitler, 90, a World War II veteran holding the American flag for the American Legion Color Guard that opened the June game. "We're proud of the movie because it shows that you should always try to do your best, even if it seems you can't possibly be successful."

Set during the 1951-1952 school year, when all Indiana high schools regardless of enrollment size competed in one state basketball championship tournament, Hoosiers is about the small-town Hoosier Huskers who won the state championship. The story is based loosely on a Cinderella team from tiny Milan (Ind.) High School that toppled big-city powerhouse teams to win the 1954 state championship.

"I wasn't even born back then, but my grandmother was and she remembers it," says cheerleader Morganne McRoberts, 16. "It's neat to see how it used to be. I'm really glad they saved this old gym."

In 1920, Knightstown High School had no gymnasium. Basketball games were played in Bell's Hall above Jolly's Drugstore and in the basement of the local Presbyterian church. It was clear to townspeople that the school needed a gym. More than 250 private citizens and local businessmen pitched in to raise more than $14,400 to build one.

On Dec. 1, 1922, construction of the gym was completed. Within four years, the school board made the final payment and took full control of the building. By 1966, however, the gym had become obsolete. A new facility was built, and the old gym was closed that April. For the next two decades, the gym sat vacant. No one stepped forward to buy it.

Then a Hollywood film crew began looking for a site for the movie Hoosiers. The old gym was perfect for Hickory High's home basketball court. "The movie people didn't want to fix it up," Kilmer recalls. "They wanted it to look like it did."

When Hoosiers proved a hit, fans wanted to see the gym where the movie was filmed. In 1993, a local preservation group-Historic Knightstown Inc.-decided to restore the building for use as a community center. Today, the Hoosier Gym is owned by the city and serves as a multiuse venue for basketball leagues, birthday parties, concerts, meetings and weddings. Volunteers staff the facility and offer free tours of the gym and basketball memorabilia on display.

People travel to Knightstown from around the world to see the Hoosier Gym. And once a year, the historic hardwood echoes with a full house of fans as Hoosier hysteria comes alive with some of Indiana's top basketball players. The best senior boy and girl players square off as the Hickory Huskers and the Terhune Tigers. While the soundtrack from Hoosiers fills the 650-seat gym, the teams take to the floor clad in retro satin uniforms.

"To be able to play here is awesome," says Jordan Hulls, 21, who played in the Hoosiers' Reunion All-Star Classic in 2009 when he was a senior attending Bloomington (Ind.) South High School. Now an Indiana University junior, Hulls plays guard for the real-life Hoosiers. "When you walk in here and feel the atmosphere, you can understand why Hoosiers love basketball."

-- Jackie Scheckler Finch

Play Present via Alan Stein

Fantastic video and concept from Alan Stein (StongerTeam.com). He does a great job of explaining this concept and how it is a huge component of being mentally tough. I am a huge fan of Alan's message and what he is about.

This is also a concept that can be applied to any sport or even just life in general. Having an understanding of what you can and can not control. Not living in the past and not looking to far in to the future.

In basketball, great shooters have a terrible memory. They Play Present. The next one is always going in, regardless of what the previous 5 did.

Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon

"It's not up to anyone else to make me give my best"

Was talking with some of our guys yesterday before practice and the name Hakeem Olajuwon came up.  Without question he's one of the top 5 centers of all time.  Hakeem along with David Robinson were two of the first guys to have a more well rounded skill set.  They were able to step off the post and beat you off the dribble or put you on spin cycle in the post with their footwork. 

As guys have gotten bigger, faster, and stronger in the NBA, Hakeem is one guy who's game would translate and still would be effective today.  I found a couple clips of "The Dream".  One is his top ten plays and the other is him dominating David Robinson in the playoffs the year The Admiral was MVP. 

Many current players have gone for personal lessons from Hakeem.  Kobe and Dwight Howard just to name a couple.  Hakeem still looks silky smooth today and looks like he could still play.  My most favorite things about watching Hakeem Olajuwon is his balance, his use of the shot fake/ball fake, and his incredible footwork.  Players of all sizes should study his footwork and his use of fakes and add them to their game. 

Blake Griffin

Sunday conversation from last year with Blake Griffin.  He talks about knowing he's going to make mistakes, but he has to play hard through them and make up for them by playing hard every possession.  He also talks about not backing down from anyone just because he's a rookie.  Two great lessons for freshman as well as the season kicks off in less than 2 weeks.

Pete Newell - How to Avg. 18 points

I came across this interesting breakdown from Coach Pete Newell.  Coach Newell is and was the most respected big man coach in the game.  He had a legendary camp for "Bigs" that even NBA assistants lobbied hard for the chance to work at.  He came up with this "process" that a big man could average 18 points on only 2 post feeds.

Every big man thinks they need more "touches".  Coach Newell came up with this process for bigger players, but the process can be applied to other positions as well.

No reason someone who is not a great shooter can't get 10-12 points a game on hustle plays.  In the following process, just take out post feeds and only make 2 FT's.  The player still gets 10-12 points.  These ways to score can also be back breakers for your opponent.  Cheap baskets, offensive rebounds, out running someone on the break for a layup.

The following is a "process" to average 18 points with only "2 post feeds".

Process To Average 18 Points In The Post

1.    Run the floor for a layupà2pts

2.    Two offensive rebound put backsà4pts

3.    Two cheap basketsà4pts

4.    Two post feedsà4pts

5.    Four FT’sà4pts

TOTAL—18pts