If you could be Barnes' Assistant Coach for a day

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

If you could be Barnes assistant Coach for the day, and you had one or two things you could focus on that the team was going to necessarily listen to ( and it would for sure get done) what are one or two things you would love to be able to coach them on?

Something they would necessarily take away, do, and execute come game time?

For me it would be to keep focusing on getting to the basket/in the paint every possession, & come tournament time, be super intelligent on what a smart foul and dumb foul are.

How about you?

 

[omghulkhands]

I’d stay in my lane and try to emphasize the importance of good, restful sleep each night

 

[Deathandtaxes]

I would take Z and gainey and say “you are the key to how far we go in this tournament, shoot your heart out”

 

[VolArmy74]

I'd tell them not to listen to me, but listen to Coach Barnes.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

I'd tell them not to listen to me, but listen to Coach Barnes.

Point of the thread was not to necessarily question Coach Barnes. You're the assistant, remember?
Just some things you feel are major points of emphasis for us to win a Natty going forward that you would like to reiterate to them.

 

[Special Ed]

If I was his assistant coach, I'd tell the players to tell Coach Barnes he's got the wrong assistant.

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

View attachment 725511
Point of the thread was not to necessarily question Coach Barnes. You're the assistant, remember?
Just some things you feel are major points of emphasis for us to win a Natty going forward that you would like to reiterate to them.

I'm not with them enough to know what to tell Barnes. I only see the games and the fact we're about to win 25+ for several years in a row

 

[BernardKingGOAT]

I would take Z and gainey and say “you are the key to how far we go in this tournament, shoot your heart out”

They've already been told that

 

[BallerVolFan]

Alter the motion offensive sets or add variations to them. Sometimes we get stagnant and tend to stand at the top of the key and dribble 15-20 seconds off the shot clock with very little movement waiting on 1 specific guy to get open off a screen. Add in a weave set on the perimeter to keep the ball moving and to keep the defense moving and instantly get back into the motion set coming off pin downs and the typical motion offense we run. Nothing wrong with the offensive concept other than getting stagnant and standing around occasionally trying to get the ball to the 2 guys running baseline and off screens. The defense catches on and switches everything and can stifle it here and there. Add in things that keep the movement and rotation continuous. At the very least you’re making the defense guard consistently and you’re not giving them the chance to stand around. Forcing the defense to guard the full duration of the shot clock.

One other thing that I would add would be something that we have rarely ever done since Barnes has been here. We typically show a token pressure full court press just to pick them up at 3/4 court but it’s not really a press. I would mix in some full court press and traps with the token pressure throughout the game but only in certain games. Not against teams like Bama and Missouri that may give them the opportunity to run the floor and speed up the game

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Alter the motion offensive sets or add variations to them. Sometimes we get stagnant and tend to stand at the top of the key and dribble 15-20 seconds off the shot clock with very little movement waiting on 1 specific guy to get open off a screen. Add in a weave set on the perimeter to keep the ball moving and to keep the defense moving and instantly get back into the motion set coming off pin downs and the typical motion offense we run. Nothing wrong with the offensive concept other than getting stagnant and standing around occasionally trying to get the ball to the 2 guys running baseline and off screens. The defense catches on and switches everything and can stifle it here and there. Add in things that keep the movement and rotation continuous. At the very least you’re making the defense guard consistently and you’re not giving them the chance to stand around. Forcing the defense to guard the full duration of the shot clock.

One other thing that I would add would be something that we have rarely ever done since Barnes has been here. We typically show a token pressure full court press just to pick them up at 3/4 court but it’s not really a press. I would mix in some full court press and traps with the token pressure throughout the game but only in certain games. Not against teams like Bama and Missouri that may give them the opportunity to run the floor and speed up the game

Intelligence found.....( thank you, btw)
Better movement of the ball would be extremely nice. When are doing that we get a much better shot. Shocking I know. lol
They had one beautiful sequence in the A&M game (actually had more than one) that was textbook passing on a good shot , for a better shot, for an excellent shot. I would love to replay that to them.
I'll try to clip it and post it if I am able to.
It was really pretty.

 

[BallerVolFan]

Intelligence found.....( thank you, btw)
Better movement of the ball would be extremely nice. When are doing that we get a much better shot. Shocking I know. lol
They had one beautiful sequence in the A&M game (actually had more than one) that was textbook passing on a good shot , for a better shot, for an excellent shot. I would love to replay that to them.
I'll try to clip it and post it if I am able to.

Not that my thoughts would make any difference because this isn’t high school ball where adjustments can work more often. This is high level basketball. It’s not easy for the players or the staff.

IMO just from watching the game, that Oklahoma game we were moving the dang ball around and every guy on the floor was continuously in motion and the ball was whipping all over the place and we had a plethora of good looks and scored efficiently. It’s understood we’re not gonna score at will and put up 80 points every game but in March if we can just be efficient and intentional and take care of the ball, we can make a run.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

I'm not with them enough to know what to tell Barnes. I only see the games and the fact we're about to win 25+ for several years in a row

I never said tell Barnes anything.
You're missing the point just because the title has 'Barnes' and 'coaching' in it. You see that and automatically assumed it was an anti-Barnes thread.
That's unfortunate.

I was simply asking of all the things Barnes has coached them on, come tournament time, what are the most important ones going forward into the tournament? What would be the biggest things you would stress to the team?

It could happen to be something Barnes doesn't stress/implement, but definitely not necessarily.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Not that my thoughts would make any difference because this isn’t high school ball where adjustments can work more often. This is high level basketball. It’s not easy for the players or the staff.

IMO just from watching the game, that Oklahoma game we were moving the dang ball around and every guy on the floor was continuously in motion and the ball was whipping all over the place and we had a plethora of good looks and scored efficiently. It’s understood we’re not gonna score at will and put up 80 points every game but in March if we can just be efficient and intentional and take care of the ball, we can make a run.

Yeah I get that. I was just thinking of things this team needs to 100% do come tournament time to win. I can think of several off the top of my head.
I'd be all over Lanier to always be moving without the ball. I guarantee Barnes has stressed this a million times. It seems way too often he just waits for a screen to come off of as his way to get open.

 

[OrangeInKy]

I bring nothing to the table other than bringing good snacks, so I’d focus on the snacks.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

I bring nothing to the table other than bringing good snacks, so I’d focus on the snacks.

Cool, I like snacks.What kind of snacks?
Ol' Sears looked like he was cramping hard last night. Our D was wearing him out.
Some orange slices with some salt would have probably helped him at half-time.

 

[volKano]

Tell Igor to take it to the rack. He is very quick if he just goes. Playing timid around the 3 point line and shooting twice a game isn’t really helping.

 

[VolArmy74]

View attachment 725511
Point of the thread was not to necessarily question Coach Barnes. You're the assistant, remember?
Just some things you feel are major points of emphasis for us to win a Natty going forward that you would like to reiterate to them.

If I or any of us were capable of that, we'd probably be on a staff somewhere instead of posting here.

If I could tell them anything, I'd beg them to maybe not fly at three point shooters so often. We see opponents shooting three way too often. But I'm not sure how that would affect their defense, so I'd probably just leave it alone.

 

[driscokid]

I’d try to steal his job in full Fulmer fashion

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

Tell Igor to take it to the rack. He is very quick if he just goes. Playing timid around the 3 point line and shooting twice a game isn’t really helping.

When he was knocking down that 3 a few games back it was really opening up the opportunity for him to give a little fake and take it right to the basket.
He actually did it once and ended up with a wide open lane straight to the basket.
But yeah, I've seen him catch it a little past the free throw line so many times and not even be thinking of taking it to the basket. I mean it's happened where there was nobody even there if he just spun to the basket it was wide open he just didn't realize it.
Happened with some other guys too last night. A little too quick to pass it right back to the top of the key IMO.

 

[Anti-shunshinepumper]

If I or any of us were capable of that, we'd probably be on a staff somewhere instead of posting here.

If I could tell them anything, I'd beg them to maybe not fly at three point shooters so often. We see opponents shooting three way too often. But I'm not sure how that would affect their defense, so I'd probably just leave it alone.

Idk man, Barnes seems as puzzled by it as you.
From what I got it isn't something stemming from what he has them doing on defense.
It's just late getting to the shooter so they are jumping into the shot trying to make a play.
It's very low percentage as far as getting that block, tho. High risk/low reward type thing.
ZZ did get a key one the other night so you may be right. Just let them play on that one.

 

[BearBryant]

If you could be Barnes assistant Coach for the day, and you had one or two things you could focus on that the team was going to necessarily listen to ( and it would for sure get done) what are one or two things you would love to be able to coach them on?

Something they would necessarily take away, do, and execute come game time?

For me it would be to keep focusing on getting to the basket/in the paint every possession, & come tournament time, be super intelligent on what a smart foul and dumb foul are.

How about you?

I would tell Coach Barnes, Mashack is deadly from 35 feet, let's draw up a play to isolate him one on one. And give him 3 or 4 of these 35 footers each game.

 

[Teeman]

I would tell Coach Barnes that if Mashack hadn't hit that shot, Volnation would be talking today about how Barnes is past his prime and will never take UT to the Final Four. Also, Volnation wants to know why Mashack took a desperation shot instead of running a designed play for Lanier or Zeigler?

 

[VOLtaism]

I would tell Coach Barnes that if Mashack hadn't hit that shot, Volnation would be talking today about how Barnes is past his prime and will never take UT to the Final Four. Also, Volnation wants to know why Mashack took a desperation shot instead of running a designed play for Lanier or Zeigler?

Just enjoy the win. The way it was won was off the charts lucky and we were due. Barnes made a mistake by not telling the ref he was going to call time out. Barnes yelled out to Mashack to get across the line and call time out. Mashack thought he said shoot after crossing the line. Barnes was frantically trying to call time out, the rest is history. Not a textbook finish but one of the best I can remember.

 

[OffTackleVol]

If you could be Barnes assistant Coach for the day, and you had one or two things you could focus on that the team was going to necessarily listen to ( and it would for sure get done) what are one or two things you would love to be able to coach them on?

Something they would necessarily take away, do, and execute come game time?

For me it would be to keep focusing on getting to the basket/in the paint every possession, & come tournament time, be super intelligent on what a smart foul and dumb foul are.

How about you?

I think I would just re-emphasize the importance of getting the ball into the paint whether it's by pass or dribble penetration. The inside-out 3 point shot maybe the best shot in basketball.

 

[Creeker]

I’d sit with Chaz and have him watch hours of Vescovi working off ball to get open. Tell him if he worked 80 percent as hard to get open all year he’d probably the the top POY candidate right now.