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Streaming Sports Network Canada Username Password Login Games Leagues Teams Venues Hockey Football Basketball Soccer Volleyball Blogs The Messina filesHard work a Smart idea March 26 2009The novice CIS basketball fan hears the Carleton Ravens mens team has won six national titles in seven seasons and thinks talent But theyre wrong Although the Ravens have a wealth of skill in their lineup the fact is they win because they outwork opponents for 40 minutes game in and game out After having a few days to digest the latest victory Ive concluded it all starts at the top with the man at the helm Dave Smart Brad Campbell a former player of Smarts at Nepean High School (now head coach of the Western Mustangs) referred to him as The best basketball mind in Canada The only thing on Dave Smarts mind is winning basketball games How does he win them Smart ensures his team plays a defencefirst brand of basketball and never lets the other team outwork his The 2009 CIS coach of the year always ensures his team is grounded Take his comments following Stuart Turnbulls buzzerbeating basket against the Western Mustangs in the CIS Final 8 semifinal game When asked by a reporter if the experience of having won the tournament five straight years (2003 through 2007 before a devastating lost to Acadia in double overtime in the semi finals last year) would be an advantage against the University of British Columbia Thunderbirds in the 2009 final Smart was quick to point out that experience means nothing Weve had good experience weve had bad experience is bad experience a good experience Maybe but sometimes good experience isnt a great experience because it puts extra pressure on you The threetime coach of the year was putting things into perspective for his players If you dont win tomorrow the big buzzerbeating shot means nothing Lets look back a night earlier when he wasnt happy with his teams effort defensively after holding the St Francis Xavier XMen to 57 points in the quarterfinals Oh did I mention the XMen came into the tournament as the highestscoring team in the country averaging 875 points per game Even though St FX didnt have Tyler Richards the only man on that roster who had played a game in the big tournament holding a team to 30 points below their season average is no small feat The point Smart was making was you got to play even when the score is out of reach because your preparing yourself for a tight defensive battle later on the tournament such as the one his team faced a night later against Western Remember That dramatic Stuart Turnbull buzzer beater putting the Ravens in the finals Hmm sounds like a tightly contest defensive battle with a top team in the country Then there was championship Sunday The Ravens came out of the gate and struggled to put points on the board and Carleton trailed 166 at one point The s...