Without question, UConn is the measuring stick in WBB.
They have the most championships (not really close).
They have adapted the best over the years.
They have the best balance between skill and athleticism on their roster.
They constantly land top recruits. They move on from top recruits that don't pan out.
South Carolina and UT spend huge money and get some results.
But it is UConn that Baylor should emulate.
1) get ahead of the curve offensively.
UConn was among the first WBB teams to implement the triangle offense. In year 1 they won their first NC and followed it with multiple championships. As other programs figured out how to defend it, UConn adapted to a modified and inverted Princeton offense. They won multiple championships. Other teams figured out how to defend it. UConn now runs an Action to Action motion offense. They won a NC last year and are the heavy favorite to repeat.
Baylor needs to dump the 2020 high ball screen offense (which teams know how to defend) and get on the leading edge of Action to Action.
2) get more shooting.
No offense without sufficient outside shooting succeeds. Scoring in packed paint is hard. Outside shooting makes any offense workable but makes top offenses zing. Baylor had the best post player of the last 30 years but only managed one NC because we lacked sufficient shooting.
3) get speed, size and athleticism at the point.
Small and slow at PG is a Death sentence. Death on O. Death on D.
4) once done getting more shooting, get more shooting.
No offense succeeds when four defenders are covering three offensive players ballside and one defender is zoning up the backside because there isn't enough shooting. Frontside spacing doesn't work without frontside shooting. Screening doesn't work if defenders can always go under due to a lack of shooting. Drop coverage is a killer when shooting is lacking.
5) basic fundamentals.
When we have three turnovers in one game inbounding the ball, that is bad basketball. Constantly picking up the dribble in stupid locations leading to turnovers is bad basketball. Sloppy one handed passes leading to turnovers is bad basketball. Ball handling and passing are developed skills. There is never a reason to lack in those areas.
6) conditioning.
We had three core rotation players and one extended rotation player who basically gassed out after 3-4 minutes of playing time. Any player should be able to roll six minutes of clock.
7) size.
We can't start every game with a foot deficit in starting lineup height.
8) intensity.
Showing up for games after the first quarter has ended is utter nonsense.
9) stop with the constant sidelines play call.
No team can play fast when the coach is always calling plays from the sideline.
10) play fast.
Starting half court offense when the shot clock is at 15 or 16 is mindboggling. Watch how fast UConn gets into half court O.
They have the most championships (not really close).
They have adapted the best over the years.
They have the best balance between skill and athleticism on their roster.
They constantly land top recruits. They move on from top recruits that don't pan out.
South Carolina and UT spend huge money and get some results.
But it is UConn that Baylor should emulate.
1) get ahead of the curve offensively.
UConn was among the first WBB teams to implement the triangle offense. In year 1 they won their first NC and followed it with multiple championships. As other programs figured out how to defend it, UConn adapted to a modified and inverted Princeton offense. They won multiple championships. Other teams figured out how to defend it. UConn now runs an Action to Action motion offense. They won a NC last year and are the heavy favorite to repeat.
Baylor needs to dump the 2020 high ball screen offense (which teams know how to defend) and get on the leading edge of Action to Action.
2) get more shooting.
No offense without sufficient outside shooting succeeds. Scoring in packed paint is hard. Outside shooting makes any offense workable but makes top offenses zing. Baylor had the best post player of the last 30 years but only managed one NC because we lacked sufficient shooting.
3) get speed, size and athleticism at the point.
Small and slow at PG is a Death sentence. Death on O. Death on D.
4) once done getting more shooting, get more shooting.
No offense succeeds when four defenders are covering three offensive players ballside and one defender is zoning up the backside because there isn't enough shooting. Frontside spacing doesn't work without frontside shooting. Screening doesn't work if defenders can always go under due to a lack of shooting. Drop coverage is a killer when shooting is lacking.
5) basic fundamentals.
When we have three turnovers in one game inbounding the ball, that is bad basketball. Constantly picking up the dribble in stupid locations leading to turnovers is bad basketball. Sloppy one handed passes leading to turnovers is bad basketball. Ball handling and passing are developed skills. There is never a reason to lack in those areas.
6) conditioning.
We had three core rotation players and one extended rotation player who basically gassed out after 3-4 minutes of playing time. Any player should be able to roll six minutes of clock.
7) size.
We can't start every game with a foot deficit in starting lineup height.
8) intensity.
Showing up for games after the first quarter has ended is utter nonsense.
9) stop with the constant sidelines play call.
No team can play fast when the coach is always calling plays from the sideline.
10) play fast.
Starting half court offense when the shot clock is at 15 or 16 is mindboggling. Watch how fast UConn gets into half court O.
