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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 29, 1982)
Time Out! By Doug Levy OtVmEmanU The score is 70-60, and the game is seemingly out of reach The fans begin to scatter out of McArthur Court, only a diehard few remaining. But down on the court, Jim Haney and the Ducks have not given up Fred Cofield nets a top-of-the-key jumper. Time out, Oregon Slowly the Ducks edge closer; Haney is substituting a defensive team for an offensive team at every time out Gary Gatewood, inserted into the defensive lineup for his quickness, makes a steal off a deflected pass and stuffs - Oregon is within 74-68 But it’s not enough Eventually, the Ducks come out on the short end of the score, 76-70, but Haney man aged to use time outs to put a scare into a Washington team that thought it had the ballgame under wraps r-or mosi or us. a lime out means having a minute to get a Coke or exchange some gossip To players and coaches it sig nifies something completely dif ferent. What goes on in the huddle during a time out that can change the outcome of a game? First we need to know some facts A team is allowed seven time outs per game, and no more than five within a half. Each of those are 60-seconds long — give or take a few extra moments a crafty coach can sneak This means that a coach does not have many opportuni ties to stop the flow of the game, so every time out must be used craftily. Most coaches use their time in the huddle to discuss a certain strategy, make neces sary adjustments, or simply halt the momentum of the opposing team ' Early in the game, most time outs serve as momentum stoppers.’ says Duck mentor Haney ‘You want to emphasize where your breakdowns are coming trom, and make an adjustment if necessary.” Haney is a young coach whose reputation has not yet been thoroughly established, so he is always willing to listen to player input ‘‘Yes, I think input from the players is critical. You must be receptive if a player has something helpful to say ” Two other Pac-10 coaches. George Raveling of Washington State and Marv Harshman of Washington, have been around, and each has his own view of what’s important during a time out. “I think there are three things I try to do at every time out,” says Raveling, generally acknowledged to be the flashiest coach in the Pac-10 “You have to be positive, not try and cover too much, and make one adjustment on offense or defense ’ Harshman, the dean of Pac-10 coaches, is more simplistic with his views "I'll make an adjustment once in a while, but generally the time outs are to relieve energy and enforce the pattern of what we re trying to do ” Unlike Haney, both of the Washington coaches take a dim view of player input "It's okay to have a player say something, but often you just get every guy talking when that happens It is important to have only one guy doing the talking,” says Raveling. "I don't know — the players usually don't listen even when I talk,” jokes Harshman Time outs also depend on whether the coach is considered a "bench” coach or a sideline " coach Raveling can usually be spotted near the scorer s table at Mac Court games, exhorting his team on while shouting out instructions Harshman, definitely a bench coach, will almost always wait until the time out to make changes, but he is quick to add, "I’ll take a time out only if we really need one ” Two nights before Oregon's loss to the Huskies, the Ducks clung to a slim lead over Washington State. 57-55 The Cougars had the ball with only 36 seconds left As the Ducks swarm the Cougar offense, the Mac Court crowd roars at a thunderous pitch Raveling is forced to spend a time out The Cougars set a play in the huddle, but things were different on the court With nothing open, Tyrone Brown tries a tough shot from the top of the key The ball gets only rim, Dave Brantley rebounds, and Oregon is on its way to a 60-56 win "The crowd noise definitely got to us We tried to overload the zone, but there was nothing there,” says Raveling Raveling didn't know it, but on the other end of the court Haney and the Ducks were prepared for Raveling's move during their huddle "We went to a 1-3-1 zone They didn't have much time, so they would probably have to take an outside shot,” says the Oregon coach The Ducks won a close one, and Haney was tired, but happy "Your time outs and what you (the coach) do is more important in a close game You feel like you did more.” Two nights later against UW, Haney and the Ducks were in the same situation as the Cougars Haney took full advantage of his time outs in the last two minutes, but all they accomplished was just a delay Jim did well, notes Harshman "That's why you save your time outs.” Friday, January 29,1982 r Timeouts can alter the outcome, or just delay the inevitable w Photo by Steve Dykes “You want to emphasize where your breakdowns are coming from, and make an adjustment it necessary," says Oregon coach Jim Haney about his stratety during timeouts. Photo by Steve Dykes Most coaches, like Arizona State’s Ned Wulk pictured below In the huddle, conserve their time outs in case their needed late In a game. Page 12
