Stoppage time

Widener perspective

As an aside, I have it that Lycoming has nil shot at an at-large birth should they lose, but that Widener quite possibly could recieve one if they fall on the road at Lamade later today. A six-team D-III league with two bids? We'll see.

My peice is more about the team's relationship with sports psychologist and adjunct professor Brad Williams, who joined the team essentially as an extra member of the coaching staff this season. He left after Wednesday night's game to take a job in a related field, working with personel leaving for or returning from abroad at Ft. Hood in Texas.

I've heard of sports psychologists before. I particularly remember the story of Doug Gotlieb, who now works for ESPN, working intensively with one to try and solve his abysmal foul shooting while he played point guard at Oklahoma State. But I was surprised how open Lyco's senior duo appeared to working with Williams. Of course, I'm sure it wasn't quite so free and easy at first, but nonetheless their attitude was refreshing.

Earlier, I listened to Bob Knight's interview on Mike and Mike in the morning. I didn't get anything out of it that I didn't already know, and I struggled to see how he would make a good analyst. I know he must articulate the game better to his players — the mileage he got out of the ones he had, to the very end, was exceptional — but it seems like he's not the most open to communicating to people he doesn't trust.

Which led me to thinking. How would Knight feel about having a team liason, someone who would act beyond his own realm to worry first and foremost aabout the mental well-being of his players?

I know you're thinking there's no chance in Lubbock Knight would buy into this. But even the army has adapted ... 60 years ago, Williams' work would've bordered on sacrelige.

They do, after all, call Knght the General. And in the middle of an otherwise boring interview, Knight called concentration more important than any other single aspect of the game of basketball.

So here's the question? Did Bob Knight retire because he was tiring of a scene where this type of thing (sports psychology) is becoming too common for his tastes. Or did he retire because he didn't have a Brad Williams on staff to help keep he or his players' concentration?

Share:

Facebook  MySpace  Digg  Stumble    Mixx  Fark  del.icio.us   LiveSpaces

 

Member Comments

View Comments: | Post a comment

No comments posted for this article.

You must first login before you can comment.

Existing Member Login
Not a Member?	Create a Member Account
*Your email address:		<--Email REQUIRED!
*Password:	Forgot Password?	<--Password REQUIRED!
	Remember my email address.