MARCH MADNESS WISDOM

The success factor

If you love basketball, now is the perfect time of year to be a student of the game.   We at NBC Central office have compiled a list of the most important factors for NCAA success the season.    Use this tool to see if you can determine who will win. Being able to identify the success factors are important for your own success. Print this list off.    Watch a game and keep track of how the teams advance.     From the list of important success factors, which ones do you need to work on for the year?

Preparation creates opportunity for great moments.

Being prepared allows a team to peak at the right moments.
1.  How prepared is a team to handle defensive and offensive sets?

Focus and eliminate distractions.

Too many teams get caught up in the hype, lights, nerves and glitz of the moment.   The great players and coaches never let this happen.  They stay away from the intensity of the media and glamour and focus on the task ahead.

2. How focused is the team?

Believe in the basics and remember what got you there.

Good nutrition, limited sugar, lots of H-2-0, good sleep all prepare you to play your best.  Teams which try and implement brand new offensive plays and defensive strategies without adequate time will face immediate challenges.     Fundamental basics: rebound offensively and defensively, hit your free throws especially at the end, play with great intensity, don’t get out-hustled, stop dribble penetration.

3.  How consistent is the team in doing what they do best?

Versatility and resiliency are crucial.

A successful team in the tourney has great depth and flexibility. The players can bring what is needed when it is needed.    They play better and better as the tournament goes along, with greater chemistry and flow.      Also, they are tough-minded and never get shaken.

4. How unshakable and versatile is the team?

Team-oriented and unselfish point guard leadership.

Personal goals of achievement need to be secondary to the overall goal of the team.  This is demonstrated by the team’s point guard.    A selfish point guard equals disaster.   The point is the success factor to the team. They dictate the tempo, turnovers, playing style, poise, shot selection and leadership of the team.

5.  How good is the point guard?

Fire in the Belly

"an unquenchable thirst for power or glory; the burning drive to win a race or achieve a goal." This old expression is believed to come from the "pot-bellied" stoves used to heat up homes. It now refers to teams who want to win, who have the intensity, passion, on-fire, willing-to-dive out of bounds attitude it takes to win games.
6. How hot is the fire in the belly of this team?

Believe you deserve to be there.
Legacy is huge in the success factor. The mindset that your team is a championship team and deserves to win is an important edge.

7. What is the team’s legacy?