TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards: Inside look at a coach C practice.

This is topic Inside look at a coach C practice. in forum UK / NCAA Basketball at TheCatsDomain.Com Message Boards.

To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.thecatsdomain.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=28;t=018228

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-10-2009, 08:23 AM:

He believes they have the talent to fit into his dribble drive concept of playing the game.

UK head coach John Calipari stood at half court of the Joe Craft Center practice floor, wearing his new, white long-sleeve UK shirt and blue warm-up pants. He looked right at DeAndre Liggins, a rising sophomore, and told him what could be.

If Liggins does one thing: Play the way Calipari wants him to.

“If you play the way I ask you, they won’t even recognize you,” Calipari told Liggins during Wednesday’s practice.

Calipari has been part of Big Blue Nation for a mere week and a half, but that has not stopped him from implementing his famed dribble drive motion offense. As 20 local media members sat in the upper level of the Joe Craft Center, Calipari gave a first-hand look of what could be expected.

Gone with former head coach Billy Gillispie is the high-low offense. Welcome a fast-paced, fun to watch, layup-oriented offense.

During the 45-minute practice, Calipari preached the importance of getting to the rim, attacking your defender and not allowing the excuse of being fouled enter his teams mind. The Cats, rising senior Jodie Meeks included, started Wednesday’s practice with layups while getting hit with handheld pads.

“We have to play through bumps,” Calipari yelled to his team. “If you don’t, it’s going to be hard for me to play you.”

Another thing that will keep players on Calipari’s bench is the inability to beat a player off the dribble. The famed dribble drive offense is just that — beating your defender to either get a layup or set up your teammates.

However, Calipari’s demands don’t stop there — he doesn’t want to see any blocked shots on his team. During a drill that saw six consecutive blocked shots, Calipari firmly blew his whistle to address his team.
His cure for the shot-blocking problem: put the ball high on the backboard when shooting layups. Calipari told UK by doing this, not only will the shot not get blocked but, if the shot is missed, it allows for an easy put-back for UK.

“We’re going to try and take 50 layups a game,” Calipari said. “I don’t want any shots blocked. Shoot the ball above the square if you have to.”

One of the players that impressed Calipari was rising sophomore Darius Miller, who consecutively made high-floating runners in the lane during a drill, that challenged the players to go two-on-two.

What did not impress Calipari about Miller is his short steps and fooling around with the ball — something he pointed out to both Miller and Liggins during practice. Calipari wants to see his team take long strides and attack their defenders without many dribbles.

“We’re just trying to win,” Calipari said to his team. “We’re not trying to do pretty stuff, just win.”

Link

[ 04-10-2009, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: catmandoo ]

Posted by m hamilton (Member # 127) on 04-10-2009, 10:43 AM:

I like that. NOT trying to do pretty stuff, JUST WIN!!

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-10-2009, 11:39 AM:

You got that right MH.

Posted by eleem (Member # 884) on 04-10-2009, 08:51 PM:

Joe B. said on wkyt 6pm news that cal was the
smoothest talking he had ever seen when talking
to a recruit. Said he was a salesman for sure.

Posted by catmandoo (Member # 1284) on 04-11-2009, 10:23 AM:

Let's hope he can use that gift of gab out in Portland when he talks with Wall and Henry.