SE: K-State WBB’s ‘Three Things’ Focus Key to Team’s Turnaround
Mar 08, 2019 | Women's Basketball, Sports Extra
By Corbin McGuire
Three things played a major role in the K-State women's basketball team's turnaround this season. Well, a series of three things did.
K-State's climb from 13-9 and 4-6 in Big 12 play to its 20-10 and 11-7 mark now going into the conference tournament this weekend in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, started after a 29-point home loss to Iowa State on February 2. It was the Wildcats' third straight double-digit loss.
If there was a breaking point, this was it. Emotions were high in the locker room. A meeting was held with coaches and players afterward. When K-State's coaches left, the Wildcats stayed to clear the air some more.
"We just talked about how something has to give," freshman guard Christianna Carr recalled, as fifth-seeded K-State takes on fourth-seeded West Virginia in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. "People either have to step up and do their part, or we're going to continue this losing streak."
"Nothing seemed to be working," junior forward Peyton Williams added. "All of the younger players were kind of just looking around, like, 'I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm trying, and I can't help.'"
Williams knew the feeling from her first two years. She also remembered what helped her get past it. It was a tactic K-State's coaching staff used last season, in which each player is assigned three specific individual focuses. She thought it might help this year's team, too. She bounced the idea off senior guard Kayla Goth.
"We felt like everybody was kind of running around without a purpose, trying to do everything all at once," Goth said. "We had multiple conversations, trying to figure out what to do, trying to figure out how to help this team. It's tough when you have a young team because it's just trial and error. You're trying to figure out what works for every individual and what works for us as a team, and then trying to adapt to everyone. So, Peyton and I had a lot of conversations of just trying to figure out how to approach that situation."
When Williams brought up the "three things" idea, Goth said it seemed perfect. That Monday, they brought it to K-State head coach Jeff Mittie. He agreed.
"It has given us an ability to, when things get crazy and everyone starts talking about all the other stuff, I've been able to go: Get back to your three things," Mittie said. "I think it has simplified the clutter."
For the most part, each player's three-things are pretty concrete, easily trackable in a game.
For example, Goth's are to get four defensive rebounds, 15 shot attempts and paint touches. Williams' three are to put up more than 15 shot attempts, grab three offensive rebounds and post up quickly in transition. Carr's go: Four rebounds, get deflections and steals, and set the defense at 25 feet.
The list goes on and on. Everyone's is a little different, geared toward each player's role. Carr said they have narrowed individual focuses to collectively create better and more consistent effort everywhere on the floor.
"Everyone has different jobs, and your job isn't to worry about what everyone else's job is. Your job is to worry about your three things that define you playing hard," she said. "And if you're not doing those then you're not playing hard, to your fullest ability."
Mittie will randomly call out players to make sure they are focused. Immediately, they will have to rattle off their three things.
"If they can't, that's a problem," Goth said. "Because those are the three things you need to do as individuals to be playing hard and playing to the best of your ability."
Since it was brought back, K-State's play has risen, and the wins have stacked up. The Wildcats have knocked off seven of the last eight teams in their way, including five straight to end the regular season.
"I think (it's helped), mainly because we've struggled with focus so much," Goth said. "Knowing what your role is and being able to narrow that focus I feel like has helped us dramatically."
Three things played a major role in the K-State women's basketball team's turnaround this season. Well, a series of three things did.
K-State's climb from 13-9 and 4-6 in Big 12 play to its 20-10 and 11-7 mark now going into the conference tournament this weekend in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, started after a 29-point home loss to Iowa State on February 2. It was the Wildcats' third straight double-digit loss.
If there was a breaking point, this was it. Emotions were high in the locker room. A meeting was held with coaches and players afterward. When K-State's coaches left, the Wildcats stayed to clear the air some more.
"We just talked about how something has to give," freshman guard Christianna Carr recalled, as fifth-seeded K-State takes on fourth-seeded West Virginia in the Big 12 Championship quarterfinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. "People either have to step up and do their part, or we're going to continue this losing streak."
"Nothing seemed to be working," junior forward Peyton Williams added. "All of the younger players were kind of just looking around, like, 'I don't know what to do. I feel like I'm trying, and I can't help.'"
Williams knew the feeling from her first two years. She also remembered what helped her get past it. It was a tactic K-State's coaching staff used last season, in which each player is assigned three specific individual focuses. She thought it might help this year's team, too. She bounced the idea off senior guard Kayla Goth.
"We felt like everybody was kind of running around without a purpose, trying to do everything all at once," Goth said. "We had multiple conversations, trying to figure out what to do, trying to figure out how to help this team. It's tough when you have a young team because it's just trial and error. You're trying to figure out what works for every individual and what works for us as a team, and then trying to adapt to everyone. So, Peyton and I had a lot of conversations of just trying to figure out how to approach that situation."
When Williams brought up the "three things" idea, Goth said it seemed perfect. That Monday, they brought it to K-State head coach Jeff Mittie. He agreed.
"It has given us an ability to, when things get crazy and everyone starts talking about all the other stuff, I've been able to go: Get back to your three things," Mittie said. "I think it has simplified the clutter."
For the most part, each player's three-things are pretty concrete, easily trackable in a game.
For example, Goth's are to get four defensive rebounds, 15 shot attempts and paint touches. Williams' three are to put up more than 15 shot attempts, grab three offensive rebounds and post up quickly in transition. Carr's go: Four rebounds, get deflections and steals, and set the defense at 25 feet.
The list goes on and on. Everyone's is a little different, geared toward each player's role. Carr said they have narrowed individual focuses to collectively create better and more consistent effort everywhere on the floor.
"Everyone has different jobs, and your job isn't to worry about what everyone else's job is. Your job is to worry about your three things that define you playing hard," she said. "And if you're not doing those then you're not playing hard, to your fullest ability."
Mittie will randomly call out players to make sure they are focused. Immediately, they will have to rattle off their three things.
"If they can't, that's a problem," Goth said. "Because those are the three things you need to do as individuals to be playing hard and playing to the best of your ability."
Since it was brought back, K-State's play has risen, and the wins have stacked up. The Wildcats have knocked off seven of the last eight teams in their way, including five straight to end the regular season.
"I think (it's helped), mainly because we've struggled with focus so much," Goth said. "Knowing what your role is and being able to narrow that focus I feel like has helped us dramatically."
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