Episode 188: Jeff Linder, Minimize Three-Point Attempts, Free Throws, and Offensive Rebounds

Guest: Jeff Linder, University of Wyoming Head Coach

University of Wyoming head coach Jeff Linder joins the Basketball Podcast to discuss how to minimize three-point attempts, free throws, and offensive rebounds.

Jeff Linder led the Pokes to a 14-11 overall record in his first season. The Pokes went 6-1 in non-conference play including a road win over an Elite Eight team in Oregon State. Wyoming won six total road games on the season for the most away from Laramie since the 2012-13 season. UW also had a winning record on the road since the 2000-01 season.

The Cowboys featured the top offense in the Mountain West in Linder’s first season. He revamped the Cowboy offense to averaging 76.5 points per game. Wyoming also led the MW in three-point field goals per game at 10.1. The Pokes ranked No. 12 in the nation in three-point field goals per game as well.

Jeff Linder was previously an assistant coach at Emporia State, Midland, Weber State, San Francisco, and Boise State from 2001 to 2016.

Linder posted an impressive 80-50 (.615) record in four seasons at Northern Colorado. He was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year during the 2018-19 season leading the Bears to 15 conference wins for a program record. The Bears tied that record of 15 conference wins again in the 2019-20 season. Over the last three seasons, Linder led UNC to the most wins during a three-year stretch in program history, with 69 wins. The Bears also finished in the top-100 of the NCAA NET Rankings.

He also helped lead Northern Colorado to its first postseason title in 2017-18, as the Bears won the College Invitational Tournament. It marked the first postseason title for any Colorado school since the 1940 season. It was also the first postseason title for a team from the Big Sky Conference. During the 2017-18 campaign, UNC won a school-record 26 games on their way to the CIT Championship. The Bears finished the season ranked in the top-100 of the RPI.

Prior to his time at Northern Colorado, Linder spent six seasons at Boise State with the last three years serving as associate head coach of the Broncos. Linder helped guide Boise State to two NCAA tournament appearances and the team’s first Mountain West Conference Championship during his tenure.

Breakdown

1:00 - Defense Behind the Arc

5:00 - Offensive Philosophy

9:30 - Using Video To Teach

14:00 - Playing 5-on-5

18:00 - Video Sessions

21:00 - Scouting Report Terminology

24:00 - Shot Clock

28:00 - Three-Point Line Conversation

32:00 - Defensive Rebounding Philosophy

36:00 - Help

40:00 - Minimizing Attempts