I'm sorry, I couldn't stop laughing.

[Hards Alumni]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/basketball/news?slug=ap-t25-marquette-beatingthabeet&prov=ap&type=lgns

[🏀]

Wow, embarrassing.

[reinko]

Surprised he just didn't use some of these blow ups like they used in during the intro back in late 90's.

[StillAWarrior]

Perhaps this give some insight into why there was a lot of turnover with the assistants:  "you want me to design what?!!"

[muwarrior87]

Having Liam certainly helps with practicing this. He's almost as tall as Thabeet and can make up the extra by holding a board (or Acker) or something a little less insane than an arm waving backpack.

[NavinRJohnson]

I was willing to keep an open mind until I could take a look at the box from last year's game...MU lost 89-73, shot 36% inside the 3-pt line, and Thabeet had a mere 6 blocks. Sounds like keeping the fake arms in the closet is probably a good idea.

Also somewhat supports my theory that Crean tended to focus more on the opposing players strengths than his own.

[Muhoops85]

Maybe instead of the big giant heads behind the backboards we could have the students wear these backpacks/giant arms. 

[ChicosBailBonds]

Perhaps this give some insight into why there was a lot of turnover with the assistants:  "you want me to design what?!!"

Except that assistant who designed this went with him to IU (along with every other assistant except the one he recommended as head coach to the administration).   

[HoopsMalone]

wow.  that is hilarious.  No wonder we got spanked last year at UConn.  Ideally, you don't want practice to be like a play rehearsal with props.  Hopefully the players can focus on the game plan instead of worrying about props.

[ChicosBailBonds]

wow.  that is hilarious.  No wonder we got spanked last year at UConn.  Ideally, you don't want practice to be like a play rehearsal with props.  Hopefully the players can focus on the game plan instead of worrying about props.

I wonder if the other 16 teams they spanked at home last year also used those props or was it simply because UCONN was good at home last year?   

[ErickJD08]

Guys... he was simulating a real game.  Give him a break.

[NavinRJohnson]

I wonder if the other 16 teams they spanked at home last year also used those props or was it simply because UCONN was good at home last year?   

Well, to pick nits for a minute, the only BE teams they 'spanked' at home last year were MU, St. John's and UC. Otherwise, their average margin of victory was around 5 points. They also lost at home to Providence.

[HoopsMalone]

I wonder if the other 16 teams they spanked at home last year also used those props or was it simply because UCONN was good at home last year?   

Marquette was a Top 25 team unlike some of the other opponents who lost at home.  Sure UConn was good and are good and all road games are tough, though.  Sometimes its good to use gimmicks in practice like having the starters play 5 on 6 or something to create defensive pressure, but it would have had to be quite a contraption for the props to simulate Thabeet effectively.  Can't imagine that the players became effective at pulling those strings or whatever to simulate Thabeet's movement.  Just not a gimmick you would expect.

[Tom Crean's Tanning Bed]

http://www.wackywavinginflatablearmflailingtubeman.com/

[chainsaw_mcgee]

Maybe instead of the big giant heads behind the backboards we could have the students wear these backpacks/giant arms. 

Forget the teal, this is hilarious. Do it.

[Muhoops85]

I do not know why, but I am still picturing these things looking like the "Rock 'em Sock 'em" robots we played with as kids.

I knocked your block off!

[77ncaachamps]

I was willing to keep an open mind until I could take a look at the box from last year's game...MU lost 89-73, shot 36% inside the 3-pt line, and Thabeet had a mere 6 blocks. Sounds like keeping the fake arms in the closet is probably a good idea.

Also somewhat supports my theory that Crean tended to focus more on the opposing players strengths than his own.

You mean like letting Wes unleash himself in the offense?

I hate our defense, but watching Wes come into his own this year has been a revelation. You can also include Lazar into that statement.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Well, to pick nits for a minute, the only BE teams they 'spanked' at home last year were MU, St. John's and UC. Otherwise, their average margin of victory was around 5 points. They also lost at home to Providence.

   Fair enough.  16-1 at home last year, doesn't look like many folks had success against UCONN in Storrs.


I'd also point out that whatever coaching "methods" were used, MU is 2-1 against UCONN the last three years.

[warrior_jr]

From the article:

"McNeal said he’ll drive the lane and try to draw contact, hoping to create room for his shot or go to the foul line."

Very glad to hear him say this.  I think if anyone in the BE has the backcourt that can draw fouls and reduce Thabeet's effectiveness by getting him benched early...its Marquette.

Go Marquette!  Can't wait for this game tomorrow.

[Blackhat]

Get those hands up Virtual Thabeet!!

[Litehouse]

Wow, Bennie Seltzer actually filed a patent application on the thing in 2002.  It went abandoned though and never issued.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=CRuJAAAAEBAJ&dq=US+2003/0211906

[NavinRJohnson]

I'm sorry, but that thing is stupid. Frankly, I see the guy with the broom being a more effective training device.

[ChicosBailBonds]

Wow, Bennie Seltzer actually filed a patent application on the thing in 2002.  It went abandoned though and never issued.

http://www.google.com/patents?id=CRuJAAAAEBAJ&dq=US+2003/0211906

While he was on the staff at Oklahoma....and they used it that year....they went to the Final Four and the next year to the Elite 8.