Adjustments/wrinkles

[tower912]

Things I would like to see MU try.  Maybe not this season, but going forward.

Defensively, more drop coverage.  Surprise Creighton with some of their own medicine rather than having Ben/Royce chase Parham around while Kalk posts up Chase or Stevie.  I use this as an example.   Ben is 6'11, Josh is 7'1.  Leave them by the rim more.

Offensively, steal some of UConn's off ball screening action.  Sometimes, MU stands around on the perimeter too much.  Run some cuts, create some bumps, get players a step more open so the recovering defender has more ground to cover, leaving them vulnerable.  Maybe even end up with somebody open down low.  Force the defense to talk, switch recover.

Neither of these require more than a subtle tweak to what MU is already doing.   And it is good to have adjustments ready.

[mileskishnish72]

Agree, particularly with your second suggestion. Too often on offense we have a dribbler and four other guys standing stock still.

Another irritant is baseline OOB plays. On D, we've given up some wide open bunnies but on offense, just dull tosses to the corner, usually followed by the inbounder circling around and setting up outside.

[milwaukee expat]

On offense we don't seem to be getting our players playing loose - end up with someone going one on one or one on two attacking the rim.  Not having a passing center like Oso seems to have reduced alot of the variance in getting guys loose attacking the rim.

There was an article posted recently or maybe it was an interview where Nevada is extolled for his coaching of shooters.  He needs to tweak that - its not working now.

Dare I say it I think we need to open up our mid range game as a way to get our shooters in rhythm making shots - would open up everything else.  Oso of course had primarily a mid range (a little closer perhaps than mid range but it wasn't primarily at the rim).  Now our mid range shots from Jop and Jones are generally at the end of the shot clock.  Would like to see running plays giving these guys space to make easy 2s..

Two last comments: I do think we get back to the mean on 3 point shooting.  Looking around the league it seems like every team is struggling with threes during this cold February. I also think we have a great chance making a run in the tournament once we stop playing BE teams a la UCONN on their first title run under Hurley.

[jesmu84]

Why is a mid range jump shot considered "easy"?

[Newsdreams]

Why is a mid range jump shot considered "easy"?

Well, he considered Oso shots a type of mid range

[The Sultan]

Oso's shots were largely from the lane, which are not considered mid-range in this offense. It is largely the wing and baseline jumpers from inside the three point line that they want to avoid - and for good reason.

[milwaukee expat]

Its "easy" if its wide open and the result of some motion where the shooter has momentum towards the basket (as opposed to the turn around which can be a good shot for certain skilled shooters also).  Point is we have what we generally think to be elite shooters in Jones and Jop and nascent elite shooters in Parham and Owens - that is not just set 3 point shooters but natural scorers/shooters. Get them open mid range/close range shots and let them get into a scoring rhythm.  I think, especially in BE, teams have figured out we are either attacking rim or shooting 3s and have adjusted.  Mix it up.  Just my 2 cents..

[Hards Alumni]

Its "easy" if its wide open and the result of some motion where the shooter has momentum towards the basket (as opposed to the turn around which can be a good shot for certain skilled shooters also).  Point is we have what we generally think to be elite shooters in Jones and Jop and nascent elite shooters in Parham and Owens - that is not just set 3 point shooters but natural scorers/shooters. Get them open mid range/close range shots and let them get into a scoring rhythm.  I think, especially in BE, teams have figured out we are either attacking rim or shooting 3s and have adjusted.  Mix it up.  Just my 2 cents..

It's been discussed at length here.  They're statistically inefficient shots.  You get two points for a shot that is as easy as a 3 pointer, and the same as a shot that has a much higher chance to go in from 3 feet.

[Shooter McGavin]

Not sure people think they are easy.  But if open may be effective in some cases.  Some players are really good at them.  Many are not.    Some open midrange jumpers may be better than a contested layup or three if taken by the right player.  Many question why 4-25 from three or ten missed layups against two to three defenders at the rim is the new absolute in basketball.  Some people liked Jimmy shooting baseline jumpers for wins against St Johns and UConn.  Some people liked Darryl Morsel tearing up Xavier at home.

I don't think they are easy.  I have always just cracked the door open for the right players taking them as a possible small wrinkle to an offense that is struggling. 

If the threes are falling and contested layups are being made, screw mid range.  We can all agree on that.

[Shooter McGavin]

It's been discussed at length here.  They're statistically inefficient shots.  You get two points for a shot that is as easy as a 3 pointer, and the same as a shot that has a much higher chance to go in from 3 feet.

Some players are good at them.  Case by case basis.  It cannot and should not be the foundation of an offense.  No one is saying that.

[Captain Quette]

I am open to any ideas that will improve our points per game. Unsure of the value, efficiency of taking a mid range jumper. Believe current perspective is threes and layups are highest value shots. Perhaps shaka implements more, new shooting drills in practice. Kam shot 40% from 3 last year and Jop was 36%. Maybe our shots last year were set up better due TK. Also believe conference opponents know our tendencies to the minute detail.

[Hards Alumni]

Some players are good at them.  Case by case basis.  It cannot and should not be the foundation of an offense.  No one is saying that.

Most college basketball players are terrible shooters.  I'd trust no one on Marquette to make a 15 footer except MAYBE Joplin or Kam.

[Shooter McGavin]

Most college basketball players are terrible shooters.  I'd trust no one on Marquette to make a 15 footer except MAYBE Joplin or Kam.

Agreed. I have said Jop is maybe the only one I would trust to do this on this team.  He has that old man game. And he is not athletic enough to dunk the ball when he gets to the rim in traffic (or even without traffic as we saw last game).  He has the length to do the fadeaway baseline and free throw line extended jumper.  Has to be the right person.  Not advocating for it as a no brainer.

[SaveOD238]

They need to use the "dunker spot" more effectively.  Or at all.  Defenses collapse on Kam and Jop when they drive to the basket, so why not drop somebody in on the backside for the easy dump off and layup or dunk?

[Hards Alumni]

They need to use the "dunker spot" more effectively.  Or at all.  Defenses collapse on Kam and Jop when they drive to the basket, so why not drop somebody in on the backside for the easy dump off and layup or dunk?

I'm fully on board with this.

[We R Final Four]

No reason for Jop or Ben to be press defending 30+' from the basket......the first jab step they are already beat and now puts pressure on others to help and recover. Fouls awaiting. Bad idea.

Opponent's OOB are so frustrating...
Player A picks across the lane....pins Jop.......and they get a layup. Unreal. Gave up a dunk on an OOB play recently.......cant think of anytime MU did such.

Why does it take a TO to get our press break set? Just like in 5th grade bball.......when they set up their press....we should know what to do.

Need cutters or a high post presence. Inside out. Saw a little bit with Caedin and Royce.
Cant dribble laterally once or twice (Chase)and pass around the perimeter and expect good things to happen.

[ATL MU Warrior]

Not sure people think they are easy.  But if open may be effective in some cases.  Some players are really good at them.  Many are not.    Some open midrange jumpers may be better than a contested layup or three if taken by the right player.  Many question why 4-25 from three or ten missed layups against two to three defenders at the rim is the new absolute in basketball.  Some people liked Jimmy shooting baseline jumpers for wins against St Johns and UConn.  Some people liked Darryl Morsel tearing up Xavier at home.

I don't think they are easy.  I have always just cracked the door open for the right players taking them as a possible small wrinkle to an offense that is struggling. 

If the threes are falling and contested layups are being made, screw mid range.  We can all agree on that.

Agree with all this.

Also think collectively we may have multiple & differing definitions of "mid-range".  To me that is anything that is not a layup or a three.  Doesn't matter if in the paint or not, if it's not a layup it is a mid-range attempt.  Oso's push shots were mid-range shots by this definition. 

[Uncle Rico]

I never saw Jim Chones miss a mid-range shot

[Jay Bee]

I am open to any ideas that will improve our points per game.

If ppg is your desire, run Marymount. Per game stats no matta tho

[Zog from Margo]

Haven't Shaka's teams always been aggressive on D? I do think the aggressiveness needs to be more disciplined. You can't lose focus and lose track of your guy. Too often, MU lets guys go backdoor due to ball watching to look for steals. Leaving good shooters unguarded to trap someone also is a problem. Switching every screen also gets MU into trouble against bigger inside players. Watching Mitchell trying to cover Kalkbrenner was rough.

On offense, Gold (or someone) has to learn to score in the post. Butler effectively covered him with guys 5" shorter than he is. When teams are switching and he has a guy a foot shorter than he is covering him, he needs to go straight to the hoop for the pass. In the game against DePaul, he drove the ball to within 4' of the hoop on a small opponent and then kicked it out for another 3 miss. WTF? Getting Gold to the line would not be all bad either.

The ball also is dying too much. I read Tex Winter's book on the triangle offense years ago. At the level of coaching that I was doing, it was fairly complex. That said, he had some great practice pointers. One was that he wanted players in practice to pass, shoot, or drive to the basket within two seconds of receiving the ball. It forces a player to think about what they will do with the ball before they get it. It also encourages teammates to move. Too often, MU's players get the ball and dribble around trying to figure out what to do next. It's reminiscent of Justin Lewis in the offense.

Finally, MU is not taking the same shot twice. Form wise, they vary their form too much. They often rush their shots. A player will shoot one with nice arc and the next shot is flat as a pancake. Sometimes they fade. Sometimes they drift to the side. The two most consistent shooters in terms of form are Parham and Lowery. It is not too surprising that they are the best 3 pt shooters. In addition, position wise, they are taking 3s from everywhere on the floor. Having a few preferred spots would help and only 3s from those spots should be attempted early in the clock IMO. Frankly, they should focus more (not exclusively) on 2 pt shots to take some of the pressure off making 3s.

[BCHoopster]

Recruit somebody who has a jump shot would help!

[WellsstreetWanderer]

More passing, more movement and less dribbling. Jop seems to be our most effective mid-range shooter with his step back

[Jay Bee]

More passing, more movement and less dribbling. Jop seems to be our most effective mid-range shooter with his step back

He's shooting a sweet 37% on 2FGA not at the rim. Gross

[Uncle Rico]

Recruit somebody who has a jump shot would help!

Thanks

[NCMUFan]

Recruit somebody who has a jump shot would help!

The hard truth is, doesn't matter how well you move the ball to get an open shooter if the shooter can't put it through the hoop.