Princeton Basketball

Ben McCollum shares what it feels like to be around first-place people and a first-place culture. "I went to Northwest Missouri State, and my first practice with Steve Tapmeyer - best coach I've ever been around - I sat there and I'm like, 'This is what first place feels like. This is what a first-place culture feels like. This is what first-place people feel like.'" That was the wake-up call. He realized what first-place people have: "They've got an extreme work ethic. They've got an edge to 'em that other people don't - a competitive spirit." Then he quoted John Thompson: "You can tame a fool a lot quicker than you can resurrect a corpse...We want guys with a little edge to 'em." You can coach skills, but you can't coach competitive spirit. You don't want to consistently coach their effort and attitude. The last thing they look for: Energy givers. "Over the years, we found that guys that are moody don't make it in our program." "If you're moody, if you have low energy, if you suck the life out of the building - you don't make it." Talent isn't enough. Your energy matters. Your attitude matters. Successful people have a competitive edge, they bring energy, and they look to consistently get better. They raise the standard through what they do. (🎥 Watts Happening Podcast)

Mitch Johnson shares the biggest lesson he learned from Gregg Popovich. "How important people and relationships are." "He understands people and relationships and the significance of every moment and every touch point with every person." The best leaders and coaches invest in people. Then he explained what investing in people really looks like: "That can be having to yell and hold someone accountable. And that can be to put your arm around someone's shoulder and love 'em." The best leaders combine high standards with high support. "He did it better than anybody, I think, that's ever walked the sidelines." "I will attempt to do it my way in whatever that looks like moving forward." Great leadership isn't one style. It's knowing your people well enough to give them what they need. Invest in the relationships. Care about people, hold them to their potential, and lead in your style. (🎥 KENS5 - San Antonio)

Marcus Freeman said, "You waste time daydreaming about an uncertain future. Who cares?" "The future is uncertain. So focus on being the best version of you today." No one wins tomorrow. They win today - one rep, one habit at a time. (@tbhorka)

Tom Izzo said, "You play real good, you start. You don't play as good, you work your way back in." "That's the American way except America has gotten soft." You don't get what you want, you get what you earn. It starts with hard work. (@CBBonFOX)

Many are capable, few are COMMITTED. Mike Tomlin nailed it. It’s not about what you’re capable of - it’s about what you’re willing to do. Many people have talent, but commitment and excellence are rare. Commit, show up, do the work, and stack the days.