“Be happy but not satisfied.”
Justin Serresse, head coach of Laurier’s men’s basketball team explained that this quote is the attitude he wants from himself and his players, no matter what is happening on the court.
“When we lose we’re learning and when we win, we’re happy but not satisfied.”
Of late there have been plenty of reasons for the Golden Hawks to be happy – namely a five-game winning streak that began with a shootout win (98-91) over the Windsor Lancers on Jan. 6 and continued on to see Laurier thrash Algoma University 80-53 and 62-52 on back-to-back nights.
What’s more, the team is now practicing and playing entirely on the road, since the gym in Laurier’s Athletic Complex was damaged due to flooding.
It would be easy for a young team with a young head coach, displaced from their home gym – with a losing record in the conference and coming off a four game losing streak to end the first semester – to call it quits for the season.
Instead, Laurier has responded to adversity by attacking the second half of their schedule, regardless of the obstacle in their path.
Outside factors aside, coach Serresse was asked about the abrupt turnaround in play and he explained as follows:
“It was a matter of getting back to what works well for us. We’re a young team that needs to play with a lot of energy, and pace, and just trusting each other. It’s not a one man show, it’s us together.”
Combine a relentless, swarming defense with some young up-and-coming contributors, and suddenly, a season that seemed as though it might be slipping away has turned into one where Laurier is charging toward playoffs with momentum, confidence and growing faith in one another.
That cohesion has shown up on the hardwood in a big way, especially in Laurier’s suffocating defense.
During their five game streak only one opponent put up more than 65 points against the purple and gold, and Coach Serresse credits this lockdown play to a team that, rife with young talent but short on experience, is finally coming together.
“Give credit to the guys trusting each other. Trusting that the guy behind you is going to have your back,” Serresse said.
“Trusting that if you need help, somebody else will be there … better chemistry. Guys are moving in-sync, rotating better, there’s more urgency.”
Combine a relentless, swarming defense with some young up-and-coming contributors, and suddenly, a season that seemed as though it might be slipping away has turned into one where Laurier is charging toward playoffs with momentum, confidence and growing faith in one another.
But the playoffs are still a long way away, with eight games left and none of them walkovers. And this fact has not escaped the notice of Coach Serresse who explains that, although winning creates happiness, he won’t allow it to create lethargy.
“[I] remind them all the time why we’re successful, and when we’re not doing well, [I] remind them [of] the reasons why.”
The team is still young and there are plenty of tough games to be played; all of them on the road for the foreseeable future.
The Golden Hawks have already demonstrated their resiliency with early-season stumbles, but as the playoffs loom, games will only get more difficult.
Still, a hungry young coach, an energetic roster bursting with potential, a locker room full of positive energy, all of these ingredients are a recipe for a deep playoff run. But to take a page from coach Serresse’s book, we shouldn’t look too far into the future. We should be happy with what the Hawks have already accomplished.
Happy but not satisfied, because the Golden Hawks aren’t satisfied. Not yet.