I'm not a season ticket holder-always been too busy but, through someone I met through coaching, am able to go to several games per year and sit fairly close to the bench. I have gone for several years. It is very interesting to me to watch the bench interactions, and the differences through the years.
1. You have to see the bench culture to believe it. Everyone on the bench is locked in to every play, from players, coaches, grad assistants, water boys, little kids, etc....everyone that exits the game goes down the line to slap 5 with every single person. Everyone is locked in listening to the huddle. PK's son has a seat on the bench, and there was a little girl that was also in the end zone seats and was close to the team during time outs. Assume it is an assistant coach's daughter. Late in the game a very young kid with Koren's jersey on came down to the corner with his own Louisville Cardinal basketball. No effort was made by any security to keep any of these kids away, which I think is great.
Bench is opposite the past 2 years, but also opposite Pitino's, in different ways.
2. Several guys up coaching, different guys for setting the offense and defense. Different players talked to the huddle before the coaches got there. Great culture, great leadership.
3. Nothing negative was ever really said to players making mistakes. Positivity on steroids. I do hope that PK has a "get in the a$$ mode" when it is needed and better opponents come along. I'm sure he does.
4. Concerned that physical teams could give us trouble. We don't appear to be a "physical" team. However, some bigs for opponents will have a hard time matching up to our bigs on the perimeter so it goes both ways.
5. Hope we can guard off the dribble better as the talent of opponents takes a big jump. I'm sure that is a point of emphasis this week.
I hope our players stay happy with 20 minutes per game that could get 30 minutes other places. ...so far culture looks awesome.
As a 50 year fan, I'm thrilled to death with the change. I don't know if PK is the best coach in the country, but he may be the best possible coach for us, following up 2 years of Captain Dumbledorf.
1. You have to see the bench culture to believe it. Everyone on the bench is locked in to every play, from players, coaches, grad assistants, water boys, little kids, etc....everyone that exits the game goes down the line to slap 5 with every single person. Everyone is locked in listening to the huddle. PK's son has a seat on the bench, and there was a little girl that was also in the end zone seats and was close to the team during time outs. Assume it is an assistant coach's daughter. Late in the game a very young kid with Koren's jersey on came down to the corner with his own Louisville Cardinal basketball. No effort was made by any security to keep any of these kids away, which I think is great.
Bench is opposite the past 2 years, but also opposite Pitino's, in different ways.
2. Several guys up coaching, different guys for setting the offense and defense. Different players talked to the huddle before the coaches got there. Great culture, great leadership.
3. Nothing negative was ever really said to players making mistakes. Positivity on steroids. I do hope that PK has a "get in the a$$ mode" when it is needed and better opponents come along. I'm sure he does.
4. Concerned that physical teams could give us trouble. We don't appear to be a "physical" team. However, some bigs for opponents will have a hard time matching up to our bigs on the perimeter so it goes both ways.
5. Hope we can guard off the dribble better as the talent of opponents takes a big jump. I'm sure that is a point of emphasis this week.
I hope our players stay happy with 20 minutes per game that could get 30 minutes other places. ...so far culture looks awesome.
As a 50 year fan, I'm thrilled to death with the change. I don't know if PK is the best coach in the country, but he may be the best possible coach for us, following up 2 years of Captain Dumbledorf.
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