Ibeh and the NBA

[ProdigalHorn]

Really good article about his development this year:

http://www.nba.com/2016/news/featur...-man-prince-ibehs-outlook-for-rest-of-season/

Even as an experienced former head coach, Horn has learned a few tricks from Smart. One of those is the ability to get inside a player's head and unlock the key to coaching him. Horn, who tutors the Texas big men, asked Ibeh a simple question. How do you want to be coached?

"He just said, 'coach, I want to be taught. I want to be held accountable. You don't have to yell and scream and cuss at me.' The real reason guys don't play well is they don't work hard enough. If you've got talent, and you're not playing well or consistently, it's no secret why."

So Horn and Ibeh developed a CliffsNotes way of communicating.

"No big deal," Horn said. "It's like, 'Hey man, you're not bringing it. You either need to get out and get a blow or you need to play harder.' And he'd nod his head and play harder. There've been a handful of times where we've gone after him, but I've learned a lot by doing it the other way."

Ibeh has responded.

"Coach Horn won't let me take any plays off," Ibeh said. "He's helping me built a motor, and learn what it takes to play hard every day."

Part two of the Ibeh reclamation project was keeping him on the floor. Foul trouble had grounded him numerous times in the past.

"Even when Cameron Ridley was out there, we'd tell Prince, 'we want you to play more, but you foul all the time. Let's look at why,' " Horn said. "This is where Shaka is so good. We looked at film and started drilling the kid with defensive techniques. If you get caught with this guy coming at you, don't keep going at him. Use your length. You're better off to let a guy get by you and try to shoot over you than trying to stay in front and fouling him."

Not that Ibeh can't stay in front of defenders, especially after switching in pick-and-roll situations. The game that probably sealed his NBA future was against Oklahoma and its national player of the year candidate Buddy Hield.

"That game demonstrated what he was capable of at the next level," Horn said. "We switched ball screens, and Buddy Hield didn't go by him. Not one time. We're talking about a guy that can be an elite ball screen defender and rim protector at the next level."

Chris Ogden, the man who first recruited Ibeh for Texas, was watching that Oklahoma game from afar. And when he turned off the television, a thought occurred.

"Now that's the guy we thought we had when we signed him," Ogden said.

 

[MobiusHorn]

Frankly I didn't expect Ibeh to step it up like he has. Nothing in the preceding 3 years indicated that he had this quality play in him. Ibeh's play is a testament to Shaka's coaching abilities. Ibeh is a beast now and a key component of this team.

 

[uisge beatha]

Thanks for the link. Found it interesting that it seems simple that Smart's staff found out how to unlock Ibeh where Barnes' staff didn't.

Even as an experienced former head coach, Horn has learned a few tricks from Smart. One of those is the ability to get inside a player's head and unlock the key to coaching him. Horn, who tutors the Texas big men, asked Ibeh a simple question. How do you want to be coached?

"He just said, 'coach, I want to be taught. I want to be held accountable. You don't have to yell and scream and cuss at me.' The real reason guys don't play well is they don't work hard enough. If you've got talent, and you're not playing well or consistently, it's no secret why."