A new head coach brings a new system and a new set of priorities and values. For the North Carolina A&T State University women’s basketball program, the new system from head coach Tarrell Robinson can be summed up in three words - commit to grit.

The coaching staff has been impressing that motto and that expectation upon their athletes by making that phrase a part of their training gear.

“We have done everything from T-shirts to wristbands – to remind them about what our focus is and what we need to do, to get done this year,” said Robinson.

What they need to do this season is prove they can defend as well as they can score. Robinson knows firsthand from his previous work with the program that defense wins back-to-back MEAC regular season championships, a MEAC Tournament Championship and a berth in the NCAA Tournament.

“When I look at the teams that I was a part of when we won back-to-back championships, their focus was defense. We were one of the top teams in the country in steals those years,” Robinson said. “We took pride in that. We took pride in shutting teams down and getting them out of their comfort zone. We didn’t let people roam if they wanted to roam against us.”

Robinson wants to improve upon the scoring margin that the Aggies posted in 2011-12. Last season, the Aggies averaged 69 points, while opponents averaged 68.3. That difference isn’t enough.

“We were able to average 70 points last year and win 15 games. If we can shut teams down, that can go to 15-19 to 20 plus wins this year, and hopefully a MEAC Championship and an NCAA Tournament bid,” Robinson said.

Robinson is using “commit to grit” to help the Aggies step up their defense. “Commit to Grit” has two meanings for Robinson and the Aggies. The first is that through commitment to certain characteristics, the team will become the gritty force they need to be – that going from “commit” to “grit” is a process.

“I talked to my team about commitment, pride, being selfless, having enthusiasm, being intense, being an opportunist,” said Robinson. “We’ve got to master those things – go from commit to grit.”

The other meaning is literal, in the he wants his team to commit to being strong, tough and plucky.

“Obviously we’ve got to become tougher and more resolved as a team, especially on the defensive end,” he added. “We averaged 70 points a game, but I noticed we gave that up on the defensive end. I’m trying to commit to grit.”

In looking at his team, he sees strong defending capabilities from sophomore Ariel Bursey and junior DeAndra Davis. He’s been impressed with the effort Bursey has put in as well as her speed in picking up the lessons he and his staff is teaching. Davis, he says, can guard anyone and will be a valuable asset.

He’s also looking to see senior JaQuayla Berry return to defensive form she displayed as a sophomore, when she was among the top steal leaders in the nation. Senior Nikia Gorham also faces his high expectations of leading the team in defensive and offensive rebounds and averaging a double-double.

He’ll be looking for the same focus on defense from his other players as well.
Robinson and his staff have been emphasizing fundamentals in individual instruction practices – everything from footwork to ball-handling to defensive principles.

To become the defensive machine he wants, Robinson is thinking about changing the A&T strategy that has been used under Patricia Cage-Bibbs. The past A&T women’s teams he coached with Bibbs were a pressing team. That strategy might not be the best fit for his team this season, he said.

“I’m not sure if pressing is going to be the key with this group. I think we’ve got to be really good in half-court with man-to-man principles and how we perform in zone and press sparingly,” Robinson explained.

With the talent he has on his team – including a trio of All-Rookie winners and All-Conference selections – Robinson knows that his team will be successful.

“All in all, talent-wise, from top to bottom this is a pretty good team,” Robinson said.

Even a pretty good team still has room for improvement. For Robinson, that improvement will come as his Aggies commit to grit.