Coach Steele

[Anti-Homer]

Just wanted to provide some musings from Coach Steele. For all you cynics, don't try and twist this into some negative narrative either. Shame on you if you choose to do so. As a steward of the board, it is part of my charge.

1. He is extremely, extremely, pleased with Deionte Miles.

2. He said Stanley was 92-94% back to normal after his injury 9 mos ago. Great news! I thought he would only be 91%-93% rehabilitated by this time.

Best for last: Jones has won the Gold Jersey (GJ) for the 2nd time this year!!! Oh to be a fly on the wall when this bestowment is deliberated, no doubt while being besieged by the other players politicking. Anyone know the record for the most GJs won in a year? I think healthy competition is great, but hopefully it doesn't cause a lot of jealousy if CJ wins his third before anyone wins their 1st. Great motivational tactic nevertheless.

[longliveskip]

for the sake of the board - do you know exactly what goes into the earning of the gold jersey for practice each week?

just wondering, as you liken it to each player getting a lollipop for participation, which it clearly it is the furthest thing from that.

can't really remember Mack getting this much ***** for the GJ (which i believe he was the one who implemented into practice), so i guess if you "let the inmates run the asylum" but you WIN, then it really doesn't matter what you do, but if you LOSE then no matter what you do, it's looked upon as just "window dressing" or some kind of used car salesman tactic that does nothing to better the program.

sound about right?

[skyhops]

In my opinion Mack didn’t get as much crap because he won and took them to the tourney consistently. AH is somewhat obsessed with the gold jersey, but he is also going to give out his first rainbow jersey so I guess I understand.

[AirJordan]

for the sake of the board - do you know exactly what goes into the earning of the gold jersey for practice each week?

just wondering, as you liken it to each player getting a lollipop for participation, which it clearly it is the furthest thing from that.

can't really remember Mack getting this much ***** for the GJ (which i believe he was the one who implemented into practice), so i guess if you "let the inmates run the asylum" but you WIN, then it really doesn't matter what you do, but if you LOSE then no matter what you do, it's looked upon as just "window dressing" or some kind of used car salesman tactic that does nothing to better the program.

sound about right?

Skip has made a good point. The Gold Jersey, as I interpret it, is a mechanism to motivate players in practice. I see nothing wrong with it. But, it has become an object of derision without, I think, good reason.

The last three seasons (specifically, the last two end of season meltdowns) have disappointed many if mot most posters on this board---me included. But, the past is the past, we have a clean slate and are one week away from the start of a new season. We have some challenges (Freemantle's injury looms large) but we have many returning players and some new transfers and freshman. This appears to be Steele's deepest roster with lots of talent. Of course, there are questions. There will always be questions, doubts, concerns heading into a new season. But, there is reason to be positive and I do not understand the ever-present, grinding negativity.

I am definitely no Pollyanna but I'm looking for good things this year.

[olsingledigit]

We all want to be back in the tournament. No one more than I, but the posts criticizing silly things like the GJ are really unnecessary. The season is upon us. Let’s focus on basketball, not silliness.

[Anti-Homer]

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your thoughtful comments. OK, after speaking with my consigliere edgecliff (Mman has lost his spot), as silly as the GJ is, I will relent, because it is obviously triggering some posters to an alarming level. I'll give my true assessment. I think the GJ is absolutely juvenile, or toddlernile. Is that a word? I think Skip is spot on that it didn't draw this much attn from me during the C Mack era, but also think Hop's assessment is also correct in that it is because he won at a higher rate.

When I was taking trigonometry in 3rd grade, and got over a 93% on my tests, my teacher gave me a big gold star. However, starting in the fourth grade, when I still excelled in school by averaging 'C's in most classes including arithmetic, I stopped receiving them. I guess perhaps trying hard is school was now an expectation? Should players also get smiley face stickers put on their lockers if they make it to early morning practices over the weekend, or should it be an expectation?

I kind of feel like trying hard in practice in a voluntary activity they love to do, and receive great consideration for it like free tuition, food, top of the line housing, resume builder, popularity with the lady folks, NIL rewards, etc.... should be a given. Am I wrong? Do you really think the players relish getting the GJ? Honestly? Do they dive on the floor, take extra shots, do rebounding grill, etc... to be awarded a GJ?

It's clear that I'm not a Steele fan, and not because of his subpar performance. I think he doesn't practice what he preaches, plays favorites, and contracts himself often. I do want to end this on a good note. Steele's comments in his presser today: "Adam Steele is shooting the absolute cover off the ball. In live play in practice, he's shooting 45% from 3, and he is taking a lot of 3s. So it's not a small amount. He's doing a large volume."

So to reiterate, it is a large volume, not a small volume. Good stuff!

[skyhops]

Adam is shooting 45% and Paul is shooting 40% during practice? I’ve now heard it all. We are heading into our season with our best three bigs hurt, but Steele feels good about things except we need to get in shape? C’mon man. The used car salesman strikes again.

[joeabe]

OK, I'm viewing this season as Coach Steel's first in the bigs!! He was a rookie coach in the minors the first couple of crazy years. He's now been promoted to the majors( in my imagination) after learning the ropes in the minor leagues. I believe our AD expected Steele to stumble in his first couple of years since the young man had never been there. If not, he should have. Now, the lights are on center stage and Coach must stand on his own and be judged as an experienced coach. I still believe he is in a huge learning curve as this league is loaded with very good coaches. I pray he is our man. I'm looking for improvement not perfection. It seems we have the players to win. I wonder about our on court leadership? Winning teams almost always have a warrior as leader but most evident at games crunch time!! I'm pulling for the young man as he seems like a class act.

[skyhops]

You are very generous to give him three full years to finally begin his coaching career. I gave him a year to get "his player" like everyone else. I suspect another mediocre season will get him another year or so unfortunately. Still puzzled by why his players were gassed and out of shape against Vandy. Good thing they are going to run this year.

[thecoach]

Adam is shooting 45% and Paul is shooting 40% during practice? I’ve now heard it all. We are heading into our season with our best three bigs hurt, but Steele feels good about things except we need to get in shape? C’mon man. The used car salesman strikes again.

I think we've come full circle to answer why they shot 33 3 pointers in that scrimmage.