Jeff Withey, the 7 foot center for the Kansas Jayhawks, had a horrible game against Missouri a couple weeks ago. He didn’t show up. He was flat. The Jayhawks lost a close one that they should have won. His stat line was bad. Zero points, four rebounds, and one block.
The next day, at the start of practice, Coach Self looked at him and told him to “touch ’em ALL.”
Translation.
He was to lug his seven foot frame up every stair in Allen Fieldhouse. The rest of the team practiced basketball. Jeff, humiliated in front of his peers, ran the stairs. Coach Self wanted to get his attention. He did. He told him that “he was better than that.” He pushed him to get more aggressive and even encouraged his teammates to hit him in his chest before the game.
He responded.
KU has played three games since the Missouri debacle, all wins. Jeff’s performance has been the key. Here’s his stat line the last three games.
25 points 5 rebounds 3 blocks
24 points 20 rebounds 7 blocks
18 points 11 rebounds 9 blocks
And, last week he was voted National Player of the Week. Most amazingly, during the K-State game, when the team was down one point and had lost momentum, he was the demonstrative guy in the timeout exhorting his teammates. And, immediately after the timeout, he blocks two shot attempts and runs the floor to end it with a dunk on the other end. KU would catch “uncle mo,” and never look back. Who knew he had it in him?
Coach Self, that’s who.
Yesterday during a practice with one of my clients, we role played how to turn up a poor performer. After observing three folks give it their best, I modeled the way, the only way I know how. I told the teammate, CCD that we have a problem. “Your comps aren’t for shit,” I began. I wanted to get his attention. From the looks on 25 faces, I got more than just his. We practiced this together until a couple leaders found their voice and Gurue exercised his. Everybody thought that I was a meanie. I thought that most of them were weanies. We had some great laughs and learned how NOT to mix our messages when turning up a poor performance.
We touched ’em all and together we improved.
Good practice team of 20 something. Glad the newbies came. Welcome to practice. Welcome to the best way to go forward. God, I LOVE being there when bodies get better…
BUILT TO LEAD 