One of Gregg Popovich's favorite quotes is "figure it out." He expected players to figure it out and he demanded accountability.
After a disappointing Finals loss, he began the next season with an excruciating film review of their defeat. He challenged the players to make that next season a referendum on their character. They won the title.
Figuring it out requires specifics. Examples:
1) Take away transition. We set a goal of allowing no more than three transition baskets per game.
2) 372. Get "kills," three consecutive stops, seven times a half, both halves. Do that and you'll succeed.
3) Talk. That starts in practice. "Silent teams lose."
4) Take care of the ball. "Turnovers kill dreams." The worst team in the women's Patriot League last season led the league in turnovers. Turnovers are zero percent possessions. Even worse, live-ball turnovers often turn into opponent hoops.
5) Play with joy. Exceptional teams play with joy. If it's all work, there isn't enough joy.
6) Prioritize preparation. Give specifics about what to do and what to take away from opponents.
7) "Every day is player development day." What is your plan to be better, shoot better, defend better, be a better teammate? As the coach, how are you specifically combining practice, education, physicality, and psychology to prepare players for next season?
8) Start a mindfulness program. That includes mindful meditation, visualization, and mindful breathing. Professional teams and Olympians almost universally have a mindfulness practice. It's free, nonpolitical, and non-religious so it steps on nobody's toes.
9. Get players to work out in at least pairs. That encourages teamwork and competition. Urban Meyer required top 10 percenters to bring a teammate to work to elevate the teammate into the high performance level.
10.Get players to study video. Ask them to pick a player and a topic to study. Get "under the hood" and see why stuff works. Players and coaches either invest time or spend it.
Lagniappe. "Challenge yourself defensively."
DON’T BE THIS TYPE OF PLAYER
— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) May 1, 2025
Nothing worse than a player that won’t challenge themselves defensively. You might not be the best defender, but you can fight, scrap, get steals, and still impact the game on that side of the floor.
Also, nothing worse than a player that stops… pic.twitter.com/Cd2W3zYuew
Lagniappe 2. Work on 'pickups'.
Pick Up Shooting
— Reid Ouse (@reidouse) April 30, 2025
We don’t generally spend a lot of time on our dribble pick up. And if we do, we have to chase our rebound down after each shot.
This drill focuses on getting 3 consecutive pick ups before getting to your shot.
You should be shot ready on each pick up. pic.twitter.com/lU9ZOLcqiU
Lagniappe 3. Prove it.
Jay Wright dropping BARS
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) May 9, 2025
“The greatness is not in the talent, the greatness is having the talent and relentlessly competing every possession. Never giving anybody a chance to make you look average.”
pic.twitter.com/LkQELvwmxz
