LEADERSHIP WINS IN MARCH
By Seth Greenberg, Virginia Tech

 

So what is the secret formula for success? The obvious response would be talent and that's true, but it goes way beyond a player's athleticism. Talent will only take you so far and to in March you need much more than shear talent.

To some extent, we as coaches have lost sight of what it takes to win. Certainly you want to recruit players of high skill level, but those players must also possess other qualities. Most importantly, they must be of high character.

And character is more than just an individual quality. Players with high character are the best teammates. That sounds simple enough, but it's not.

Oklahoma coach Kelvin Sampson once, "your best player must also be your hardest worker." Kelvin is absolutely correct.

So many kids think they know what it is to put forth 100% every time they set foot on the court, but most of them have no idea what it is to really work hard.

They think they are playing hard, but what they think and what is reality are often two totally different things. Too many kids come to college playing to play instead of playing to win.

Everybody talks about J.J. Redick’s talent, but he is more then just a great player. He leads by example and makes everyone on Duke better.

And how about Gerry McNamara! He willed his Syracuse to a Big East championship, when most believed that they wouldn’t even get out of their opening round game against Cincinnati.

Of course leaders don’t only exist at the highest level. We are just more familiar with them because of the high profile exposure they receive. At Penn there is a young man who can be defined by word leader.

Ibrahim Jaaber is a perfect example of what a great teammate is all about.

He not only sets an example for the younger players, but he takes them under his wing and helps them to become better players and make better contributions to the team.

He is a one-man support staff that accepts responsibility and supports his teammates if they make a mistake. He’s not just the most talented player on Fran Dunphy’s team -- He is the best player in the Ivy League. But he still strives to be better.

A player like that is invaluable.

A couple of years ago another Philly coach, St. Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli had that in Jameer Nelson.

Sure he was the popular choice for National Player of the Year, be he was also the ultimate program player. His character, work ethic, leadership and toughness made him a vital component in St. Joe's success.

Bucknell head coach Pat Flannery has a roster of players like that, but Charles Lee steps to the front because of his title -- Patriot League Player of the Year. A casual observer might now be overly impressed by his stat line, but watch him play and you will understand why he was named to the collegeinsider.com All-America team. He can do a lot of things on the floor, but his biggest contributions are making those around him better and leading by example.

Much has been made about the talent level of Illinois’ Dee Brown, which is not surprising because he is also one of coach Bruce Weber’s hardest workers. He brings a great approach to the floor, which is contagious. Everybody loves to win, but Dee Brown hates to lose. There is a difference and that’s what makes him special.

At Washington, Brandon Roy is the epitome of hard work and a relentless vigor on the floor. Like so many players, Roy is loaded with talent, but it's all the intangibles that make him such a great player. He's a great teammate.

So it should have come as no surprise that teams like Bucknell, Duke, Illinois, Penn and Washington have enjoyed success this season. And I am sure that each coach would point to the great leadership of guys like Lee, Redick, Brown, Jaaber and Roy as being major reasons for that success.

Not only did each of them have an abundance of individual talent, but they also led by example, getting their teammates to become better players, which in turn makes them great teams.

And that is only scratching the surface. Every team that is part of the NCAA tournament and every team participating in the NIT have at least one player that fits this mold. The best of the group will help their teams advance. At times, they will actually will their team to victory.

As coaches, we try to be as thorough as possible in evaluating prospective recruits. We don't just simply grade them on ability. We try to identify their commitment to academics, their commitment to the team and their commitment to winning.

Talent can get you to the tournament, but the best leaders help you to advance.