Don’t Wait ‘til Post-Season: Using Awards to Promote a Winning Culture

Early in my coaching career I did not give any post-season awards. It went back to my experience as a high school football and basketball player. 

The entire season my coaches promoted the value of a “team-first” attitude- it was all about the team not the individual. 

Then we got to the banquet, and they gave an MVP Award. It seemed the focus was not on the team’s achievements but the suspense of who would be the MVP. Players who had been great team players left the banquet feeling disappointed and perhaps unappreciated. 

As a result, I chose not to give any individual awards for much of my career. 

WNBA: What’s Up? How Do We Find Out?

Poor Coverage

At this point, I am not sure where the WNBA is headed. One problem is that the WNBA does not have the best reporters covering the league on TV and in the print outlets. 

I listen to a lot of NBA, College Men’s BB, and WNBA podcasts, read a lot about the leagues, and watch TV programing. It is striking how often in college men’s and in the NBA coverage there seem to few, if any secrets out there. The reporters are always saying, “Inside sources tell me,” or “executives are telling me.”

If WNBA reporters are connected to management, coaches, or players- it does not come across in reporting. 

As in many sports a significant program in understanding what is going on is that the primary source of info is ESPN. ESPN has become primarily an entertainment network, not a news network. And what complicates it is that ESPN owns rights to the WNBA, so it is obvious they want as much as possible to just promote the sport and avoid the negative. 

My point is that the WNBA is in a worse position than we realize- the WNBA is in a worse spot than anyone is telling us.

Ted Lasso Wisdom: A Coaching Clinic

I always love a great clinic, the opportunity to learn from the best coaches in the sport. Ted Lasso doesn't do a lot with X/O's, but he deals with the MORE important things- team work, goal setting, handling success, handling adversity, and so much more. 

I am taking some of Ted Lasso's great quotes, and matching them up with quotes from some of the greats in sports and psychology. It is quickly evident that Ted Lasso totally understands how to be a great coach!!

Massey Quiz #14- People of Galesburg

Can you identify these 20 people? The quiz is designed to celebrate how wonderful Galesburg is, and test your knowledge of our community. Enjoy and have fun!!

The answers are at the end of the quiz. Keep track of your score and read exactly what your score indicates. If you would like- share your score on the Facebook or Massey Blog under the comments. 

Talking with Jimmy: What If They Had Three Point Arc Earlier?

The three point shot was instituted by the IHSA in 1987. Jay Redfern did several articles ahead of the 1987-8 season where he asked people what they thought the impact of the three point shot would be on basketball. 

Showing my inability to see into the future, I said that I thought the only time it would have impact was on end of quarter desperation shots. By 2011, the Streaks girls set a National Record making 397 threes in a season. 

Leave to a ref to understand the game better. Dave Hasley told Redfern the three point line was going to eliminate congestion inside, and allow teams to come from behind easier. 

In the late ‘80’s and early ‘90’s, the three was seldom used. Ted Trueblood’s FS team took a grand total of 12 threes in 18 games. 

So while players like Jason Shay, Tommy Warner, and Johnny Watson had a three point line, the shot just wasn’t taken as much as today. The same would be true for Tiffany Sibley, Molly Watson, and Ami Pendry on the girls side. 

Galesburg girls ran the Grinnell System in 2007-2011. During that time, Galesburg set a National Record making 397 threes in a season, and Jess Howard a State record making 139 threes in a season. The Streaks hit over 20 threes in five games, and even took 72 three attempts in one game. But that approach is an outlier. 

In the last 20 years, shooting threes has taken off. In 2023-4 season, with women’s college teams 34% of their shots were threes, for men’s college 39% were threes, and in the NBA 40% threes. The NBA champs that year, the Celtics, took 47% of their shots as threes. Basketball has become a different game. 

WNBA: Houston, We’ve Got a Problem

The Fever lost tonight. They had an impressive run in the play-offs. Coach White did a tremendous job. 

After Coach Reeves was levied a huge fine. Both Coach White and Coach Hammon were fined $1,000 each for publicly expressing support for Reeves. 

Streaks Basketball Alums: Mark Thiel 1973

What were some of your favorite classes/teachers at GHS?

Math & Government with Richard Porter

HOF Insights: Effective Lower Level Coaches

This Week’s Question- What can a lower level coach do to make the program stronger? What are examples of both little and big things a lower level can do to help your program and help you as a head coach? What responsibilities did you give and expect from assistants and lower coaches? What did you have assistants do during games?

Inside the Huddle: Up 3, Inbounding the Ball, 4 Seconds to Go

Situation- They just scored but you are up 3 points. You just took a time out with 4 seconds to go. You will have ball on baseline at far end from your goal, you must inbounds, no time outs left. What do you do to inbounds the ball? 

Fever & Mercury Win, WNBA Loses

 

Coach of Year

I know Steph White was not even mentioned for COY, and I recognize that Natalie Nikase of GS would deserve it for the regular season. If the voting came later, after the play-offs, it would have been hard to not consider Coach White. 

White as definitely shored up the Fever defense from a year ago. And the management of the team thru injuries has been spectacular. 

I have not always been a fan of her subbing patterns but her subbing in the play-offs has shown she knows her team. She is not afraid to sit players and not afraid to play players. 

1910 Illinois Basketball State Tourney

 

 

Bloomington- State Champs- 1910

Sitting on the Patio with Michael Hanlon

In athletics, there are so many people who are crucial to the success of a team, but their efforts go unrecognized. In football, the lineman throws the key blocks, the running back sprints thru and scores the touchdown. The running back is interviewed and gets their picture in the paper. 

In basketball, the 12th man on a team works in practice and prepares the starters for the big game but then never gets into the game. The 12th man’s execution of the scout offense was crucial for the success, but they never get mentioned on the radio and seldom is anything written about them. 

In sports and in life, a team, an organization, and a business’s success rely on individuals filling all sorts of roles. And society needs people who are willing to serve others with no concern for glory or recognition. 

My neighbor and friend, Michael Hanlon is one of those selfless individuals who has always served others. As a high school student, he was a manager for the boys varsity basketball team. I decided it is time for Michael to have some light shined on him, so I asked him if he would talk to me so that I could do a blog post on him. 

X/O’s: Changing Up Your Ball Screen Offense

Sometimes an opponent makes it hard to run your normal ball screen actions- middle ball screens, side ball screens, and drag screens. 

Defenses may disrupt the ball screens with hard hedges, trapping, or aggressive switching. All three of these actions can put quick, aggressive pressure on the dribbler that makes it hard for them to continue their dribble and makes it difficult to make a pass to the screener who can be rolling or popping. 

Massey Quiz #13: What Were These Places?

There are fifteen pictures taken around Galesburg. 

In the “old days”, they were businesses, schools, or city/county buildings. 

You are being asked what these places were in the “old days.” 

Post your score in comments. 

Galesburg HS Nicknames: Red Devils, Tigers, and Silver Streaks

When we think of Galesburg High School sports teams, we think of the GALESBURG SILVER STREAKS. There is pride in the nickname Silver Streaks. It is unique and it is fitting with our connection with the railroad. 

Galesburg sports teams have not always been called the Silver Streaks. GHS teams have gone by a variety of nicknames thru time- Red Devils, Tigers, Tiger Cubs, Volks, and Ponies. 

If you are proud of the “Silver Streaks”, you will have even more pride in the nickname when you hear how Galesburg became the Silver Streaks.