ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Know what’s old school? Standard, 3-by-5, index cards. Thin blue lines. Sturdy. Stackable.
That’s how this men’s basketball season began for Michigan State. Each player was handed an index card and told to write personal goals for the season. Everything from statistical improvements to taking on larger roles in the rotation to being more vocal in the locker room. Some wrote down specific accolades to aspire to, like Jaden Akins, stating his aim of being named All-Big Ten as a senior. Some wrote the bigger goals that most ballplayers have — making the league, helping their families. All the goals add up to what really matters. Winning.
Tom Izzo has done this forever, beginning when glaciers shaped the valleys and basins that carved this state’s landscape, depositing rocks, sand, clay and clipboards. His Michigan State program has always operated with a non-negotiable condition that it not only win, but win a certain way. With defense and rebounding. With maniacal toughness and run-your-ass-off transition offense.
Such conditions, of course, require buy-in from those between the lines. That buy-in, in turn, requires voluntary acceptance of what’s required.
See, this is the trick Izzo plays. Those index cards? They’re not about aspiration. They’re about accountability. When Izzo meets with each player before the season, he reads the card aloud, holds it up and says something like, “OK, if this is who you want to be, then this is how I’m going to coach you.” Each player, therefore, sets his own bar. And down the line, when inevitable hard times arise, each can be reminded of what he expected from himself, and who he’s supposed to be for the team.
Source link
