The Recent Struggles of Kam Jones

[Markusquette]

As I looked through the SoG tally here on scoop, it stuck out how Kam Jones only received 1, despite putting up many great scoring performances this season. I revisited his game logs which reveals some pretty telling statistics. In the last 6 games Jones is averaging 9.5ppg on 37.5% from the field as opposed to 17.2ppg on 50.85% shooting in the previous 9 games.

As we get closer to March, getting Kam back on track will be important for MU's success in both the BE tournament and NCAAs. What do you guys attribute his recent struggles to?

Kolek's emergence as a scorer? Tyler has almost matched Kam's hot scoring output from 12/20 to 1/21, averaging 17.1ppg over the last 6 games.

Teams keying in on him? Do MU's big east counterparts have him locked down more after his hot start to conference play?

Simply a slump? If so, let's hope we can get the best of Kam, and soon.

How can Shaka and the Golden Eagles effectively get Kam back on track while still giving Kolek the green light?

[tower912]

Fix his hip?

Still only a second year player.   Still playing huge minutes.   He had a proportional production decline last year.

[Newsdreams]

Fix his hip?

In reality he has been getting a lot more attention on his driving ability. He needs to start hitting open 3's again.

[Markusquette]

Fix his hip?

Good point. Despite the injury, he never sat out a game. I guess the plus is that Kolek has not only replaced his scoring but also managed to average nearly 7 assists per game. We're lucky to see Tyler becoming a star with a couple years left of eligibility.

[Scoop Snoop]

Not sure which "option" to choose, but in the GT/MU game in DC? He had 14 points, 5/10 overall, 4/9 3's, all in 16 minutes PT. Just one game and vs. a crappy opponent, but still....Not too shabby.

[MU82]

Not sure which "option" to choose, but in the GT/MU game in DC? He had 14 points, 5/10 overall, 4/9 3's, all in 16 minutes PT. Just one game and vs. a crappy opponent, but still....Not too shabby.

Yes, the GT game is evidence that he hasn't completely "lost it" the last half-dozen games. But he is shooting only .289 from 3 over that span, and the vast majority of those have been wide-open 3s. He was shooting .372 on the season before this stretch.

So either his hip is bothering him, he's in a slump, or both.

We definitely are a lesser team when he's not hitting a large percentage of his open 3s, so here's hoping he finds the range again.

[Goose]

I think Kam is in a mini slump and that happens. It has not kept him from pulling the trigger and this a good sign, imo. Keep firing it and he will shake out of it.

[MU82]

Agree, Goose, it happens.

Steph Curry had a 5-game stretch last season in which he shot .222 from 3. Sam Hauser lost playing time this season because because he went .279 over two months, and he's a pretty good shooter.

It's happened to every shooter in the history of basketball. Even Greg Elliott!

[jfp61]

As I looked through the SoG tally here on scoop, it stuck out how Kam Jones only received 1, despite putting up many great scoring performances this season. I revisited his game logs which reveals some pretty telling statistics. In the last 6 games Jones is averaging 9.5ppg on 37.5% from the field as opposed to 17.2ppg on 50.85% shooting in the previous 9 games.

As we get closer to March, getting Kam back on track will be important for MU's success in both the BE tournament and NCAAs. What do you guys attribute his recent struggles to?

Kolek's emergence as a scorer? Tyler has almost matched Kam's hot scoring output from 12/20 to 1/21, averaging 17.1ppg over the last 6 games.

Teams keying in on him? Do MU's big east counterparts have him locked down more after his hot start to conference play?

Simply a slump? If so, let's hope we can get the best of Kam, and soon.

How can Shaka and the Golden Eagles effectively get Kam back on track while still giving Kolek the green light?

Kam Jones is "struggling" in the past 6 games. In 3 of those games he had an individual offensive rating over 120. Over that stretch Marquette is 5-1. Kam Jones has a total of 4 turnovers in 6 games and 5 steals. Marquettes lone loss is to Uconn who finished the game +18 in three point "luck"/ variance.

So.... Marquette isn't off track at all. And our three point shooter is just missing threes.

[DoctorV]

Kam Jones is "struggling" in the past 6 games. In 3 of those games he had an individual offensive rating over 120. Over that stretch Marquette is 5-1. Kam Jones has a total of 4 turnovers in 6 games and 5 steals. Marquettes lone loss is to Uconn who finished the game +18 in three point "luck"/ variance.

So.... Marquette isn't off track at all. And our three point shooter is just missing threes.

I had one foot on the ledge but now I'm back off

[GoFastAndWin]

I think Kam is in a mini slump and that happens. It has not kept from pulling the trigger and this a good sign, imo. Keep firing it and he will shake out of it.

Agree, Goose.
Shooting a basketball at a very high percentage requires tons of reps. Marquette has played a slew of important games lately, watching video, working hard during practice on taking away opponents' strengths and accentuating their weaknesses. Add the demands of being a college student, and of course there isn't near as much time now as during summer to work on individual skills. You can bet Kam put up thousands of shots this summer. It paid off early, and now he's riding things out. With this full week off, I guarantee you Kam has taken more than a few practice 3's.

His quick-flash drives, old-school lay-ups with contorted twists are very difficult shots. They are also extremely hard to defend. I remember early in the season thinking to myself "it's amazing how Kam never seems to miss these high difficulty driving, twisting layups through two defenders." Well, I think it's just law-of-averages or reversion-to-the-mean  or whatever explaining why he's missed a couple lately. This is going to sound weird, but I feel that maybe had he not missed his share lately, maybe other players wouldn't be rebounding better lately as well. Does OMax sense the same urgency crashing the board on that game winning tip-in vs Xavier? He probably does, and still converts it. Still...That's the great thing about when one player suffers a slump. It provides the chance for another player to lift the team, and even signals the urgency of everyone picking up the slack.

I think things are falling into place for something great to happen, in terms of how the season has developed. Early blowouts against quality competition showed this team what it's capable of becoming. Then, surviving this testing conference portion of the schedule, and grinding out close wins in the face of uncertainty and adversity.

Can't wait to see it all unfold.

[Markusquette]

Kam Jones is "struggling" in the past 6 games. In 3 of those games he had an individual offensive rating over 120. Over that stretch Marquette is 5-1. Kam Jones has a total of 4 turnovers in 6 games and 5 steals. Marquettes lone loss is to Uconn who finished the game +18 in three point "luck"/ variance.

So.... Marquette isn't off track at all. And our three point shooter is just missing threes.

Jones is playing a little uncharacteristic, wouldn't you say? I didn't say MU is off track. I just would hate to see a late season fade and hope he bounces back a bit and can regain that scoring touch.

[Daniel]

Isn't it true that Kam has had one good scoring game since the hip injury?  It may just be bothering him enough to throw his shot off a bit.   but who knows....

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

My understanding of Kam's injury is that it was a hip pointer and that to protect the injury, he's basically been playing with a thick piece of padding over the site. I don't know if he's still doing that or if he stopped at some point...but I imagine having a piece of extra padding over your hip probably messes with your shot a bit.

[Shooter McGavin]

GFAW,

Good take. I agree.

[pbiflyer]

I think Kam is in a mini slump and that happens. It has not kept him from pulling the trigger and this a good sign, imo. Keep firing it and he will shake out of it.

Yep, I was happy to see him drive to the hoop for the last shot against X. Surprised it didn't fall. Thank you OMax.

[cheebs09]

Kam missed a ton of layups against Xavier. Seemed just like an off night for him. I think he will bounce back.

[Goose]

GoFast
Good take. I am expecting him to get back on track before long. Too good of scorer for an extended drought.

[Scoop Snoop]

I had one foot on the ledge but now I'm back off

Nice! 

[Jockey]

At least one of Kam and OMax needs to pick up their game. If both find their rhythm, it could be Final Four time.

[CountryRoads]

At least one of Kam and OMax needs to pick up their game. If both find their rhythm, it could be Final Four time.

Sure would be nice though I have a feeling Stevie and Joplin will have the huge March moments for us this year.

[MuggsyB]

GoFast
Good take. I am expecting him to get back on track before long. Too good of scorer for an extended drought.

Goose,

He's been a bit hesitant since the injury to attack the paint.  I also believe, while he hasn't been gunshy, he has released his J with some hesitation in lieu of simply rising and firing.  Kam scoring the ball, and draining 3's, is essential to our offense moving forward .  He allows us to spread the floor and opens up space for everyone.   

My take is our guys just need to play without thinking so much about teams sagging and daring them to shoot the mid-range shot or walk in triple.  We absolutely need Kam and OMax to play with confidence and 0.0 hesitation to reach the promised land. 

[Goose]

Muggsy

I must have said a dozen times pull the trigger at the X game to various guys. Frickin let it rip and do not hesitate. I hope Kam and Omax get more aggressive on taking the quick shot. I think they both, and the team, would benefit a great deal from it.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy

I must have said a dozen times pull the trigger at the X game to various guys. Frickin let it rip and do not hesitate. I hope Kam and Omax get more aggressive on taking the quick shot. I think they both, and the team, would benefit a great deal from it.

100% agree.  It's as if the sag is playing voodoo tricks on them.  If teams aren't extending the defense take the dribble pull-up with confidence or punch the paint with patience and force.  Whatever happened to changing direction off the bounce and using the shot fake Goose?  No need whatsoever for hesitation, that's not the same as exercising patience.   Relax, square up, and tickle the twine.  Once the defense buckles go into attack mode and take no prisoners.  Let's get our offense cooking and back to an elite level. 

[tower912]

The sag is taking away passing angles and cutters.  And then, when Oso does attempt a post move, larger people are sitting on his left shoulder.    He does not yet have a counter.