First, you might ask why discuss Tubby Smith? Tubby Smith has enjoyed unusual success as a basketball nomad...only the second coach to take five different teams to NCAA berths. His Kentucky Wildcats won the 1998 NCAA title and his teams have won over 500 games.
One of seventeen children, raised in poverty in rural southern Maryland, he got his nickname from bathing in a utility tub. Smith earned All-State distinction in 1969, and graduated from High Point College with a teaching degree.
Coaching philosophy: Although he served as a Rick Pitino assistant, Coach Smith had his own approach. He doesn't feign a down-home style, "It takes patience not to give upon players, to wait for them to grow," Smith says. "It's like a crop. You weed it properly, and hoe it, and nurture and cultivate it."
His teams played a variety of defenses, but prioritizes half-court sagging man-to-man defense. "No layups, no easy shots...no second shots, contest all shots, make the offense make plays off the move."
'We're trying to deny every penetrating pass."
Clinic notes:
Hoopsplaybook shares his defensive rules:
Ten rules of the "5" defense:
1. constant ball pressure
2. contest every shot
3. retreat to the ball line
4. do not allow penetrating passes or dribble penetration
5. allow non-penetrating passes
6. always see the ball and your man
7. stay up the court, playing as close to the ball as possible
8. attempt to intercept all lob and bounce passes
9. jump to the ball on every pass
10. communicate and talk at all times
"Mismatches don't beat you; open shots do."
Here are additional Tubby Smith Clinic Notes (with excerpts)
1) Believe in yourself
2) Have a philosophy
3) Do the right thing
Full clinic notes TABC
Video:
Basic Flex Offense
And you want some passion about Tubby Smith?
