Strange Luke Yaklich anecdote
I've been lapping up all the UM hoops coverage I can consume these days - it's been a salve for my battered soul.
Anyway, in today's Athletic article (deliciously) titled "Men’s college basketball power rankings: Michigan officially a title contender" there was this really strange anecdote about Yaklich's time with Texas last year:
As usual, then-assistant Luke Yaklich called on individual players to break down the offensive tendencies of Kansas players. Not as usual, each Longhorn began his report with a crude non-sequitur: “F— (insert Jayhawks player’s last name).” In the room, it struck me as funny, but also contrived and weird. It felt like the team was playing pretend. Like they had to persuade themselves they were hard-asses. Being mean isn’t a gimmick. The next evening, Texas battled, but it ultimately withered and lost by 11.
Here's the link ($) to the whole article - https://theathletic.com/2321056/2021/01/14/mens-college-basketball-power-rankings-michigan-gonzaga-baylor-villanova-texas-tech/
I don't profess to have followed every twist and turn of the basketball program over the years, but this story hits me because it just seems so out-of-character for what would have happened in a Beilein locker room. I never remember hearing about stuff like this in 2017 - 2018. In fact, looking back at previous MGOBLOG coverage of Yaklich, it was mostly stuff like this:
https://mgoblog.com/mgoboard/luke-yaklich-story
The OP sums up the article by referencing how Beilein's relationships are built on character, which is was always my sense of the program during his tenure. We celebrated it. Plus, Yaklich was widely regarded around here as being the tactical mastermind behind our proficient defense. We did not hear about him employing motivational gimmicks.
I recognize that this whole thing is really silly. Stories like this always get framed in light of the results; If Michigan beats OSU in football, the countdown clock is seen as a clever motivational tool and becomes part of the lore of the rivalry. If you get trucked...well... So, if Texas had clobbered Kansas, perhaps the author writes his story with a different tone or the anecdote doesn't even get included.
I guess I share this as a roundabout way express gratitude for the state and shape of the program now.
Perhaps our defense would have been even better had Yaklich stayed. Or, perhaps, you can't always get what you want...(but) you get what you need.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:20 PM ^
It's kinda weird to say "F- player's name." Maybe if they said "Fuck the Jayhawks" at the beginning it'd be a little better. Overall I don't think it's a big deal motivationally, they're still kids. But it's kind of overly aggressive. Save that for the court.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:41 PM ^
The point of the article is that last year Texas was super soft as a team physically, mentally, etc. but this year they are tough which is why they are having so much success. In an effort to get give the team some "bite" on D Yaklich would have each player say F (insert name of who they are guarding) to try to manufacture some anger towards that guy.
To me it's a great anecdote to show how desperate Yak was to get a bunch of soft guys to show some anger & tenacity on the defensive end of the court; I doubt this is part of his regular coaching repertoire
January 14th, 2021 at 1:55 PM ^
Listen, coaches do stupid shit sometimes. The worst part is letting a person not associated with your school or team have access to their dumb stuff. I had a bad link I deleted.
January 14th, 2021 at 7:34 PM ^
Seriously. Ferocious animal murder videos, heat stroking kids, killing people you are forcing to video tape practices...Coaches do stupid shit sometimes, indeed
January 14th, 2021 at 2:49 PM ^
Was it clear that Yaklich instructed his players to do this? The article says it wasn't usual so I read it as something perhaps the players decided to do for Kansas.
Who told the story to The Athletic? Like, whose perspective was it coming from I wonder.
January 14th, 2021 at 4:48 PM ^
I would Photoshop pictures of the other players banging my players' moms. Post em up in the locker room.
January 14th, 2021 at 6:05 PM ^
If it was your mom we wouldn't even need to photoshop.
January 15th, 2021 at 1:34 PM ^
How dare you say that about my sister!
January 14th, 2021 at 1:20 PM ^
I’m pretty sure UM under JB had a picture of the Jayhawks logo in a real bird cage before the game once. Coaches use all sorts of motivational tactics. Some work and some don’t. Would not look into too much.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:25 PM ^
I think Bacari used it before we played them in the Sweet 16. At the time, I thought that was a cute ploy that Beilein would sign off on. The "F-player" may be something Shaka would sign off on.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:45 PM ^
Kansas was doing a fair amount of talking before that game as I recall. Can't remember the specifics - I think it was their center saying something or other - maybe it was in response to that
January 14th, 2021 at 4:15 PM ^
Jeff Withey mouthed off about Mitch McGary’s lack of height. Withey didn’t do much to distinguish himself in the game.
January 14th, 2021 at 3:32 PM ^
HALOL
January 14th, 2021 at 1:23 PM ^
... but sometimes you get what you need.
And grateful when it happens.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:29 PM ^
Amen.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:24 PM ^
Michigan players didn't use the F word. They just used this clip instead:
January 14th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
When you had guys like Donnal, you have to generate toughness....my gosh, you could see how soft that kid was.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:28 PM ^
I, for one, am not remotely offended that a group of 18-22 year old guys said “F%*} (player x). Who cares? There is probably a story behind it that the article just doesn’t reference.
January 14th, 2021 at 2:19 PM ^
Why is everyone writing it as F$%& or some combination of weird characters behind an F.
Just write what they said "FART"
See? much better. This board can be so soft.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:36 PM ^
Coaches And Players Swearing?!?!?!
January 14th, 2021 at 1:49 PM ^
You lost me at "Battered Soul"
January 14th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
That's a strange Luke Yaklich anecdote
January 14th, 2021 at 1:50 PM ^
I don't think Zavier and Charles needed psychout babble bullshit to play defense.
January 14th, 2021 at 11:42 PM ^
Mentioning those two guys made me think of how similar they are, respectively, to Smith and Brown. Especially the big ass smile Charles Matthews and Chaundee Brown both flash at opponents after frustrating the shit out of them.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:52 PM ^
Wouldn't it be great if there were a way to figure out the effect of motivational efforts? In movies, they always work, but in real life? Eh.
Some I've experienced & seen & read about seem as if they might help game performance. Others seems silly. But that's only one person: what I find silly might inspire other people.
January 14th, 2021 at 1:54 PM ^
I watched Texas lose to Texas Tech last night. Along the way, they surrendered a 10-point halftime lead and both teams look like garbage. Texas is still cheating and still soft. How are they not under any kind of NCAA penalty with all the crap they pulled with Mo Bamba?
January 14th, 2021 at 1:59 PM ^
They also needed a game winning 3 against WVU in their last game
They aren't a sweet 16 team imo
January 14th, 2021 at 1:58 PM ^
Maybe assistants just go crazy after leaving Michigan
Wasn't Durkin playing videos of lions eating gazelles and shit during their meals? Nothing gets the appetite for chicken nuggets going like watching a big cat gnaw on an antler
January 14th, 2021 at 2:00 PM ^
That was his S&C coach at Maryland, but yeah.
January 14th, 2021 at 2:03 PM ^
Cursing and character are unrelated.
You fucking fuck.
/jk
January 14th, 2021 at 2:26 PM ^
Give that program the death penalty for institutional failure to prevent cringe.
January 14th, 2021 at 2:28 PM ^
Better if he stayed??? Have you actually watched games, for real? I’m not sure how to gauge your premise, but I like your thinking! Better is always better! Go Blue!
January 14th, 2021 at 2:37 PM ^
Coaches swear a lot. Film at 11.
January 14th, 2021 at 2:43 PM ^
That's not the strangest thing about Texas basketball. The strangest thing is that Shaka Smart actually has hair.
January 14th, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^
I thought he got kicked out the game and one of his assistants was running the team.
Must say though, he looks much younger with the hair.
January 14th, 2021 at 3:30 PM ^
And I need national championships.
January 14th, 2021 at 3:38 PM ^
I remember our team captain saying this in the team huddle before our state championship game in high school. We won, so I would say it worked.
January 14th, 2021 at 3:49 PM ^
Kinda corny, but I get it lol
January 14th, 2021 at 4:33 PM ^
"Perhaps our defense would have been even better had Yaklich stayed. Or, perhaps, you can't always get what you want...(but) you get what you need."
Or perhaps Saadi is a very good coach that learns fast and adapted/implemented a lot of the knowledge gained from Yaklich/Howard.
January 14th, 2021 at 5:04 PM ^
I'm guessing it's a kinda joke that's not translating well.... similar to Shoresy on Letterkenny
"Fuck Jackson, he can't dribble with his left and always bites on pumpfakes.
"Fuck Leary, he always crosses over on a right hand hesitation move and never finishes left."
"Fuck Barrett, he was short"
And so on... roll the f-bomb into the critique and, at least in my mind, I see why it's an innocent kinda funny thing.