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Keep it Simple – Move It, Shoot It & Score Tom Brown Head Coach at West Texas A&M University Runner-up in 2021 NCAA Division II Championship Scoring the basketball is something that we work on daily in practice at West Texas A&M University. We work on all of the little things that actually go on before the shot and this is what leads to a greater shooting percentage and more efficient scoring. Every year brings on a new challenge. You may not always have the size, quickness and length that you want. You really need to be able to adapt and find ways to score each year with your team. Our staff has been flexible in our teaching and that has empowered our players to play at a very high level. Players (as we all know) are the ones that get it done on the court. The players are the ones that can make a coach look really good or very pedestrian. As a coach you want the best for your young men and you want them to improve and excel throughout the season. How do you help your players get better each day, week, month and year? Work at it. Find a way to really impact your players, to motivate them all season. At times our squad has been able to play big and other times we have been one of the smallest teams in college basketball. However, one thing that has been consistent with our team is that we are going to Move It, Shoot It and Score as often as we can.
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Simple shooting drills (3man/2ball, 3man/1 ball, Can’t Miss 2, Toss Back Shooting as well as others) have been staples in our practice plans for the past seven seasons. These shooting drills can be done with just the players or adding a coach Jordan Collins (5’10” shooting guard) who never started a game at WT finished his four year career as the winningest player in school historywinning 124 games. He recently finished his degree using the Maurice Cheeks Scholarship! Jordan (ultimate team player) didn’t see much time as a freshman. Jordan found his role as a sophomore and junior. He was primed for his senior season. Jordan’s senior campaign started out a little rough, as he went 3-30 from 3 in his first 8 games- 10%. What would you do as a coach? Our staff’s moto is to- Keep Shooting It, Keep Moving It and Keep Scoring. Jordan finished his senior season 52124 (42%) from 3. He also made six 3’s in his last home game and went 4-5 from 3pt line in the Lone Star Conference Championship Game (his last collegiate game due to Covid).
Here are a few very simple shooting drills that we do weekly, if not daily. These are very basic fundamental drills- pay attention to detail. Be sharp from start to finish and get after it each and every day. 3-Man 2-Ball Shooting – A. One shooter- two rebounders B. Timed C. Rebounders have to move it D. Great drill for volume shooting 3-Man 1-Ball Shooting – A. Two shooters- one rebounder B. Movement and spacing C. Incorporate your style and you have endless potential Toss Back Shooting – A. Every shooter has a ball B. Coach picks the spots and cutsmove with a purpose C. This is a good conditioner as well Can’t Miss Two – A. Shooter- rebounder B. 5 spots- coaches/players choice C. Miss 2 in a row- move to the next spot D. Great warm-up drill or competition drill Partner Shooting – A. Let players create B. No such thing as a bad shot in this drill C. Build comradery Having just completed his seventh season at West Texas A&M, Tom Brown has built his team into one of the elite programs in NCAA Division II. With an overall record of 181-43 (.808), the Buffs have reached the Division II Sweet Sixteen four times, the Elite Eight three times, the Final Four twice and lost in this year’s national championship game.
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