Ball is Psych
@BallisPsych

We teach you how to train the mind | Character first, results second | Books available on Amazon 🏀🧠

 Chicago, IL
ballispsych.com
Joined March 2018
Beyond Winning: A Character-First, Results-Second Guide to Greatness New book available now on Amazon ⬇️ a.co/d/hPtJauv

Beyond Winning: A Character-First, Results-Second Guide to Greatness

We live in a world consumed by results. The message that winning is the only thing that matters is constant. But winning is something you can’t control, and confusing it with greatness leaves...

amazon.com
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“We didn’t hire Becky to make history. She earned it. She is qualified. She’s wonderful at what she does. I wanted her on my staff because of the work that she does. And she happens to be a woman.” — Gregg Popovich
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Eye contact. Head nod. Actively listening. The greats don’t just “take” coaching, they “crave” coaching. Take coaching seriously, not personally.
Amy Bahl
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12,564
Michael Jordan was once asked what he thought his best skill was. He didn’t say it was his ability to dunk from the free throw line or his scoring ability. His answer: “I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.” The easier you are to lead, the further you’ll go.
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As a senior in hs, Jordan Poole came off the bench. He didn’t start a game his 1st year at Michigan. He spent last year in the G-League. He’s now averaging 30ppg in the NBA Playoffs. Just because it’s not your turn right now doesn’t mean your time isn’t coming. Keep working.
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“You want to have fun? Try winning. That’s fun.” — Tara VanDerveer
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Notice how Steph said: “I was thankful enough to get a scholarship to Davidson.” NOT “Duke & UNC were sleeping on me.” You can waste your energy complaining about your circumstances or you can energize yourself with the healthiest emotion; GRATITUDE.
Ball Street Journal
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“If you want to look good in front of thousands, you have to outwork thousands in front of nobody.” — Damian Lillard Good players workout, great players OUTWORK.
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Your body language is your mental toughness billboard.
ESPN
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Brad Stevens was once asked what he would do if he was dealing with a difficult player who wasn’t buying in. “I would rebound for him.” If you want someone to follow you, show them you care.
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“Your number one contribution is the energy that you bring to what we’re doing.” — Geno Auriemma
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Purdue’s point guard, Braden Smith was asked about his turnover late in the game. His teammate, Zach Edey grabbed the mic and reminded everyone that every possession is important, and everyone was responsible for turnovers throughout the game.
Kelly Hallinan
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One of Monty Williams’ mantras is, “I’m not calling you out, I’m calling you up.” Think of accountability as being called up, not out. If someone is holding you accountable, it’s because they know you’re capable of more. Rise up to being called up.
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“Your contribution doesn’t have to be 25 points, but it has to be something. Your number one contribution is the energy that you bring to what we’re doing.” — Geno Auriemma
Ball is Psych
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“Everybody gets tired and fatigued. So what happens when you get tired and fatigued? Something else has to kick in, and that's your habits and your mentality.” — Dawn Staley (via Finding Mastery Podcast)
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“I don’t really mind not playing in front of fans. The way I practice and play is not dependent on who’s watching.” — @sabrina_i20
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Kobe worked like he had no talent, then he played like he believed he was the best player in the world. Prepare with humility, perform with confidence. #MambaMentality
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Michael Jordan was once asked what he thought his best skill was. It wasn’t his ability to dunk from the free throw line. It wasn’t his scoring ability. He said his best skill was that he was coachable. Nothing will take you further in this game as being coachable will.
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After 3 years, Coach K’s record at Duke was 38-47. He’s now the winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history. He didn’t change what he was doing, he just continued the process of building a solid foundation. Sometimes the best strategy is being patient and consistent.
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1,097
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What most impressed Geno Auriemma when he watched the Bulls practice? The way MJ acted. He was first in line for every drill. He played hard, & if his teammates didn’t, he was all over them. Great leaders set the tone for how the rest of the team acts. Lead with high standards.
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Sabrina missed all 8 of her 3 point attempts in her WNBA debut. In her 2nd game, she went 6/10 from 3 and finished with 33 points. Setbacks don’t define you. What you do next does. #MambaMentality
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Great teams don’t allow moments of mediocrity; on or off the court.
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“Don’t ever judge how you play by how you shoot the ball or how many points you score. You always judge how good you play by your effort and whether you play to the best of your ability...” — Geno Auriemma
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“Winning has a price. Leadership has a price. I pulled people along when they didn’t want to be pulled along. I challenged people when they didn’t want to be challenged.” — MJ #TheLastDance
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Good players hope to rise to the occasion. Great players just trust their training. Greatness doesn’t wait for the bright lights; it’s built daily. 🎥 @MasterClass
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One of Monty Williams’ mantras is, “I’m not calling you out, I’m calling you up.” Think of accountability as being called up, not out. If someone is holding you accountable, it’s because they know you’re capable of more. Rise up to being called up.
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Brad Stevens was once asked what he would do if he was dealing with a difficult player who wasn’t buying in. “I would rebound for him.” If you want someone to follow you, show them you care.
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“Your contribution doesn’t have to be 25 points, but it has to be something. Your number one contribution is the energy that you bring to what we’re doing.” — Geno Auriemma
Ball is Psych
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Derrick White had 0 Division 1 offers out of high school. He started his college career as a D2 walk on. You can get caught up in rankings, who is or isn’t recruiting you, or you can just keep getting better. If you’re good, basketball will find you, and your time will come.
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Eye contact. Head nod. Actively listening. The greats don’t just “take” coaching, they “crave” coaching. Take coaching seriously, not personally.
Amy Bahl
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Your bench is the ultimate culture check. Amateurs pout on the bench because they only care about personal glory. Pros can’t sit still. They’re too busy celebrating their teammates with genuine joy and excitement. Is your bench bringing the energy or draining it?
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“Every possession matters. Take pride in every possession. It’s a game of possessions. It’s also a game of will.” — Pat Summitt
Jaycob Ammerman
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“Here’s how I’m going to beat you: I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. You just learned my most valuable secret. It’s not that exciting, I know. There’s no great intangible quality to success. It’s a matter of putting your back into it.” —Pat Summitt
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Last year, Virginia became the first 1 seed to lose to a 16 seed. This year, they’re on the other side of history. Life is 1% what happens to you and 99% how you respond.
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“Your physical ability is not nearly as important as your confidence level and where your head is.” — Geno Auriemma
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You want to help carry on Kobe’s legacy? Support women’s basketball.
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“When they’re having fun and enjoying it, they’re more likely to be good at it.” — Steve Kerr Cultivate joy.
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Recurring ankle injuries almost ended Steph Curry’s career early. Then, he hit the weight room. By 2015, he was deadlifting over 400lbs and his ankles were healthy. Steph is so great because he didn’t rely on talent; he worked harder and smarter. Talent isn’t enough; WORK.
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“If we can teach kids how to deal with anxiety, pressure, failure, success, through sports; then it in turn helps them to become better people.” — Kobe Bryant The same qualities that make a better basketball player, make a better person.
Ball is Psych
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Kobe worked like he had no talent, then he played like he believed he was the best player in the world. Prepare with humility, perform with confidence.
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Scottie Pippen had 0 college offers. He went from being an NAIA equipment manager to an all-time NBA great. Just because your dream is delayed, doesn’t mean it’s denied. Do not grow weary of doing good. Continue to work with determination, your time will come.
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Michael Jordan was once asked what he thought his best skill was. He didn’t say it was his ability to dunk from the free throw line or his scoring ability. His answer: “I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.” The easier you are to lead, the further you’ll go.
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This is what it’s all about.
UConn Women’s Basketball
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“If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” — Michael Jordan
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One of Monty Williams’ mantras is, “I’m not calling you out, I’m calling you up.” Think of accountability as being called up, not out. If someone is holding you accountable, it’s because they know you’re capable of more. Accountability is not done to you, it’s done for you.
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What most impressed Geno Auriemma when he watched the Bulls practice? The way MJ acted. He was first in line for every drill. He played hard, & if his teammates didn’t, he was all over them. Great leaders set the tone for how the rest of the team acts. Lead with high standards.
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“Here’s how I’m going to beat you: I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. You just learned my most valuable secret. It’s not that exciting. There’s no great intangible quality to success. It’s a matter of putting your back into it.” — Pat Summitt
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How winners handle losing🧠🏆 “Losing isn’t a good thing for me at the moment, but it is a GREAT thing for me long-range because it gives me a blueprint for what we need to do better. Everyone has to step up and say how can we get better so we can be champions?” — Pat Summitt
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You don’t have to be on the court to be a great teammate.
Golden State Warriors
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Michael Jordan said his best skill was that he was coachable. When his new coach’s philosophy meant MJ would have the ball in his hands less, he bought in. Being coachable is a choice. The easier you are to lead, the further you’ll go.
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When Pat Summitt said to handle success like you handle failure, this is what she meant. Same effort. Same hustle. Same work ethic. No matter what.
Cassie Lastivka
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“On our team, we put a huge premium on body language. And if your body language is bad, you will never get in the game. Ever.” — Geno Auriemma Body Language = Your mental toughness indicator
ESPN
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“Practices are meant to be competitive. If your practices aren’t more competitive than games themselves, you’re doing the wrong thing.” -@kobebryant When practices are more competitive than games, you’re fully prepared. That’s how you dominate on game day.
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Many people play the game, but few change the game. R.I.P. Kobe Thanks for everything you did for the game🐐
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After 3 years, Coach K’s record at Duke was 38-47. He just continued the process of building a solid foundation. He’s now the winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history. Sometimes the best strategy is being patient and consistent.
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“The big difference between a really good player and a great player is: great players don’t get tired. They just don’t.” — Geno Auriemma
Ball is Psych
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“Recruiting kids that are really upbeat, loving life, love the game, and have this tremendous appreciation for when your teammates do something well; that’s hard. We put a huge premium on body language.” — Geno Auriemma Body language reveals character.
ESPN
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Steph Curry went 0-10 from 3 on November 4th, 2016. In his very next game on November 7th, he set the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game by hitting 13 of them. Life is 1% what happens to you and 99% how you react to it.
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Your bench is the ultimate culture check. Are they celebrating what’s best for the team or are they only worried about personal glory?
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Don’t practice just to practice. Practice to prepare. Practice to be great. Practice to dominate. Practice to get better. Practice to separate yourself. If you didn’t practice with a purpose, then you lost a day, and if you want a special season, you can’t afford to lose days.
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“My best skill was that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.” — Michael Jordan
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“You never know what your journey has in store. You just work hard and keep your nose to the grind. You do things the right way, you treat people the right way, and good things happen.” — Becky Hammon
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Kobe Bryant worked like he had no talent, then he played like he believed he was the best player in the world. Prepare with humility and perform with confidence.
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Chris Beard keeps a note on his desk with each player’s name on it. Beard wants to have a face-to-face interaction with each kid every day. He checks off each player’s name after each interaction. Each day he replaces the card. Great coaches are committed to relationships.
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“Players have changed. But the great ones? They still want to be coached hard.” — Geno Auriemma
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5 years ago today, we lost a legend. Rest In Peace, Pat.
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Your bench is the ultimate culture check. How you act while you’re sidelined reveals if you’re more interested in yourself or doing what’s best for the team. You can’t always be in the game, but can always give your best and be a great teammate.
ESPN
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Steph Curry went 0-10 from 3 on November 4th, 2016. In his very next game on November 7th, he set the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game by hitting 13 of them. Life is 1% what happens to you and 99% how you respond to it.
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390
2,031
What most impressed Geno Auriemma when he watched the Bulls practice? The way MJ acted. He was first in line for every drill. He played hard, and if his teammates didn’t, he was all over them. Great teammates don’t let teammates behave below their high standards.
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496
2,006
“Practices are meant to be competitive. If your practices aren’t more competitive than games themselves, you’re doing the wrong thing.” — Kobe Bryant #MambaMentality
Ball is Psych
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“Your contribution doesn’t have to be 25 points, but it has to be something. Your number one contribution is the energy that you bring to what we’re doing.” — Geno Auriemma
Ball is Psych
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432
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315,628
Want to help carry on Kobe’s legacy? Support women’s sports.
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Mentally tough players never give away their power.
Duke Women’s Basketball
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Pat Summitt insisted her players call her ‘Pat’ She didn’t think they would confide in “Coach” or “Mrs. Summitt”. She knew they would feel comfortable coming to her office and confiding in her if they called her ‘Pat’. Great leaders treat their teams like family, not employees.
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“There is no right path to take in your career. There’s no right decision. You make the decision and then you work to make it the right decision.” — Chris Beard
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After 3 years, Coach K’s record at Duke was 38-47. He just continued the process of building a solid foundation. He’s now the winningest coach in NCAA men’s basketball history. Sometimes the best strategy is being patient and consistent.
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Happy National Women in Sport Day 11 years ago, Pat Summitt became the first coach in college basketball to hit 1,000 wins. "My calling in life was to make a difference for young women. Basketball has just been my avenue to teach life skills." — Pat
SEC Network
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The strongest predictor of injury: getting less than 8 hours of sleep. When Stanford MBB got 10+hrs of sleep a night 3-point and free throw percentages went up over 9% If sleep isn’t a priority, you’re not committed to being the best player you can be. basketballispsychology.com/p…

You Snooze You Win

Basketball is Psychology XLIIntroductionOne of the few fair things in life is we each get the same 24 hours every day. Elena Delle Donne and Giannis Antetokounmpo have the same amount of hours in the...

ballispsych.com
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Sometimes toughness looks like playing for 40 minutes, but sometimes toughness looks like cheering your teammates on from the bench. Choose toughness, no matter what your circumstances look like.
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“The measure of who we are is how we react when something doesn’t go our way.” — Gregg Popovich
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“When you get up early and work hard, those times when you stay up late and work hard, those times when you don’t feel like working, but do it anyway... That is actually the dream.” —@kobebryant When you choose joy, the work is the reward. Joy is in the doing, not the getting.
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"I have nothing in common with lazy people who blame others for their lack of success. Great things come from hard work and perseverance. No excuses." — Kobe Bryant
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“Everybody’s role is really, really important.” — Geno Auriemma
SNY UConn Women’s Basketball
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Zero points and the happiest guy on the floor. That’s a winner.
LA Clippers
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Not even 6 feet tall No offers in his home state of Illinois Undrafted NBA Champion🏆
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One day when Kawhi Leonard was in college, they couldn’t get the lights to come on in the gym. He snuck a lamp in from outside the locker room just to get a workout in. Greatness isn’t predestined. Greatness is the byproduct of habitually doing what others aren’t willing to do.
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Kobe lived each day as if it was the most important day, as if it was his last. That’s the #MambaMentality 🐍🧠
Zach Brandon
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Don’t embrace your role, embrace a “Whatever is best for the team” mentality. Roles can change game-to-game, your attitude shouldn’t. Kevin Knox on playing only 10 minutes against the 76ers: “I just made sure I was the best teammate on the bench.”
SNY Knicks
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Jay Wright was the Head Coach at Villanova for 21 seasons. He led his team to 6 Conference Championships and 2 National Championships. What made his teams special and successful were their attitudes. Here are 5 Jay Wright quotes that describe the attitudes he instilled🧵
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“I genuinely believe that playing hard is a skill.” — T.J. McConnell
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“Here’s how I’m going to beat you: I’m going to outwork you. That’s it. That’s all there is to it. You just learned my most valuable secret. It’s not that exciting. There’s no great intangible quality to success. It’s a matter of putting your back into it.” — Pat Summitt
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“I don’t want to survive and advance, I want to conquer and dominate.” — Geno Auriemma
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Steph Curry went 0-10 from 3 on November 4th, 2016. In his very next game on November 7th, he set the NBA record for most 3-pointers in a game by hitting 13 of them. Life is 1% what happens to you and 99% how you respond to it.
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"The Disease of Me always results in the the Defeat of Us." — Pat Riley
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“Your number one contribution is the energy that you bring to what we’re doing.” — Geno Auriemma
Ball is Psych
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Want to be a leader? Take more responsibility, even if it isn’t your fault.
Ball is Psych
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"The Disease of Me always results in the the Defeat of Us." — Pat Riley
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At some point, getting better in the offseason becomes a matter of who can master the monotony. The greats never get bored with the basics.
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“She will pass up a lot of opportunities for herself to score so she can get somebody else a touch. That’s why all the players love her. She’s not out there lookin to get 30 every night. She’s out there to make sure that we win.” — Geno Auriemma
SNY UConn Women’s Basketball
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