(See me drinking coffee with DU red hat on to the left) After he reviewed the team and the upcoming season, I was able to talk with him.
Scott's an intense, experienced, winning coach who is a stickler for execution and detail, something he learned from his coach Pete Carril at Princeton http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/article.asp?intID=5676
Each DU player is given a copy of Carril's book http://www.amazon.com/Smart-Take-Strong-Basketball-Philosophy/dp/068483510X. I just bought a copy (used for $1) on Amazon after reading this customer review:
"Every day, before he left for work, [Father] would remind my sister and me how important it is to be smart," Carril writes. "Then, as he was going out the door, he would point his finger at his head and say, 'Use El Coco'"(17). As a young player standing only 5'6, Carril took the simple message to heart -- and, around it, developed an entire doctrine of coaching that guided Princeton to 13 Ivy League titles, an NIT tournament win in 1975 (the only by an Ivy League school) and a classic upset of defending champion UCLA in the 1996 NCAA Tournament. That he did it all in one of America's elite academic institutions, without offering a single scholarship, makes his accomplishments even more remarkable.
Scott's been a winner, both as player (a 4-year letter winner and three-year starter at Princeton) and coach. Prior to turning DU basketball into a winning program (21-6 at home), he coach Princeton (No. 5 seed in 1998 NCAA tournament, highest ever for an Ivy League school), and took Air Force to it's first NCAA tournament appearance in 42 years. His young Pioneer team last year defeated 3 2008 NCAA Tournament teams. With only one senior, this years team is the 8th youngest in the country.
"We have a team that plays to win. That's different than a team that loves to win. Everyone loves to win. Play to win means every second doing the things that are required to win. That's what this team does, on and off the court," said Scott.
"Nearly every game at this level comes down to the last seconds, the last shots. At that point in the game it's not the physical that makes the difference, it's here," Scott says putting his hand over his chest. "It's heart and head. El coco. The smart beat the strong."
This promises to be a great season. Getting to the NCAA Tournament is clearly the big plan. This very well may be the big year. Get your tickets now while they are still available.
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