How we beat the Blue Bloods...
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 9:37 am
Experience and development.
When this conference started many (hater) posters predicted that the gap between the FB P5 programs--who could pull in the best H.S. players every year--and the Big East would widen. "The BE can't compete long term," the naysayers said.
I think many coaches are starting to see how to build winning teams for March. Step 1: make sure you have older players who can physically impose their will and have the mental toughness developed over several years of being in the same system. Step 2: Build a program culture and demand that all players to buy into it.
Last year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Only one kid in the FF was a one and done.
This year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Don't think there is one kid, on any of these teams, who is one and done.
Is getting top end talent Top 20 talent a bad thing? Certainly not. But coaches should use it to fill short term gaps or help push a team over the hump. The goal should be to recruit solid/balanced classes and create a culture that stresses hard work and team. Get guys that aren't expecting to step on the floor and lead the team in scoring in year one solely because they think they are pros in waiting. Get high character guys--Delagado, Hart, Chrabacz, Blueitt--that have talent but aren't expecting to leave after a year. Surround them with a handful of other kids who want to play the game like they do. This is the recipe IMO. Develop your stars, don't just pluck them off a McD's AA tree.
I am very encouraged at what we are building. We've got great BB traditions already. We've got excellent coaches just entering their prime. We've got players who are learning how to play the game the right way. Future for the conference is very bright.
When this conference started many (hater) posters predicted that the gap between the FB P5 programs--who could pull in the best H.S. players every year--and the Big East would widen. "The BE can't compete long term," the naysayers said.
I think many coaches are starting to see how to build winning teams for March. Step 1: make sure you have older players who can physically impose their will and have the mental toughness developed over several years of being in the same system. Step 2: Build a program culture and demand that all players to buy into it.
Last year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Only one kid in the FF was a one and done.
This year's FF - Older, experienced teams. Don't think there is one kid, on any of these teams, who is one and done.
Is getting top end talent Top 20 talent a bad thing? Certainly not. But coaches should use it to fill short term gaps or help push a team over the hump. The goal should be to recruit solid/balanced classes and create a culture that stresses hard work and team. Get guys that aren't expecting to step on the floor and lead the team in scoring in year one solely because they think they are pros in waiting. Get high character guys--Delagado, Hart, Chrabacz, Blueitt--that have talent but aren't expecting to leave after a year. Surround them with a handful of other kids who want to play the game like they do. This is the recipe IMO. Develop your stars, don't just pluck them off a McD's AA tree.
I am very encouraged at what we are building. We've got great BB traditions already. We've got excellent coaches just entering their prime. We've got players who are learning how to play the game the right way. Future for the conference is very bright.