Internet Debates CBB Coach's Decision to Punish Team During Game With Sprints

The move came after the team gave up three straight baskets to start the second half.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff lost at Iowa State on Wednesday night, 83–64. The result between an undefeated, Top 25 Big 12 team and a 1–8 SWAC squad wouldn't normally raise eyebrows, but one decision by UAPB coach Solomon Bozeman early in the second half certainly did.

ISU led 38–22 after the first half, and came out hot in the second half, scoring on its first three possessions to push the lead to 44–24. Bozeman was clearly not happy with his team's effort and decided to instill some mid-game discipline.

After calling timeout, he had his team run sprints on the court. This might be a first, at least for the D-I level. 

UAPB did put forth a better effort in the second half, getting outscored by just three points, but Iowa State cruised to an 83–64 win.

Bozeman is in his first year as a head coach and is clearly trying to turn things around at a very difficult place to win. The program has one NCAA Tournament appearance to its name, back in 2010.

People seem pretty split on the motivational technique there. Some have been applauding it, while others think it was a ridiculous stunt to pull in-game.

That sounds like an awful in game strategy

— Ulrich von Lichtenstein (@mhoff44) December 2, 2021

Did the Coach run laps too? I mean since he too is 1-8, & they still lost last night 64-83.. & on the season
77-90 L
71-91 L
45-95 L
74-86 L
56-77 L
58-86 L
50-74 L
75-70 W vs one of the worst programs nationally Ark Baptist College
64-83 L

So I hope he/staff took some laps too

— 𝓡𝑜𝓈𝓈 𝒞𝑜𝑜𝓅𝑒𝓇 (@CoachRC23) December 2, 2021

👏👏👏👏

— Alexrayado (@alexovallemty) December 2, 2021

All players have entered the portal

— Dewey Binns (@DeweyBinns) December 2, 2021

.@SolomonBozeman is trying to change the culture around UAPB basketball. This was last night against Iowa State. https://t.co/Uk4rIeWEn2

— Max Bennett (@Max_Bennett17) December 2, 2021

What are we doing… https://t.co/GaTEXf78v9

— Gabe McDonald (@GabeMcDonald_) December 2, 2021

I never understood coaches who humiliate their own players. Why do this in your opponent’s arena? There’s no coming back from this… https://t.co/MX1rXSuPqH

— Erika (@emesola) December 2, 2021

Bozeman, the 2011 Sun Belt Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-American at Little Rock, has been a part of some very successful mid-major staffs. 

In 2016, as an assistant at his alma mater, he helped lead the team to the 2016 NCAA Tournament and an upset win over No. 5 seed Purdue. Last year, he was on staff at Oral Roberts, which made a run all the way to the Sweet 16 as a No. 15 seed, knocking off No. 2 Ohio State and No. 7 Florida along the way.