Final Four quotes

As always, the trip to the Final Four and the NABC Convention was a time of fantastic learning and growth for me. I was able to come away with some great quotes and ideas on both basketball and leadership in general. Attending the convention also helped me develop some new creative ideas and concepts of my own. Here are some of the quotes from the Final Four in New Orleans last week, and in Indianapolis in 2010. My concepts in italics:

Basketball Concepts
"If you want to get better at guarding the ball, play 1-on-1." - Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa
"The action on your plays will not guarantee a quality shot. Screening, pace, and spacing do." - Ben Jacobson, Northern Iowa
"Players must be dedicated and want to make the sacrifice to improve their individual skills." - Julio Lamos, Argentina Basketball
"Defenses are built to be good at helping the first time; they are not as prepared to help again." - Julio Lamos, Argentina Basketball
"Shooting is not a quick fix issue." - Dr. Jerry Krause
"Recording/counting made shots forces you to work through fatigue and shoot shots, not take them." - Dr. Jerry Krause
"Be who you are as a coach." - Mike Anderson, University of Arkansas
"If you can't be comfortable in the last 10 seconds of the shot clock, you're in trouble in championship situations." - Dave Odom
When screening, get skinny toward where you want the defense to go - defenders take the least difficult route.
"The point guard should know who will be open to throw ahead to within his first two steps." - Dwayne Stephens, Michigan State University
"Make it hard for guys who don't want to compete to play." - Dave Rose, BYU
"On a post pass, create movement to keep defense from doubling." - Jay Wright - Villanova University
"Easy baskets win championships." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"If you want to emphasize your defense, simplify your offense." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"Validate any drill you win - get an additional stop, make free throws, or execute for a score." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"Build in a way to tighten your practices - i.e. 2 stops or charge = done with drill and win." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University

Coaching/Leadership/Philosophy Concepts
"The game honors toughness." - Brad Stevens, Butler University (via Paul Patterson, Taylor University)
"Use the game, don't let the game use you." - Alonzo Mourning
"You have to create a culture within your program." - Sean Miller, University of Arizona
"The harder I work, the luckier I get." - Mike Anderson, University of Arkansas (via Larry Bird)
"The 4-H club of coaching (leadership): Hard working, Helpful, Honest, Humor." - John Pagatti, South Suburban College
"Know the girlfriend. Know the boys. Know the hangouts." - Dwayne Stephens, Michigan State University
"Don't be afraid to get humbled." - Dave Rose, BYU
What is pressure? Pressure is for the unprepared. Pressure is for the unplanned. Pressure is for the unwilling to lose. Pressure is for the undeserving.
"Respect the precious present." - Jay Wright, Villanova University
"Money causes us to lose creativity. Stay creative." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"Evaluate what you do. Be willing to purge what doesn't work." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"You can't see anything you don't think about." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University
"You improve three ways: what you read, where you travel to see others teach, and your DVD collection." - Mike Dunlap, St. John's University