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Message: [QUOTE="RealSUFan, post: 883703, member: 236"] JB's career winning % is currently .749. And here are our final winning percentages from the previous four seasons: 09-10: .857 10-11: .771 11-12: .919 12-13: .750 So, for four straight years JB has exceeded his lifetime average. When was the last time he did that for four straight years? Believe it or not, during his first four years, between 1976 and 1980! Obviously, the program is enjoying a resurgence. My question is, why is it happening? There's not just one reason, of course. Here are some possible factors: 1. Improved coaching. JB joined the Olympic team coaching staff in 2006. He has recently admitted that this experience has helped him improve as a coach. 2. Melo center opened in 2009. Reserved, always-available access to world-class facilities has allowed our players and our teams to gain strength and improve more rapidly than before. 3. Dropping man-to-man. Infamously, Jonny Flynn and Paul Harris tried to force JB to switch to a man-t0-man defense. The next year, we lost an exhibition to LeMoyne playing man-to-man the entire time. JB responded to these two events by spending 100% of practice time since then on zone and giving up man-to-man completely. The increased focus on the zone in practice has improved the efficacy of the team's defense, and this improved defense has translated to improved winning percentage. 4. Improved recruiting (whether due to smarter targeting of players or the added attraction of the Melo center). We have improved recruiting for our system, replacing small guys like Jonny Flynn with taller guards like MCW, and one-on-one players like Donte Green with team-oriented players like CJ Fair. 5. Luck. 6. Other factors How would you divvy up these factors in assessing the resurgence of our program? For me, I'm going to say 1. Improved coaching 25% 2. Melo center 25% 3. Focusing exclusively on zone in practice. 25 % 4. Improved recruiting. 10 % 5. Luck 10 % 6. Other factors 5% Let's hear your take. [/QUOTE]

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