I've mentioned before that practice this deep into the season can start to get repetitive and can leave very little new news to talk about. Such is the case now.
Both of the last two days quite a bit of time was spent installing more offense. This work is done at about 3/4 speed with very little defensive pressure. Some of it was working on going to the 2nd and 3rd option, when the 1st option isn't there, on things that they have been already running. Some of it was new so as to be ready with something when the opponent has set out to take away things that have been working in the past.
Once they seem to have the concepts, they did go full speed for a few minutes. But, that was limited and then back to more teaching. Some 3 on 3 defensive drills were spirited and entertaining both days.
Yesterday they did work on and against a frantic everyone flying around 1/2 court trapping pressure defense. That was a good drill. They did well. It went on for quite some time.
Since school is out, both practices were some longer than usual. Plenty of time was available for defensive work. They spent similar amounts of time on both zone and man.
There was a new old man at practice yesterday. He set down with us for awhile for some basketball chit chat. I don't know if he is a good source or bad source or a good judge of basketball talent or no judge of basketball talent. But, he said that the night before he had gone to a high school game in Richardson to watch McNeace play.
He said that McNeace's team was up against one of the better teams in the area and that their post player was believed to be a solid D1 prospect. He said that McNeace ran the floor well, had great hands, was very athletic, and competed at a high level. I asked if McNeace looked like the kind of player that would have a chance to come in and be of some help next season. His response was that McNeace looked good enough to be of some help right now.
I did have a chance to visit with Spangler for a couple of minutes. I asked him how he was holding up to the grind of playing so many minutes. He said it was tough, but, better than the alternative. The alternative was sitting on the bench watching some one else play and he had rather be in there.
There wasn't much opportunity for and there weren't any dominating practice performances. Tyler, I thought, was really solid both days. Booker has gotten really consistent in his practice work. I would expect that to continue to translate into good game production. Shooting was a bit sketchy that 1st day back from the break. But, they were all hitting better by the second day.
I mentioned in another thread that Hornbeak is doing well. There may be some lingering bumps, bruises, and nicks some of the other players are dealing with. Nothing too serious and they should be ready to go for the next game.
Both of the last two days quite a bit of time was spent installing more offense. This work is done at about 3/4 speed with very little defensive pressure. Some of it was working on going to the 2nd and 3rd option, when the 1st option isn't there, on things that they have been already running. Some of it was new so as to be ready with something when the opponent has set out to take away things that have been working in the past.
Once they seem to have the concepts, they did go full speed for a few minutes. But, that was limited and then back to more teaching. Some 3 on 3 defensive drills were spirited and entertaining both days.
Yesterday they did work on and against a frantic everyone flying around 1/2 court trapping pressure defense. That was a good drill. They did well. It went on for quite some time.
Since school is out, both practices were some longer than usual. Plenty of time was available for defensive work. They spent similar amounts of time on both zone and man.
There was a new old man at practice yesterday. He set down with us for awhile for some basketball chit chat. I don't know if he is a good source or bad source or a good judge of basketball talent or no judge of basketball talent. But, he said that the night before he had gone to a high school game in Richardson to watch McNeace play.
He said that McNeace's team was up against one of the better teams in the area and that their post player was believed to be a solid D1 prospect. He said that McNeace ran the floor well, had great hands, was very athletic, and competed at a high level. I asked if McNeace looked like the kind of player that would have a chance to come in and be of some help next season. His response was that McNeace looked good enough to be of some help right now.
I did have a chance to visit with Spangler for a couple of minutes. I asked him how he was holding up to the grind of playing so many minutes. He said it was tough, but, better than the alternative. The alternative was sitting on the bench watching some one else play and he had rather be in there.
There wasn't much opportunity for and there weren't any dominating practice performances. Tyler, I thought, was really solid both days. Booker has gotten really consistent in his practice work. I would expect that to continue to translate into good game production. Shooting was a bit sketchy that 1st day back from the break. But, they were all hitting better by the second day.
I mentioned in another thread that Hornbeak is doing well. There may be some lingering bumps, bruises, and nicks some of the other players are dealing with. Nothing too serious and they should be ready to go for the next game.
