McCaffery says Adam Woodbury won't use opening-tip tactic anymore

Iowa basketball coach Fran McCaffery says he's told center Adam Woodbury to stop grabbing his opponent's arm as a way to help win the opening tip-off.

Screen shots have been making the rounds on social media, showing 7-foot-1 Woodbury using his right hand to grab and impede his opponents' arm, while using his left hand to bat the ball toward teammates.

McCaffery was asked about Woodbury's tactic during Monday's Big Ten coaches' teleconference by Columbus Dispatch reporter Bob Baptist (instagram video and Twitter post below). Woodbury has won the opening tips in both matchups against Ohio State and 14 of 20 for the season.

"I never noticed that he did it," McCaffery said. "I told him, I said, 'Look, just try to jump up and try to win the jump ball. I don't know if you're doing it on purpose, if you're doing it by accident. If you're doing it on purpose, stop doing it.' He said OK."

McCaffery, in his 18th season and fourth school as a head coach, said he's never taught the technique but could understand why Woodbury has used it – he's never been called for a foul on the opening tip.

"I never thought to do that," McCaffery said. "I think a lot of times in those situations, guys figure stuff out and do it.

"I don't think he's going to be doing it anymore."