We spent much practice time working on end-of-game situations...In most instances I didn't want to take a time-out in these late-game situations. After all, we had worked on these things in practice and knew what to do. Calling time-out allowed the opposing coach to set his defense and make some defensive substitutions.

Players enjoyed ending practice with an overtime scrimmage. It was competitive and fun.

If the opponent had the ball in a tie game with the shot clock off, we weren't about to back off defensively and let it hold the ball without a problem. Instead we pressured it, tried to trap out of our double teams, tried to make it uncomfortable and force a turnover...However, at ten seconds remaining, we would back off with our defense, pay special attention to the opponent's best shooters, and hope for overtime.

If we were down two points with one second to play and were on the foul line to shoot one shot, we called for a play we named archie. We asked the shooter to miss on purpose with a high-arching shot (thus archie). We practiced screening actions along the foul lane that were designed to free one of our players so he could rebound the shot and have a lay-up to tie the game.

To improve shooting mechanics, we'd have our players stand fifteen feet from the wall and shoot the ball at it. We wanted them to work on spinning the ball correctly, getting the proper arch on it, releasing it properly, and keeping their eyes on the target.

After our program began making enough money to afford it, many of our players changed at halftime to clean, dry jerseys. It made them feel fresh. During practice they were allowed to change jerseys at the water break.

When the horn sounded for a time-out, we expected our players to sprint to the bench. The same held when they were taken out of the game for substitutes as well as when they left the court at halftime.

To encourage the taking of good shots, we sometimes scrimmaged without keeping score on the board. I secretly gave the score to a manager, and all the scoring was based on shot selection. A great shot (lay-up), even if it didn't go in, was worth three points; a good shot, even if it didn't fall, was two points; for a shot that was merely acceptable because of the shot clock winding down, one point. If a player made a tough three-point shot that shouldn't have been taken, zero points. Loss of ball without getting a shot was minus two points. We defined a good shot as one the shooter could make most of the time that was taken with our rebounders in position, unless it was an open lay-up.