Buzz Williams on Toughness

“It’s how we work. It’s what we believe in. I don’t say that to be arrogant, but you can’t go on the road, playing against any team in this league and go through what we did and have a chance to win unless you’re extremely tough. But you can’t just be tough on game day. You have to be tough all the time.’’

Buzz Williams

Marquette Head Coach

Affecting the Entire Program

Saban said Richardson "probably had as good a football season as anyone that I've ever had the opportunity to coach.""I always use the analogy that you really can't be a great player unless you affect somebody on your team," the coach said. "Players make plays. Good players affect somebody on their team. Great players affect their entire unit."And Trent's competitive spirit certainly affected everybody on our team."

Manigat quickly has become CU's leader

From the Omaha World Herald:

Jahenns Manigat went from lost freshman to a guy his Creighton teammates look to for direction in the span of a calendar year.

That rapid transformation is not lost on Bluejay coach Greg McDermott.

"He's made as good of a stride in one year as anyone I've been around," McDermott said.

His teammates' respect for the progress Manigat has made is shown in their selection of the sophomore guard from Ontario, Canada, as one of Creighton's three captains.

"He's our gel guy. He's everyone's best friend," Creighton forward Ethan Wragge said. "He deserves to be captain because he communicates the best."

That part, at least off the court, comes easily for Manigat. He's a gregarious jokester, that guy who keeps the locker room loose with a comment that cuts through the tension a long season creates.

But just as he's had to work to develop his skills, Manigat said he's had to put in time to become the team's vocal leader once the ball is tipped.

"Off the court, I have a pretty good personality and I've never been shy around people," he said. "But being vocal on the court is something totally different. It's about the stuff that needs to be communicated when you're playing games — helping guys through screens and making sure guys know where they're supposed to be.

"I think having a vocal leader was one of the things that was missing on last year's team, and I really didn't want us to struggle because of that. I'm just trying to make sure everyone is doing what they're supposed to be doing."

Talk alone will only get a player so far. Manigat is backing up his words with an improved game on both ends of the court. Offensively, he scored 33 points in Creighton's first two wins. Defensively, he continues to show the growth that first started blossoming at the end of last season.

"The last 10 or 12 games of last season," McDermott said, "Jahenns was really doing some really good things. But he's taken it to another level this year with his leadership, his communication and his intensity on the defensive end of the floor."

Manigat started Creighton's final 15 games last season. He averaged 8.1 points and shot 55 percent from the field in the final 14. He often found himself matched up against the opposing team's best backcourt player.

Manigat used last season's solid finish as a base to build on this season.

"He really got into the gym and worked on getting a lot of 3s up," forward Doug McDermott said. "He knew he was going to get a lot of 3s because our frontcourt draws a lot of defenders."

Seventeen of the 18 shots Manigat has attempted this season have come from behind the arc. He's made 10 of the shots (58.8 percent) and also has seven assists while committing only two turnovers.

That's not the kind of production that his coach anticipated he'd be getting from Manigat when he first joined the program.

"A year ago, Jahenns was an awful defender and he really didn't understand how to play the game offensively," McDermott said. "He's really bought into what we've asked him to do, and I'm glad he's on our team. He's going to have a great career here."

Manigat's early struggles had him wondering what he had gotten himself into — he was the final recruit signed by former coach Dana Altman in April 2010. Altman left for Oregon later that month.

Like many freshmen, Manigat struggled to adjust to the speed and intensity of the collegiate game when he first got on campus.

"I remember after one early individual workout asking myself what was keeping me from getting on a plane and going back home," Manigat said. "That's something a lot of freshmen go through when the realization of how tough college basketball is hits them.

"I think a lot of the things I went through got me to where I am today. I'm a better player, more level-headed and more mature."

That experience has Manigat mentoring the new players that joined the program this season.

"I'm trying to help them through that transition," Manigat said.

His willingness to embrace such a role is one reason his teammates voted him a captain along with senior Antoine Young and junior Grant Gibbs. McDermott said it's the first time in his coaching career that a sophomore had been selected as one of the captains.

It's a responsibility that Manigat takes seriously.

"I'm honored," he said. "It's truly a special group. These guys really and truly are for me, being so far away from home, my brothers. I'm going to do everything I can to represent them and to help us have the kind of season that we all want."

The Process

"The scoreboard has nothing to do with the process. Each possession you look across at the opponent and commit yourself to dominate that person. It's about individuals dominating the individuals they're playing against. If you can do this...if you can focus on the possession and wipe out the distractions...then you will be satisfied with the result.

-Nick Saban

Don't Quit

"We were saying, 'Don't quit'. You never quit, even if it looks ugly. If you quit every time something looks ugly, you miss an opportunity to do something special."

-Chiefs Linebacker Andy Studebaker after the Chiefs 23-20 OT win over San Diego

Kellen Moore's Work Ethic

Good article on Boise St. quarterback Kellen Moore in last week's Sports Illustrated. His mindset is top-notch:

Moore is also working on his master's in kinesiology. And this fall he's immersed in an independent study project with left tackle Nate Potter. They're steeping themselves in the subject of "what highly successful people do to become successful," says Moore.

Among the books he's read on this topic: Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell and Talent Is Overrated by Geoff Colvin. Moore's preliminary conclusion: "There's no magic. A lot of times there's this misconception that people are just given this talent, that they never had to work hard to get where they are." Their common denominator, he says, is the willingness to submit to "that grueling, grinding, not-fun task, and to do it over and over. That's what successful people do."

He cites the 10,000-Hour Rule from Outliers, which holds that greatness requires the investment of massive amounts of time. Moore, it turns out, has been investing since at least the second grade. For show-and-tell, recalls Kris, he would draw a play on the whiteboard: "He'd tell the class, 'This is what the [Prosser] Mustangs are going to be running this week.'"

Your Best Effort

From "Stuff" by Dick DeVenzio:

What excuse do you give yourself for not doing your best every play of a game or every drill in practice? Have you ever considered a coach could watch you play, even on a night you score 20, and he could tell you dozens of things you never bother doing?

Undoubtedly there are many things that you should do that you don't. But if you really want to be a good player..if you strive to do the little things consistently, there won't be any doubt in anyone's mind what kind of player you are. People may not say that you are great or wonderful or fantastic, but coaches will do better than that. They will say YOU CAN PLAY.

There is no higher compliment in the game.

The Little Things Go a Long Way

Green Bay Packers WR Greg Jennings on his study habits and work habits. Here is the full article in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Says Jennings:

"I approach the game a little differently. I think the No. 1 thing that separates the men from the boys (at wide receiver) is the mind-set. A lot of guys talk about being the best but some don't really have the mind-set that it takes to be the best.

"Honestly, it's more of a mental (test). My physical assets are there; I'm going to display those. It's your study habits, your work habits throughout the week. That goes a long way."

The Red Bandana

The Intensity of Kevin Garnett

From Last February:


While the Celtics were on their post-All-Star road trip, ESPN the Magazine's Eddie Matz got a chance to be a fly on the wall for the Celtics practice in San Francisco, paying close attention to Kevin Garnett's manic practice habits.

“Garnett doesn’t do easy. When assistant Lawrence Frank begins a walk-through of the Golden State offense, Garnett interjects, “Why we walkin’ through it? The Warriors ain’t gonna be walkin’ through it!” Just like that, it’s starters versus subs, and even the stars, following the lead of their motivational big man, go all-out. Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen make this a veteran squad, and veteran squads understand how quickly championship windows can close.”

Low Maintenance, All Work

Heisman Trophy winner and rookie Saints RB Mark Ingram is getting rave reviews from his new teammates in New Orleans:

"I respect him for his demeanor," Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma said. "He comes in, a Heisman Trophy winner, prolific runner in college and all he wants to do is work and all he wants to do is get better. You can respect that. You can admire that more than a guy that feels entitled to something. I feel like that's the last thing that Mark Ingram feels right now is that he's entitled to anything. He goes out, he proves his worth every day in practice and shows that he can play."

Never Satisfied

It is the simple fact that I have had to scratch and claw for everything to get where I'm at. Even though I was a first round pick and a pro bowler I never feel like I've arrived. I don't think I'd be in the position I'm at today if it weren't for all the setbacks and people telling me I couldn't do it. It is what drives me to be great.

-Clay Matthews Jr.

Michael Jordan: Mind of a Champion

Random Thoughts from Kevin Eastman

Every now and then we should just sit and think. Never know what you will come up with.


• Success has a price and players have to know that they have to pay it just as much as you and your staff have to.

• Success does have downpayments: work ethic, discipline, preparation, consistency.

• We are the sum total of the experiences we've had and the people we've met. What have you done? Who have you associated with?

• Preparation is so important because it can help eliminate fear and doubt.

• Before we can eliminate excuses that keep us from improving we have to recognize what those excuses are. Write down your top three excuses and then eliminate them for the next month. This will create a habit of not using them any more!

• It's very important to take a close look at your locker room. Whose voices are being heard? Are these the messages that you would want being sent?

• What messages are on your locker room wall? May seem corny but it's something that players will see -- and probably read -- almost every day!

• Never be concerned about repeating a message; repetitive verbal teaching is a great form of teaching. Teaching doesn’t always have to be physical.

Post Development

Brandon Jennings Offseason Workouts

Article from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on Bucks PG Brandon Jennings and his offseason workouts:

"I'm just getting back to the basics of basketball," said Jennings, who worked out regularly at the team's training facility before the NBA lockout was imposed July 1. "Just working on my fundamentals. Getting set back last year with the injury made me have a different approach to the game. It's not (taken for) granted.

"Next year will be my third year and I need to establish myself as one of the best point guards and one of the best players in the game. It's just trying to get better and better every day. Working with Scott Skiles (before the lockout), getting in the weight room, dedicating the summer to strictly basketball. It's going to be my third year, so it's time to become an all-star."

Shortly before the lockout was imposed, Jennings was asked if he had been working harder than he normally would at that time of the year.

"I haven't worked this hard since I was 18," said Jennings who will turn 22 in September.

Skiles praised the work Jennings put in at the team's training facility before the lockout.

"Brandon has always been a hard worker, to a large part because he loves to be in the gym," said Skiles. "He was working out like it was September . . . very serious and very focused."

Since Jennings can no longer work with the coaches, it's now on him to continue with the workout program that was provided by the coaches.

Jennings wasn't kidding when he said he was getting back to the basics both in his pre-lockout workouts - mainly with assistant coach Bill Peterson, who was also impressed with the positive daily work habits Jennings brought to the gym - and on his summer "to-do" list.

The left-handed Jennings has worked on improving his right hand since he came into the league, and that mission continues - dribbling and passing with his right hand as well as taking contact around the basket and finishing with his right hand.

He has also worked on other very basic things such as catching the ball with two hands, his foot work and balance and his hand-eye coordination.

The Bucks would also like Jennings to tighten up his shot and shoot the ball with a more consistent form.

Jennings has a tendency to shoot off-balance sometimes or from different spots on his body. The Bucks want Jennings to improve at getting the ball in his shooting pocket - the starting point of his shot - staying balanced, and releasing the shot from the same spot on his body every time.

"We don't feel like there's anything wrong with his shot or anything he needs to really correct other than just shooting the same shot all the time," said Skiles. "Brandon has a lot of ability and a lot of talent and it just needs to revolve a little bit more around tightening up his fundamentals.

"There's no magic dust to any of this. If you have some level of talent, which he clearly does, and then if you have the work ethic to go with it, usually you get better. He's always been kind of a gym-rat guy and so it's not a whole lot different other than there's a real hungriness to him."

Bob Hurley 60 Minutes Interview

Living in the Moment

Forward Abby Wambach of USA Soccer:

"I was nearly brought to tears just thinking about how surreal this all seems," Wambach said after scoring the deciding goal to lead the USA into its first Women's World Cup final in 12 years with a 3-1 victory against France.

"I feel like I have to give all of myself and more of myself in order to secure wins, and of course I am willing to do that," she said. "I feel like I have to make sure I don't regret a moment. I want to smell what the stadium smells like. I want to breathe in all of this experience, because who knows if I'm going to get another shot in four years? Who knows if I will be healthy? Who knows, who knows?

"These moments are rare, these feelings are extreme, and I just hope to keep it going forward, and if we can get that win on Sunday (in the final), you will see the happiest human being on the planet."

Brady's Intangibles

Rip Hamilton Moving Without the Ball

CP3 Workout

Chris Paul Nike Skills Camp

Stephen Curry Shooting

Dell Curry Shooting Drills

Jordan on Offense

The Value of Hard Work

UCONN guard Shabazz Napier on what made former teammate and NBA lottery pick Kemba Walker so good:

"I won't say I can replicate what he did. But one thing he taught me and the rest of our team is the value of hard work. You go out there and give it your all no matter what. Every practice we had, he practiced like he was a guy that was trying to make the team. He's the star of our team, but you looked over at him and he was always pressing himself, challenging himself. It was like he was a walk-on."

Jordan Flu Game- 1997 Game 5 Finals

Marquette Basketball Practice

Marquette Boot Camp

Jordan's Defense Part I

Mavs Team Attitude

"We just kept playing. That just shows the character of this team. No matter how old you are, we understood how to play the game, by passing the ball and making sure that we didn't take shots where three or four guys are on you. We just made the extra pass. We didn't care who put the ball in the basket."

-Jason Kidd

Urgency

"I don't allow myself to sit back and relax now. In these playoffs, one win or one loss can switch the whole momentum. You don't ever want a snowball to start. I don't allow myself to sit back all of a sudden and be satisfied.

"We got one more big win hopefully to get, and then I can be satisfied."

-Dirk Nowitzki

Ray Allen on Shooting

More From Mavs Coach Rick Carlisle

Said Carlisle: "Persistence is our game. We're an old-school team. We're not high-fliers. ... Our game is near the ground. We have to play with brains and guts."

Defense is Simple

"The schemes we're using aren't very complex. It's just all about hard play."

-Mavs Coach Rick Carlisle