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Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lisa Bluder believes culture is bigger than one person. Coaching Caitlin Clark didn't change that
The Athletic To Lisa Bluder, even the best performers have room for improvement. It's why, when she recruited Caitlin Clark, she didn't highlight Clark's strengths but instead pointed out her weaknesses. Advertisement Bluder, the longtime basketball coach at the University of Iowa, helped mold Clark from an intense, young recruit into one of the most impactful athletes of her generation. Bluder retired in May 2024 as the winningest coach in Big Ten history, following four years in the spotlight as Clark's head coach. Together, they grew. And so did Iowa's team. Bluder believes all of it was special, but she doesn't deny how much work it took to navigate the unique situation. I wanted to talk to Bluder to understand more about that. How does a leader handle a truly elite performer and maintain a program-wide culture? In sports, or in the workforce, sometimes leaders are given a very rare, talented person to work with. They are tasked with not only guiding them but with making them even better. You have experience with this, obviously, with Caitlin Clark. How do you approach that situation? When you recruit a star into your organization or into your team, you have to communicate with them beforehand that they're not at their peak. You want them to want to get better. And Caitlin always wanted to get better. Advertisement So what we did, first of all, was identify her weaknesses, not her strengths. She knew what her strengths were. We all knew what her strengths were. But you identify and find what the weaknesses are. And so we could kind of chip away at those and make those better. That's how you make a person or an athlete better. Not just incorporating their strengths into your system, but also helping them develop their weaknesses. What did that process actually look like? During the recruiting process we talked about our player development. Because we had proved that we could develop players like Megan Gustafson. She came in and was ranked around 100th in the country and left as the Naismith National Player of the Year. So we had that. You know, proof is in the pudding, as they say. But what we did then when she came here was, we would show her film. We would meet with her and kind of show how her improvements in those areas could really help not only her success, but the team's success. Advertisement I remember you've said before that Caitlin was the right person for you and you were the right person for her. And that's why it worked. Can you explain that? If a person doesn't want to get better, if they think they know it all already, those are the people that I didn't want to coach. I want people who are confident but also who are willing to learn and willing to hear constructive criticism. We talked a lot with our team about how holding people accountable is the same thing as accepting criticism. I'm talking more about peer to peer now, athlete to athlete. So we talked a lot to our athletes about that. You have to learn how to accept somebody holding you accountable because that's the only way you're going to get better and our team is going to get better. If you don't accept it, you're going to quit getting that feedback and you're not going to reach your full potential. Caitlin wanted to be her best. She wanted to be coached, as well as any of the really good players that I've been around. Every one of them, they weren't know-it-alls. They knew they could get better and continued to get better. Advertisement Are they willing to put in the work required to be great? Because there are a lot of people who want to be great without really working hard at it, especially in today's society. Caitlin Clark didn't start out by shooting logo threes. She started out by shooting layups. And people have to remember that. It's a process. And so I want that work ethic, but I also want a positive attitude in my players. I think having that person in your huddle who's always negative, it just wears on people. And so having a positive attitude was really important to me. I can see where it could become tricky, when there is someone in the spotlight as much as Caitlin was, but at the end of the day, you are a team. How would you advise someone on navigating that kind of situation? When there is someone who receives a ton of attention but you have a full team of great people and great players? You can't ignore it. If you ignore it, you're in trouble. We would tell our team a lot: 'Hey, when Caitlin's light shines, it shines on all of us. We all reap the benefits from that. So instead of being jealous about it, let's enjoy it.' It was getting the rest of the team to buy into that. On any good team, you give up your own personal agenda for the betterment of the team, and they were able to do that because they understood that Caitlin was bringing us to new levels. And instead of hampering that, they encouraged it because they wanted to go to those new levels with her. Advertisement Did they always encourage it from the start? Or were there challenges to get there? Oh, it was a challenge at first. Like her freshman year, Caitlin didn't really understand how to work with other people as much because she was always the show. She could do it by herself. But when you get to a Power Four conference and you're competing at the highest level, you realize, 'Oh, I can't do this all by myself.' So it was a realization that she needed her team as well as they needed her. Building that trust was really important early on. But there were a couple of players who transferred after her freshman year because she was hard at first. She learned how to develop her leadership skills. She learned how to become more inclusive. And some people, she rubbed wrong and they left, and that's OK. She got better, but I also wanted people who wanted to be challenged and wanted to be their best. Again, giving up your own personal stuff sometimes is really, really hard. How did you help her develop those leadership skills after her freshman year? Well, we started meeting weekly and having leadership meetings. I would have her read some leadership books and we would kind of go through the chapters and talk about them afterwards: 'What did you learn from this?' Advertisement And then we would bring in sports psychologists to work with our team so that she understood. I would have them meet with her individually and then meet with the team. Some of those things helped with her leadership. We would show her a video of herself. I mean, Caitlin is very passionate. She's not the only person I've done this with. I've had other players whose bench decorum or their reaction affects the team in a negative way. You have to show it to them because they don't understand. They don't know it. They're living it. They're so into the moment that they don't understand how they're affecting other people. And showing real-life examples away from the court, and after the emotion is over, is a good thing. Can you explain how that progress she made then impacted everything else? She then understood that she had to trust her teammates and build relationships with her teammates, and so that completely changed. Then I think her on-court body language got a lot better. It was give and take, too. She is expressive, and you can't take it personally when she is expressive. She is very passionate. So I feel like that just evolved and it became something our team almost got protective of with her. Advertisement If the opposing team was trying to impose their will upon her, so to speak, or fans were yelling things, our team got really protective of her. I think that really is a culture builder, right? When you have people who are looking out for each other. But I also think sometimes people think culture is … I don't know, people think, 'Oh, we got Caitlin, so we got a good culture.' No, we had a good culture, and that's one of the reasons we got Caitlin. So it's a work in progress all the time. Because you have to reestablish that culture every single year. You can't just assume it's going to happen again. Some people say, 'How did you get such a good culture on your team?' Well, it's not a slogan you slap on the wall. It's a continual effort every single time you're together. That's how culture is built. I remember you said that you read Phil Jackson's book 'Sacred Hoops.' Because you thought his experience with Michael Jordan had some similarities to your own. Did you end up applying anything to your own life from that? Yeah, I read that book a long time ago and quite honestly my husband said when Caitlin was a freshman or sophomore, he said, 'You need to reread that book. Because of Michael Jordan.' And I said, 'You're right.' So I read it and I highlighted parts and shared those with Caitlin. On road trips and stuff when you have a little more downtime, I would meet with her and maybe have her read a portion of that book and see what Michael Jordan was doing. All those little things that you do add up, I think. Advertisement Looking back at this whole experience and your career, what do you think is most important for someone to know when they're leading a group of people? As a leader, you have to decide what you want your product to look like. You have to decide what you want your team to look like or your company to look like. You have to have that vision of what it is you want it to be first. And then you've got to find the right people to fulfill that vision. But you also have to be able to be an effective communicator. You can explain what that vision looks like to them and, through communicating, get them to buy in. To me, that's what a really good leader needs to be able to do. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, Iowa Hawkeyes, WNBA, Sports Business, Women's College Basketball, Peak, Sports Leadership 2025 The Athletic Media Company
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fans in Disbelief Over 7-Foot-2 College Basketball Recruit
The college basketball season wrapped up with a thrilling NCAA Tournament Final Four, where the Florida Gators emerged as national champions. Since the final buzzer, however, the headlines have shifted quickly — first dominated by transfer portal buzz and now turning toward high school recruiting. And speaking of big stories, one of the most talked-about names this summer is quite literally towering over the competition. Advertisement Meet Dylan Betts, a 7-foot-2 high school freshman phenom who's turning heads at summer basketball events across the country. At just 15 years old, Betts has already stunned fans and scouts with his size, skill and presence on the court. Social media exploded after a clip surfaced showing Purdue Boilermakers head coach Matt Painter smiling courtside during one of Betts' games. "The cut to a smiling Matt Painter watching a 7'2 kid is the greatest mixtape cinematography I've ever seen," was posted in response to the video here. This UCLA fan wants Betts in a Bruins uniform: "UCLA gotta offer Dylan Betts a scholarship ASAP to continue the Betts to UCLA pipeline" Advertisement Matt Painter being at the event to see Betts did not surprise this fan: "Painter locking in pole position in the recruitment for a 7'2 freshman. Purdue's not going anywhere!" "Of course Painter is there also the Betts family genes are insane," mentioned here. "From Cherry Creek here in Denver. You'll be hearing about him and his two sisters for a while," a fan familiar with the Betts family posted. This fan joked: "What they feeding these Betts kids in Colorado? Sheesh!" The March Madness logo means it's NCAA Tournament Bisig-Imagn Images Painter may be excited about the prospect of recruiting another transcendent big man to replace Zach Edey, the 7-4 center who won two consecutive Naismith National Player of the Year awards and led Purdue to the 2024 national title game. Edey now plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. Advertisement Painter wasn't the only college coach in attendance, but he seemed particularly focused on the towering Cherry Creek High School standout. Betts, who has already drawn early interest from the UNLV Runnin' Rebels and Washington Huskies, has shown strong post play and touch around the basket, while developing range away from the paint. The Class of 2028 recruit was invited to the USA Basketball Junior National Team minicamp in San Antonio this April — an honor reserved for just 65 athletes nationwide. When asked about the opportunity, Betts reflected on what it meant: 'It means a lot to me. Definitely, it's very hard to be selected. Lots of good competition out here. You've got to be confident and not be scared of anybody.' Dylan isn't the only Betts making waves on the hardwood. His older sister, Lauren, played a key role in leading the UCLA Bruins to the Final Four this past season. Another sister, Sienna, is also heading to UCLA this fall to continue the family legacy. Advertisement The Betts family has deep basketball roots. Their father, Andrew Betts, played at Long Beach State before being selected in the second round of the 1998 NBA draft. With basketball in his blood and sky-high potential, Dylan Betts is quickly becoming one of the most buzzed-about names in the future of college hoops. Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit's Father Almost Brought to Tears by Kentucky's Mark Pope Related: No. 1 College Basketball Recruit Makes Decision Before Senior Season
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johni Broome's subpar vertical jump at NBA Draft Combine draws jeers on social media
The NBA Draft Combine is underway, running through Sunday in Chicago. And if any draft prospects are trending, chances are they either dazzled during drills and workouts or they disappointed. Unfortunately for Johni Broome, his name was a popular topic Wednesday because of a vertical jump that was less than impressive. The Auburn star recorded a standing vertical leap of 24.5 inches during testing drills. By comparison, projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg notched a standing vertical jump of 35.5 inches. VJ Edgecombe, ranked fourth on Yahoo Sports' NBA Draft big board, topped that with a 38.5-inch jump. Several detractors on social media also pointed out that Broome's standing vertical was less than massive Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson, who weighs 464 pounds and jumped 25 inches at the NFL Combine. (Watson went undrafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.) However, perhaps the meanest response came from, of all places, language learning platform Duolingo. The app's social media account quote-tweeted a video of Broome's vertical jump and wrote "Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today!" Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today! — Duolingo (@duolingo) May 14, 2025 Many NBA fans got the reference, which alluded to a popular meme that originated in 2022. A graphic circulating on social media features a fake quote from NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying, "Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy," as a warning to players whose behavior was a league issue or who were playing so badly they'd soon have to go overseas to play professional basketball. Broome, 6-foot-10, is projected as a late second-round pick in Kevin O'Connor's mock draft for Yahoo Sports. He's also rated as the No. 45 player on O'Connor's big board. Broome was one of the best players in college basketball last season and earned consideration for the Naismith National Player of the Year award that eventually went to Flagg. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, leading Auburn to a 32-6 record and a Final Four berth in the NCAA tournament. However, Broome's athleticism was a concern for draft analysts and those vertical-leap numbers didn't change that perception. Between that and questions about his shooting skills (he shot 28% on 3-pointers last season), he will likely be selected in the draft's second round, if at all. As the Duolingo post joked, Broome could have an interesting basketball journey.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johni Broome's subpar vertical jump at NBA draft combine draws jeers on social media
The NBA draft combine is underway, running through May 18 in Chicago. And if any draft prospects are trending, chances are they either dazzled during drills and workouts or they disappointed. Unfortunately for Johni Broome, his name was a popular topic on Thursday because of a vertical jump that was less than impressive. The Auburn star recorded a standing vertical leap of 24.5 inches during testing drills. By comparison, projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg notched a standing vertical jump of 35.5 inches. VJ Edgecombe, ranked fourth on Yahoo Sports' NBA Draft big board, topped that with a 38.5 inch jump. Several detractors on social media also pointed out that Broome's standing vertical was less than massive Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson, who weighs 464 pounds, who jumped 25 inches at the NFL combine. (Watson went undrafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.) Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today! — Duolingo (@duolingo) May 14, 2025 However, perhaps the meanest response came from, of all places, language learning platform Duolingo. The app's social media account quote-tweeted a video of Broome's vertical jump and wrote "Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today!" Many NBA fans got the reference, which alluded to a popular meme that originated in 2022. A graphic circulating on social media featured a fake quote from NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying "Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy" as a warning to players whose behavior was controversial in the league or were playing so badly that they'd soon have to go overseas to play professional basketball. Broome, 6-foot-10, is projected as a late second-round pick in Kevin O'Connor's mock draft for Yahoo Sports. He's also rated as the No. 45 player on O'Connor's big board. The 6-foot-10 Broome was one of the best players in college basketball last season and earned consideration for the Naismith National Player of the Year award that eventually went to Flagg. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, leading Auburn to a 32-6 record and a Final Four berth in the NCAA tournament. However, Broome's athleticism was a concern going into the draft and those vertical jump numbers didn't change that perception. Between that and questions about his shooting skills (he shot 28% on 3-pointers last season), he will likely be selected in the draft's second round. Unless, as the Duolingo post joked, Broome goes undrafted and has to go to the G League or overseas to make a living playing basketball.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johni Broome's subpar vertical jump at NBA draft combine draws jeers on social media
The NBA draft combine is underway, running through May 18 in Chicago. And if any draft prospects are trending, chances are they either dazzled during drills and workouts or they disappointed. Unfortunately for Johni Broome, his name was a popular topic on Thursday because of a vertical jump that was less than impressive. The Auburn star recorded a standing vertical leap of 24.5 inches during testing drills. Advertisement By comparison, projected No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg notched a standing vertical jump of 35.5 inches. VJ Edgecombe, ranked fourth on Yahoo Sports' NBA Draft big board, topped that with a 38.5 inch jump. Several detractors on social media also pointed out that Broome's standing vertical was less than massive Florida defensive tackle Desmond Watson, who weighs 464 pounds, who jumped 25 inches at the NFL combine. (Watson went undrafted and signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as a free agent.) However, perhaps the meanest response came from, of all places, language learning platform Duolingo. The app's social media account quote-tweeted a video of Broome's vertical jump and wrote "Learn Chinese and try Super Duolingo today!" Advertisement Many NBA fans got the reference, which alluded to a popular meme that originated in 2022. A graphic circulating on social media featured a fake quote from NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying "Get ready to learn Chinese, buddy" as a warning to players whose behavior was controversial in the league or were playing so badly that they'd soon have to go overseas to play professional basketball. Broome, 6-foot-10, is projected as a late second-round pick in Kevin O'Connor's mock draft for Yahoo Sports. He's also rated as the No. 45 player on O'Connor's big board. The 6-foot-10 Broome was one of the best players in college basketball last season and earned consideration for the Naismith National Player of the Year award that eventually went to Flagg. He averaged 18.6 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.4 blocks, leading Auburn to a 32-6 record and a Final Four berth in the NCAA tournament. However, Broome's athleticism was a concern going into the draft and those vertical jump numbers didn't change that perception. Between that and questions about his shooting skills (he shot 28% on 3-pointers last season), he will likely be selected in the draft's second round. Unless, as the Duolingo post joked, Broome goes undrafted and has to go to the G League or overseas to make a living playing basketball.
