The Smart Take from the Strong: The Basketball Philosophy of Pete Carril

Rating:
Summary: A simple philosophy for success
Review: Coach Carrill boils the game of basketball down to a very simple philosophy that being good at the fundamentals of the game make you a good player, regardless of what position you play. The ability to pass, shoot, dribble, rebound, and play defense are becoming a lost art in the "complete" player. Coach Carrill accurately points to the fact that the "specialists" of today are usually lacking in one or more of these skills. This book is a MUST read for high school and youth coaches. It should also be read by anyone who loves basketball.

Rating:
Summary: Great Coach! One Fantastic book!!
Review: I am not a fan of the Princeton Tigers but a Wisconsin Badger basketball fan, Pete Carril is a tough, tenacious basketball coach who beleived in certain principles that went beyond the game of basketball. These principles gained the trust and confidence of his players. Which explains why he was able to coach basketball for so long in an age defined by "image over substance"... shoe contracts, commercials, etc. I wish that I could have played for a coach like this.

Rating:
Summary: A coach for the ages
Review: Pete Carril, legendary coach of the Princeton Tigers and now the assistant coach of the Sacramento Kings, has penned an artful depiction of his philosophy of Basketball and in many ways, of life itself. That Pete has been so inordinately successful at Princeton, with a squad of mostly undersized white guys, is testament to his ability to teach and motivate young men in the art of achieving excellence beyond their potential.

Basketball is a game of rapid relexes and quickness, of jumping ability and strength, of endurance and determination, and championships are generally won by the team with the greatest number of the most physically gifted athletes, who can also play together as a team. Carril has consistently been able to almost turn that axiom on its head. The title of this book is a reflection of his extraordinary capabilities.

While Carril assiduously schools his players in the fundamentals of the game he also shares a talent endemic to all sucessful coaches. He is able to sumbliminally implore his players to seek his approval and in this way get more effort from them than they think they can give. He's direct, detail conscious, thorough , and level headed. He has good judgement and a feel for the game. It's all in this book.

I recently watched a replay of the March-1996 Princeton win over UCLA in the first round of the NCAA tournament, now known as the "Road to the Final Four". The Tigers defeated an athletically superior team winning 43-41 in the final seconds. If you watch the films you'll see Princeton passing the ball, often over 10 times a possession, without any of the passers dribbling first. It has a hypnotic effect on UCLA who seems to fall into a stupor each time Princeton goes into their offensive set. I might add that UCLA was the 1st seed while Princeton was the 16th.

Upon being asked to comment, Nolan Richardson, coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks, winner of a national title under his tutelage, said that a defense begins to break down after about ten passes. Thus comes the moment when Princeton takes advantage of its opponent. From such lulls in concentration Princeton opportunisticly uses old-school basketball techniques like the back-door pass, the give and go, and the rocker step.

Using a variety of passes the Tigers often get open and score easily. On defense they play great help-D coupled with a concentrated and insistent energy and focus.

Against Ivy league foes of equal talent Princeton has consistently won titles under Carril. In the NCAA's March Madness his teams have scared many great opponents and even beaten a few. This is all the more remarkable given the conventional wisdom, which deems that excessive athleticism is necessary if a coach is to win at the game of basketball as we know it today.

Princeton's loss was Sacremento's gain. Carril is a truly terrific coach and this is an engaging book that any basketball fan will love..

Rating:
Summary: The Smart Take from the Strong (Carril)
Review: This book is a great look at the "Yoda" of college hoops. Carril's biography is a good look at a blue collar coach who got the absolute most from his players. He reveals no "mysteries" of the game-he stresses hard work around a solid philosophy. It is NOT an X and O book-don't buy it for that reason. It is a great basketball philosophy book. If you love the college game and the personalities that coach in it, buy this book.