As I think about what has to happen for this team to get to the next level, I've tried to think about general areas of work for the entire team - what do we do well collectively and what do we NOT do well.
I think its pretty fascinating how poor our players are at playing thru contact, generally.
It is an absolute skill and something that you can practice and develop with technique, staying on balance, and understanding situational basketball. Did the refs just call a bad foul? Dribble and initiate some contact. Are you in the bonus, dribble into some contact, throw your head bad when you are hit. Stay on balance when you drive to the rim. Coming off a screen? get the guy on your shoulder and create an angle to the rim. At the highest level when the games get gritty, those players who know how to draw fouls, get to the line, finish at the rim, and play physical defense without fouling are what separates good and great teams.
Coincidentally, this is also an area we are horrible at, and we get punished routinely by good teams.
Case in point -
1. We are one of the worst teams in the country at layups, despite our size and athleticism.
2. We are one of the worst teams in the country at fouling & free throws against
3. We are mediocre at best at getting to the foul line
4. When teams bodied up Bouknight, they slowed him down.
Examples of teams that do this really well:
