Calipari to team: “When you have the ball, you’re a passer; when you don’t, think score”
Coach Cal is trying to instill a new mentality in his players on the offensive end of the floor. He discussed it twice on Monday, first in his SEC teleconference and then again on his weekly call-in show. The new message…
“Think ‘pass’ when you have the ball; think ‘shoot’ when you don’t.”
It’s a pretty simple concept, really, but easier said than done.
“When you have the ball, you’re a passer. When you don’t have the ball, think score,” he explained. “In other words, don’t pass it the minute you know ‘I absolutely can’t get a shot, so I’ll pass.’ No. When you have the ball, you’re thinking pass. When you don’t have it, you’re down, you’re loaded up and you’re ready to attack. You know what’s open when you catch that ball to score or make a scoring play.”
He called it the total difference in how they have been playing recently.
“But it has been a challenge,” he said.
So when the Cats take the floor in 48 hours, watch to see if the ball handler is looking for the open man if the scoring opportunity isn’t there, or if he’s trying to create on his own. Look for unselfish basketball.
20 Comments for Calipari to team: “When you have the ball, you’re a passer; when you don’t, think score”
Coach Cal is a Wizard.
Well, that’s one of the main cogs that the DDO is built on, after all.
I thought it was built on salt and paper shakers?
Um then who exactly is supposed to shoot Coach? I have to have the ball to shoot, yet you want me to pass? SMH
Pitino told us to think penetration when have the ball, and think balls deep when we penetrate.
Well done, Sir.
Sounds all ally-oops all the time. Throw it down big fella!
no more alley-oops. When Willie catches the ball above the rim, he needs to think pass
Coach described it perfectly…that will make the fast break work (along with everyone running) and make the defense pay in the half court when they double/triple team us…
Yes true but mostly its about passing when you have the ball and shooting when you don’t. And moving the salt shaker down the lane while rotating the pepper shaker to the left near the napkin holder.
I sure hope the team gets it. Sounds like a recipe for a turnover to me lol.
Seriously, passing has been the teams most consistent weakness. Should have way more assists against teams like UL.
Don’t these 2 things kinda contradict each other? How exactly are you supposed to shoot when as soon as you get the ball you’re supposed to pass it?
Reminds me of Chevy Chase in Caddyshack….”Be the ball, Danny”. It makes sense if it gives us more offensive movement since you make the D work more and have a better chance to exploit someone out of position or overplaying.
Come on, haven’t any of you commenters heard of working for your shot without the ball? It’s how you get open for a good shot. Now if the person dribbling the ball isn’t looking to pass then it doesn’t matter how hard you cut to the rim because they aren’t going to throw it to you, they are just going to throw up an ill advised shot that probably won’t go in instead. Now how many times would you waste your time cutting hard without the ball if the ball handler never threw it to you? Not many I bet. Then, next thing you know you have a stagnant offense. Cal isn’t saying to not shoot good shots, he is saying pass up the ill advised shots and make a good pass to set up a teammate for a better shot. Idiots… SMH.
I love Coach Cal.
Why am I being cen-S-O R ed? I make nothing but relevant comments in good etiquette.
I’ll echo #14. The comments were pretty heavily moderated here for some reason. My post that didn’t pass muster was a “Be the Ball” joke. (In before the one that made it though.) Hasn’t the moderator seen Caddyshack?
Only problem with this is that it requires great discipline and unselfishness; something this team has yet to show. We also hear how Willis and Lee will see more time. Right. We’ll see Wed night.
If you don’t understand this you don’t understand basketball.