Essay Question: The Tubbs Program

[ponyboy]

Or questions. Comparing the type of ball Tubbs likes to run versus Dement, what changes -- offensively and defensively -- can we expect to see this year? How does our current personnel -- including BHop -- compliment (or hinder) what you see as Tubbs' program?

[Pony_Fan]

I can't answer specifics but I would think our defense and transition game would improve. Dement loved the 1-3-1 defense to provide support in the middle but left the 3 wide open which the opponents seemed to always hit a very high % when they played SMU. Lots of *career highs* vs SMU made you wonder. I remember lots of 3 on 1 fast breaks which failed to deliver.

[Hoop Fan]

Tubbs style will be more man-to-man defense, with much more pressure on the ball. To do that, the big men have to be able to hold their own. Post defense and consistent rebounding has been an issue with the current personnel, dont know how far along big Ike is in his defensive skills.

On offense, I think Tubbs style is much more movement and motion offense. Our guys should be able to fit pretty well in an offense that demands more motion.

Bottom line for me is that I don't know if Tubbs can install his defense fully this year, but we should see some differences and better excecution on offense from the start.

[LA_Mustang]

Coach Tubbs will stress defense and he will have our guys in shape. If you ever saw Hop play at Lincoln, they used a full court man-to-man press and looked to convert turnovers into easy buckets. I look for Coach Tubbs use that type of play.

As HF said, we will have more movement and motion on offense. Hopefully, the days of one guy dribbling around until the shot clock gets to 5 and launching a 20 footer are over.

In the future look for Coach to recruit kids that play solid defense and can get up and down the floor......basically, DISD type basketball. That should help in the recruiting of the DISD studs (Rogers, Arthur, Flowers, Odufuwa).

[OldPony]

I really believe the biggest difference will be in hustle. Tubbs has explained what it takes to be i a top program. I don't think our guys understand how hard those players in a top 5 program work. If Tubbs gets thast thru, and he seemed to have early on, then we could be better.
I agree with Hoop re running and motion offense but defensively, Dement would have run a man if he thought the personnel could handle it. He didn't. Maybe Tubbs does but we'll just have to wait and see.

[jtstang]

Two things I always hated about Dement's man-to-man defense, both times he ran it, was how far up the court the offense was allowed to get before it was engaged, and how far off the man our defense played the outside players. I hope this year to see a man defense picking up at half court and staying in the other teams jocks all over the floor. That would require better conditioning than we had under Dement, and I hope Tubbs has emphasized that.

[OldPony]

JT- If you don't have the quickness or the inside horses you better lay back in a man. We'll see what Tubbs thinks and does after a few games to get his feet wet. I still think his biggest impact will be getting these guys to hustle and get into playing condition. None of them were in the kind of condition that Sampson or Williams or Self or K demamnd from their guys. I hope to see a major difference in this area at the start.

[jtstang]

JT- If you don't have the quickness or the inside horses you better lay back in a man. We'll see what Tubbs thinks and does after a few games to get his feet wet. I still think his biggest impact will be getting these guys to hustle and get into playing condition. None of them were in the kind of condition that Sampson or Williams or Self or K demamnd from their guys. I hope to see a major difference in this area at the start.

I hope your right regarding conditioning. I hope physical limitations do not prevent us from playing man D. If you have to lag inside on man D you might as well be playing zone, which is what Dement must've been thinking all this time. I'll say this, for my money, if I ever see the 1-3-1 at Moody again it'll be too soon.

[50's PONY]

Guys, I wouldn't worry about the conditioning aspect too much. I have seen numerous practices since they started -- and our guys will be in shape. Also, I believe the man for man will not be a problem this year. The intensity is very high in practice and the kids look like they are enjoying the learning process. In short, I have been extremely impressed.

[Pony_Fan]

Will you please post the practice times here 50's Pony.

[jtstang]

Guys, I wouldn't worry about the conditioning aspect too much. I have seen numerous practices since they started -- and our guys will be in shape. Also, I believe the man for man will not be a problem this year. The intensity is very high in practice and the kids look like they are enjoying the learning process. In short, I have been extremely impressed.

That is good news. I'd like to see a strong effort from the ponies all year, hopefully even a shot at post season play of some sort, and it'll take a better-conditioned team than we've seen in the recent past.

[Stampede]

Don't worry ....all players will be in GREAT condition ...or "they will be seeing alot of time on the bench with me", per Coach Tubbs. Theya re all working extremely hard and Coach Tubbs is pleased with their effort and how hard they are working.

6:00 A.M. conditioning and individual workouts will get anyone and everyone in shape.

Don't ask me to join in though.

[Vitale]

.... That should help in the recruiting of the DISD studs (Rogers, Arthur, Flowers, Odufuwa).

Who's Odufuwa?

The thing I remember from Coach Tubbs' press conference was when he asked the players in attendance to join him up front. BHop, Isham and a couple others walked up there with big smiles for their new coach. Coach T then looked out and said "that's the last time you're ever going to see these guys walk, instead of run."

Should be a lot of fun to watch this year.

[50's PONY]

I don't know the exact schedule but they always seem to be there around 10:00 AM. I am sure the SID's office can give you the exact times. Go and watch -- it is fun and enjoyable.

[Charleston Pony]

the only practices I saw during the Dement era were early season when I would come in for one of the late season football weekends. Quite frankly, I was surprised to see the casual pace of practices because I had heard Dement was pretty intense when he 1st came in.

I really think this year's team is going to surprise. Effort/defensive intensity can close some pretty significant gaps in talent between teams, and we have a pretty athletic group from what I've seen. I look for more of what we saw in some of the early non-conference games last year (TTech, Purdue come to mind)