Offensive & Defensive Efficiency
Episode 123: 5 takeaways from a conversation with the NAIA Coach of the Year
I was looking through team stats from the NAIA level last month searching for potential podcast guests. There was one team that I kept coming back to — Benedictine Mesa in Arizona.
The Redhawks didn’t lead any category, but when you compiled some of the key stats together, it was clear that this was a team that must have had a great season.
Digging a little deeper revealed that they did. A 28-7 record. Eighth in offensive field goal percentage. Sixth in defensive field goal percentage. An appearance in the NAIA Final Four. A coach who was named the Don Meyer National Coach of the Year.
There are so many good coaches at the NAIA level, including in my home state of Idaho, that I knew this was a coach I wanted to ask some questions.
The latest episode features Benedictine Mesa’s Frank Woodford talking about offensive and defensive efficiency. In the conversation, Woodford shares some of the aspects that led to his team’s special season.
It was a fun conversation that will give coaches a peak into what Woodford has done to establish the program’s identity. Here are 5 takeaways I had from the episode.
Keep it Simple
Somebody could give me this advice 1,000 times, but I still need to hear it — especially when it comes to running a conceptual offense. Woodford uses the words “simple” and “simplify” several times throughout the interview and shared how cutting back has led to success.
“I talk to guys a little bit dramatically early in the year about, hey, as long as we cross half court and throw the ball up, at least it’s got a chance to go in, you know, but a turnover’s got no chance to do anything positive,” Woodford said. “And so, that’s when we say keep it simple on offense is gain an advantage, keep the advantage … move on to the next action if we have nothing, and then we better shoot it every time we cross half court.”
Use Sticky Ideas & Language for Concepts
“Field goals over turnovers”
“Be selfish with your field goal percentage”
“Uncontested shots are a no-no.”
These were examples of the “sticky” language Woodford used when talking about concepts in his program. Simple phrases — there’s that word simple again — to reinforce what players should focus on throughout the possession.
What are the key principles of your program? Take some time to create player friendly language for these concepts that is easy to remember.
Intentional Use of Non-Conference Games
What are you trying to accomplish in your non-conference schedule? Or a summer basketball season? Or a youth level season?
“We get 12 non-conference games, which is awesome, because that’s a big sample size. And I tell guys all the time, I don’t mind if we start 0-12, as long as we’re prepared for conference.”
A clear philosophy and intentions in this type of competition are an important consideration for any program. For example, Woodford said it’s about Game 8 or 9 of the non-conference schedule when they hone in on defined shot profiles for players.
Flow Out of a ‘Stalled’ Possession
What comes after the initial action or when a possession stalls is a scenario all coaches deal with. The answer I’ve heard repeatedly is creating scenarios in practice where players have to deal with it.
Woodford said this something players struggle with early because they often look to him to call a play. Woodford doesn’t want to reset, so Benedictine Mesa has actions including DHOs, Flares, and Slips that players flow into if a possession stalls.
In practice, they will use a :20 second shot clock to help recreate these situations.
Attacking after a defensive rebound
Woodford said Benedictine essentially runs two different offenses. Typically a motion team, players are encouraged to push on turnovers and defensive rebounds. They have options based on ball and player positioning, but the main point is to incentivize players to defensive rebound.
“(After a) defensive rebound, they don’t have to even look at me or listen to me … they just get to go off and run one of secondary break actions,” Woodford said.