We will be halfway through our conference season after this weekend's games. Our team is in a 4 team clump trying to claw our way back into the Big Sky race.
The only team right now that has set itself apart is Eastern Washington, currently 7-0. I am not surpised at their early success, having all 5 starters back and a team that dominated on the boards last season. I think the media is more surprised, but you can't underestimate experience and balance.
My championship experiences have been when I was on great TEAMS rather than teams with a few great individual players. Teams that didn't care who got the shot, as long as it was the right shot, teams that had players who took great pride in setting the screen, taking the charge, diving for the possession that matters. Aspects of the game that you DON'T see in the stat sheet.
We haven't had early conference success because of lack of consistency in ceratin areas, but don't count us out! We are known for finishing strong. We have a team that is figuring out how to bring the best of individual talent to the table for our team to thrive.
This team has great character and fight in them. Our veteran point guard Erica Perry took us to the Big Sky Championship game in 2008 and the best is yet to come for her. I believe in our back court and our front court and can't wait to see the two come together.
Go Cats!
Coach Bin
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Back to Back Games
Quite a bit of uproar has surfaced on this year's back to back games. Fans and coaches all want an equitable playing field. However, other concerns such as injury prevention, quality of the game, and stamina have surfaced with this format.
During my WNBA playing career we managed to get in 4 to 5 games in one week's time. When I played on an exhibition team during my professional off season, I played in 11games in 13 days.
Conference tournaments are typically played back to back, potentially having to go three in a row if your team continues to win.
If you have seen the movie A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Jean Cione (who is a Fast Break booster for our program) was a professional baseball player on one of the teams represented in that movie, the Rockford Peaches.
I think the answer is explained best by Jean when she said that we used to be concerned about women's fitness when they were only allowed to play half court basketball. "Now we are playing full court AND back to back."
Just think of what women will be doing in ten more years. Watch out!
Coach Bin
During my WNBA playing career we managed to get in 4 to 5 games in one week's time. When I played on an exhibition team during my professional off season, I played in 11games in 13 days.
Conference tournaments are typically played back to back, potentially having to go three in a row if your team continues to win.
If you have seen the movie A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN, Jean Cione (who is a Fast Break booster for our program) was a professional baseball player on one of the teams represented in that movie, the Rockford Peaches.
I think the answer is explained best by Jean when she said that we used to be concerned about women's fitness when they were only allowed to play half court basketball. "Now we are playing full court AND back to back."
Just think of what women will be doing in ten more years. Watch out!
Coach Bin
Thursday, January 14, 2010
PRE GAME
Every road trip, the home team is reponsible for providing a locker room for the visiting team.
What to expect?
1) Small
2) A white board or a chalk board. Whether the marker or chalk are there is 50/50.
3) No Coca Cola products! Back before budgets tightened, we were very spoiled.
Last weekend's game at Portland State was more than the unexpected when we were escorted down the stairs to the pool where 15+ chairs were lined up in front of a whiteboard on the pool deck.
I should have told my son to bring his swimming suit!
Go Cats
What to expect?
1) Small
2) A white board or a chalk board. Whether the marker or chalk are there is 50/50.
3) No Coca Cola products! Back before budgets tightened, we were very spoiled.
Last weekend's game at Portland State was more than the unexpected when we were escorted down the stairs to the pool where 15+ chairs were lined up in front of a whiteboard on the pool deck.
I should have told my son to bring his swimming suit!
Go Cats
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
OPPORTUNITY
I asked my team yesterday how many opportunities they think they get. The answer is simple. We don't know. Make the most of the opportunity when it presents itself.
The toughest shoes are the players on the bench who aren't in a consistent rotation. Maybe they get 30 seconds at the end of the game. Maybe they are called upon when a teammate gets in foul trouble. They are also the most crucial players to a championship team.
The team that will be successful at the end of the season is the one that has the bench come in at the end of the game and compete as hard as they can, dive for a loose ball, and crash the glass when the game has already been decided.
Why will that team be successful? Because that team has players competing at every position, making each other better every day, and doesn't have a player on the roster that has given up.
That Team Has FIGHT!
My job is to make sure my team takes that path as an opportunity is only as good as what you do with it.
Coach Bin
The toughest shoes are the players on the bench who aren't in a consistent rotation. Maybe they get 30 seconds at the end of the game. Maybe they are called upon when a teammate gets in foul trouble. They are also the most crucial players to a championship team.
The team that will be successful at the end of the season is the one that has the bench come in at the end of the game and compete as hard as they can, dive for a loose ball, and crash the glass when the game has already been decided.
Why will that team be successful? Because that team has players competing at every position, making each other better every day, and doesn't have a player on the roster that has given up.
That Team Has FIGHT!
My job is to make sure my team takes that path as an opportunity is only as good as what you do with it.
Coach Bin
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Deer Crossing
Only in Bozeman do you have to be concerned about more than pedestrians crossing the sidewalk. We have your typical deer and elk signs, but did you ever think the pedestrians themselves would have to watch out for them?
I found out this past weekend that, yes you do! One of our men's basketball coaches was walking to the donut shop when a deer ran right in front of him. Then he looked and saw a herd before sprinting inside the store.
So, my advice for the week is to stay away from the donut shop. Surely deer and elk won't want a bagel.
Coach Bin
I found out this past weekend that, yes you do! One of our men's basketball coaches was walking to the donut shop when a deer ran right in front of him. Then he looked and saw a herd before sprinting inside the store.
So, my advice for the week is to stay away from the donut shop. Surely deer and elk won't want a bagel.
Coach Bin
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