MONROE - After 17 years serving as an assistant coach, Brian Bassett takes over the reins as the Monroe High School head boys basketball coach.
Bassett is looking forward to building on the team's previous success.
Monroe sports reporter Mark Nesbitt sat down with Bassett and talked about his coaching philosophy, changes in the program and expectations for this year.
For your first year as a head basketball coach for Monroe, what is the biggest change on game days?
The biggest thing now is I'm telling guys what to do and they are looking to me to make adjustments. We have a great assistant coaching staff like we always have had with Jake Grinnell, Jerry Tordoff, Scott Noll, Dale Buvid, Braden Rindy and Matt Bordner.
What is the biggest difference as the head coach this year?
Paperwork. It's getting all of the fees from kids for selling raffle tickets for our alumni tournament, fees for Jimmy John's subs. I have to get all of the paperwork organized. Thank God (former boys coach) Pat Murphy is still running the alumni tournament one more year until I get my feet under me.
What changes have you made to practices this season?
I think our practices are more uptempo because we plan on pushing the pace. We do a lot of fastbreak stuff in practice. We work on our spacing. We are running a five-out read and react offense with swing as our secondary option. It's five players out, pass and read what the defense gives you. We have to take what Murphy has taught all of us and install it into an uptempo offense and pressuring defense playing to our players' strengths. We are small and quick.
How would you describe yourself as a coach in practice?
I'm a high-energy, positive person. I'm always their biggest cheerleader. Our practices are loud and fun.
What challenges are there to playing a more uptempo system?
We need at least 10 to play. We played 12 in the scrimmage. We can show guys how hard they can go 100 percent. Most guys can go 2 to 3 minutes in this offense. We will need guys to step up.
What are your expectations for the Cheesemakers' this season?
My expectations are to take care of the ball and be competitive every time we take the floor. I truly believe with the experience we have, the ability we have to pass and believe in each other, I think we can do great things.
What is the best advice you received from a former coaching colleague or as a player?
It's from Coach Murphy. Hold everyone accountable. Everyone has to be accountable for their actions and play.
What will Monroe's offense look like if it's successful during games?
A lot of layups, free throws and a team that shares the ball extremely well.
What are the biggest strengths on the team this year?
Our ability to make good choices on the offensive end, shooting and pressuring the ball on defense.
How do you want Monroe to be viewed as a defensive team?
We are continuing with our same defensive principles. We're just extending more out than last year and spending more time on defensive footwork.
Bassett is looking forward to building on the team's previous success.
Monroe sports reporter Mark Nesbitt sat down with Bassett and talked about his coaching philosophy, changes in the program and expectations for this year.
For your first year as a head basketball coach for Monroe, what is the biggest change on game days?
The biggest thing now is I'm telling guys what to do and they are looking to me to make adjustments. We have a great assistant coaching staff like we always have had with Jake Grinnell, Jerry Tordoff, Scott Noll, Dale Buvid, Braden Rindy and Matt Bordner.
What is the biggest difference as the head coach this year?
Paperwork. It's getting all of the fees from kids for selling raffle tickets for our alumni tournament, fees for Jimmy John's subs. I have to get all of the paperwork organized. Thank God (former boys coach) Pat Murphy is still running the alumni tournament one more year until I get my feet under me.
What changes have you made to practices this season?
I think our practices are more uptempo because we plan on pushing the pace. We do a lot of fastbreak stuff in practice. We work on our spacing. We are running a five-out read and react offense with swing as our secondary option. It's five players out, pass and read what the defense gives you. We have to take what Murphy has taught all of us and install it into an uptempo offense and pressuring defense playing to our players' strengths. We are small and quick.
How would you describe yourself as a coach in practice?
I'm a high-energy, positive person. I'm always their biggest cheerleader. Our practices are loud and fun.
What challenges are there to playing a more uptempo system?
We need at least 10 to play. We played 12 in the scrimmage. We can show guys how hard they can go 100 percent. Most guys can go 2 to 3 minutes in this offense. We will need guys to step up.
What are your expectations for the Cheesemakers' this season?
My expectations are to take care of the ball and be competitive every time we take the floor. I truly believe with the experience we have, the ability we have to pass and believe in each other, I think we can do great things.
What is the best advice you received from a former coaching colleague or as a player?
It's from Coach Murphy. Hold everyone accountable. Everyone has to be accountable for their actions and play.
What will Monroe's offense look like if it's successful during games?
A lot of layups, free throws and a team that shares the ball extremely well.
What are the biggest strengths on the team this year?
Our ability to make good choices on the offensive end, shooting and pressuring the ball on defense.
How do you want Monroe to be viewed as a defensive team?
We are continuing with our same defensive principles. We're just extending more out than last year and spending more time on defensive footwork.
