I grew up in Grinnell, Iowa, a small town in the rural Midwest. It’s not exactly the place you would expect to find the most prolific scoring basketball team in the nation. Grinnell College’s run-and-gun offense is considered unorthodox, even chaotic, but it is fun to watch. For 13 of the last 15 years the Division III Pioneer’s have lead the nation in scoring, averaging over 115 points per game. According to Head Coach David Arseneault’s book titled “The Running Game: A Formula for Success,” his strategy is based on five basic principles:
1. The team must take at least 100 shots in a game.
a. The goal is to attempt a shot every 12 seconds and try to get the ball back within 10 seconds.
2. More than half the shots need to come from the three-point range.
a. A sharp shooters dream. Thirty-six different Pioneers’ have made a record setting 6 three-point shots in a game. Most schools are lucky to have one player with that record.
3. Shoot 25 more times than their opponents.
a. This requires discipline and a complete understanding of the overall strategy. In the words of one player, “you need to keep jacking it up.”
4. Offensive rebounds need to be garnered on 33 percent of the shots the team takes.
a. This requires high energy and complete focus on positioning.
5. Finally, the team needs to create 32 turnovers with their press defense.
a. This requires a steady stream of fresh players. Grinnell uses all its players in every game, and five-player substitutions are not unusual.
In short, Grinnell shoots before they can turn it over, and they create a tempo of play that fosters confusion and frustration with their opponent. By doing so it often gives the Pioneer’s an opportunity to win with lesser talent. That’s an important point because as a Division III school they do not offer athletic scholarships.
Grinnell’s strategy is creative, innovative and fun. Is there an application for smaller organizations as it relates to customer acquisition and loyalty?
I think so because when tiny Grinnell executes on their strategy they win at a 95% clip. Innovation is often disruptive to larger existing organizations and this provides smaller enterprises with an opportunity to level the playing field. Possible applications in the current economy include:
1. Take more shots.
a. Translation: Break large marketing campaigns into several highly targeted micro campaigns based on continuous selection of the best customers.
2. Take the big three-pointer first.
a. Translation: Do your P&L homework upfront and structure the best offer immediately. Don’t hold back … consumers with cash and a willingness to spend it are in short supply right now.
3. Shoot more often.
a.Translation: Monitor trigger events (contract dates, service calls, etc) closely and nurture two-way relationship building conversations. For example, my cell phone contract expired in February and I still have not been contacted. I don’t think stalling is the best strategy in today’s economy.
4. Position for rebounds.
a. Translation: Monitor social media and understand how your brand is positioned.
5. Press to force turnovers.
a. Translation: Leverage and engage your entire organization as it relates to customers and prospects. Your opponents may drop the ball and you’ll want to take immediate advantage.
The run-and-gun isn’t without its flaws; particularly on the defensive end. For example, Grinnell once scored 148 points in a game and still lost the contest. Even so, you can bet the entire audience was fully engaged.
