Coach K Adds to the Accolades, Becomes Most Winningest Coach of All-Time

It couldn't have been set up any better. New York City, Madison Square Garden, his Mentor and previous most winningest coach of all-time calling the color for the game in Bob Knight. The stands were filled with current and ex-NBA players who used to play for Coach K which that list in itself is more impressive than most college coaches could dream of. Carlos Boozer, Grant Hill, Jay Williams, Mike Dunleavy, Jay Bilas announcing, and that is just to name a few.
What else could you ask for on a night where Coach Mike Krzyzewski re wrote history by becoming the most winningest coach of all-time with the number now at 903 and counting. With the season young, and retirement seemingly no where near for Coach K, he has time to pad the distance between 2nd and 1st place on the list.
But ever since he began coaching for Army in
1975 Coach K has had his mind set on one thing around this team of year, continuing to build a better team for the long season ahead. He stayed true to this philosophy last night when was asked after the game what was next and responded with, "continue to build this team. I am happy this is out of the way now so we can focus on making THIS team as good as we can be." Pretty modest words from a man who has won more than 900 games in his 30+ year head coaching career.
So congratulations to Coach K for his great accomplishment. The greatest thing that I heard his current and ex-players say about it, and this was consistent across the board, that he showed up to practice everyday with his best. No matter what is going on in his personal life, he gives the students of this game his best everyday, and that has led him to greatness. He couldn't have said it any better last night in the post game interview when saying, "We coaches just get lucky when we are at a good school."
Congrats Coach K and get to 1,000!

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One Thing Wins in College Basketball, and One Thing Only

Every year teams load up with talent and try to get as many Top 100 recruits as they can. And every year  there is a trend that ends up on all the winning teams. DEFENSE. At the beginning of the year many teams are searching for their identity. Unless you have to luxury of returning all 5 starters from the previous year, there is a high chance that your team will go through growing pains.
The most recent example of a great TEAM is the Butler Bulldogs. Coach Brad Stevens always has his group of young men ready to compete at the highest of their ability, TOGETHER, for the entire 40 minutes. This year you have an early contender in the Cleveland State Vikings who went into Memorial Gymnasium and knocked off the #7 ranked Vanderbilt Commodores.
A team characteristics will tell how well of a defensive team you will be. TOUGHNESS is the biggest element of being a great defensive team. Things branch off of toughness, but without toughness playing team defense will not be 100% effective. Some elements that go into a tough team can be are very important, and without them, a team can rip itself apart from the inside. Are you willing to make the extra pass? Are you willing to sacrifice for your team? Sacrifice minutes, sacrifice your body, sacrifice personal success for the greater of the team. Individualism is not a successful mentality when playing college basketball. Are you willing to learn from your mistakes, can you take coaching. There are many drills to help build a TOUGH team.
Those elements are just the tip of the ice berg when coaching a team. You are going to run into detour after detour on your journey to the end. Your ability to be able handle each situation in the most efficient and necessary way to uphold your respect as the coach will factor in how successful a team you are at the end of the year.
Shaka Smart of VCU has come up with 5 steps to what he thinks factors into having a successful team. As one of the youngest coaches to take is team to the Final Four, I have the feeling that Coach Smart knows what he's doing on the court. Not only was he one of the youngest coaches in Final Four history, he did it while taking the Mid Major VCU Rams their in the 2010-2011 season.
So keep pushing your guys to play the right way. Keep pointing out what they do wrong, and strongly encourage them to play the RIGHT way.

In Exhibition, A David defeats Goliath

In a recap of the exhibition week, There was a Top 25 team that lost at the right time as it didn't count on the record. Keep your eyes open for the X and O Hoops Podcast Series.

Shootin' the 3-Ball, and Shootin' it Good

With the Carrier Classic right around the corner in San Diego, teams are gearing up for the official start of the Regular Season. With no NBA this season, all the lights will be on the college ranks, and it couldn't be better any other way. The NCAA is celebrating going into it's 25th season of having the 3-point line in the game. When you think of the 3-point line, who are some of the great shooters of all-time on the college hardwood.

That is who I had the pleasure of watching show no regard for the 3-point line and extend it with no limits. Jimmer Fredette who played his last season for the BYU Cougars last season is now a Rookie with the Sacramento Kings.
There are two other guys I was able to watch when growing up that had the same pure stroke from the 3 as Jimmer did. Do the names Stephen Curry and JJ Redick ring a bell? These two, much like Jimmer gave opposing coaches fits with their ability to extend the defense with a 3-point ball. 

I know these 3 guys are just from the past ten years or so. Maybe your saying what about Larry Bird, or Reggie Miller. Truth is these guys didn't starting dropping 3-balls at high efficiency until their pro careers. A couple names you may recognize from the early days of the 3 though are those such as Curtis Staples with Virginia. Kyle Korver with Creighton or even Gerry McNamara with Syracuse. These were all guys that could drop the ball in from deep.
So pay tribute to the 3-ball, next time your on the court, shoot a 3, see what it's like.

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