> In the world of basketball, there is one story after another like this about legendary games where David used the full-court press to beat Goliath. Yet the puzzle of the press is that it has never become popular. People look at upsets like Fordham over UMass and call them flukes. Basketball sages point out that the press can be beaten by a well-coached team with adept ball handlers and astute passers — and that is true. Ranadivé readily admitted that all an opposing team had to do to beat Redwood City was press back: the girls were not good enough to handle their own medicine.<p>The full-court press requires every team member to play a specified assembly-line style role where there's no room for any individual showing off and the only competition is the other team. Players in zero-sum sports aren't particular good at that and need to show off on the court or field to impress the scouts, so they're competing not only as a group against the other team but also as individuals against other members of their own team. Coaches tend to cater for this player need with suitable game strategies.<p>> College coaches of Pitino’s calibre typically have had numerous players who have gone on to be bona-fide all-stars at the professional level. In his many years of coaching, Pitino has had one, Antoine Walker. It doesn’t matter. Every year, he racks up more and more victories.<p>The only person who really shines in the full court press play is the coach. Ambitious players don't want to be coached by them.