Shea Ralph: “That Is What a Championship Team Looks Like”
The Commodores Have the Things You Can’t Coach
When people talk about championship teams, they often think of what a team’s performance is like on the court. While that definitely matters, there’s more to it than that. Look at the body language, the closeness of the team, and things that go on during timeouts and during play stoppage. For on-court measures, the toughness of the team and grit to endure the challenges will show just where that team is mentally.
All of these things apply to the No. 5 Vanderbilt Commodores women’s basketball team. Throughout this 25-3 run so far this season, Vandy has seen their share of challenges to overcome, although the good has outweighed the bad. Even in several victories, they have dealt with battles, come back from double-digit deficits to win in games such as twice against Kentucky and against Florida, and pulled out last-minute or even last-second wins.
When I asked Vanderbilt Head Coach Shea Ralph what some of the key improvements she’s seen from her team between the beginning of the season and now, her answer had nothing to do with actual basketball.
“The biggest ones have nothing to do with the actual game of basketball. I love their toughness. I love their resiliency. When I was watching back the game against Kentucky, the tightness of their huddles, the way they were communicating on the court, the way they were communicating with me, the way our bench worked, that is what a championship team looks like,” said Ralph.
Ralph has often talked about this being a player-led team, and having things you can’t coach. That in itself models the mind and growth of a championship team. A team that has to be constantly held accountable by the coach or coaches has no real leadership. It tells me there is no real maturity there, or vision to do what is necessary to attain the level of greatness needed.
Everything can’t be coached, and you either have those things or you don’t. After 28 games of Vanderbilt’s season, you can tell that they have those traits. Don’t get wrapped up in just on-the-floor action. There are always improvements to be made, and even though the season is approaching postseason play, the Commodores have the makeup of being that team needed to make a run. They have the things you can’t coach!
“Those are the things that at this point in the season you really can’t coach. The other stuff we can work on, and we’re getting better at those things. But the thing that I love to see about my team right now is all the things that I know I can’t coach, and they have them.”
As for on-court improvements, the one thing I am interested in seeing the Dores pick up faster is disciplined defense against teams that like to drive and kick. Kentucky did that for a few minutes on Sunday, but once the adjustments were made, it was a much different story.
“If we play disciplined defense, whether we’re tired or not, whether it’s the first quarter or the last possession, then we’re really tough to play against. You can’t tell me that we were tired in the first quarter. We were just undisciplined,” said Shea Ralph. “When we make sure that we close those gaps, and I’m glad that we did pretty early on, because had we not, it could have gotten ugly. It has gotten ugly in the past for us, and that’s how you can see that we’re getting better, but we can’t have it anymore. We can’t continue to dig ourselves holes. Those are things we talk a lot about at practice.”
Things like that are still a work in progress, but are much better than before. This team has grown a bunch in just the last month since that trip to South Carolina. Vanderbilt seemingly caved to the intensity and environment that played right into the Gamecocks’ hands. They did respond during the game for a bit, but the damage was overwhelming and the result turned out to be a 29-point loss.
On that day, Coach Ralph talked about not recognizing her team at times, and that they seemed to have quit in them that day. Those are words we haven’t heard since. The Commodores have shown fight and resiliency in every game after, even if it resulted in a loss, such as Ole Miss and Georgia.
You are never safe these days with Vanderbilt. Having Mikayla Blakes on your side is a major reason, of course. She turns it on and there is nothing you can do to stop her, but even she will tell you that this team as a whole has shown that everyone can and will do their part when needed.
Those are characteristics you want to see in a championship-driven team, and that is why you should definitely believe in this team as March approaches.
