17' Wyoming G Lonnie Grayson has been offered. The offer is his first and comes from Ashland University. Ashland is located just north of Columbus Ohio. They are a NCAA Division 2 program and competes in one of the top division 2 conferences (Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference). The Ashland Eagles finished 19-10 (13-9 GLIAC) last season. They are currently 2-0 and play at home tomorrow and take on Silver Lake. The Eagles are lead by John Ellenwood in his 7th year as head coach.
Grayson averaged 19 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assist for Wyoming last year. He was the conference player of the year (Cincinnati Hills League) and a division 2 first team all district player. He also was AP Southwest division 2 second team and AP honorable mention All Ohio. We are expecting another great season from Lonnie Grayson.

In the first week of college basketball we were expecting some big games from Secons Half Athletes. Jaaron Simmons scored 20 points 13 from the free-throw line as Ohio beat Florida Gulf Coast 85-75 in the season opener yesterday. He finished with 20 points 7 assist and 4 rebounds. Ohio is back at home tomorrow tonight and match up against Tennessee St who beat Loyola in their season opener.
Junior Devin Williams also had a very good showing in the season opener. His West Virginia Mountaineers beat Northen Kentucky 107-61. He pulled down 15 rebounds to go with his 18 points. West Virgina faces James Madison tonight.
Western Carolina freshman G Elijah Pughsley became the first WCU in a few years to score double figures in his first two career games. In his season opener he scored 18 points against Universiry of Cincinnati in 97-72 lost. He scored 19 with five deep 3 pointers in their 90-81 win over UNC Ashville. WCU is back in action Saturday November 21 in an away matchup against High Point.
Jalen Avery was scoreless but was second on the team with 4 assist as his Kent State team beat Youngtown 79-70 in their season opener. They travel to Carbondale,Ill and take on Southern Illinois this Wednesday.
Stetson sophomore G Angel Rivera was also scoreless. His Stetson Hatters traveled to Richmond, Va and took on Richmond. They lost, as Richmond shot over 55% from the feild and 50% from 3. Rivera led the team in assist with 5 and steals with 2. Stetson is back in action tomorrow as they travel to South Carolina and matchup with The Citadel.
Freshman G Ahmad Frost UMES (University of Maryland Eastern Shore) Hawks' lost their first two games to Kansas St and Missouri. He got his first career start against Missouri in their second game. UMES travel to South Carolina and take on Wofford this Saturday.

Things you will probably do a lot with your players/team

 1) REBOUND:  Over the course of a game, we have 550-600 rebound chances… 

2) CLOSE OUT: No matter what defense you play, you will do this A LOT!! 

3) TRANSITION DEFENSE: % wise you are in transition D more than 1/2 court

4) DEFEND PENETRATION: Every offense relies on ability to break you down

5) DEFEND BALL SCREENS: Few games pass without having to defend these

 

Things coaches need to do to improve ourselves

 1) READ:  “The man who chooses not to read is no different from the man who can NOT read”.  You MUST make time to read.  It’s the only way to gain experience.  It’s the only way you will catch up to coaches who have more experience than you.

 

2) WRITE:  When you put your thoughts on paper and in ink, they be come yours.  Your words become your philosophy.  If you have every  “in your head” it’s not stated.  And until you STATE them, it’s simply not yours.  Choose a simple topic… Rebounding… Write out your thoughts.  You will be surprised how much thinking you will do on it before you are willing to share with someone else!!

 

3) OBSERVE: Go to clinics.  Go to camps, work camps. Attend practices.  Watch DVD’s.  Go on-line and use YOUTUBE or VIMEO.  You can spend hours on hours. I want to get new ideas everyday!  Again you are making the choice to or NOT to learn from others.  If you already KNOW IT ALL, let me know so I can come observe YOU!!

 

4) REACH OUT:  There are so many resources out there.  If you aren’t  reaching out to others, you are losing ground to those who do.   There are coaches all over the country willing to share.  There are blogs.  There are Newsletters.  There are YOUTUBE channels.  All with coaches willing to give back what others have shared with  them.  As Don Meyer shares “collect all the good ideas whether you  use them OR not”.

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5) RISK: It takes a lot of courage to be a coach.  Don’t settle for the status quo.  You must be willing to put yourself “out there” to grow.  It’s not easy.  You will have some haters.  But that’s exactly what you are teaching your players.  Model it for them. 

When working with guards I always keep a few teaching points and skill emphasis:

1. Jab steps create separation.

2. Teach the shot fake when defender is closing out.

3. Kyrie Erving has a great change of speed and get by defenders. Very tight handle.

4. Rip Hamilton had a great change of speed off the ball, he would sprint, stop then sprint again to get open.

5. Creating great cuts off post entry. When possible, throw overhead pass into the post to get defenders hands high then sprint cut for a good chance to get open.

6. Come off screens shoulder to hip of screener.

7 learn to use screener twice on all screens even grabbing the arm of screener.

8. The best guards are the guys who do the little things.

9. Have multi finishers around the around.

10. Never know when there will be a mismatch - develope a post game!

Sometimes we just need to be reminded so do our players. Billy Graham once said, "one coach will impact more young people in a year than the average person does in a lifetime."

With that in mind as coaches we need to give our players constant reminders. Reminders that they are on the right track. Reminders that they are fighting fights that matter. Reminders to keep up the good work and not to waste chances.

Sometimes we just need to be reminded.

Game changing plays:

Bigs

1. Post up in transition

2. Make FT's

3. 1 put back

4. 1 run out

5. Get fouled posting while team is in bonus

Guards

1. Open 3 in transition

2. 3 pointer off drive and kick

3. Steal and score  

4. Loose ball bucket

5. Getting fouled attacking while team is in bonus

When you pass, move but don't follow your pass

Don't make two simultaneous cuts into the same area (spacing)

Call out the name of the player screening for (communication)

Catch and face, hold for a 2 count unless you have a good scoring opportunity right away

Don't pass too quickly

If a screener's back is to you, hold to see what develops

15-18 feet spacing on perimeter

Keep the ball off the baseline unless a scoring opportunity is available

If a single post has a scoring opportunity don't go there

Dribble only to advance the ball, improve a passing angle, go to the basket, balance the floor, or get out of trouble (no wasted dribbles)