NEWSLETTER #31 - 2006-07
CHARACTERISTICS OF A
XAVIER PLAYER
Below are the 14 Characteristics we have identified as a staff that
make up a "Xavier Player". At our opening team meeting this fall,
we shared these qualities with our team, mentioning specific
examples of each. We stress these characteristics on and off the
court throughout the year, constantly reminding them of their
importance. Although all are equally important, we find ourselves
spending a considerable amount of time on #6. With #6, "Keeping
Life Simple", it has never been harder for a college basketball
player to do just that. As we have previously discussed with
issues such as Myspace and Facebook, access to and influence
on college (and high school) basketball players has become
nearly unlimited. Everyday, we strive to strengthen the values of
our players in order to combat the influx of these outside
influences.
1. Embraces high standards
2. Focuses on team goals
3. Unselfish on and off of the court
4. Accepts role, takes pride in it, executes
5. Uses strengths and recognizes weaknesses
6. Keeps life simple
7. Hates to lose everyday
8. Coachable
9. Does things that people don't see
10. Believes that defense is key to championships
11. Focuses on improvement
12. Competes in all that we do
13. Tells the truth
14. Makes no excuses
SHELL DRILL
Below is a quick and easy 3-on-3, 4-on-4
shell drill.
1. The drill begins with three
offensive players competing
against three defensive
players at the three quarter
court level. The offensive
team moves the ball over the
halfcourt line as the defense
executes proper shell
positioning. Once the ball is
crossed over halfcourt the
offense runs the shell action of
the day.
2. They compete until a shot is
taken. If a basket is scored,
the offense and defense
switch roles. In order for the
basket to count the offensive
team that is now on defense,
must get a stop to accompany
their basket. A basket
followed by a stop counts as
one point. The drill is played
until the first team scores three
points - three baskets
accompanied by three stops.
3. This same drill can be
executed four on four.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
ON THE COURT - PRACTICE RULES
Below are the rules we shared with our team about our expectations of behavior in practice.
1. Always be on time. There is an 8 minute pre/post practice set up each day for your development. DTR means
dressed, taped, ready for all practices including a morning on the court workout unless otherwise posted. Ankle
braces and/or tape is mandatory unless a medical condition permits otherwise.
2. Being on time means being "ready to play" when the whistle blows to begin practice. Do not use our first drill
to get ready because practice will always begin with a "bang". We attack in everything that we do. This includes
the start of each practice.
3. We will end each practice in a circle stretch much like the way our weight workouts ended each Monday,
Wednesday, and Friday during the pre-season.
4. When a coach talks, stop and listen. You can't pay attention if you are moving. When a coach makes a
teaching point to one player he is talking to all players. When on the sideline, watch a player at your
corresponding position so that you won't make the same mistake as him.
5. Don't ever talk to another player while a coach is talking. We have no time to repeat what has already been
said.
6. The pace of how we play has increased, so has the pace of how we practice. Going from one segment to the
next has to happen quickly. Move from one thing to the next at a fast pace. Don't walk anywhere.
7. No head bands or jewelry. Always have a 3rd color on - t-shirt.
8. Don't shoot an extra shot or take an extra dribble after the whistle blows. No balls should be used while a
player is out of practice unless given permission by a coach.
9. While standing on the X in practice, all players should be in front of me. We must see everyone's eyes.
10. While shooting free-throws in practice, there is no talking.
11. Playing time is earned not given. We have a deep team and minutes in games will come from competing and
performing on a daily basis. It is also important that you understand your role and our system. We need players
that compliment each other and at the same time embrace what we do (The Xavier Way).
12. Coaches are not referees so play hard, compete and work to get better. Do not make a coach look bad
because a "bad call" happened in a segment of practice.
13. Communication is an expectation in practice. We must communicate on a daily basis to be able to
communicate under pressure in a game. In every segment of practice, communicate to your teammates. This is
a point of emphasis in 06-07.
14. If moodiness is a part of who you are, get beyond it and understand that we depend on each other at all
times. Your bad day negatively impacts our team.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
DEFENDING SCREENS CONTINUITY DRILL
1
2
4
5
3
2
4
5
3
1
A
B
The offense begins in a 1-4 alignment. 1 passes
to 2. 1 runs off of a UCLA screen by 4. 4 then
sets a sideline ballscreen. 3 moves above the
top of the key area. The defense guards the
action with its principles.
4
2 uses 4. 1 sprints out the other
side. After the ballscreen, 2
passes to 3.
4
1
5
5
1
2
3
2
3
C
3 sprints himself to use a 5 elbow
ballscreen. 3 uses the ballscreen
and 5 rolls. 3 passes to 1.
D
4 sprints out of the weakside post to set a sideline
ballscreen. 5, 2, and 3 space to the other side of
the court. On the last action, a shot will be
attempted by the offense.The ball will be rebounded
and a transition opportunity will take place.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
SHELL WITH WEAKSIDE INTERCHANGE
2
X5
X2
X4
X1
4
5
2
1
X2
X4
1
5
4
A
B
The offense is in shell positioning. The
defense is in proper defensive positioning. 1
passes to 4 and 1 and 5 interchange. X1
jumps to the ball on 1's pass and X5 gets
thru "one man removed" between x1 and 1.
4 passes to 5 and 4 and 2
interchange. X4 jumps to the ball as
X2 gets thru "one man removed".
After interchanging 4 posts up.
X2
4
X4
2
1
4 X4
1
2
X5
X1
5
5
D
C
5 passes to 2. 2 then gets the ball
inside to 4 in the post. X4
attempted to front the post.
On the post catch, the offense reacts along with
the defense. X2 digs, X1 positions himself in the
help position, and X5 defends 5's "dive". The
shell now becomes post offense vs. post
defense.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
ZONE OFFENSE - BOX SET ZIPPER OVERLOAD
2
3
3
5
4
5
4
1
2
1
A
B
Box alignment. 1 dribbles out right.
5 screens in the guard. 2 zipper
cuts to the top.
3
"slip".
4
1
5
4
1 passes to 2. 4 screens in the
weakside guard. 3 uses the 4
screen. 2 passes to 3. 4 looks to
5
1
3
22
C
1 cuts through the lane to the left
corner off of 5 and 4 baseline screens.
3 passes to 1. 4 has a possible "slip"
after screening for 1.
2
D
On the catch by 1, 5 flashes to the
high post. An overload is formed.
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU
NBA promises zero
tolerance for drama queens
The NBA might have given its players something
to complain about this season -- something
other than the new basketball.
In an attempt to get players to curtail postwhistle whining, NBA referee representatives
have made the rounds early in training camp to
emphasize the league's zero-tolerance policy.
Commissioner David Stern, long fed up with
players' histrionics over questionable calls, is
threatening to hit them with quick technical fouls
-- and later fines -- for those who curse, throw
their hands up, or make other gestures that
show disgust.
"The thought process is we have the best
athletes in the world, playing a spectacular
game as well as it has ever been played," Stern said. "In my view it detracts from it,
when a small handful of players spend their time negotiating and slowing the game
down, at least in the perception of the fans, by engaging in an enterprise which is not
productive."
Stern said a crackdown was long overdue.
"All it does is show a less attractive side to the greatest athletes in the world," Stern
said Wednesday. "The coaches don't mind this because, as a result, it means the
player will get back on defense rather than staying down to argue a call he didn't get
on the offensive end."
Xavier University - Men's Basketball - 3800 Victory Parkway - Cintas Center - Cincinnati, OH 45207 - (513) 745-3417 - (887) WE ARE XU