After the loss to Kansas, Coach John Calipari told the
press: "We had our chances in regulation,"
Calipari said. "What I told them after is, I've got to do a better job of
teaching these kids how to win. They do not know how to win a game." . Of
course they don’t.. Do you know why? Because no one knows how to win, nobody.
Nobody knows how to teach winning. On some occasions winning a game sends a
confusing message when you have not played well.
His kids have to concentrate on what they are
doing every second they are out on the court. They cannot concentrate on the
task at hand and still say to themselves “If I do this the team will win,
that’s what coach taught us.”
I understand what John
meant, but I take great exception to the message sent to youth and high school coaches
everywhere by this statement. It’s like when people said Derek Jeter knew how
to win.
Let me explain. For those
of you who have been to one of my presentations or read some of my blogs, you
know John Calipari is front and center in a portion of our talks.
Three years ago Kentucky
won a national championship. 2 years ago they did not even make the tournament.
Am I to believe that over the summer, after they won the championship, he
forgot how to win? Did he forget how to teach how to win? Last year, he got his
team all the way to the final four. In the semi-final game his team lost. Once
again, at that horrible place and time did he forget how to win?
This year his team has
struggled to some extent. He still has awesome talent on the roster but they just
aren’t jelling as he would like. He has commented about their lack of
consistency and development.
I want to say at this point during last season
he basically went with a platoon system. If one group wasn’t doing well, the
next group came in and played. Play by performance by group. It worked. The interterm
competition between the players for EARNED playing time lifted the whole team
up. Every one runs faster when they are being chased.
I am not saying that he
could have duplicated it this year with this roster. BUT>>>>
How’s your way working so
far????
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