For the Love of the Game

2010-12-03T13:52:00.000-08:00

Turning Failure into Success
"99 percent of success is built on failure." -- Charles Kettering

5 Ways to Learn from Failure

1. Identify & admit your mistakes
2. Learn from your mistakes and don’t REPEAT them
3. NEVER give up, no matter how hard the road gets
4. Don’t DOUBT yourself or your abilities; Stay PositiveBe Patient, but Persistent

“Don't be discouraged by failure. It can be a positive experience. Failure is, in a sense, the highway to success.”

Howard at home at WKU

2010-11-08T14:51:00.000-08:00

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Hilltopper Hysteria

2010-09-29T13:21:00.000-07:00

Come kickoff the basketball season with the women's and men's basketball teams at Hilltopper Hysteria!

October 15, 2010 in Diddle Arena

7:00-9:00pm

FREE Admission

FREE T-shirt

3-Point Contest

Dunk Contest

Live Men's & Women's Scrimmage

Performances by Big Red, Cheerleaders, & Topper

Minute to Win It & Bottoms Up Contest

Come out and supports the Hilltoppers!

Our Deepest Fear....

2010-09-22T10:58:00.000-07:00

Inspired thoughts by Marianne Willamson:

1. Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate, but that we are powerful beyond measure!!!

2. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

2. We were all meant to shine!

3. When we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.

4. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

I want to Thank all of my coaches and teachers who believed in me and inspired me to strive for excellence. Your guidance has helped me to succeed both on and off the court:

Laura Lebeouf, Susan Touchet (RIP), Bubba Herbert, Ricky Brailey, Sue Gunter (RIP), Bob Starkey, Pokey Chatman, Paula Lee.

Develop a fire to Become Legendary!

2010-09-22T10:50:00.000-07:00

Don't Make Excuses.....Become Legendary!

1. Failure gives you strength

2. Pain should be your my motivation

3. Use the fire to work towards improvement every single day

The Essential Qualities of a Team Player by John C. Maxwell

2010-09-14T07:23:00.000-07:00

1. Adaptable—If you won’t change for the team, the team may change you

Adaptable people are:
Teachable
Emotionally secure
Creative
Service minded

2. Collaborative—Working together precedes winning together

Becoming a collaborative team player requires a change in focus in four areas:
Perception: See teammates as collaborators, not competitors
Attitude: Be supportive, not suspicious, of teammates
Focus: Concentrate on the team, not yourselfResults: Create victories through multiplication

3. Committed—There are no halfhearted champions

Some things every team player needs to know about being committed:
Commitment usually is discovered in the midst of adversity
Commitment does not depend on gifts or abilities
Commitment comes as the result of choice, not conditions
Commitment lasts when it’s based on values

4. Communicative—A team is many voices with a single heart

Communicative players:
Do not isolate themselves from others
Make it easy for teammates to communicate with them
Follow the twenty-four-hour rule (don’t let any difficulty or conflict with a teammate go more than twenty-four hours without addressing it)
Give attention to potentially difficult relationships
Follow up on important communication in writing

5. Dependable—Teams go to go-to players

The essence of dependability:
1. Pure motives
2. Responsibility
3. Sound thinkingConsistent contribution

Incoming Freshman Chaney Means' Character Shines Bright

2010-08-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Means what she says

Lady Top freshman leads by example, through faith

As a point guard, Western Kentucky incoming freshman Chaney Means knows all about the importance of leading by example. But for Means, leadership isn’t limited just to basketball. Means balances her competitive drive on the court with a desire to be a role model off the floor - serving as an example of how to live life to the fullest. It’s a blend of competitiveness and faith that drives Means, and the former high school star from Greater Atlanta Christian is determined to take it to the next level with the Lady Toppers.

“I think one of the first things I wanted to do when I got here was find good Christian friends and get involved with the community,” Means said. “It’s something that is a huge part of my life. I’ve always said that, like (her favorite athlete, former Florida Gator quarterback) Tim Tebow, I have a platform to show my faith. I want to do my best to represent Christ on the court. You can be a fierce competitor and still play with class and how God would bring honor to his name.”

Means earned a reputation as a hard-nosed player who relishes competition. But Means admits she has a competitive nature even off the floor.“We were playing spades (Wednesday) night with the team and, as soon as the cards came out, I had my game face on,” Means said. “I’m pretty quiet outside of basketball, but once I get on the court, I totally change. I think that is a good balance to have, though - to be a fierce competitor and a sweet girl that’s normal as well.”Means said finding a school that would allow her to strike that balance was among her priorities.“I was able to talk to (head coach Mary Taylor Cowles) from day one about my relationship with Christ,” Means said. “That is definitely an important thing for me. I eliminated some schools because I wanted people coaching me that I can respect with their family and how they live their life.

I think coach Cowles does a great job with that and is just a good role model for me.”Cowles said Means’ competitive nature impressed the WKU coaching staff during the recruiting process.“She is a coach on the floor,” Cowles said. “She is a coach’s child and I think we’ve all seen those kids that have grown up in a gym and been around it all the time. It’s unbelievable how much she understands the game. That comes from playing it a lot, watching it a lot, just being around it a lot. She has such a deep-rooted passion for the game of basketball.”Meanwhile, the Lady Topper staff was also impressed by how Means handled herself off the floor.“She is a coach’s dream, a parent’s dream, a mother’s dream,” Cowles said. “She’s just a beautiful young lady that represents everything you want from a coaching staff standpoint. She understands the academic side of the college experience and has that true balance of student/athlete. I think I can say that as a blanket statement across the board with this freshman class.”Means enjoyed plenty of success at Atlanta Christian. She was an All-State player since her sophomore season and had scored more than 1,000 career points after her junior year. But she said she is always looking to refine her craft.“Being smart and thinking the game is just as important as all the other stuff,” Means said.

“That’s a cool thing to do - be able to think the game. It’s one thing that I want to get better on, too - thinking the game all the time. I think that takes you to the next level and makes you a really good player, even if you’re a freshman.”Means said she’s hit the ground running at WKU, enjoying her brief time on the Hill and immediately bonding with fellow freshmen Mimi Hill and Ellen Sholtes.“It’s been great so far,” Means said. “It’s been good getting to know (everyone). I just like the schedule and routine. Starting the workouts is fun. It’s hard, but it is good. I think we’re getting better. Right now, I’m just going to figure out everybody’s strengths and weaknesses and get that chemistry. As a point guard, that is really important.”And Means is hopeful the hard work will lead to playing time in the 2010-11 season.“That was one thing I really liked about Western - the opportunity to play from day one,” Means said. “I’m excited about it and I’m up for the challenge. I really want to play and get some playing time and help the team any way I can.”

WKU Freshman Mimi Hill has arrived!

2010-08-10T20:44:00.000-07:00

Other side of the Hill

Despite tough presence on the floor, WKU freshman has soft side away from the gym

With a sister who played in the WNBA and a mother who played college ball and now coaches in high school, basketball is undeniably in the DNA of Western Kentucky freshman forward Mimi Hill.And while Hill embraces her basketball identity, the 6-foot-3 freshman from Winder, Ga., still finds time to stay in touch with her self-described “girly” side - with off-the-court activities ranging from modeling to baking.The unique blend has Hill determined to not simply follow in the footsteps of sister Tasha Humphrey and mother Brenda Gilmore. Instead, she aims to forge her own path, first by making her presence felt in a crowded Lady Topper frontcourt.Hill didn’t start playing basketball until she was in seventh grade, taking up the sport after she was cut from the cheerleading squad for being too tall.“I was like, well let’s give this a try,” Hill said. “At first I didn’t like all the hitting, pushing and touching of the other players. Then I realized that’s the game and I was good at it. I started wanting to work out, do more stuff and get more into the game of basketball.”And it didn’t take long for the comparisons to Humphrey - a former Georgia standout who played in the WNBA - to surface. Hill said she embraced the mentions but eventually felt the need to break away and be her own person.“I realized that I’m not Tasha,” Hill said. “We are two different people. We have different body structures. We have two different games. We see the floor differently. That’s when I decided I’m my own person and I have to be me.”Hill developed into a force while playing for her mom at Winder-Barrow High School in Georgia. She led the team in scoring and earned a reputation as one of the area’s more versatile players, immediately drawing interest from WKU coach Mary Taylor Cowles.“Her athletic background - family background - is very rich, but Mimi is her own individual,” Cowles said. “She’s worked very hard to give herself this opportunity. I think the thing that makes her so exciting is that she will end up being a combination of a 4/3 player. Her ability to shoot the basketball from the outside and her ability to be with her back to the basket down in the block makes her very versatile for us.”Hill’s versatility extends beyond the arena. While in high school, Hill spent time during the offseason modeling on weekends.“I like shopping,” Hill said. “I like ... getting dressed up, with makeup and pretty hair, and I like taking photos.”Hill added that she also likes to get in the kitchen and bake, an activity that began at an early age with her grandmother.

“My mom and sister always told me that we don’t quit,” Hill said. “Everyone wants to quit when things get tough. They taught me that you can’t quit because it gets you nowhere. I think that is why my sister was so successful and why my mom was so successful. That pushes me to keep going.”Hill’s determination might be tested in joining a roster that returns Arnika Brown, Keisha Mosley, LaTierra Owens and Jasmine Johnson - post players who all saw significant action last year - along with the addition of Janae Howard, who will make her WKU debut after transferring from Louisville.Hill said it will be a huge challenge, but she is eager to find her place in the frontcourt rotation.“My expectations are to see what God puts in front of me,” Hill said. “If it’s not in his will for me to start or to play that many minutes, then that’s his will. If it is, I will gladly step up and take that opportunity.”

Work on your game & Learn in the Process!

2010-05-21T12:11:00.000-07:00

I just read an article that talks about players and skill development and learning the game.

I think girl's need to find more time to work on their skills: shooting, dribbling, and offensive moves and stop relying simply on organized ball to get them better.

Once you've worked on your individual game find a pick-up game or two. But don't just play with the intent of improving your physical skills, improve your mental skills and basketball knowledge. Of course you need to be able to create your own shot and score the ball. But can you read the defense, do you know when to cut, curl, or flare, or can you make your teammates better by setting them up with a pass for an easy score.

Mark Lewis (ESPN Hoopgurlz) says, The reality of the situation may just be that we're too organized for our own good. I'm all for opportunity and any day you can be in the gym is a good day. At the same time, we need to find time to just play the game and turn simple basketball back into an instinct and reaction rather than thought-and-learned structure. Focus on two-on-two situations and three-on-three options and we'll see the game move to even greater heights. It doesn't matter whether you run the triangle offense, flex or some new innovative set, if you can't play the game within it, it's just movement.

Recruiting and Retention

2010-04-07T20:53:00.000-07:00

Recruiting is the #1 priority to most Division I college programs. If recruiting is #1, then Retention should be your #2 priority as coaches. I have not found a study or much research on the transfer rate in women's college basketball, but I'm very interested in why it happens so much.

Why are female athletes transfering from their current programs at such an alarming rate?
Some of the reasons I have heard are:

I'm not getting enough playing time
I'm just not happy
I'm home sick
I hate my teammates
I hate my coaches
I can't compete on that level
I don't like that its basketball all the time
I need to focus on academics
It's just to hard and I want to quit
The coaches changed when I got here
My coach is crazy
No one understands me

Who's at fault? The coaches or the players

As a coach, I would like to say it's them and not me, but the truth is it starts at the top.
Coaches, we have to do a better job relating to our players after they become a part of our program. Every players is different and has to be handled in a very unqiue way. Every player wants to feel special and needed. I think we overlook that once we get them on campus. In an attempt to become stern and direct, we tend to become cold and distance.

As my wonderful mentor and coach once said, it's always about the kids. The players should always be your #1 concern which goes along with recruiting.

The Key to Retention:

Do all that you can to prevent your players from experiencing several negative situations in a row.
Find ways to have fun.
Know what's going on behind closed doors.
Research your players before signing them.
Make them love you and they will do anything for you.
They must value loyalty and thier word.
Must make them understand perseverance and patient. Wait your turn.
They must see the Big Picture.
Treat losing players like losing games. Find a way to keep them, find a way to win!
Love them unconditionally.

WKU Lady Toppers defeat Ball State 61-58!

2009-11-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

Muncie, Ind. - On three different occasions Monday night, the Western Kentucky University women's basketball team held a lead of seven points or more at Ball State. Each time the Cardinals fought back, but in the end the Lady Toppers were able to come up with big plays late and pick up a 61-58 win at Worthen Arena.

The win moved the Lady Toppers to 2-0 on the year, while Ball State dropped to 0-2.
"We had to find ways all night, and I'm really proud of this basketball team for doing that," said Lady Topper head coach Mary Taylor Cowles. "We did some things in the second half that just showed our desire to want to win this game."

Don Meyer's Thoughts on Building a Great Team

2009-09-23T07:00:00.000-07:00

1. Your Relationship with your players is an important factor in building a TEAM.

2. Older players should teach and help younger players.

3. Your TEAM must know that they will win but more importantly, they must know exactly How They Will WIN.

4. You better be a Great Half Court Team in post-season tournament play.

5. Have Goal Sheets established for each of your players. Check these sheets every week.

6. Schedule tough games during the season. This will make you better in post-season.

7. Substitute on every one of your team's free throws in order to prevent the fast break.

8. Evaluate what your Program/Team needs are at the end of each week.

9. Plan the next week on the Sunday before the week.

10. You need to Win and Lose in practice. When one loses, the whole team suffers. When one wins, the whole team wins. Play games like 7-up and Cut Throat.

Detroit defeats Atlanta 94-89!

2009-09-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

Detroit led 90-89 with 16.1 seconds left and fouled Nolan. Nolan, who had been fouled hard by Sancho Lyttle a minute earlier, had to leave the game with what Mahorn described as "lightheadedness". Mahorn said he expected Nolan to be OK for Friday's game.
Her absence, though, meant that Meadors could choose who would shoot the free throws. She could have selected Olayinka Sanni, a career 67 percent free-throw shooter who hadn't played in the game, or Braxton, who has hit 66 percent in her career.
Instead, Meadors chose Crystal Kelly, a career 85-percent shooter who has finished in the top 20 in free-throw shooting in both of her WNBA seasons.
Kelly made both shots, moving Detroit's lead back to three.
Detroit leads series 1-0. Next game on Friday @ 7:30pm ET.

Leadership Qualities

2009-09-10T08:03:00.000-07:00

3 Important Qualities of Leadership

1. Leads- Guides others towards a Mission

2. Develops- Creates a Positive Environment/Fosters Teamwork

3. Achieves- Knows what Needs to be Done & Consistently Produces Results

Advantages of Playing Uptempo Basketball

2009-08-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

Mike Anderson, Mizz

1. More fastbreak opportunities producing high-percentage shots (lay-ups).

2. Uncomfortable for defenses to recover; especially controlled/patient teams.

3. Forces players to get better, bc they must make split second decisions.

Roy Williams, UNC

4. Allows talented players to make plays.

5. Eliminates teams from pressing us, bc we run like crazy.

6. Forces guards and posts to sprint hard all the time.

Steve Fisher, San Diego State

5. Getting easy baskets help you win.

6. His team always runs to score off turnovers.

Latasha Dorsey, WKU

7. Gets you to the foul line, bc it wears down your opponent, which leads to reaching.

8. Gives more control to your point guard who can make reads and set teammates up for success!

9. Take advantage of your depth.

10. Every player loves to run! Easy baskets create enthusiasm, confidence, and deflates the opponent.

Plus it helps recruiting---talented players love playing uptempo!

Crystal Kelly headed to Detroit Shock

2009-08-24T08:10:00.000-07:00

Shock Acquire Forward Crystal Kelly from Sacramento in Exchange for Kristin Haynie

Auburn Hills, MI - The Detroit Shock announced today that the team has acquired Crystal Kelly from the Sacramento Monarchs in exchange for guard Kristin Haynie.
“In acquiring Crystal Kelly we add a solid young player to our post rotation who comes with a reputation of not only being a skilled player, but a smart one as well,” said Detroit Shock General Manager Cheryl Reeve. “We are in need of a post that can spell Taj McWilliams as she has been logging heavy minutes at the 4 position.”
In 22 games (three starts) this season, the second-year forward is averaging 4.3 points and 1.7 rebounds in 12.3 minutes per game.
Kelly was acquired by the Monarchs as a free agent on May 18, 2008, after being originally selected by the Houston Comets in the third round of the 2008 WNBA Draft (31st overall).
Kelly played in 33 games (four starts) as a rookie last season averaging 7.4 ppg and 3.3 rpg in 16.7 mpg. She scored a career-high 18 points at Minnesota (6/12/08), and ranked second on the team in free throw percentage.
In 20 games (two starts) this season with the Shock, Haynie averaged 2.2 points and 1.3 rebounds in 8.1 minutes per game.
“This trade is a good trade for both the Shock and Kristin Haynie,” said Reeve. “We've thoroughly enjoyed having Kristin on the Shock but know that Kristin wanted to be on the court more often. The return to Sacramento reunites her with former teammates and coaches and puts her in a better situation relative to playing time. We thank Kristin for her efforts in Detroit.”

GUARD DEVELOPMENT DRILLs

2009-08-11T09:27:00.000-07:00

CHILL DRILL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIJ6aGRc030&feature=related

This drill involves quick offensive moves and finishing with a layup or jumper.

Dont' forget about ballhandling. This is a great move to get you by the defense.....

Practice it & Own it!

Between the Legs Crossover

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7cMNR5mc2A&feature=channel

3 Keys to Attacking the Defense Off the Dribble

2009-08-03T09:51:00.000-07:00

1.Get Low & Stay Low

Shoulders need to be lower that your defense's shoulders

Rub your shoulder off the defender's hip. This keeps you strong and balanced

2. Attack the Ankles

Beat them with your feet

Get your opposite foot pass your defenders opposite foot

3. Push the Ball Forward

The ball should be pushed ahead of your feet and explode towards the rim

Drill that can be used:

Shoulder-to-Hip Drill -Offense receives a pass on the wing at the 3 pt line with defense standing directly in front of them. Defense extends arms and offense must get low enough to go under their arms, making sure their shoulder rubs the defense's hip. Finish w/ layup.

What defines an athlete, the mentality or the physicality?"

2009-07-06T11:30:00.000-07:00

A large part of an athlete's performance is their mental state. Dr. John F. Murray, a widely-known sports psychologist said, The mind is a huge component of performance and outcome. The mental state that the player is in, either healthy or not seems to reflect on how the athlete plays on game-day, which often affects both the individual athlete's and the teams overall performance. It doesn't matter how small or big you are, the mind moves the body; the body is like the machine and the brain is like the engine." Murray said "Both the body and mind are always key aspects of an athlete's performance and neither should be ignored."

Why am I interested in this?

Because as a college coach, I don't want to recruit athletes solely based on their athletic abilities. I have experienced both positive and negative effects of mental toughness as an athlete and as a coach. I may have been the smallest or least talented player on the court but I really believed that I could outwork, outplay, and beat my opponents. On the other hand, I've coached a couple of players that were clearly the best players on the court but mentally they didn't see or believe that they were. In fact, they ran away from the challenge, because they lacked the mental toughness or confidence to lead.

So instead of looking for the best looking car or athlete, I'm looking under the hood to check the engine or brain. I don't want to be left stranded when the game is on the line.........

Although some players have it and others don't, Mental Toughness requires maintenance.

Check out the components of Mental Toughness:

http://blog.cleveland.com/andone/2008/04/Mental%20Toughness%20Framework1.jpg

http://blog.cleveland.com/andone/2008/04/Mental%20Toughness%20Framework2.jpg

Secrets to Success

2009-06-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

What leads to success?

New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick has instilled the "Keep It Simple Stupid" approach into his coaches and players en-route to three Super Bowl Championships and an overall won-loss record of 138-86 in 15 seasons as a head coach.

"We try to tell the players exactly what we want them to do. Not 800 things to remember. But these are four things you need to do—'this is how we're going to approach this mini-camp, this is how we're going to approach today's practice."

"Tell them the four things that are most important to you, that you want to see at the end of the day, so when you call the team up at the end of the day or at night, you can say 'here are the four things we talked about in the morning and let's grade that. Let's see where we are today."

If they don't do what you tell them to do, I think you have every right to let them know about it and to make them understand that's not going to be acceptable. Or more importantly, you can't win until those things are accomplished.

"That's also for when we go to a game-plan situation as well. So whoever our next opponent is, the first thing I'll do when I bring the team in is tell them 'Look, these are the things we have to do to win this game, or, more importantly, if we do these things, we're absolutely going to lose."

"Surround yourself with the best people you can find, delegate authority, and don't interfere as long as the policy you've decided upon is being carried out."

Richard St. John also tells us what leads to success

h ttp://video.yahoo.com/watch/22163/1675401

Courtney Lee Making Western Kentucky Proud

2009-06-01T09:30:00.000-07:00

Courtney Lee and the Orlando magic are Eastern Confernce Champions and are headed to the NBA Finals.
Courtney Lee, a rookie out of Western Kentucky University helped lead his team to a 4-2 Series win over the Cleveland Cavs.

He was the 22nd overall selection in the 1st round of the 2008 NBA draft. He has seen action in 15 playoff games, starting 10, and has averaged 28.5 minutes a game. Lee is averaging 8.8 point per game and has converted 18-0f-19 free throws for 94.7 FT %.
I salute Courtney Lee for his outstanding accomplishments.
Good Luck in the Finals!!!

Game 1 Orlando vs. Lakers
Thursday, June 4th 9:00pm ET

Former Hilltopper Doing Work in the NBA!

2009-05-27T11:54:00.000-07:00

What are they saying about Courtney Lee.....

Lee is Young but fearless....

Courtney Lee Shines for Magic

What better way to return from a week on the sidelines than a little chatter about Courtney Lee, the former Western Kentucky star who is now two victories from making the NBA Finals as a rookie.

Courtney Lee Pays LeBron Back
A possession or two before Courtney Lee splashed James on a nice breakaway, LeBron volleyball spiked another one of Dwight Howard’s dunk attempts with an awesome, awesome block (the block in the second half, not the first

Lee an invaluable asset

The Magic’s Courtney Lee, whose second of two back-to-back jumpers gave Orlando the lead for the first time in the quarter. Davis, a second round pick from LSU, and Lee, a late first round pick last June out of Western Kentucky are invaluable assets to their teams.

Former Lady Topper, Crystal Kelly

2009-05-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Former WKU standout and current WNBA player for the Sacramento Monarchs, Crystal Kelly, is known for her enthusiasm on the court and hopes to bring success to her team.

I want to wish her the best of luck in the 2009 season. I know Crystal will make great things happen. Good Luck Crystal!!!

http://www.wnba.com/playerfile/crystal_kelly/index.html

Post Development Drills

2009-05-26T12:37:00.000-07:00

If you put in the time the results will come.....Coach Kevin Sutton does a great job with post development. Check out some of his drills that I think would improve post play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qbwv846fLPs

Guard Development Drills

2009-05-19T07:25:00.000-07:00

I'm a firm believer in developing your players. If your players are skilled, then your team will be skilled. In addition, most players want to get better but just don't know how. I will start with the fundamentals and eventually advance to some signature offensive moves.

The Quick Hands Drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGh81tj6zbU&feature=channel

Basketball Dribbling Drills : The Rhythm Drill
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgNyzw52Q8Y&feature=channel

Stay tuned for more drills......