How bad is bad?

[COS98]

This year in our 2 games we are shooting .354 FG% and .581 FT%
Last year we had season averages of      .407 FG% and .689 FT%

Novak shot .477 from the field and .467 from the 3 point line.

I am not good with normal season averages and two games is not much of a sample, but is the field goal % all that bad in comparison to last year?

Just wondering.

[LastWarrior]

Cos... good to see you over here!

At the offset, the difference in average may not seem like a big deal but that change represents a 13% drop in FG% YOY.  I'm not bball expert but I see that as a pretty big drop.  In fact, .407 last year doesn't seem very good either... I wonder where we ranked in conference vs. similar perimeter oriented teams.

[COS98]

That .407 from last year is what threw me off.  That is with Novak.  If a 13% drop in FG% can cause us to almost tank against Idaho State then God help us being 20% off!

[SoCalwarrior]

I'll prefice this by saying I have only listened to the games, but just look at the picture mu-hilltopper took.  All five players are bunched up at the perimeter and James is taking an NBA three.  What the hell is that all about?

[Chili]

That is Jerel taking the three. Also, playing against a zone you will see all of the players out of the lane at times. Problem here is the ball should have been passed to Ooze or Fitz around the lane and then try and hit Wes going baseline. The team did no diagonal cuts. But, that is Crean's MO. Run sets against a zone.

[tower912]

How about flashing Wes to the high post, and when he gets the ball, he can either shoot, pass, or attack the rim.   I think it would be an effective use of his skills

[SoCalwarrior]

My bad, Jerel.

On the post game interview, Crean talked about how the bigs can't pass yet.  So how long does it take to learn?   

[bartmiller#1]

Great picture. 

Seriously, how wide open would Matthews be on a cut to the hoop?  Get the ball into the FT area and lob it to Wes on a cut. 

[tckmu24]

I was at the game on Friday, but unable to catch the game last night, but here is what I see as our problem....

Considering that we run a 3 guard lineup and all 3 are sophs, and DJ is all-american, it would be hard to disagree that our team should be exciting, right?  Well, if I remember correctly last year we were running and gunning (I know the gunning=Novak) and throwing mad amounts of alley-oops for DJ.  This isn't the type of team that will thrive off set offenses and the weave up top.  We shouldn't wait for things to happen or defenses to get tired, we have the talent and ability to make things happen.  These kids are going to make mistakes....they are young, athletic, and try crazy stuff.  But, guess what?  Fore every stupid play they make they will make a few great ones and the rest of the team and crowd can feed off that.  Crean needs to let our guys play their game and not structure them so much.  That is my opinion at least.

[bheitz]

I'll prefice this by saying I have only listened to the games, but just look at the picture mu-hilltopper took.

MU-Hilltopper, judging from that picture, you had to be sitting in the vicinity of the guy who, during the second half and MU down, yelled out something about having to work tomorrow at 4:30.  We busted a gut because we were thinking that same thing.

Let's hope tonight is different.

[ilovefreeway]

People above were looking at stats without Steve, well here they are.  Looking only at returning players (Lott, James, McNeal, Matthews, Fitz and Barro) against Rice and Winthrop we shot 52% overall (35-67), 36% from 3 (9-25) and 77% from the line (24-31).  The numbers do fall to 48% from the floor when you remove Lott and Barro and only go with the guards. 


I'll sit back and watch different conclusions come from the same numbers.

[COS98]

Those numbers included SN.  That is why I thought last years numbers(FG% just above 40%) seemed low for the season.  Again, 2 games vs the whole year.