Last week the big story in pro baseball was Michael Pineda of the Yankees being tossed out for having pine tar on his neck. What astounded me as I listened to the baseball experts was that their ire was not that he cheated but that he did it so blatantly. There was no real outrage that he would actually dare to break the rule. After all everyone does it, they just respect the game enough to hide it better. Reminds me of how baseball dealt with PEDs, everyone knew it was going on and accepted it until the abuse was so obvious the league had no choice but to enforce the rules. MLB was reluctant to act because they knew how much damage it would cause.

There is a similar situation going on in college basketball recruiting right now. It is accepted practice by some (not all) to bend and sometimes knowingly break rules in order to get players. There are those being immoral and others who are just doing the illegal. The NCAA has created a system where there are so many minor rules that even the most ardent follower will stumble and break one. Those trying to do it the right way spend half their time talking with the university compliance office in an effort not to slip up. So the coaches toeing the line stay silent because they don't want to be the one pointing the finger. Much like the pine tar incident, the NCAA and everyone involved accepts the business as usual mantra because it simply can't be enforced. The NCAA has a tough job because college coaches are a fraternity that frowns on holding each other accountable.

I certainly don't have all the answers but getting rid of some of the minor petty rules is a start in the right direction. It is impossible for the NCAA to effectively enforce things like the size of mail outs as well as the amount of contact and communication with recruits. I would suggest getting rid of any rules the NCAA is unable or unwilling to enforce. The harsher penalties for head coaches is a good step to create a culture of accountability instead of plausible deniability. No matter what the NCAA does there are going to be people willing to cheat because of the big money involved. Simplify the system so it levels the playing field for those doing it right. Then focus your attention on catching those who aren't. Enforcing the rules may cause the college game to take a public relations hit, but it will be good for the college basketball in the long term.

One of the biggest factors for basketball players finding success when they move up from high school to college or college to pro is their ability to adapt and adjust their roles. As players go from being the star player in high school or college to having a limited or different role at the next level, the guys who understand the transition and adapt are the ones who succeed.

There are very few players who get to go from one level to the next without changing their role. The Lebrons and Durants of the world are so talented that they are the man at every level. But most players have to figure out what role they will fill and often it is vastly different from what they are used to. I have seen players throughout my career who were big time talents in college never make it in the NBA. Why? Because they were used to that role and could not or would not change their game to fill a certain need. I played with and against some great players in the minor leagues and overseas who probably were good enough to be in the NBA. They chose to go play at a level that did not require them to adapt their role or at least only required minor changes.

The same thing is happening today at the college level and in my opinion is why we have so many transfers. It is easier to switch schools and try to find somewhere that allows you to stay in your comfort zone instead of changing your role to fit what the team needs. I was not a starter in college until my senior year at Wake Forest. My role on the team grew every year, primarily because I accepted my given role and tried to excel in it. A piece of advice to all the players out there, embrace the role you are given. By doing so you will not only get more playing time, but you will earn the trust of the coach and your role will grow. And if you work hard enough you may actually get the role you wanted in the first place.

I have lived in the Winston-Salem area for just about all of my life and often visited the original Moravian settlement of Old Salem. For the first time this past Sunday, I attended their Easter Sunrise Service. Having experienced it, I wonder now why I never did it before. As I stood on the hill in the Old Salem Cemetery on God's Acre, all around me were the headstones, each one exactly the same. The Moravians believed in the democracy of death and making it impossible to tell by the graves who was rich and who was poor. It was a simple service that hasn't changed much in its 242 year history. My wife and I, along with thousands of other worshipers, stood to hear the band play and the minister recite his lines. It was reverent, real, and authentic.

Reflecting on the worship service, I thought about how different the experience was than what society sells to us. In today's world, everyone (me included) paints a digital masterpiece of themselves, showing only those highlights and moments they choose. While it all seems to be personal, there is an inherent impersonality to it. What is the difference between reality or the digital collage of someone's reality? With social media there is always the subtle pressure of posting something people will like, retweet, or favorite. It takes keeping up with the neighbors to another level. I guess that is why the experience on Sunday stood out as counter cultural. There was no anticipation from the crowd to see what was new with the service, it was exactly the same as it has always been. They were not trying to one up last year or the church down the street. The service was true to what it has always been and always will be.

Our children are growing up in a world where they broadcast their lives in short bursts of 140 characters, video snippets and selfies. My goal is to teach my kids that you don't have to share every intimate detail of your life. However, when you do put something out in the public view, it better be real. Life is not a contest to see who has the most Instagram followers. Don't pretend to be someone or something you are not. In everything you do whether it's sports, school or just being a friend, be honest, true, and authentic.

I was very fortunate to have played for the Chicago Bulls under the inventor of the Triangle Offense, Tex Winter. He would always say, "If you can't pass, you can't play." We used to spend time at the beginning of almost every practice working on passing. Yes, you read that right, the Bulls practiced passing. We would do simple drills designed to help build accurate passing mechanics and Tex was a stickler for the details. Basic passing skills are deteriorating in basketball. With offenses becoming more predicated on dribble drives and ball screens, players are not learning the intricacies of passing. It takes skill and finesse to throw a slip, flare, or skip pass. I watch game after game of youth hoops where a player dribbles incessantly looking to make a play instead of just hitting an open teammate. Post feeds are almost non-existent.

I truly believe a player, especially a guard, can separate himself from other players with his passing ability. Passing is an unselfish skill. Yes, you get the assist sometimes, but rarely do you make Sportscenter or the highlight reel. Instead you help a teammate and your team make a positive play that impacts winning. I love the rule in hockey that allows for two players to get an assist. Sometimes the pass before the assist is the most important because it sets up the scoring play. Being a good passer who can get the ball to a teammate at the right place at the right time is a talent every successful team must have. Great passing teams almost always have good chemistry because they are constantly helping each other be successful on offense. Don't get me wrong, I like a good one on one move as much as the next person, but there is something beautiful about passing. I'll take a perfectly executed give and go over an ankle-breaking crossover any day.

Often when people hear the phrase "free agent" they think of the millionaire pro athlete testing his worth on the free market for a bigger and better contract. The reality is that most free agents are players who are fighting for a roster spot in camp or waiting on their next contract overseas with no guarantees. For eight years as a professional player, I was one of those guys. At the end of every season there were a couple of months in limbo waiting to see what job offers would come my way. Not the easiest way to live, especially if you have a family.

During those times I relied heavily on my faith, as well as the support of my wonderful wife and family.  They encouraged and pushed me to continue pursuing my dream of playing in the NBA.  In my first season out of college, I was fortunate enough to play for the Connecticut Pride of the CBA with Kevin Ollie. I am extremely happy for all of Kevin's success because I know how hard he worked for it. He was one of those guys like me, who was a perennial "free agent". You learn a lot about yourself when you go through those uncertain times not knowing where the next pay check will come from.

These days in America there seem to be more and more "free agents" who are out of work and looking for their next job. I, like many others, find myself in that spot waiting to see what God has planned next for me and my family. While I do not know who will sign my next pay check, I do know He will be providing it for me! To all those who are in a similar situation, may you be blessed and encouraged in the days, weeks and months ahead.

I want to sincerely thank the Athletic Department, administration and community at Wake Forest for giving me the opportunity to teach, coach, and mentor young men. Thank you to the players who have become a part of my family. I will cherish both the highs and lows we had together because that is what shaped our experience and molded our character. It has been my privilege and honor to be welcomed into your lives and play a small part in your story. And to all my fellow coaches at Wake, thank you for showing me how to be a servant leader and what Pro Humanitate really means. It's the people at Wake Forest that make it special and you will be greatly missed.

I have been truly blessed the last five years to be a coach at Wake Forest but I have been a Deacon all my life. I remember watching Muggsy, Teachey, and Ivey play in the old gold and black. I begged my parents incessantly to let me attend the Carl Tacy basketball camp when I turned eight years old. We won ACC Championships and broke records, but more importantly I became the man I am at Wake Forest University. So today, like very other day, I am PROUD TO BE A DEACON!

Alabama legend Paul "Bear" Bryant is credited with the statement "Offense sells tickets but defense wins championships". Conversely we have all heard the adage "The best defense is a good offense." So who is right? To answer this question in regards to basketball, I took a quick look at the KenPom adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency rankings of the Final Four teams for the last four years.

As you can see from the table, the average adjusted offensive efficiency ranking for the final four teams has been lower than the defense. The only exception is 2012 when four of the top 8 defensive efficiency teams made it to the final four. So on average the final four has been made up of better offensive teams than defensive. Of course the numbers are based on the entire season and not just the NCAA tournament so a team theoretically could make a run and play above their normal rating.

While I don't think these numbers are earth shattering, I do think it has some significance and givs credence to the importance of being a good offensive team. What does really stand out to me is that there have been only two teams in the last four years to make the final four with an offensive or defensive rating outside of the top 50 (Louisville in 2012 and VCU in 2011). Bottom line you better be very good on both ends of the court to make a serious run at a title.

Having a defensive scheme that helps prevent penetration and take away easy shots is paramount to success in basketball. Teams have been successful using all types of defense. Florida is an aggressive pressure man to man team while Syracuse runs a 2-3 zone (really more of a 2-2-1 zone but that is another topic all together.) Another style of defense gaining popularity is "The Pack" or "Pack Line" defense invented by Dick Bennett. Teams such as Virginia, Arizona, Wisconsin and others played the pack with great success this season and are consistently nationally ranked in defensive efficiency.

The Pack Line defense is predicated on defenders being in gaps to prevent penetration as opposed to in passing lanes denying passes. The name Pack Line is used because there is an imaginary line roughly 2 feet inside the 3-point arc which is a help defenders guide for his position. If your man does not have the ball, you should be inside the pack line in help position. While most defensive schemes tend to force baseline, the pack pushes the ball back to the middle of the court where your teammate should be in the gap to help.

Of course there are many nuances and details of the defense which my simple description doesn't cover. If you are a coach or even just a fan, you can find a very good tutorial with more information online at coachesclipboard.net. In addition, as you watch the Final Four this weekend, pay attention to the difference between Florida's pressure defense and Wisconsin's pack line scheme.

It is the time of year when competitive travel youth basketball gets into full swing. Players as young as 8 years old will travel all over the country playing one game after another. Parents will spend thousands of dollars on tournament fees, uniforms, and travel expenses to allow their child the opportunity for greater competition. This past Saturday my 3 boys were playing in 3 different tournaments in 3 different cities. I now have a nice collection of colorful paper bracelets for which I paid $10 each to watch them play.

Before I became a college coach I ran a baskeball academy and travel youth basketball teams, so I understand how it all works. Youth travel basketball alone is a million dollar industry in which very few actually get rich. Most do it for the same reasons I did, because they have kids involved and/or love the game. What concerns me is what we are teaching the next generation of players. They play tournaments almost every weekend, with 3 games in a day and another game win or lose. I question whether coaches are teaching the skills of the game and helping players learn the value of every possession.

Coaches have to spend time in practice so they can teach and develop a player's talent. Some of my toughest moments came in practice and that is when I have learned the most about myself as a player and competitor. Don't get me wrong, the opportunities our youth have these days are great and there are lots of good coaches out there. But we have to make sure that all these games and competitive opportunities are turning them into better players, and better teammates as well. My advice to all the coaches out there: Don't sacrifice practice time for game time. Your players and their future coaches will thank you for it later.

Ok I admit it, I am having an affair and my wife knows. This love affair started at six years old when I played my first game of organized basketball. As you may know, I was a multi-sport athlete all the way up through college. I have been asked more times than I can remember whether I like football, basketball or baseball the best. I always gave the diplomatic answer that I liked them all for various reasons, but deep down I knew basketball had the edge. Why did I play them all you ask? Because no matter how much I loved basketball, I loved competing even more. I am a relentless competitor and like to win. I figured if I was good enough to compete, why would I not play. Ultimately as my college career came to an end, a choice had to be made and on to hoops it was.

While this love affair has been going on for years, I can remember exactly when I realized for myself that I was addicted. It didn't happen while cutting down the nets at the ACC championship or on a private plane in the NBA. It hit me on a normal January morning at 6:00 am as I sat in the Sioux Falls, SD airport while playing in the CBA with the Idaho Stampede. I was in the middle of nowhere with a foot of snow on the ground, waiting to jump on a tiny plane to play a game later that day in Grand Rapids. We were delayed and waiting for the snow to clear. As I looked around at my teammates sprawled out and asleep on the floor of the terminal, I asked myself "Why are you doing this?" And the answer came as clear as I am typing right now: "You are getting paid to compete, what could be better!"

Like any passionate affair there have been many highs and lows, triumphs and disappointments. But no matter what, the game was always there for me. There is something reassuring and almost spiritual about being in the gym all alone, sweat soaked and nothing but the sound of the ball bouncing. Fortunately for me the real love of my life for the last 26 years, my wife Tammy, is a competitor too. She has been there to cheer during the victories but more importantly, to pick me up when the game has let me down. So I have some advice for all you young basketball junkies out there looking for love. If she will rebound for you on Friday night, she is a keeper.