ESPN Article on Coach Kim

[jsc1973]

Grinnell System is effective basketball! But are we less likely to make a Final Four? National Championship? I'm worried that the answer is yes, and I hope that Kim will be willing to learn about the best way to mentally AND physically develop the girls. Look to Tennessee S&C in sports where we're succeeding, especially in sports that vaguely match the athletic output her system needs, and put their proven methods into practice. She's not a Grenville or Marshall anymore, the resources are too great here to not take your S&C to the next level, staying tied down to what won you conference championships in the D2 one-bid Mountain East Conference.

She's not playing the Grinnell System. Grinnell is a modern take on the run-and-gun system that Paul Westhead invented when he was at Loyola Marymount in the 1980s. Yes, you have the full-court press, but if they don't get a steal, they'll happily concede a layup just to get the ball back and try to jack up a three at the other end. Other than running fast, it's nowhere near as demanding as what Caldwell does. The whole point of the Grinnell System is just to force the game to be as fast as possible, and to hell with any basketball fundamentals. They just think if they can get you to play their game, and most teams are willing because it's fun, they can play it better than you can.

Caldwell is more like Nolan Richardson's "40 Minutes of Hell" from the 1990s, where he pressed but then played halfcourt defense. No way in hell would you intentionally concede a layup just to get the ball back. This is all-out maximum effort on both ends for an entire game, with a team running fresh bodies out there constantly. This is not fun to play against; like one of the players said, the point is to make the other team hate to play against you. It's not foolproof. Talent still matters above all else. But if you have enough talent to compete, and you execute, every so often, you'll harass the other team into making mental errors under pressure.

Where S&C are concerned, I am pretty confident she hasn't been living in a fishbowl during her 13 years as a coach. You don't need to coach in Division I to learn how D1 teams do things. Or sometimes you might come up with some pretty good ideas yourself even if you're not in Division I.

As for the fact she's not at Glenville or Marshall anymore, that is true. But she also has access to athletes that she could only dream of having at those places.

 

[37620VOL]

@jsc1973

Sir, please post in here more often!

 

[Mafiaboss]

She's not playing the Grinnell System. Grinnell is a modern take on the run-and-gun system that Paul Westhead invented when he was at Loyola Marymount in the 1980s. Yes, you have the full-court press, but if they don't get a steal, they'll happily concede a layup just to get the ball back and try to jack up a three at the other end. Other than running fast, it's nowhere near as demanding as what Caldwell does. The whole point of the Grinnell System is just to force the game to be as fast as possible, and to hell with any basketball fundamentals. They just think if they can get you to play their game, and most teams are willing because it's fun, they can play it better than you can.

Caldwell is more like Nolan Richardson's "40 Minutes of Hell" from the 1990s, where he pressed but then played halfcourt defense. No way in hell would you intentionally concede a layup just to get the ball back. This is all-out maximum effort on both ends for an entire game, with a team running fresh bodies out there constantly. This is not fun to play against; like one of the players said, the point is to make the other team hate to play against you. It's not foolproof. Talent still matters above all else. But if you have enough talent to compete, and you execute, every so often, you'll harass the other team into making mental errors under pressure.

Where S&C are concerned, I am pretty confident she hasn't been living in a fishbowl during her 13 years as a coach. You don't need to coach in Division I to learn how D1 teams do things. Or sometimes you might come up with some pretty good ideas yourself even if you're not in Division I.

As for the fact she's not at Glenville or Marshall anymore, that is true. But she also has access to athletes that she could only dream of having at those places.

Yes.

 

[Rooster1]

She's not playing the Grinnell System. Grinnell is a modern take on the run-and-gun system that Paul Westhead invented when he was at Loyola Marymount in the 1980s. Yes, you have the full-court press, but if they don't get a steal, they'll happily concede a layup just to get the ball back and try to jack up a three at the other end. Other than running fast, it's nowhere near as demanding as what Caldwell does. The whole point of the Grinnell System is just to force the game to be as fast as possible, and to hell with any basketball fundamentals. They just think if they can get you to play their game, and most teams are willing because it's fun, they can play it better than you can.

Caldwell is more like Nolan Richardson's "40 Minutes of Hell" from the 1990s, where he pressed but then played halfcourt defense. No way in hell would you intentionally concede a layup just to get the ball back. This is all-out maximum effort on both ends for an entire game, with a team running fresh bodies out there constantly. This is not fun to play against; like one of the players said, the point is to make the other team hate to play against you. It's not foolproof. Talent still matters above all else. But if you have enough talent to compete, and you execute, every so often, you'll harass the other team into making mental errors under pressure.

Where S&C are concerned, I am pretty confident she hasn't been living in a fishbowl during her 13 years as a coach. You don't need to coach in Division I to learn how D1 teams do things. Or sometimes you might come up with some pretty good ideas yourself even if you're not in Division I.

As for the fact she's not at Glenville or Marshall anymore, that is true. But she also has access to athletes that she could only dream of having at those places.

Nice post, thanks, I enjoyed and agree.

 

[chuckiepoo]

She's not playing the Grinnell System. Grinnell is a modern take on the run-and-gun system that Paul Westhead invented when he was at Loyola Marymount in the 1980s. Yes, you have the full-court press, but if they don't get a steal, they'll happily concede a layup just to get the ball back and try to jack up a three at the other end. Other than running fast, it's nowhere near as demanding as what Caldwell does. The whole point of the Grinnell System is just to force the game to be as fast as possible, and to hell with any basketball fundamentals. They just think if they can get you to play their game, and most teams are willing because it's fun, they can play it better than you can.

Caldwell is more like Nolan Richardson's "40 Minutes of Hell" from the 1990s, where he pressed but then played halfcourt defense. No way in hell would you intentionally concede a layup just to get the ball back. This is all-out maximum effort on both ends for an entire game, with a team running fresh bodies out there constantly. This is not fun to play against; like one of the players said, the point is to make the other team hate to play against you. It's not foolproof. Talent still matters above all else. But if you have enough talent to compete, and you execute, every so often, you'll harass the other team into making mental errors under pressure.

Where S&C are concerned, I am pretty confident she hasn't been living in a fishbowl during her 13 years as a coach. You don't need to coach in Division I to learn how D1 teams do things. Or sometimes you might come up with some pretty good ideas yourself even if you're not in Division I.

As for the fact she's not at Glenville or Marshall anymore, that is true. But she also has access to athletes that she could only dream of having at those places.

Thank you!

 

[Dadof2Vols]

I think we’ll be alright with Nolan. I also think they have a wonderful resource available within Barnes’ staff for any oversight/ojt that may be required. Found a great article:

Harvath's persevering path leads to 'Rocky Top' | CAHS Media Hub | West Virginia University

So he has a problem committing and stay somewhere for extended periods of time…Already see issues with this hire!

 

[lvocd]

I was disappointed, GREATLY, to have read recently that he'd apparently used some of those ridiculous "bootcamp" tactics such as carrying each other, etc. This stupid macho crap is nothing but a way to risk permanently damaging the backs of athletes.

Now, if they were about to be deployed in a war zone where they might find themselves needing to throw a wounded troop member over their shoulder and run them to safety, then, yeah. Teach them how to hump wounded soldiers out of the line of fire.

But they're playing basketball, not facing enemy fire on a battleground.

Good grief. I would never, ever hire anyone who thought the bootcamp approach was the way to go. It really ticks me off that this is a thing in college sports. Ugh.

I will always believe that both Angie Bjorklund and Taber Spani were damaged by that ish. I can't remember names right now, but I vaguely recall a couple of other injuries that my first thought was, "There's that stupid Navy Seals sh!t again!"

Yuck.

 

[chuckiepoo]

I was disappointed, GREATLY, to have read recently that he'd apparently used some of those ridiculous "bootcamp" tactics such as carrying each other, etc.

Probably Kellienistas on Facebook. Bring a linkie…

 

[jsc1973]

@jsc1973

Sir, please post in here more often!

Thanks for the endorsement!

I drop in here from time to time. I am actually a 31-year professional sports journalist who was lucky enough to cover Sarah Strong's high school team for the past three years (and it pissed me that our previous staff couldn't even get a sniff from her). Went to high school for a year with Shelley Sexton's brother when that team won Pat's first natty, but moved to NC later that year and have been here since. Occasionally, I see big-time recruits that UT is going after and will comment here.

That thing about the Grinnell System kind of peeved me. Kim Caldwell would burn a hole with her eyes into a player who intentionally conceded a layup just to get possession back.

Anyway, it's been kind of slow and I've had time to drop in (I work full time and also am pretty much a full-time caregiver for a disabled wife, who I love dearly), and I'm excited to see the LVs trying to get back where they belong.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Thanks for the endorsement!

I drop in here from time to time. I am actually a 31-year professional sports journalist who was lucky enough to cover Sarah Strong's high school team for the past three years (and it pissed me that our previous staff couldn't even get a sniff from her). Went to high school for a year with Shelley Sexton's brother when that team won Pat's first natty, but moved to NC later that year and have been here since. Occasionally, I see big-time recruits that UT is going after and will comment here.

That thing about the Grinnell System kind of peeved me. Kim Caldwell would burn a hole with her eyes into a player who intentionally conceded a layup just to get possession back.

Anyway, it's been kind of slow and I've had time to drop in (I work full time and also am pretty much a full-time caregiver for a disabled wife, who I love dearly), and I'm excited to see the LVs trying to get back where they belong.

God bless you and your wife.

You wrote with the confidence of knowledge based on verifiable facts. That’s very much appreciated around here.

 

[RespectAPA]

Thanks for the endorsement!

I drop in here from time to time. I am actually a 31-year professional sports journalist who was lucky enough to cover Sarah Strong's high school team for the past three years (and it pissed me that our previous staff couldn't even get a sniff from her). Went to high school for a year with Shelley Sexton's brother when that team won Pat's first natty, but moved to NC later that year and have been here since. Occasionally, I see big-time recruits that UT is going after and will comment here.

That thing about the Grinnell System kind of peeved me. Kim Caldwell would burn a hole with her eyes into a player who intentionally conceded a layup just to get possession back.

Anyway, it's been kind of slow and I've had time to drop in (I work full time and also am pretty much a full-time caregiver for a disabled wife, who I love dearly), and I'm excited to see the LVs trying to get back where they belong.

If you're talking about me, then I'm sorry that I peeved you. But where are you getting this idea that the Grinnell system includes not contesting a layup? Has any Grinnell System coach ever said anything to this effect?

I would figure that the closest thing you'd get is "we know our system will result in our opponent getting easy 2s on the occasional possession" and that's something we've seen a few times in our games but that's not the same thing as being in a position to contest a layup and not doing so, which is what you're claiming, yes?

From watching a bit of footage of Grinnell themselves, obviously the namesake, they give up some layups, but they aren't at all conceding them. The last player back is running to block the shot. Doesn't that contradict what you're saying about the Grinnell System?