NABC TimeOut Magazine - Summer 2020

THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES

SUMMER 2020

FLYERS SWEEP NABC DI AWARDS

Grant & Toppin Led Dayton to a School Record 29 Wins

SUCCEEDS THANKS TO TEAM CONCEPT Fighting Cancer is a Team Sport – Every Role Counts Roy Williams, Jay Wright, Tom Izzo – these are household names in the basketball world. But many of the coaches who make up Team Coaches vs. Cancer may not be as easily recognized. However, they have two important things in common – they love basketball and are passionate about helping to save lives from cancer.

introduced to Coaches vs. Cancer through the annual Suits And Sneakers Week when he was an assistant coach. As time went on, he knew Coaches vs. Cancer was something he wanted to be a bigger part of when the opportunity presented itself. It did in 2015 when he took over the Hawaii program. But Ganot admits he was still hesitant.

From a D-III coach in the Midwest hosting an event to high school coaches on the West Coast teaming up to raise a couple thousand dollars, every effort to support Coaches vs.

Cancer is critical.

“Seeing the high-profile coaching legends involved and hearing about their events and the financial figures they were raising certainly led to having some reservations as to the type of impact we could have right away at Hawaii,” said Ganot, now one of the youngest members of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council. “I reached out to the Coaches vs. Cancer family and was overwhelmed with their support for getting us up and running while reminding us that ‘every bit helps’ in terms of raising money and awareness.”

“That’s the power of the Coaches vs. Cancer program, when you think about it,” said Lon Kruger, Oklahoma’s head coach and current chair of the Coaches vs. Cancer Council. “It allows any coach at any level to be a part of something that’s helping to save lives. Some coaches have bigger platforms than others, but we all have a platform to do good, to help people. The question is, ‘Are we willing to use it?’”

Since 1993, the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS) have partnered together to use the basketball platform to fight cancer through the Coaches vs. Cancer program, the NABC’s charity partner of choice. The program has raised more than $130 million during that period – often bringing in just a few thousand dollars at a time. And the efforts are collectively making a difference. Early this year, the American Cancer Society announced the cancer death rate has dropped 29% since 1991.

“Saying our coaches are ‘saving lives’ isn’t just a catchphrase, it’s real,” said Natalie Morrison, ACS strategic director for Coaches vs. Cancer. “It’s powerful to work with the NABC and so many coaches across the nation who are dedicated to finishing this fight. We have a long way to go, and we are winning. But we can’t slow up, we have to finish this.”

This is why the team concept is so critical for Coaches vs.

Cancer. Veteran coaches – who have been key supporters of the program for decades – have retired or are nearing retirement. Rising coaches – from D-I to high school – are being challenged to take the lead of Coaches vs. Cancer going forward.

Hawaii’s Eran Ganot is one of those younger coaches who has recently taken a leadership role. Like most, he was

Ganot is now preparing for his fifth annual local fundraiser for ACS this season and he has tied in the annual Diamond Head Classic (and its visiting coaches) with Coaches vs. Cancer.

“I look forward to being a resource to a hopefully growing group of young coaches who want to join this fantastic team with a simple message: Get involved, reach out and Go!” Ganot said. “You won’t regret it and it will be something you will cherish forever.”

This past January, two high school coaches saw their chance to play a role in saving lives from cancer when Coronado High School (Henderson, Nevada) played Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nevada) in the annual Big City Showdown. As the teams met for the highly anticipated match, televised on ESPNU, Coronado coach Jeff Kaufman and Bishop Gorman coach Grant Rice decided to have game proceeds support the Coaches vs. Cancer program. Cheerleaders went into the stands and collected over $2,000 from fans at halftime during a Mission Minute.

‘It was simple to organize, but had a powerful result,” Kaufman said. “The players felt involved. The cheerleaders were involved. The fans were involved. It was about community. On that night, we were all part of the Coaches vs. Cancer team.”

The NABC and the American Cancer Society encourage you to find your role on the Coaches vs. Cancer team. Contact your local American Cancer Society office or Natalie Morrison at natalie.morrison@cancer.org.

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THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BASKETBALL COACHES

COLUMNS

2020 FEATURES

From the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Navigating in a Very Difficult Time Rick Leddy National High School Basketball Coaches Association. . . . . . . 18 The NHSBCA is Busy All Year Long Greg Grantham

Q&A with Jamie Dixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Head Coach, TCU and 2020-21 NABC President 2019-20 Players of the Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 2019-20 Coaches of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

NCAA Eligibility Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 NCAA Eligibility Center Responds To Covid-19 With Waiver Relief

2019-20 Awards. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

The Longest “Time Out”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Carey Casey

Managing Student-Athlete Well-Being in the Pandemic. . . . . . . . 16

NABC Chaplain’s Corner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 OUR TIME. Pastor Donnell Jones

Diversity, Inclusion and Justice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

NABC Coach’s Clinic How to Not Plan a Bad Practice, Landry Kosmalski Head Coach, Swarthmore College. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 NABC Coach’s Clinic Transition Break, Anthony Grant Head Coach, University of Dayton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

National Association of Basketball Coaches 1111 Main Street, Suite 1000 Kansas City, Missouri 64105 Phone: 816-878-6222 • Fax: 816-878-6223 www.NABC.com ______________________________________________ NABC EXECUTIVE STAFF Jim Haney Executive Director Reggie Minton Deputy Executive Director Troy Hilton Senior Director of Corporate Relations and Association Affairs Stephanie Whitcher Chief Financial Officer Rick Leddy Senior Director of Communications Rose Tate Director of Membership Ebony Donohue Associate Director of Membership Mark Heatherman Senior Director of Special Events Janelle Guidry Director of Convention Wade Hageman Director of Corporate Relations Jenna Wright Director of Convention Housing Eric Wieberg Director of Digital & Social Media

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2020-21 NABC BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jamie Dixon, President, TCU Gary Stewart, 1st Vice President, Stevenson University Lennie Acuff, 2nd Vice President, Lipscomb University John Calipari, 3rd Vice President, University of Kentucky Matt Margenthaler, 4th Vice President, Minnesota State University Tommy Amaker, Director, Harvard University Bill Coen, Director, Northeastern University Pat Cunningham, Director Frank Martin, Director, University of South Carolina Matt Painter, Director, Purdue University Bob Huggins, Director, West Virginia University Cuonzo Martin, Director, University of Missouri Mike McGrath, Director, University of Chicago Pat Estepp, Director, Cedarville University Mike Brey, 2019-20 Past President, University of Notre Dame Charlie Brock, 2018-19 Past President, Springfield College Phil Martelli, Director Emeritus, University of Michigan Ernie Kent, Director Emeritus Tom Izzo, Director Emeritus, Michigan State University John Moore, Director, Westmont College Dave Archer, Director, National High School Basketball Coaches Association Thom McDonald, Director, NJCAA and Two-Year Colleges

EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS NABC Executive Director: Jim Haney NABC Deputy Executive Director: Reggie Minton Accountant: Brian Welch, Welch & Associates, LLC N ABC General Counsel: Dennis Coleman and Christopher Conniff, Ropes & Gray, LLP B oard Secretary: Rick Leddy, NABC Senior Director of Communications Dan Gavitt, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball Judy McLeod, Conference USA Commissioner and Chair/NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee Kevin Lennon, NCAA Vice President for Division I Governance PHOTO CREDITS: University of Dayton Athletics; University of Kansas Athletics; University of Iowa Athletics; Duke University Athletics; Northwest Missouri State University Athletics; Swarthmore College Athletics; Florida Southern College Athletics; LeTourneau University Athletics; Georgetown College Athletics; Indiana Wesleyan Athletics; John A. Logan College Athletics; LewisClark State College Athletics; Holy Cross College Athletics; Sandhills Community College Athletics.

Time-Out is published quarterly by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.

Printed by Allen Press.

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FROM THE EDITOR, Rick Leddy

Navigating in a Very Difficult Time I wonder how many other people were as thankful as I was to learn that the first SpaceX Rocket carrying two U.S. astronauts connected safely to the International Space Station on the last day of May. America desperately needed some good news, even if it offered a sliver of light in a very dark few months.

Shelter in place and social distance are terms that won’t soon be forgotten as COVID-19 descended on people all over the world.

In our world of college basketball, coaches and players came to the end of the regular season, excitement built as conference championships were won, and play had started in the NCAA tournament for those teams in Division III. There still seemed to be some hope for play to continue, even a chance to get to the Final Four and NABC Convention in Atlanta.

We all know the rest of this story – no Final Four, no NABC Convention and lots of scrambling for our NABC staff.

The City of Atlanta and the state of Georgia did not recognize a state of emergency right away, causing problems with some commitments and refunds. That began a conscientious pursuit by our CFO, Stephanie Whitcher, housing manager Jenna Wright, convention manager Janelle Guidry and senior director of special events Mark Heatherman to negotiate with vendors, exhibitors and hotels, which were especially difficult.

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It was through their efforts that our members registered for the convention were able to receive refunds for room deposits and convention in a timely manner with assistance from Rose Tate, director of membership and associate director, Ebony Donohue.

That left sponsors to work with and coach appearances, all coordinated by Troy Hilton and Wade Hageman, to be cancelled with alternatives for future commitments.

Eric Wieberg, our director of digital and social media, made sure that our membership and constituents were kept informed on all that was happening while I was tracking results for All-America teams and special awards.

Through considerable innovation and great work from select NABC staff, headed by Hilton and board member Thom McDonald in a partnership with Championship Productions, the NABC was able to provide 100 free webinars in April and May. The webinars, utilizing the expertise of top coaches from the NBA and college basketball at all levels, had more than 250,000 views. Another webinar series is set for June and July with a small fee for viewing.

On the subject of clinics, in this issue we have two clinics – one from NABC Division I Coach of the Year Anthony Grant of Dayton on the Flyers’ transition break. Landry Kosmalski, the NABC Division III Coach of the Year from Swarthmore, has a unique offering with How to Not Plan a Bad Practice.

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On Flag Day, June 14, my mentor and long-time friend, former NABC president and executive director Joe Vancisin, celebrated his 98th birthday. Joe and his wife, Elizabeth, now reside in Atlanta to be closer to their daughter, Susan, and her family.

My wife Nancy and I visited with the Vancisin’s last May and had planned to spend an additional day after our 2020 convention to see them again. Speaking by phone is Ok but nothing like an up close and personal meet.

If you are fortunate enough to know Joe and would like to send him a note, his address is 606 Towers Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329-4605. He would love to hear from you.

Rick and Nancy Leddy visited Joe and Elizabeth Vancisin at their home in Atlanta.

Our leadership team of Executive Director Jim Haney and Reggie Minton, deputy executive director, were deep into issues on protecting our coaches and players with our board of directors throughout April and May and continuing in the summer.

There were ad hoc committees on waiver transfers, especially due to COVID-19 and on selecting the proper date for players to pull their name from the NBA draft and retain collegiate eligibility.

Another issue which was at the forefront of discussions was the extended dead period for recruiting, going well into the summer.

The NABC Board, working with the NCAA, continues to seek alternative time slots when coaches are able to see prospects as we move into the early fall.

As I write this column in the first week of June, the NABC has announced the formation of the NABC Committee on Racial Reconciliation. The committee, which will be chaired by South Carolina head coach Frank Martin and populated by a collection of coaches and administrators, has been charged with addressing issues related to racial injustice both within intercollegiate athletics and society at large. Our nation now faces another national crisis that, unlike COVID-19, is in plain sight and has been with us for centuries.

The NABC Board of Directors has developed a set of recommended initial action steps

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to help coaches of all levels address these topics with our teams. This list is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather a starting point to initiate important dialogue. We encourage coaches to use their own experiences and ideas to further support and serve their players, campus and local community.

My Final Thoughts First, in the midst of a worldwide pandemic which has hit our nation especially hard with more than 100,000 deaths, Americans carry an additional burden with the senseless killing of George Floyd. The overwhelming response through peaceful protests by people of every race and religion all across our country may be the greatest call for change most of us have ever seen. Today in my home state of Connecticut, an unprecedented number of large cities and small towns are holding demonstrations and we can only hope that this is finally turning the corner to legitimately address the long-standing issue of racial injustice.

Secondly, as the NBA unveiled its plan to restart its season on July 31, I’m sure that almost all basketball fans are thrilled to be able to enjoy watching once again. For me, the announcement that the NBA players will be tested daily to be sure there is no one infected by COVID-19 is another sign of privilege prevailing when millions of Americans who have sheltered in place for months do not have access to testing.

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Q&A Jamie Dixon with

Head Coach, Texas Christian University 2020-21 NABC President

The head coach at TCU, Dixon succeeded Mike Brey of Notre Dame as president of the NABC in April. He has been the head coach at his alma mater since 2016 after a 13-year run as the head coach at Pittsburgh. Dixon has led teams to 12 NCAA tournaments and has earned various national coach of the year awards in three separate seasons.

Overall, what do you hope to accomplish during your term as NABC President?

Dixon: “I thought when I was preparing to become the NABC President that we were entering a year with the two most impactful changes in college basketball: name, image and likeness legislation and the onetime immediate eligibility transfer waiver. Since then, we have also been faced with the COVID-19 pandemic and the tragic death of George Floyd. The NABC will be active in addressing all four topics. It’s a challenging time for our sport, but I believe the NABC can and will make a difference.”

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The NABC recently formed a Committee on Racial Reconciliation.

What is your goal for that committee, and why was it formed?

Dixon: “I don’t believe that we as the NABC Board of Directors have done close to enough to address this topic.

We’ve come up short. A statement and the formation of a committee can’t be the last things we do. We need to involve head coaches and assistants as well as input from our players in these discussions.

Most importantly, we need to address the lack of opportunities on the sidelines for coaches of color. We are pushing the NCAA to open up on-court and recruiting responsibilities for noncoaching staff members – what we’re calling the Professional Development Designee – which would be a great start towards creating a pathway for more minority coaches, and particularly former players.”

Transfer legislation appears likely to change in the coming year. How is the NABC addressing this topic?

Dixon: “We have been engaging transfer legislation for years. Jim Haney has always been a voice at the table. But times have changed, and the thinking has changed. Transfers are now encouraged, and rules have been changed to make it easier to transfer. Kids don’t want to watch and sit on the bench. We understand what the general consensus is, but with any change comes consequences. We are trying to prepare the powers that be for the unintended consequences.

We have expressed coaches’ opposition to outright free agency, but if the one-time transfer does pass, the NABC has also recommended a series of parameters that we feel would need to be in place. Personally, I also support a rule change that would allow players to transfer and be immediately eligible if their head coach leaves or gets dismissed.”

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Coaches have had to adjust how they interact with players and staff during the pandemic. Do you think any of these changes will continue even after life returns to normal?

Dixon: “The pandemic is going to have a huge impact on our game, from transfer waivers, budgets, staffing, recruiting and professional development, just to name a few.”

How have you encouraged and led your team during the pandemic?

Dixon: “Our school completely shut down. Only two of our players stayed in town. The communication has been constant, with two Zoom meetings every week with the full team and staff and constant phone calls – all with an emphasis on academics. I now realize even more how much time we spend with our players on and off the court.”

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The NABC has broadcast over 100 online coaching webinars in recent months. Why is continuing education so vital for coaches?

Dixon: “The webinars were a positive outcome from the pandemic. We had planned for in-person coaching clinics this spring but had to shift. We put together a very impressive lineup of speakers – talented coaches from every level of our game taking time to share their knowledge with others. Thom McDonald, who moderates the webinars, has been a great addition to the NABC Board of Directors for his advocacy for two-year colleges, but even more so for his background in coaching education. I also can’t thank the NABC staff enough for their hard work in putting these together on short notice.

Coaches should never stop trying to get better at what we do. And with most of us having some extra time on our hands in recent months, these webinars have filled an important need and hopefully made an impact on our profession that will be felt for years.”

Can you provide an update on the search for the next NABC Executive Director to succeed Jim Haney?

Dixon: “Jim Haney has done unbelievable things with the organization and college basketball during his 29 years of leadership. We can’t thank Jim enough, and the next Executive Director has big shoes to fill.

Though Jim is under contract to serve as the Executive Director until September 2021, we have begun the search process. We are very encouraged by the backgrounds and diversity of a very strong candidate pool.”

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NAIA DIVISION I CHRIS COFFEY Georgetown College

NAIA DIVISION II KYLE MANGAS Indiana Wesleyan University

NJCAA JAYDEN SCRUBB John A. Logan College

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NAIA DIVISION I AUSTIN JOHNSON Lewis-Clark State College

NAIA DIVISION II MIKE MCBRIDE Holy Cross College

NJCAA MIKE APPLE Sandhills Community College

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NABC HONOR AWARDS Each year, the NABC presents Honor Awards to member coaches who have reached significant milestones in their careers, beginning with 300 victories.

This year, Thomas Jefferson University’s Herb Magee, in his 53rd season as head coach, won his 1,100th game during an exceptional season with a 27-4 won-lost record. Magee’s overall coaching record is 1,123-444, a winning percentage of .717.

Here are all of the NABC member coaches who received Honor Awards following the 20192020 season.

1,100 Wins: Herb Magee, Thomas Jefferson University 900 Wins: Jay Harrington, Southwestern Illinois College 800 Wins: Ken DeWeese, The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor 700 Wins: Rick Barnes, University of Tennessee; Kevin O’Connor, North Platte Community College; Bill Self, University of Kansas 600 Wins: Steve Alford, University of Nevada; Paul Hogan, Concord’s Community College; Mike Nienaber, Delta State University

500 Wins: Terry Butterfield, University of Texas at Dallas; Warren Caruso, Husson University; Pat Cunningham, Trinity University; Greg Giovanine, Augustana College; Jeff Jones, Old Dominion University; Charles Katsiaficas, Pomona-Pitzer Colleges; Ron Lievense, Barton College; Greg McDermott, Creighton University; Dick Meader, University of Maine Farmington; Scott Nagy, Wright State University; Dave Niland, Penn State University-Behrend; Bob Rukavina, University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown 400 Wins: Keith Bunkenburg, Benedictine University; Randy Casey, Milwaukee Area Technical College; Steve Christiansen, Triton College; Mike DeWitt, Ohio Wesleyan University; Jamie Dixon, TCU; Travis Ford, Saint Louis University; Damon Goodwin, Capital University; Jim Hayford, University of Seattle; Greg Kamansky, Cal Poly Pomona University; Matt Margenthaler, Minnesota State University; Bob Marlin, University of Louisiana at Lafayette; Greg Mason, Centre College; Chuck McBreen, Ramapo College; Joe Mihalich, Hofstra University; Sean Miller, University of Arizona; John Pigatti, South Suburban College; Jeff Price, Lynn University; Jeff Rekeweg, Northwood University; Bill Robinson, Milligan College; Greg Sparling, University of Alaska Fairbanks; Jim Whitesell, University of Buffalo 300 Wins: Dave Balza, Palm Beach Atlantic University; Chuck Benson, Carson-Newman University; Terry Bowe, Lakeland Community College; Grady Brewer, Morehouse College; Will Brown, University at Albany; Tim Cluess, Iona College; Paul Combs, Carroll University; Mark Fox, University of California; Mike McConathy, Northwestern State University; Mike McGrath, University of Chicago; Ritchie McKay, Liberty University; Billy Mims, Florida Institute of Technology; Chris Mooney, University of Richmond; Jeff Price, Sinclair Community College; Mike Rhoades, Virginia Commonwealth University; Mike Schauer, Wheaton College; Josh Schertz, Lincoln Memorial University; Mark Schmidt, St. Bonaventure University; Rich Sutter, Westfield State University; Mike Young, Virginia Tech

Coach awards presented by Wilson NABC Division I Coach of the Year – Anthony Grant, University of Dayton NABC Division II Coach of the Year – Ben McCollum, Northwest Missouri State University NABC Division III Coach of the Year – Landry Kosmalski, Swarthmore College NABC NAIA Division I Coach of the Year – Austin Johnson, Lewis-Clark State College NABC NAIA Division II Coach of the Year – Mike McBride, Holy Cross College NABC NJCAA Coach of the Year – Mike Apple, Sandhills Community College Outstanding High School Coach – Anthony Thomas, Woodward Academy Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award – Will Brown, Albany University

Player awards presented by ShotTracker NABC Division I Player of the Year – Obi Toppin, University of Dayton NABC Division II Player of the Year – Brett Hanson, Florida Southern College NABC Division III Player of the Year – Nate West, LeTourneau University NABC NAIA Division I Player of the Year – Chris Coffey, Georgetown College NABC NAIA Division II Player of the Year – Kyle Mangas, Indiana Wesleyan University NABC NJCAA Player of the Year – Jayden Scrubb, John A. Logan College NABC Division I Defensive Player of the Year (presented by Marriott Bonvoy) – Udoka Azubuike, University of Kansas NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year – Luka Garza, University of Iowa NABC Freshman of the Year (presented by adidas) – Vernon Carey, Jr., Duke University

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UNDER ARMOUR

30 30

2020 NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year

Luka Garza

University of Iowa

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TEAM

This award signifies 30 of the most promising NABC coaches under the age of 30.

Ben Asher Rutgers University Brandon Chambers Texas Southern University Nate Champion Le Moyne College Dorian Green University of Northern Colorado David Harris Northern Kentucky University Ryan Hyland John Jay College of Criminal Justice Taylor Johnson Grand Valley State University Trevor Johnson Buena Vista University Blake Justice Valdosta State University Erich Kaempffe Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Emerson Kampen Butler University Mikel Kosich University of South Alabama Dan Madhavapallil Marquette University David Metzendorf U.S. Air Force Academy Jamison Montgomery Menlo College Patrick Moynihan Appalachian State University Will Murphy Wofford College John Ritzdorf Central Community College Ty Sampson University of Louisville Dylan Seikel St. John Fisher College Shiva Senthil SUNY Canton Evan Sizemore Palm Beach Atlantic University Jeff Slanovec Fairleigh Dickinson U.—Florham Mike Sotsky Harvard University Tommy Strine Lamar University Ford Stuen Saint Louis University Bobby Suarez Eastern Washington University Stefan Thompson Hobart College Charlie Wallrapp Clarke University Tyler Wayman Rogers State University

2020 NABC Defensive Player of the Year (presented by Marriott Bonvoy)

Udoka Azubuike

University of Kansas

2020 NABC Freshman of the Year (presented by adidas)

Vernon Carey, Jr.

Duke University

Diversity, Inclusion and Justice Just as our country was beginning to open up after months of suffering from COVID-19 with no real end in sight and more than 110,000 lives lost, a series of tragic killings has ignited a firestorm against racial injustice with more than 1,000 protests across all 50 states and numerous foreign countries.

In response to the issues associated with racial injustice both within intercollegiate athletics and society at large, the NABC has formed a committee, chaired by South Carolina head coach Frank Martin and populated by a collection of coaches and administrators, to address diversity, inclusion and justice.

Martin, a first generation Cuban American, grew up in Miami and agreed to chair the committee because he has experienced incidents of racial profiling himself. A bigger concern for the Gamecocks’ coach is the well-being of his players, a concern shared by collegiate coaches.

“We have the most power because we are educating minorities and giving them a chance,” said Martin. “We have fought for our studentathletes to be successful and we need to continue that fight.”

“The NABC spends significant time on important issues in our sport such as transfers and the recruiting calendar, but they pale in significance to the racial conflicts our country is currently facing and the underlying issues that got us to this point,” said NABC president and TCU head coach Jamie Dixon. “Our hope is that this committee and the list of recommendations can leverage the platforms we have as coaches to help bring about needed change.”

The members of the NABC board of directors, in lengthy discussions, magnified the need for college campuses in general to offer more opportunities for students of color, including internships within athletic departments.

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“How many times do we allow players to have internships? It’s one thing to get a degree but how do they have an opportunity to get a job,” said Missouri head coach Cuonzo Martin.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari is also a proponent of internships, which he discussed on a webinar on June 5 with several other coaches.

“We can start by getting athletic departments on campuses to utilize the internships so these young people will get jobs. I am going to try to get that going at Kentucky as there would be many opportunities with training staff, communications, video positions to give these young people experience to secure positions.”

At Harvard, head coach Tommy Amaker utilizes a breakfast club where academic and community leaders and special guests gather for breakfast, originally to help Amaker become acclimated to Harvard and Boston. The coach cycles his players into the monthly meetings.

“It’s something coaches might do or may do already – create an environment where they are supported and encouraged to be involved in campus groups and activities,” Amaker said. “If the players are involved on campuses, they’re looked upon as different people, not just athletes.

We need to make sure the players seem safe and secure on the campus first and then expand on that.”

Many coaches have been encouraged by the diversity of the groups protesting across the nation, including Ernie Kent, former Oregon head coach and a past president of the NABC. He watched one of the protests for about an hour. ‘’Ninety-five percent of them were white and young,’’ said Kent, who also played for the Ducks.

“They were carrying ‘Black Lives Matter’ signs,

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‘Protect our Freedom,’ and all these things were coming out of them.’’

facing a giant problem and the solutions are not easy – but that can’t stop us from trying,” said Izzo.

Another past president, Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo emphasized the need for everyone to come together.

“For a country that has many wonderful diverse cultures, we have to stand together as Americans.

We must stand together for human rights and against racism.”

“If we’re going to fight racism, it’s a burden we all share, regardless of the color of our skin. We are

RECOMMENDED ACTION STEPS FOR COACHES • TEAM COMMUNICATION • • Hold an in-person or virtual team meeting to discuss current events and racial injustice.

Convey what these issues mean to you personally and encourage student-athletes and staff to be open with personal experiences, fears and questions.

• Reinforce the team’s commitment to diversity and inclusion. Stress the benefits of diversity in all aspects of society and how it helps raise awareness of injustice and unfairness.

• Share your team’s feedback, concerns and plan of action with senior athletics department and campus leadership.

• STUDENT-ATHLETE ENGAGEMENT • • Establish Election Day as an annual team day off.

• CONNECT WITH INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LEADERS • • Hold an in-person or virtual team meeting with local law enforcement leaders.

• Hold an in-person or virtual team meeting with athletics department and/or campus diversity and inclusion leaders.

• Frequently invite successful minorities from a range of occupations and backgrounds to address the team.

• BECOME AN ADVOCATE • • Establish an influential voice on campus and in the local community. Contact local media to share insight on the issues; speak at or attend a local rally; offer to facilitate a summit with local law enforcement, political and civic leaders.

• Encourage all student-athletes and staff to register and then to vote in all local and national elections.

• Consider making a personal financial contribution to a social justice-related charitable organization of your studentathletes’ collective choice.

• Encourage student-athlete engagement with campus and/or community organizations that support social justice. Adjust team schedules as necessary to allow for extracurricular activity.

• COMMIT TO LEARNING •

• Provide resources and help connect studentathletes with experts on how to pursue future careers of influence, such as law enforcement, political office teaching and coaching.

• Schedule a team visit to the campus and/or community black culture center.

• Invite campus African American studies faculty to address the team.

• Encourage student-athletes to read a variety of perspectives and viewpoints.

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MANAGING STUDENTATHLETE WELL-BEING IN THE PANDEMIC The COVID-19 pandemic has forced college sports into an unprecedented time of uncertainty with the closure of campuses and the cancellation of events and competitions. While campus and athletics administrators grapple with the complexities of returning to campus, a recent survey of 37,658 NCAA student-athletes reported that many participants have experienced high rates of mental distress.

said. “In males, depression often comes out in anger, irritability, shutting down emotions, a shorter temper and having more conflicts. Be mindful when addressing it and refer to counselors if appropriate.”

The survey, conducted by NCAA research in collaboration with the Sport Science Institute and the Divisions I, II and III National Student-Athlete Advisory Committee boards, reported sobering results that may help inform how you prepare to welcome your studentathletes back to campus.

In addition to mental health considerations, Dr. Jessica Mohler, a clinical and sport psychologist and assistant director of the Midshipmen Development Center at the U.S. Naval Academy, suggests it may be helpful to relate a student-athlete’s current experiences to their sport experiences.

While participants reported feeling positive or very positive about the support they are receiving from their coaches during this time, they also reported the pandemic has caused stress and anxiety.

More than a quarter of the student-athletes who responded reported feeling sadness and a sense of loss constantly. One in 12 reported feeling so depressed that it has been difficult to function most days.

The survey results showed that mental health concerns were highest among respondents of color, those whose families are facing economic hardship, college seniors and those living alone.

WHAT YOU CAN DO Dr. L. Kenneth Chew, director of the Indiana State Student Counseling Center, said that prior to the pandemic, the No. 1 mental health issue with young adults was anxiety.

“It is important for coaches to be aware that anxiety will be there and will be more pervasive than before, and there may be an increase in depression,” Chew

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The recently published NCAA Resocialization Action Plan highlights the importance of mental health considerations as student-athletes return to campus.

“Make connections between what they are learning now about controlling what you can control and staying in the moment,” said Mohler, who is also chair of the NCAA Committee on Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports. “For example, coaches may consider asking, “What are you learning now that you can apply to your sport when you return?”

RETURN TO CAMPUS WILL BE AN ADJUSTMENT “A lot of student-athletes have been playing their sport since they were young, and this could be the first real break since they started,” Chew said. “Recognize that some may have had a grief period where they mourned the loss of sport and being around their teammates.”

There will be an adjustment period for everyone — coaches, staff and student-athletes — when returning to campus. School staff can help in a number of ways, including by providing stability, establishing a new routine and simply being there and being supportive of student-athletes’ mental health.

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FOCUS ON YOUR OWN MENTAL HEALTH Chew and Mohler agree that coaches should also consider focusing on something that can sometimes be forgotten: their own mental health.

“Think about the impact of modeling healthy behaviors,” Mohler said. “Or trying some of the recommendations, getting creative and sharing what works for you.”

The pandemic may have added additional pressure on coaches, and Chew shared that a coach’s mental health can trickle down to staff and student-athletes.

“How a coach progresses through it can be indicative of how the team progresses through it,” he said.

“Athletics departments should contemplate the idea that coaches may need help or assistance and should consider how they can facilitate those needs in a way that will have a positive impact on the team.”

CONSIDERATIONS FOR STUDENT-ATHLETES Dr. Jessica Mohler suggests that while most studentathletes will get through this, some will struggle a little more. When student-athletes feel heard and cared for, they may be more willing to open up, which may allow others to identify who may need more support.

Below are ideas that schools may want to explore with their student-athletes: 1. Develop a routine or schedule. Write it down and share it.

2. Identify and prioritize basic needs. Eat regular meals, get sleep at night and exercise, even if it’s not the workout they are used to when they are with the team.

3. Learn a new activity. Boredom is not that there is nothing to do, but a desire to be more mentally engaged. Learning something new can increase engagement.

SPORT SCIENCE INSTITUTE MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES Visit ncaa.org/ssi to access the following information: •N CAA Coaches Assist: Get tools to have meaningful conversations about well-being.

•S upporting student-athlete mental wellness: Find interactive educational modules for studentathletes and coaches that help promote mental wellness and encourage and destigmatize helpseeking for mental health concerns.

4. Explore mindfulness, which is simply a psychological state of awareness without judgment. There are apps, including Headspace, Calm and Aura. Find what works.

5. C onnect socially. Be intentional.

6. L imit media. Select limited news sources and stick to them.

7.

Think about the “why.” Thinking about what this means will help you move through your experience.

8. S eek help if needed. Identify and use campus mental health resources.

•M ental health fact sheets: Find more information to help understand mental health disorders and how to break the stigma.

•M ental health best practices: Review the seminal publication to help support college athlete mental health and wellness.

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The NHSBCA is Busy All Year Long

by Greg Grantham, Board of Directors Member, NHSBCA “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill As our nation, and indeed the world, grapples with the uncertainty of what life will look like in the “new normal” postcoronavirus, coaches across the country are struggling to balance the ideas of what can we do to best support and help our players, while at the same time keeping them safe.

It certainly appears as though there are far more questions than there are answers these days. To complicate matters even more, it seems that each state, each agency, each athletic governing body has varying guidelines and protocols for what activities and parameters are indeed “safe” in the attempt to return to athletic training and workouts.

Furthermore, each week brings changes to these guidelines.

As a coach attempting to cypher through all of these rules and procedures, while weighing the risks versus rewards for your players, its feels like you are trying to hit an invisible, moving target while blindfolded. It is indeed a challenging time to be a basketball coach.

With all that said, these unusual, unprecedented times with all of their challenges have presented coaches with unique opportunities for personal and professional growth, as well as afforded them new opportunities to teach life lessons about resiliency and overcoming adversity to our players. As Winston Churchill once said, “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Coaches across the country, at all levels, have seized upon these difficulties related to coronavirus and quarantines in order to increase our professional knowledge and expand our personal network with other colleagues.

The sharing of ideas, philosophies, strategies, as well as the collaboration in formulating ways to stay connected with our players, has been truly remarkable. Coaches who could barely check their own email back in March and had never sent a text message in their lives, have become proficient in joining virtual meetings through ZOOM, TEAMS and other digital platforms. These difficult circumstances have forced us to connect with our teams and individual players in ways that we never would have considered otherwise. In many instances, players have been able to share more about their personal lives, their mental health and their commitment to improvement with their coaches, strengthening those relationships, than would have been possible in an ordinary post-season.

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While the NHSBCA and high school coaches across the country were extremely disappointed that the NCAA’s extension of the Dead Period through June and July forced the cancellation of Scholastic Events this summer, we completely supported that decision to protect the health and safety of players, coaches, officials and spectators at these events. The NHSBCA and our member state coaches associations were all very pleased with the success of those events last summer. The feedback that we received from college coaches and the NCAA staff has been used to help us make slight modifications that we feel confident will make future events even better. We have been working collaboratively with the NCAA, NABC and the National Federation of High Schools in order to hopefully find other dates later this year to provide opportunities for players to be evaluated in the scholastic setting. We know that there are for-profit, non-scholastic entities that are anxious to fill the vacuum that has been created by the cancellation of our June Scholastic events, as well as the NCAA’s College Basketball Academies in July. However, the NHSBCA and our member state associations feel it is important that evaluation events in the scholastic setting be provided. All of the feedback we received from college coaches last summer revealed that scholastic events provided unique evaluation opportunities that were extremely beneficial. Working through these difficulties has only served to strengthen the partnerships between our respective organizations (NHSBCA, NABC, NCAA and NFHS).

None of us have that crystal ball which will reveal exactly when our lives and the great game of basketball will be restored back to normal, nor what that “new normal” will actually look like. Nevertheless, I am convinced we will come back – and the comeback will be greater than the setback.

When the nets are being cut down at the end of future seasons and we look back on 2020, hopefully we will be able to slightly paraphrase Dickens’ immortal line and say, “It was the worst of times, but we made the best of those times.”

About the NHSBCA The National High School Basketball Coaches Association also serves as the High School Congress of the NABC. About thirty-five state basketball coaches’ associations and representatives of some states that do not have a basketball coaches association work together to improve scholastic basketball and scholastic coaches. The NHSBCA is the national voice for high school basketball coaches, working to foster high standards of professionalism and to support coaches. The NHSBCA conducts two general meetings per year, one at the NABC Convention and the other in July.

Additionally, the NHSBCA Executive Committee conducts monthly phone conference meetings. For additional information about the NHSBCA, visit www.NHSBCA.org.

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NCAA Eligibility Center responds to COVID-19 with waiver relief With the unprecedented events during the Spring and Summer 2020 school semesters due to COVID-19, the NCAA Eligibility Center partnered with the NCAA membership to identify adjustments to the initial-eligibility certification process.

On April 17, the Eligibility Center released the first of several adjustments to the initialeligibility process, including an automatic waiver and decisions related to receipt of test scores, among others.

The release on April 17 of the EC’s COVID-19 Automatic Waiver omits the requirement of an ACT or SAT score being on file for seniors graduating Spring/ Summer 2020. To qualify, student-athletes must also meet the following criteria: For student-athletes planning to play for an NCAA Division I school: • M eet the core-course progression requirement for NCAA-approved core courses (10 core units, seven of which must be in English, math or science) before start of their seventh semester; and • P resent a 2.300 or higher core-course GPA in such courses.

The release on April 17 of the EC’s COVID-19 Automatic Waiver omits the requirement of an ACT or SAT score being on file for seniors graduating Spring/Summer 2020.

For student-athletes planning to play for an NCAA Division II school: • C omplete 10 NCAA-approved core course units before start of their seventh semester; and • P resent a 2.200 or higher core-course GPA in such courses.

College-bound student-athletes who meet criteria will be able to receive athletic aid, practice and compete upon arriving at their NCAA Division I or Division II campus. Since May 1, more than 31,000 college-bound student-athletes have qualified for and received this waiver. However, the COVID-19 Automatic Waiver applies only for students who are expected to graduate Spring/Summer 2020.

For student-athletes who do not meet the criteria for the COVID-19 Automatic Waiver but present 10 corecourse units prior to the start of their seventh semester and have at least a 2.0 GPA in those courses, they will receive a partially-approved waiver providing the benefits of Academic Redshirt (DI) and Partial Qualifier (DII) status at the time of final certification.

If neither set of COVID-19 Automatic Waiver criteria is met, the student should continue to work toward meeting legislated Division I or II initialeligibility requirements and submit all transcripts, test scores and proof of graduation to the Eligibility Center.

A student-athlete can find out if they quality for either waiver by checking their status within their Eligibility Center account. For more information on the Eligibility Center’s COVID-19 response, please visit https://on.ncaa.com/ COVID-19_FAQ. A list of released updates can be viewed by visiting https://on.ncaa.com/EC_COVID.

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The Longest “Time Out”

by Carey Casey, CEO & President of Championship Fathering This Coronavirus pandemic has been a very interesting and challenging time for all of us. Of course, it’s been a life-anddeath struggle for some, and I can barely imagine what it’s like to lose a loved one in a situation like this.

“ All of our lives have taken on a slower pace; maybe your eyes have been opened to the advantages of being still and less busy.”

For most of us, though, it’s been more of a difficult interruption in our routines that will ultimately change how we define “normal.” In basketball terms, maybe this has been like the longest and perhaps toughest “time out” that we’ve ever been part of.

Many of us consider the Final Four to be a very significant weekend in our lives each year, and it disappeared from the calendar. This “time out” shut down the richest athletes in the world in the NBA as well as other multi-billion-dollar sports leagues.

But the most significant impact goes way beyond sports. Once-in-a-lifetime events like graduations, weddings, and funerals have been drastically altered, delayed, or limited to only a few people. Grandparents have been able to show love to their children and grandchildren only by phone, video chat, or maybe through a window.

And there are husbands and wives who couldn’t visit their spouse in the hospital as they fought for their lives and possibly faced their final moments on earth. Those are very real-life challenges.

Thinking about your coaching role, why do you call a time out? From my experience, it’s usually when things aren’t going your way and you need to give your players a rest and a drink, remind them about strategy, and possibly change their perspective on what’s happening in the game: “We’re still in this.” “It’s not that bad.” Also, there’s usually some encouragement. Maybe you or another coach will put your hand on a player’s back or look him in the eyes and say, “You can do this” or something similar.

In the best scenarios, the players respond with renewed effort and focus. You can probably think of examples where a coach called time out in a key situation and it resulted in a change of momentum or a winning play.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.

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So now, as “players” in this arena of life, there’s a big question that most of us need to answer. A “coach” somewhere called “time out” and gave us an opportunity to rest, re-set, and get a new perspective on our lives.

What are we supposed to learn or change because of this? What adjustments will help us succeed in our various roles once our daily routines become more “normal”?

It’s similar to when people deny themselves something for Lent, or they fast from food or media for a given time. Part of the benefit is to get clarity about how much we depend on the thing we’re going without. It accentuates the role that thing has played in our lives. I believe this “time out” quarantine experience can have similar positive results, if we let it.

All of our lives have taken on a slower pace; maybe your eyes have been opened to the advantages of being still and less busy.

You’ve probably had more time with your spouse and children at home, and perhaps there have been some “for better or worse” moments with them. Maybe your lesson is about investing more of yourself in them all the time.

Maybe you and your spouse became your children’s primary educators when schools closed and you were with them at home every day. That was surely challenging, but also eye-opening as you learned more about what’s happening in their education and what their strengths and challenges are. Maybe you can be more involved in that area going forward.

Except for highlights of past games, basketball or any other sports aren’t on TV. Maybe that’s a prompting for you to spend more time and energy pursuing other priorities.

Finally, maybe what you need is encouragement or to be told, “You can do it.” I hope you and your spouse, if you’re married, provide that for each other. And I hope this regular column in each issue of Time Out is a strong dose of encouragement. Please don’t forget how vital and influential you can be in the lives of your players, and especially your children.

Carey Casey is CEO, President, and the author of Championship Fathering. He has also authored the book Championship Grandfathering: How to Build a Winning Legacy and is the general editor of the book 21-Day Dad’s Challenge: Three Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Kids. Carey and his wife Melanie live in Chicago. They are the parents of four children and have nine grandchildren. www.ChampionshipFathering.org

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OUR TIME.

by Donnell Jones, Pastor, Grace Covenant Church DC www.GraceCovDC.org

“ This is our time to shine the light.”

Describing racism, NBA great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar says it is “like dirt in the air. It seems invisible—even when you’re choking on it—until you let the sun in.

Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands.”

George Floyd’s senseless death kicks up the dust of racism, bigotry and prejudice.

The world watched 8 minutes 43 seconds of 400 years of injustice. Every time a black person is killed unjustly, we are coughing.

We are choking and we can’t breathe.

The civil rights movement shined the light brightly in the 1960s exposing the injustice of segregation and so much more.

Blacks, Whites, Jews and others united together to take a stand against evil. That generation has so much to teach us today.

To use a sports analogy, it would be like the Kobe Bryant generation learning from the Michael Jordan generation. The generation that grew up watching Kobe maintains that Kobe more than Michael Jordan is the G.O.A.T. Playground arguments, barbershop talk, locker room debates are common spaces to make your point as to who is the Greatest Of All Time.

The Last Dance, ESPN’s 10 episodes of Michael Jordan and The Chicago Bulls era, unfolded the journey and history of their basketball greatness. As a result, the Kobe generation got to see more than just clips from the past. They were immersed in it as many gained an appreciation that could not have been understood otherwise.

A young Kobe shows up on the court facing a veteran Jordan. Eager to learn from one of the best, Kobe asks MJ to coach him up. He calls MJ to ask, to learn, to win. When asked about how he stacks up to MJ, Kobe himself says c’mon man, he’s the reason I do what I do.

That’s when the thought of generational transfer comes to mind. Today’s generation is facing and fighting against racism, bigotry and prejudice. Many have seen just the clips of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s. Clips of the water hoses, the dogs, and clips of Bull O’Connor. But they have not been immersed in an understanding of that generation and how they prevailed.

Dr. King’s heart for God caused him to partner with whites, blacks, Jews and other ethnic people to stand together as one with “nonviolent direct action” to address the social and spiritual ills of the day.

God’s hand on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the civil rights movement of the 1960’s changed the landscape of America. King spoke of a dream. He said I have been to the mountain top; I have seen the promised land. I might not get there with you, but I will get there one day.

I want to implore you, coach, to find a way to have you and your team to get coached up by the generation that went before us. Go beyond the clips and call on them to speak to you and your team, coach you up and immerse you in an understanding of how they fought and won significant grounds for our nation. As a team read together Dr. King’s book, Why We Can’t Wait.

Let the previous generation coach you so together we can take our stand.

We are once again at a pivotal movement in our nation. This is our time not only to denounce racism but to pursue reconciliation. This is our time to shine the light.

Pastor Donnell Jones is pastor of Grace Covenant Church in Washington, D.C., Character Coach for the Maryland Terrapins and Chaplain of the NABC.

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the NABC.

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C L I N I C

How to Not Plan a Bad Practice Landry Kosmalski Head Coach, Swarthmore College In writing this article about practice planning, I plan to eschew the normal coaching clichés. If you have been a head coach for more than two to three years, you have (hopefully) figured out what type of practice layout and style works best for you and your team. So instead of trying to talk you into re-inventing the wheel, I would like to offer two simple mentality tweaks.

The first is to prioritize repetitions (thank you, Bob McKillop). At least once a week we tell our players: “reps are our religion.”

When planning your practice, attempt to choreograph it so that lines are short, groups are small, and the pace is fast. Why? Well, let’s allow math to tell the story: let’s say you squeeze in even one more repetition per player per practice. With 15 players and six practices a week, you are getting 90 more reps a week, 360 more reps a month and roughly 1750 more reps a season than your opponent.

What if we really get creative and use side baskets, better incorporate our statue-esque, under-utilized assistants, and – possibly the toughest adjustment for all of us – shut our damn mouths every once in a while? Now we are getting five, ten, maybe even twenty more reps and…well, you can do the math. If we get more shots up, more shells drills in, and cut a few of these supposedly important water breaks, the chance of us being victorious when we meet our overly-hydrated, slothpaced practicing opponents increases exponentially.

While increasing repetitions is important, enhancement is really the name of the game. Let’s use free throws as an example: Bad: “Ok fellows, let’s get five guys on a basket and jackleg around for 14 minutes.” (insert smh emoji here) Good: “Everyone get a partner, shoot 10 free throws, and tell us how many you make.” (Eh) Better: “Alright, two guys to a basket, shoot 10 and rotate, you are competing against your partner, and the loser runs.” (still kind of eh) Even Better Yet: “Today we have three and a half minutes to shoot five 1-and-1s plus one because shooting 10 is for posers and 11 is for winners (thank you, The Program LLC) and if you miss the front-end you are 0-2 and if you make 10 or 11 you win and earn pushups because why should losers get stronger (ditto, The Program LLC) and if both you and your partner win you earn double pushups and while you are shooting one coach is going to stop by and simulate our offensive free throw action and another coach is going to randomly yell out a name so we can all get eyes on you to simulate a pressure free throw and we will cheer like crazy if you make it and silently

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shame you if you miss and if you are slow-footed as hell you are going to be wearing out our 30 year old jump ropes when you are not shooting and oh by the way the team goal is 84.5% and if we achieve it we all earn six pushups because, again, five is for suckers” (let’s go win some championships!).

We try to have this mentality for every drill when planning practice: should we have the shot clock higher on defensive drills to promote adversity but lower on offensive drills to encourage a faster pace? Before going into a hostile environment, can we pump some Metallica to mess with their minds because, really, can an opposing crowd possibly be more distracting than Master of Puppets at full volume? When keeping score during a competition, can we make offensive turnovers -4 and fouls -3 to discourage those behaviors? When someone turns it over our “turnover consequence” is an automatic: a teammate (you’re not hurting yourself, Mr. Center of the Damn Universe, you’re hurting the team) takes off for a down and back while our manager flips over a “turnover card” taped to the edge of the scorer’s table so that our players have a visual and can track how many needless blunders we have during practice (thank you, Xavier Men’s Basketball). The same is true for an offensive rebound: those defenders that created the greatest of sins immediately sprint to the sideline for a friendly three Burpie “reminder.”

Also, how many times as head coaches have we beat ourselves up for a missed teaching point in practices that cost us a game? We taught them about arm extension and talk on ball screen defense, but the angle at which our guard got over the screen and our Big not being in a stance led to us getting abused and therefore beat. Our solution? Dole out observation responsibilities to the coaching staff: Shane and Bill, you watch the guards and correct them if they don’t blitz the ball; Ryan, you watch the Bigs and to ensure they are down and talking loudly; TJ, you watch the wing to remind them to support high on the roll; Landry, assign yourself something specific, but then never remember and just encroach on all of your assistants’ responsibilities. Alright, let’s roll.

In sum, don’t plan the same old, tired practices. Your players are bored and, let’s be honest, you kind of hate yourself a little bit more each day. Simply find a way to create more repetitions and enhance your solid – albeit somewhat boring – drills and you will undoubtedly be pleased with the result. If you have ideas for how to increase repetitions and overall practice enhancement, please email me because I would love to hear them. My email address is landry@swarthmore.edu – at least until I get furloughed (thank you, COVID-19).

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Transition Break Anthony Grant Head Coach, University of Dayton

The first thing to understand about our Transition Break is that MOST of the players are interchangeable. The 5&4 can be in either spot (“rim runner” or “trailing”) and the 1, 2, 3, & 4 can all push the ball or run to the corner. However, for the sake of simplicity, we will show the 1 bringing the ball up, the 2 & 3 running the wings, the 4 trail, and the 5 rim run. As the 1 pushes the ball up the floor, he first looks to see if he can pass the ball ahead to the 2 or the 3 for layup. If that pass is not available, the 2 & the 3 need to run wide on the sideline and ideally run to ideally the corner to keep the floor spaced.

His second Ballscreen option is that he can set a Middle Ballscreen to allow the 1 (ballhandler) to get downhill to the middle of the floor. Most of the time, the 5 then rolls to the rim and the 1 can read the floor.

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The next options of the Transition Break are now based off the reads of the 5 and the 1. If the 5 can rim run for an over-the-top pass, then he should run to the rim or post as deep as possible in the paint or on one of the blocks. However, if that pass or postup is not available, he then has various Ballscreen options.

The third Ballscreen option is where the 4 also decides to set a Ballscreen, while the 5 is setting a Ballscreen. This happens naturally in a game and often forces the defense to communicate early in the possession. Here, the 5 is setting the Angle Ballscreen and the 4 also goes into a Ballscreen from his trailing position. The 1 can use either Ballscreen. The 4 typically will pop and the 5 will typically roll, regardless of which screen the 1 uses.

Once the 5 realizes that he won’t get the over-the-top pass or a deep post-up, then he can stop rim running and decide to set a Ballscreen. His first Ballscreen option is that he can set an Angle Ballscreen to allow the 1 (ball-handler) to get downhill on the sideline. Most of the time, the 5 then rolls to the rim and the 1 can read the floor.

In the same context, if the 5 is setting a Middle Ballscreen and the 4 also decides to set a Ballscreen, the 1 now comes off the Double High Ballscreen. Again, the 4 typically will pop and the 5 will typically roll.

Where this Transition Break becomes even more effective is when the ball can continue to move after these Ballscreens and the other Offensive Players on the court can read & react off of one another and where the pass is made. Being able to Flow and keep the ball moving and players moving quickly allows for an offensive attack to be efficient and effective.

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