I have been blessed to have been around some great educators in my life. One of them is Coach Gary Smith, the former Redlands men basketball coach. In this email he sent out recently, he talks about the Sacramento State women basketball team and how they practice and execute in games. Thanks Gary for letting me post this.
"Thought the group might be interested in the goings on at Sacramento State with Bunky Harkleroad. They are 7-1 in conference, 1st place, after two very impressive home blow outs last week. They are in Montana for two games - tonight and Saturday afternoon. Their slow start was largely a result of the very tough schedule but also that the many new recruits had to adjust to this new style.
So how are they doing it. Of most interest might be the fact that Sac State does not assign press positions or lanes to run on Offense or Defense. They communicate and take the near position. The only person, offensively, running the same position is the point guard. The closest person to the ball on an opponents made field goal takes the ball OB and becomes the trailer; the lanes they run are all dependent on where they are on made basket. This results in all kinds of combinations with no predictability (more to learn ie. the slow start but also more difficult to prepare for). They subscribe to the preferred shooter concept very effectively in running the double or triple stagger screen action, ala Grinnell.
Defensive the same thing is in effect, the near person fills the various press positions. Last season most all conference opponents had success vs. Sac State by playing defense while on offense (spreading the floor, turning down shots, often lay ups, in the first 15-20 seconds of a possession) and the expectation was that they'd have success with that again this season. Well it hasn't turned out that way. They have evolved to two groups, each doing different things defensively. One group zone presses with traps, lag denial gapping off the ball (similar to what most/many system teams do). The other (once league play has started) is picking up in full court denial man defense (again, find the near person and play) and then they are in a quite aggressive "run and jump" defense with significant "heat" on the ball. The two looks create constant pressure in different ways and they've improved execution of rotations, chases and so forth consistently throughout the season.
Offensively they have a few sets they run to create options quickly for specific players. They are adept by now at drive and pitch and have multiple people who can execute this within their early offense or their 5 out (or 4 out 1 in) alignments with pass and a- go cut b- screen w/ dive cut c- screen with back cut d- fake screen and slip or e- fade screen -- all quickly into drive and pitch. OREB's have been a huge emphasis from day one. They spend a great deal of time, early to mid season, on skill development (dribbling, handling, passing, lay ups and, of course, shooting) along with more non scrimmage cardio work in skill drills than one might expect. 75% or so of drills have a score kept with losers paying a price.
Bunky has a very good staff and he consistently delegates practice responsibility. They make considerable adjustments to their "script" as the game progresses; his assistant in charge of this played for him and coached with him at Glenville State before coming west with him. He has one local coach, a local high school legend known throughout california for his pressure defense, who has major role with team. The other assistant is in charge of, among other things, the post players -- where in a good number of breakdowns he works on post skill development; it has been interesting to see the improvement in this area positively impacting game play.
They are very exciting to watch and have engendered considerable community interest and support. The Hornet "nest" comes alive when they play.
gary
This coach has learned a great deal in watching them practice play."
