MU Wing and Guard Defense

[GOO]

After watching that exhibition game against an NAIA team, the main thing I will be watching tonight early on is the ability of our wings and guards to stay in front of their respective man on the perimeter. We seems so slow and were unable to do so... I was waiting for us to go zone, like last year!

I was shocked at how much trouble all of our guards/wings had in the first half simply staying with their man or staying between the hoop and their man.  It was beyond bad.  With the new (renewed) emphasis on touch fouls and grabs away from the hoop, we need to improve in a big way fast. 

Tonight we have to guard the 3 and play on ball defense against a team that can shoot, and I assume hit free throws.  If we can't do a better job, it will not be a good night. 

We should have a good idea within 5 minutes of the start of the game. 

[Big Daddy 84]

Wojo has some of the same concerns.  Here was his closing speech to the team at this mornings practice.


Wojo: Let me have your attention for a moment! So you're talking about what? You're talking about...(pulls his hand out of the white board)...complaining about that shot  you missed, some son of a gun that doesn't want to rebound, somebody that doesn't want what to pass you the ball, some ref trying to screw you. Let's talk about something important. Are they all here?

Diener: All but one.

Wojo: Well, I'm going anyway. Let's talk about something important! (to Player #1) Put that gatorade down!! Gatorade's for closers only. (Player #1 scoffs) Do you think I'm messing with you? I am not messing with you. I'm here from Duke. I'm here from Duke and Coach K. And I'm here on a mission of mercy. Your name's Player #1?

Player #1: Yeah.

Wojo: You call yourself a good defender, you son of a gun?

Player #2: I don't have to listen to this stuff.

Wojo: You certainly don't pal. 'Cause the good news is -- you're benched. The bad news is you've got, all of you got, just one week to regain your jobs, starting tonight. Starting with tonight's game. Oh, have I got your attention now? Good. 'Cause we're adding a little something to tonight's contest. As you all know, first prize is a new Ipad. Anyone want to see second prize? Second prize's a yellow hoodie. Third prize is you're benched. You get the picture? You're laughing now? You got assignments. Alumni paid good money to see that you can go to school here. Know your assignment's name so guard them! You can't close out the shooter you're given, you can't close him, you ARE sitting, hit the bricks pal and beat it 'cause you are coming out!!!

Player #1: The rotations are weak.


Wojo: 'The rotations are weak.' You're weak. I've been in this business fifteen years.
Player #2: What's your name?

Wojo: Coach, that's my name!! You know why, Mister? 'Cause you road a bus to get here tonight, I drove an eighty thousand dollar BMW. That's my name!! (to Player #1) And your name is "you're wanting." And you can't play in a man's game. You can't close them. (at a near whisper) And you go home and tell your mother your troubles. (to everyone again) Because only one thing counts in this life! Get them to miss on the line which is not dotted! You hear me, warriors?

(Wojo flips over a blackboard which has two sets of letters on it: ABC, and AIDA.)

Wojo: A-B-C. A-always, B-be, C-closing. Always be closing! Always be closing!! A-I-D-A. Attention, interest, decision, action. Attention -- do I have your attention? Interest -- are you interested? I know you are because it's defend or sit. You close or you hit the seats! Decision -- have you made your decision for tonight?!! And action. A-I-D-A; get out there!!

You've  got the Bruins comin' in; you think they came in to get out of the rain? Guy doesn't walk in this arena unless he wants to win. Standing out there waiting to hand you your ass! Are you gonna to allow that? Are you man enough to stop it? (to Player #2) What's the problem pal? You. Player #2.

Player #2: You're such a hero, you're so rich. Why you coming down here and waste your time on a bunch of college kids?
(Wojo sits and takes off his championship ring)

Wojo: You see this ring? You see this ring?

Player #2: Yeah.

Wojo: This ring, cost more than your car. I made $970,000 last year. How many rings do you have? You see, pal, that's who I am. And you're nothing. Nice guy? I don't give a stuff. Good Kid? So what-- go home and play your video games!! (to everyone) You wanna playhere? Close!!(to Player #3) You think this is abuse? You think this is abuse, you golden eagle? You can't take this -- how can you take the abuse you get from your mom?! You don't like it -- leave. I can go out there tonight with the other coaches, and beat Belmont by 15 points! Tonight! In two hours! Can you? Can you? Go and do likewise! A-I-D-A!! Get mad! You sons of guns! Get mad!! You know what it takes to win basketball games?

(He pulls something out of his briefcase)
Wojo: It takes floor slapping.

(He's holding two brass hands on string, and slaps them to the ground"--he puts them away after a pause)

Wojo: Go and do likewise, gents. The wins are out there, you pick it up, it's yours. You don't--I have no sympathy for you. You wanna go out tonight and close, close, it's yours. If not you're going to be sitting on the bench. Bunch of losers sitting around in a video room (in a mocking weak voice) "Oh yeah, I used to be a college player, it's a tough racket." (he takes out large stack of gold index cards tied together with string from his briefcase) These are the new assignments. These are the Warrior assignments. And to you, they're gold (and Blue). And you don't get them. Why? Because to give them to you is just throwing them away. (Wojo hands the stack to Carrawell) They're for closers.

I'd wish you good luck but you wouldn't know what to do with it if you got it. (to Player #2 as he puts on his ring again) And to answer your question, pal: why am I here? I came here because Wilde and Cords asked me to, they offered me this job. I said, the real job, is getting you all to follow my advice and teach you to close and not be a loser.
(He stares at Player #2 for a sec, and then picking up his clipboard, goes into inner office with Carrawell)

[NotAnAlum]

Don't know what to make of that speech.  Hey as long as it motivates the players ok.

[JakeBarnes]

Don't know what to make of that speech.  Hey as long as it motivates the players ok.

Also, Big Daddy early nominee for post of the season.

[Cooby Snacks]

Also, Big Daddy early nominee for post of the season.

Until you look at what happens during the rest of Glengarry Glen Ross and the analogy falls apart.

[MarquetteDano]

One of the greatest films ever made.