Ben Gold’s shot

[tower912]

The difference between world class 3 pt shooting and putrid 3 pt shooting is one more make every 10 attempts.

[PGsHeroes32]

The beautiful thing (IMHO) is that we don't have to get this season's pct up to last season's percentage by hitting 38.4% the rest of the way. Last season's pct is immaterial now for this team.

If we hit 36% -- or probably even 33-35% -- the rest of the way, we'll be a formidable opponent for anybody in the nation.

Yeah im guessing if hypothetically we did shoot 38.4% the rest of the way we lose 2 more games max to finish BE 15-5

[TSmith34, Inc.]

The difference between world class 3 pt shooting and putrid 3 pt shooting is one more make every 10 attempts.

Which doesn't sound like a lot, but it's ~7.5 points per game

[RushmoreAcademy]

The difference between world class 3 pt shooting and putrid 3 pt shooting is one more make every 10 attempts.

Love these kind of sports stats. Like a .200 hitter in baseball vs a .300 hitter. Just shows the fine line separating the top tier. Or an Olympic sprinter 5 tenths back not being a real contender.

[tower912]

Exactly.  Crash Davis talked about that one bloop a week. 

MU gets open looks.  Keep shooting.

[mu_hilltopper]

He's in a funk, but the whole team is. In our past 5 games, MU is at 37/133 (27.8%). Ben is 0/12, so he's contributed to that, but the rest of the team is still just at 30.6%, so he's not alone in that regard.

Before that, he was at 16/42 on the season (38.1%). So which is accurate? The 13 game sample size or the 5 game sample size? The truth is probably somewhere in the middle, but the larger sample shows him to be significantly better than he's been of late.

He is still a three point threat because he's shown the ability to make those shots and teams will cover him at the arc. He hasn't been good of late, but the threat is still there.

He's 31/104 over two years, so .298.   Remove his "warm" streak of 16/42, and he's 15/62, which is .241.

Is he a decent shooter who had two, long, horrible streaks?

Or a horrible shooter, who had one above average streak?

[MU82]

He's 31/104 over two years, so .298.   Remove his "warm" streak of 16/42, and he's 15/62, which is .241.

Is he a decent shooter who had two, long, horrible streaks?

Or a horrible shooter, who had one above average streak?

Before going 0-for-12 over these last 5 games, it seemed reasonable to say:

Gold shot .300 last season and then improved to shoot .381 through the first 13 games this season. In other words, the kind of improvement that we've come to expect from players during Shaka's time here.

I certainly can see why these last 5 games look like a step back for Gold. Maybe he'll struggle to shoot 25% the rest of the season. Or maybe the coaches will come up with some minor adjustment that will get him back on track.

There was a play in the StJ game when Gold was near the top of the key and Soriano was afraid to fully leave him, and it let Stevie (I think) get to the hoop. So yes, Gold apparently is still a "threat" on some scouting reports, including Pitino's. If he keeps going 0-fer, obviously that'll change and opponents will dare him to shoot the way they dared Sean and still dare Stevie.

[brewcity77]

He's 31/104 over two years, so .298.   Remove his "warm" streak of 16/42, and he's 15/62, which is .241.

Is he a decent shooter who had two, long, horrible streaks?

Or a horrible shooter, who had one above average streak?

He started his career 3/17. Freshman adapting to a new country, sporadic minutes, not a big surprise.

Once conference play started, he went 12/33 (36.4%) through 25 games and started this year 16/42 (38.1%) through 13 games. That's 37.3% as a shooter for a 38-game stretch that makes up over 70% of his career.

So which is the real Gold, the terrible 11 game start and 5 game stretch currently where he shot 3/29, or the 38 game sample size that makes up over 70% of his career? He might be a bit streaky, but he's a much, much better shooter than he's shown of late.

[Lennys Tap]

He's 31/104 over two years, so .298.   Remove his "warm" streak of 16/42, and he's 15/62, which is .241.

Is he a decent shooter who had two, long, horrible streaks?

Or a horrible shooter, who had one above average streak?

He's 31/104 over 2 years, so .298. Full stop. That's who he is. Sure he's been better and worse than that at times, but that's who he is.

[DoctorV]

He's 31/104 over 2 years, so .298. Full stop. That's who he is. Sure he's been better and worse than that at times, but that's who he is.

They are who we thought they were!

If he can shoot 38% or better from 3/1 4/8 on over 20-25 attempts it won't matter what he's been over 2 years.

I'll agree though, that it would seem we would have to catch lightning in a bottle for that to happen.

You are what you repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit.

[Daniel]

Ben needs a game where we are winning by a lot, then he could launch his threes with no pressure and build some confidence in his shot. 

[Lennys Tap]

Love these kind of sports stats. Like a .200 hitter in baseball vs a .300 hitter. Just shows the fine line separating the top tier.

Yeah, doesn't sound like much but it's the difference between a guy on the Mendoza line probably headed to the minors and a potential Hall of Famer.

[MU82]

You are what you repeatedly do.

What did Gold repeatedly do during the 38-game stretch brew talked about?

He's had a 5-game slump and now you want him to lose minutes to a freshman who dunks during garbage time?

[DoctorV]

Wut?

No, of course I don't want him to lose minutes to big Al.
If anything, they would play together when the game is out of hand tomorrow.

I don't think he should lose minutes because at the moment he's doing other things well.
His shot looks brutal though, and although I would argue that others should keep on shooting I'd probably say it's a good time for him to try to use some of his other abilities to get going a bit offensively, namely hitting the glass and trying to use a bit more of his deceptive athletic ability.

He's slow, or appears and plays slow, so it comes as a big surprise to the opposition when he actually shows off some of that athletic ability.
He should try doing it some more to get going and I think that might in turn help his confidence and outside shot.

[MU82]

Wut?

No, of course I don't want him to lose minutes to big Al.

Apologies. I obviously confused you with one or more different Scoopers who were calling for Amadou to get some of Gold's playing time.

His shot looks brutal though, and although I would argue that others should keep on shooting I'd probably say it's a good time for him to try to use some of his other abilities to get going a bit offensively, namely hitting the glass and trying to use a bit more of his deceptive athletic ability.

I'm not at Marquette's practices, nor in Shaka's meetings with individual players, so this is only a guess ... but I'd think he's doing what Shaka wants him to do. If he weren't, Shaka would tell him to play a different way, no?

[FairWeatherEagle]

What's odd is that Gold's percentage had been improving gradually this season. After he made 3 against Georgetown, he was up to a very respectable - good even - .381. Several Scoopers observed that his shot looked like it had a little more arc than early in the season.

But starting with the 12/30 game vs Creighton, he is 0-for-12, and the shot looks pancake-flat again.

We sure could use a few 3s from Ben going forward.

Why do I mentally not count any threes made by MU against GT or DePaul.

[StillWarriors]

What did Gold repeatedly do during the 38-game stretch brew talked about?

He's had a 5-game slump and now you want him to lose minutes to a freshman who dunks during garbage time?

I feel like he has already lost minutes in some games due to quick fouls, which then adds pressure to hit the one or two attempts per game rather than 4-5 he was getting earlier. Not sure if the stats back that up and don't have time to check right now, but has seemed that way to me.

[Viper]

Apologies. I obviously confused you with one or more different Scoopers who were calling for Amadou to get some of Gold's playing time.

I'm not at Marquette's practices, nor in Shaka's meetings with individual players, so this is only a guess ... but I'd think he's doing what Shaka wants him to do. If he weren't, Shaka would tell him to play a different way, no?

...if Gold is doing what Shaka wants him to do, Shaka is an idiot. I don't think Shaka is an idiot. Rather, I'm thinking Gold is the only option.

[MU82]

...if Gold is doing what Shaka wants him to do, Shaka is an idiot. I don't think Shaka is an idiot. Rather, I'm thinking Gold is the only option.

Gold was doing exactly this when everyone was healthy, too. And most of last season, as well. So I guess Shaka is an idiot.

[CTWarrior]

And despite the fact that the NBA 3 point line is farther back than it has ever been.

I would actually say in the NBA, shooting is as good as it has ever been.

I've thought this for a while now.  Players today have more basketball skills than ever in terms of shooting, ball handling, etc.  But they do not know how to play the team game like they used to.  Of course this is in general.  That's why I like Oso, Kolek and Kam so much.  They play such an old school fun style of basketball.  Great passing leading to layups and dunks is by far my favorite thing to watch on the basketball court.  I'm going to miss watching those guys when they're gone.

[Viper]

Gold was doing exactly this when everyone was healthy, too. And most of last season, as well. So I guess Shaka is an idiot.

your opinion of Shaka. Not mine.

[Newsdreams]

...if Gold is doing what Shaka wants him to do, Shaka is an idiot. I don't think Shaka is an idiot. Rather, I'm thinking Gold is the only option.

LOL seriously, Shaka has sat TK for not doing what Shaka wanted. He would sit Gold even if he "is the only option". Gold is the new Sean, the new Stevie and the new TKo (got so much hate at the beginning it was pathetic). He is obviously playing like Shaka wants, Shaka is an idiot per Viper.

[Goose]

I remain a big believer in Gold having a lot of upside but I cannot argue that he has been a disappointment for the most part this season. Ben has not had the jump in quality of play that I thought he would have this season and that is pretty obvious. That being said, I hope he continues to get minutes and improves defense, rebounding and shooting. I still believe there are big days ahead for Gold and hope they happen.

[Uncle Rico]

I remain a big believer in Gold having a lot of upside but I cannot argue that he has been a disappointment for the most part this season. Ben has not had the jump in quality of play that I thought he would have this season and that is pretty obvious. That being said, I hope he continues to get minutes and improves defense, rebounding and shooting. I still believe there are big days ahead for Gold and hope they happen.

His off-season injury almost has certainly impacted his development towards impacting this season more than some like myself anticipated. 

[Newsdreams]

I remain a big believer in Gold having a lot of upside but I cannot argue that he has been a disappointment for the most part this season. Ben has not had the jump in quality of play that I thought he would have this season and that is pretty obvious. That being said, I hope he continues to get minutes and improves defense, rebounding and shooting. I still believe there are big days ahead for Gold and hope they happen.

He started practice late, maybe a month? So he is behind where he needs to be. At this level of competition it makes a world of difference.