Technician Online

March 10th, 2007

Coaching superlatives

Nick Jeffreys
Deputy Sports Editor

TAMPA, Fla. – During this week’s ACC Tournament, every game the Technician had its seat positioned directly behind one of the game’s coaches. The seat provided insight from what fans can’t get in the stands.

Most passive
Al Skinner, Boston College – During Wednesday’s opening practices, Boston College coach Al Skinner said two words to his team throughout the hour-long practice.

He sat on the scorer’s table and talked quietly with his assistants throughout. His in-game personality isn’t too different. Skinner talks a lot with his assistants and rarely scolds his players.

There were multiple instances where players would walk right past Skinner when he attempted to talk with them.

Most demanding
Mike Krzyzewski, Duke – It’s well known that Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski asks a lot from his players. And this ACC Tournament was no different.

During the Blue Devils only game in the tournament – an 85-80 loss to the Wolfpack – Krzyzewski constantly snapped at his players and let them know when they did something he didn’t like.

The military background could not be any more apparent. While to the public Krzyzewski might seem more like a saint, he has more of a Bobby Knight type attitude toward his players.

Even the managers follow strict orders. During timeouts, the group has an agenda of what to do during every second.

Most entertaining
Dave Leitao, Virginia – Shortly after Virginia lost its lead to N.C. State during Friday’s quarterfinal match, UVA coach Dave Leitao looked at the players on his bench and wanted to know the problem with his team.

After asking his team what was going on, he realized he wouldn’t get a response.

“I don’t know why I am asking you guys, you never answer me,” Leitao said to his players.

He then pointed to one of the players on his bench, deciding he would be the best one to go after.

“Especially you, you wouldn’t answer me if your life depended on it,” he said.

The second-year coach then turned back to the court and cracked a smile.

Most popular
Sidney Lowe, N.C. State – Sidney Lowe’s team has been the talk of the ACC Tournament thus far. In Tampa’s local newspaper, the St. Petersburg Times, N.C. State has been the dominant story on the front of the newspaper’s ACC Extra section the past two days.

His team has upset No. 7 Duke and then No. 2 Virginia – and in each win he has worn his trendy red jacket. After the team’s win against the Cavaliers on Friday night, more than 25 reporters stood outside his team’s locker room – no more than 10 waited for Virginia’s.

And Lowe’s talking big. He is including himself with Duke and North Carolina when he talks about the schools’ traditions – something State fans have been wanting for years.

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 10th, 2007 at 4:52 pm and is filed under Men's ACC Tournament. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

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