Just returned from the Tubby Smith radio show once again and thought I'd give everyone a brief synopsis of what he said. As always, Tubby was very friendly, charismatic, and just a nice person overall. Always good going and getting to see and meet him.
Northwestern Game
-said the biggest issue was turnovers. Mentioned that he gives guys like Oto a little slack because he is a freshman, but was most disappointed with Rodney and Ralph as they are Juniors and Seniors. That they need to do a better job of being stronger with the ball and protecting the ball.
-Talked about how the coaches tried to prepare them for the 1-3-1. When practicing against it, they had the defenders hold large shields. Literally, large shields to simulate playing against that zone. Said they spend a lot of time working on going against the 1-3-1.
-Said they didn't do a good job of forcing NU out of the 1-3-1, in the home game they forced Northwestern to miss shots and got rebounds and transition points as well as did a better job against the zone too and forced NU to play a style that helped the Gophers.
-Talked about Joe Coleman, that as a coaching staff they try and do a good job of positive reinforcement. Said that they always tell Joe that they trust his jump shot and he needs to as well. That when he catches the ball, his first instinct is always to attack whether that is there or not. That he needs to look to trust his jump shot as well. Said he does the same drills as Austin, Andre, and Julien and he should have the confidence to shoot like them, because the staff has that confidence in him.
-Also talked about how hard Joe works and how much he loved Joe's attitude and effort in the NU game and overall. Tubby seems to really like Coleman. He has easily been the player he talks about most and it is with praise 90% of the team.
-As far as turnovers, he mentioned that a lot of guys got frustrated with the 1-3-1 and then they start to do things incorrectly. That guys think how can I score when they should think how can I help my teammates score. Not thinking, I need to score more, but think, I need to screen harder or I need to cut harder to create open looks. Said guys start to rush and panic and do things that are not fundamentally sound. That the key against that 1-3-1 is patience and if everyone is cutting and screening and finding seams in the zone, there will be an opening.
-Talked about Elliot that he missed a few opportunities and that even when he gets fouled, he misses free throws. Didn't say this as a knock on EE, but parlayed it into when that starts to happen, guys think too much and get into their own head too much. The missed shot, then missing free throws, being on the road against the zone and guys lose confidence and think too much.
Misc.
-Talked about how they usually practice and do certain drills for a set amount of time, but this week they have been staying longer on certain drills if the quality has warranted it. As in, they do the drill until they get it right.
-Talked about how guys still do what most of us did in Middle and High School that they'll "hide" in the back of the line for a drill to try and use it as a break or he will see Kendall Shell doing a drill over and over again while guys who actually play are resting. Said he has to keep coaches close by to make sure everyone is doing the drills and not taking breaks.
-Side note, they were in practice before the show and were running killers and then shooting 1 and 1 free throws (and if you miss you have to run more). Something many of us have done in our playing days.
-Talked about that when he played, sometimes the coach would actually hold practice after games if they didn't play well.
Jerry Kill
-Jerry Kill also was on the show with Tubby. They talked about that Jerry actually started out as a basketball coach and Tubby started out as a football coach when they got their starts student teaching.
-Talked about how important it is that football and basketball work together. That football recruits via basketball games and basketball recruits via football games. Tubby mentioned a lot of players never actually see a basketball game, because they go to football games since that is when they are recruiting the hardest. Said this is why fans are so important. The atmosphere created at football/basketball games really plays a part in recruiting.
-Kill talked about how important Painter and Weber were for him when they both coached at Southern Illinois, their successful basketball program is what helped support the football program, Said that both told him if he brings recruits to the basketball games, they will do their part to get them to commit.
-Tubby talked about how he admired Coach Kill that he came up coaching through the ranks, much like Tubby did. Getting your start at a lower level and working hard to get to a higher level. Talked about how a strong work ethic is so important. Coach Kill mentioned that his father was really important in his growing up and whenever he walks onto the field, he is just trying to make him proud. Said that he didn't think he did as good of a job raising his daughters as his father did with him, but that it was a different time that we maybe need to go more towards again. Tubby also talked about how important his parents work ethic was.
That's all I can remember right now, if I think of more things I will be sure to add them!
Northwestern Game
-said the biggest issue was turnovers. Mentioned that he gives guys like Oto a little slack because he is a freshman, but was most disappointed with Rodney and Ralph as they are Juniors and Seniors. That they need to do a better job of being stronger with the ball and protecting the ball.
-Talked about how the coaches tried to prepare them for the 1-3-1. When practicing against it, they had the defenders hold large shields. Literally, large shields to simulate playing against that zone. Said they spend a lot of time working on going against the 1-3-1.
-Said they didn't do a good job of forcing NU out of the 1-3-1, in the home game they forced Northwestern to miss shots and got rebounds and transition points as well as did a better job against the zone too and forced NU to play a style that helped the Gophers.
-Talked about Joe Coleman, that as a coaching staff they try and do a good job of positive reinforcement. Said that they always tell Joe that they trust his jump shot and he needs to as well. That when he catches the ball, his first instinct is always to attack whether that is there or not. That he needs to look to trust his jump shot as well. Said he does the same drills as Austin, Andre, and Julien and he should have the confidence to shoot like them, because the staff has that confidence in him.
-Also talked about how hard Joe works and how much he loved Joe's attitude and effort in the NU game and overall. Tubby seems to really like Coleman. He has easily been the player he talks about most and it is with praise 90% of the team.
-As far as turnovers, he mentioned that a lot of guys got frustrated with the 1-3-1 and then they start to do things incorrectly. That guys think how can I score when they should think how can I help my teammates score. Not thinking, I need to score more, but think, I need to screen harder or I need to cut harder to create open looks. Said guys start to rush and panic and do things that are not fundamentally sound. That the key against that 1-3-1 is patience and if everyone is cutting and screening and finding seams in the zone, there will be an opening.
-Talked about Elliot that he missed a few opportunities and that even when he gets fouled, he misses free throws. Didn't say this as a knock on EE, but parlayed it into when that starts to happen, guys think too much and get into their own head too much. The missed shot, then missing free throws, being on the road against the zone and guys lose confidence and think too much.
Misc.
-Talked about how they usually practice and do certain drills for a set amount of time, but this week they have been staying longer on certain drills if the quality has warranted it. As in, they do the drill until they get it right.
-Talked about how guys still do what most of us did in Middle and High School that they'll "hide" in the back of the line for a drill to try and use it as a break or he will see Kendall Shell doing a drill over and over again while guys who actually play are resting. Said he has to keep coaches close by to make sure everyone is doing the drills and not taking breaks.
-Side note, they were in practice before the show and were running killers and then shooting 1 and 1 free throws (and if you miss you have to run more). Something many of us have done in our playing days.
-Talked about that when he played, sometimes the coach would actually hold practice after games if they didn't play well.
Jerry Kill
-Jerry Kill also was on the show with Tubby. They talked about that Jerry actually started out as a basketball coach and Tubby started out as a football coach when they got their starts student teaching.
-Talked about how important it is that football and basketball work together. That football recruits via basketball games and basketball recruits via football games. Tubby mentioned a lot of players never actually see a basketball game, because they go to football games since that is when they are recruiting the hardest. Said this is why fans are so important. The atmosphere created at football/basketball games really plays a part in recruiting.
-Kill talked about how important Painter and Weber were for him when they both coached at Southern Illinois, their successful basketball program is what helped support the football program, Said that both told him if he brings recruits to the basketball games, they will do their part to get them to commit.
-Tubby talked about how he admired Coach Kill that he came up coaching through the ranks, much like Tubby did. Getting your start at a lower level and working hard to get to a higher level. Talked about how a strong work ethic is so important. Coach Kill mentioned that his father was really important in his growing up and whenever he walks onto the field, he is just trying to make him proud. Said that he didn't think he did as good of a job raising his daughters as his father did with him, but that it was a different time that we maybe need to go more towards again. Tubby also talked about how important his parents work ethic was.
That's all I can remember right now, if I think of more things I will be sure to add them!
