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Disclaimer: I don’t think anyone will beat Kentucky. I’m not sure if you took away any four of Kentucky’s players anyone would defeat them. This isn’t meant to be some referendum on how there’s someone, somewhere out there that will do so. They’re the best team in the nation, and it probably isn’t really that close whoever is behind them. In a one-game vacuum if certain things go certain ways, certain teams can hang with them. But Kentucky is the best and barring something unforeseen, they’re your National Champions of college basketball this year.
But … if you’re the type that wants some reasoning as to why you’re going to outfox everyone and win your bracket based on praying Kentucky loses … we may as well provide a sloppy blueprint. Or if you’d just like to know what someone who coaches (not at that level) might do … here you go … the keys to defeating Kentucky at basketball in 2015 that don’t involve praying.
1. Brooms at practice: Admittedly, the “games aren’t won on game day … they’re won in practice” is a bit of a cliche. Games are won on game day. Preparation can help get you there, but you cannot simulate “the moment” of your season on the line with a bunch of fans screaming at you no matter how hard you try. But one thing you can do in practice is over-simulate the strengths of the other team to be better prepared. If I’m playing Kentucky, I’m spending practice with my defensive players in drills holding broom sticks. So you’re shooting over broom sticks. So you’re entering into passing lanes not only having to get around the length of a normal defense, but having to get around extra because then and only then can you try to simulate the tight windows passing against Kentucky will challenge. Hypothetically, it will cause you to consciously close the passing lanes in your mind.
2. Understand what to give up: when you’re playing a team that has immense artificial advantages over you, you’ve got to pick and choose what you let hurt you. For instance, against Kentucky, you’re probably not getting a whole lot of offensive rebounds. And if they get running, get dunking, get a bunch of guys involved, Katy, bar the door. So you get your backside back on defense, all five of you, when the shot goes up and concede the rebound. If nothing else, you’ll force more plays in the half court which for one, offer less chance at momentum, and two will keep it from offensively being at their pace. In this case, what you’re willing to give up is second chance opportunities.
3. Switch the communication on your defense: you’ve got to be comfortable calling out different defenses and immediately getting into them. If Kentucky has a vice, it’s that they’re not a “great” offensive team so much as a much more athletic one than you are. Force them to think about what you’re running before they get in their sets. If you get back, and show say, 1-3-1 one possession, 2-3 one possession, box and 1, triangle and 2, unload the full arsenal on them, it will force the tempo slower and get them thinking before they react. It will also force jump shots, which is how you’re going to beat them in a perfect world. Not that Kentucky cannot shoot. But they dunk better than they shoot, so at least play the odds.
4. Shoot in the dark: turn the lights off in the gym and shoot the basketball. Get a feel for where the rim is and the fundamentals of your shot, because with Kentucky’s speed, length, and effort, they force you to take “blind” shots. “Feel” in your shooting is incredibly important.
5. Motivation: Hell, I’ve gone so far as to pull Tweets of opposing players about playing our teams to use as motivation and other tricks I won’t mention. Trade secrets. But make your players understand that literally no one believes in them other than the guys in that locker room. Disrespect is a powerful motivator.
6. Set individual game goals: Understand what your players can do and cannot do well along with what can get them beat by Kentucky. And set individual goals for each player to avoid their trouble areas. If you have a player that turns the ball over in key times, have that player focus on “no turnovers the entire game.” If you have a player who has been struggling on the defensive rebounds, set a goal for them in that category. Think of what each player needs to cut down on or do more of that they currently don’t and you get them thinking about meeting that individual goal. If that individual goal is met by everyone, you’ll probably be in a close game late.
In the end, beating Kentucky isn’t about one specific game plan. It’s about working within your team to focus on the areas you can focus on, because you cannot control what Kentucky does, only try to be successful in your own right and make them uncomfortable in the process. All you can do is prepare and embrace the task rather than shy from it.
Will it happen? Who knows. But if it’s going to, it has to be letter-perfect. Prepare, embrace, enjoy the moment.
