Toughness

I watched Texas A&M blow a game against Kentucky a few weeks past by just a few sloppy plays down the stretch, and the thought crossed my mind that they were not tough enough yet. That raised the question of just what does constitute toughness in basketball? We hear the term used: what is it?

I will contribute this much: toughness is directly related to maintaining focus in the critical portions of the game. Lack of focus leads to bad passes, being out of position on defense, taking ill-advised shots when they do not have to be taken - in other words, things a player might do in panic under pressure. A tough player maintains his composure and stays zeroed in on the game even when the stress becomes high. That doesn't mean he always makes the right play, but it does mean that he doesn't make the wrong play because the pressure takes away his presence of mind. Tough players do not panic.