Defense is a focus for a lot of coaches.
As
@azfan may know, Arizona
fans stand until the opposing team scores. It was a Lute Olsen thing on the men's side, originally. Not sure what Burke thinks of it, she is a tradition changer, which I don't like. Gone is the drum for wins (so football took it over) and its no longer "Bear Down" its "Bear Down - Sleeves Up". Which I just won't say.
It's interesting to watch leadership and a coaching change.
The announcers for the University of California San Diego we're pretty well prepped up for their call of the NAU game.
As the Jacks dominated the first half the announcers were talking about the change at NAU.
Loree Payne was hugely successful as an offensive first second and third coach. The team conserved their energy on the defensive end and was wildly entertaining and over the last 3 years wildly successful. This idea of conserving energy and the defensive end was mentioned in the post game interview with Molly Miller after their last victory. She said many teams do this but that she coaches her teams to increase the energy level on the defensive end.
When Payne departed to Santa Clara the NAU athletic department and administration moved with glacial speed, they finally decided upon NAU alumni Laura Dinkins who had been a assistant to Molly Miller at Grand Canyon. Lincoln said in a user dream position and it's a dream come true to return to Flagstaff. She sounds remarkably like Kenny Dillingham down at ASU.
During her four years playing at NAU Dinkins was known as a defensive specialist on the court so there was a tradition change at NAU. No longer would the Jacks be offensive first second and third but they would base their offense on a strong defense.
How did that beginning work? With a seven-game losing streak. Part of this was that with the exception of Aubrey Taylor everyone on the court was new due to graduation and transfer
It took the team a great deal of time to react and understand what was going on. But Dinkins who who brought offensive gunner Naomi White with her from Grand Canyon persevered. That is she had a vision and a plan.
So back to tradition. I think over a long period of time successful programs have a traditions as their foundation but there is evolution.
I'd love to hear from long time husky fans on any changes in tradition over the Long haul in Storrs
I really miss Loree Payne her style of coaching. But Laura Dinkins and the recent performance is giving me hope.
in order to watch the Huskies v Hawkeyes on the tube.
