Steven M. Sipple: Miles says AAU basketball hurts players' skill level

[Swan88]

Yup.  That's the title of this article in today's Journal Star.  Check out the article.  It's a good read.

 

The article also addresses a non-AAU subject--here's a blurb:

"The college game should do what the NBA did years ago and begin calling games more tightly. That would greatly diminish all the arm-barring and hand-checking — and presumably lead to more freedom of movement."

[uneblinstu]

Coach Yori with similar sentiments.

[hhcscott]

As always, I blame Laimbeer and Rodman. Go watch a Showtime Lakers game, then watch the Pistons or Knicks a few years later. The transition from hoops to harm was pretty dramatic. I watched some footage of Hoppen recently and the lack of physical contact in the post was stunning. I miss the days when post players could be tall and agile (Sampson, Olajuwon, McHale) instead of being grapplers. I stopped watching the NBA when it got like that, and although I heard it has improved, I've not really found the time to check it out. Maybe something to look into now that CBB is done.

[49r]

Yup.  That's the title of this article in today's Journal Star.  Check out the article.  It's a good read.

 

The article also addresses a non-AAU subject--here's a blurb:

"The college game should do what the NBA did years ago and begin calling games more tightly. That would greatly diminish all the arm-barring and hand-checking — and presumably lead to more freedom of movement."

 

 

But, but...then Aaron Craft would have to completely change his style of play!!

[Buglem]

There's been a lot of high profile coaches and commentators voicing concerns about the physicality of the college game. I hate to agree with Sir Charles but during the tournament he called one of the games "unwatchable". I think it was Marquette. I totally agree. I'm tired of watching players hack and grab and muck up the game. Cleaning it up us as simple as calling the game, and fouls, as they are already written. The first few games will be ugly but players and coaches will adjust. I'm tired of watching games where the teams are both shooting under 40% and the score is in the 50's and 60's. I sound old saying it but games were way more fun to watch in the early 90's when the scores were routinely in the 80's (and they called hand checks and over the back, etc).

I hope all this tak leads the NCAA to make some changes in how the rules are applied during games!!

[Chuck Taylor]

Agree completely with the officiating comments. However, take the "kids don't know fundamentals" with a grain of salt. Kids today are much more skilled, just check out an old video of NBA or NCAA on ESPN Classic. (Bob Cousy didn't go left, and the defenders weren't within 5 feet of him.)

 

Coaches like to recruit kids with physical tools, and that often means lesser-skilled ones. Then they complain that they have to spend time at practice teaching skills. But the end product is a highly skilled basketball player compared to the good old days. For example, Kevin McHale defined post play in the '80s, but Brandon Ubel won't play in the NBA even though he has all of McHale's moves.

 

The thing with the officiating is that it allows more players who are physically imposing defensively, but they can't shoot. Eliminate the physical element, allow movement, and you'll see how incredibly skilled the players are.

[KZRider]

This is completely in agreement with many of our comments about officiating in another thread:

 

Quoting the LJS article: "Generally speaking, watching a Division I men's college basketball game these days can be a laborious exercise, as teams struggle to score, in large part because of all the hand-checking, clutching, shoving and general roughness. Nebraska coach Tim Miles agrees with Louisville coach Rick Pitino on this point: Beautiful basketball requires freedom of movement. 'We need to clean the game up,' Miles said."

 

Bolded words are my emphasis.

[Silverbacked1]

Didn't the NHL also have trouble with the clutching and grabbing in the neutral zone a few years back?

 

I think that the Red Wings were very good at it and won the Cup playing that way.

 

The league changed things up and it took care of itself.

 

Like people have said if they call it, the players and coaches will change or lose games.

[colhusker]

I will disagree that the kids are more skilled now until the cows come home.  I could have looked pretty damn skilled when I play if I could have palmed, traveled, continuation would have been called, etc etc. 

[Norm Peterson]

Didn't the NHL also have trouble with the clutching and grabbing in the neutral zone a few years back?

 

I think that the Red Wings were very good at it and won the Cup playing that way.

 

The league changed things up and it took care of itself.

 

Like people have said if they call it, the players and coaches will change or lose games.

I think that's been more of an issue in the Lingerie Football League.  Especially grabbing in the neutral zone.

 

(Or, if it hasn't been a problem, it should be.)

[hhcscott]

 For example, Kevin McHale defined post play in the '80s, but Brandon Ubel won't play in the NBA even though he has all of McHale's moves.

I really like Ubel, and he might have SOME of McHale's moves, but not all, and what most players miss is the patience that he just kept working to get those shots.

[hhcscott]

This is completely in agreement with many of our comments about officiating in another thread:

 

Quoting the LJS article: "Generally speaking, watching a Division I men's college basketball game these days can be a laborious exercise, as teams struggle to score, in large part because of all the hand-checking, clutching, shoving and general roughness. Nebraska coach Tim Miles agrees with Louisville coach Rick Pitino on this point: Beautiful basketball requires freedom of movement. 'We need to clean the game up,' Miles said."

 

Bolded words are my emphasis.

Wasn't Pitino's Louisville the one getting away with all of the hand-checking and clutching in the tournament? 

[TheKamdyMan]

its interesting the two are in the same article as defense isnt even played in AAU ball until the last 5 minutes, similar to the NBA All-Star game.

[bobcat402]

i guess im in the minority when it comes to physical play when it comes to this board, i like how the big ten plays ball, i just wish the refs would be more consistant. What drove me nuts the in the national championship game was in the first half when michigan was succeding it was a very physical game and the refs held their whistle's. However in the second their was an abundance of calls that i felt were slight and ticky tackey. I like physical basketball more so than what is being played in the NBA and in the AAU circuit.

[atskooc]

 For example, Kevin McHale defined post play in the '80s, but Brandon Ubel won't play in the NBA even though he has all of McHale's moves.

I really like Ubel, and he might have SOME of McHale's moves, but not all, and what most players miss is the patience that he just kept working to get those shots.

I don't see any footage of McHale counting the screws in the Garden's floor.  Disappointing.

[49r]

He seems to be pretty fond of jokes about those doofuses from Hanover, Indiana

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3ZsfdovGzw