3 point shooting

[stormspencer]

While most of those guys are Big XII caliber players, the top end is conspicuously absent. Doolittle, James and Manek are guys you are extremely happy with if they're you're 4th/5th best starters. Instead those are your top 3 guys. Bienemy has the talent to be a lead dog on a good team, but he's a true freshman and isn't there yet. Odomes is a decent player, but should probably be an energy guy off the bench. McNease is best suited for the role he was in last year, providing minutes off the bench. Calixte is a quality backup point guard. Reynolds is pretty fringe, I don't think he's in the rotation on a really good team.

And that's not even bringing up the original point of the thread, which is that our 3 point shooting is absolutely abysmal. Again, I think that's a function of the above. Guys like Manek and James are competent 3 point shooters. If they're your 4th guy and are getting kickouts from your stars that the defense is focused on, they can knock down shots. Unfortunately, they're the focal point of the offense and they don't have that kind of ability (at least yet, as I'm still hopeful Brady can tap into the star potential I saw from him freshman year).

Good analysis. As you mentioned, we don't have a superstar (i.e. a player that has the scoring ability to take over games).....thus, our "sum of the parts" has to be in rhythm and harmony for this team to play to a high level.

Regarding the shooting, I don't know the reason why guys, who have been lauded on this board as decent to good shooters, can't hit open looks from 3 at least at a 36-38% clip. If you are having to create your shot from 3....well that is another story. But our team as a whole is clanking 3 after 3 in conference play.....and a good portion of those looks are wide open. What that tells me is that we simply don't have as good of shooters as we were led to believe by a few on here.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Good analysis. As you mentioned, we don't have a superstar (i.e. a player that has the scoring ability to take over games).....thus, our "sum of the parts" has to be in rhythm and harmony for this team to play to a high level.

Regarding the shooting, I don't know the reason why guys, who have been lauded on this board as decent to good shooters, can't hit open looks from 3 at least at a 36-38% clip. If you are having to create your shot from 3....well that is another story. But our team as a whole is clanking 3 after 3 in conference play.....and a good portion of those looks are wide open. What that tells me is that we simply don't have as good of shooters as we were led to believe by a few on here.

Yup. And id say we should shoot them less but heck wed just penetrate and turn it over anyways lol

 

[BoulderSooner]

While most of those guys are Big XII caliber players, the top end is conspicuously absent. Doolittle, James and Manek are guys you are extremely happy with if they're you're 4th/5th best starters. Instead those are your top 3 guys. Bienemy has the talent to be a lead dog on a good team, but he's a true freshman and isn't there yet. Odomes is a decent player, but should probably be an energy guy off the bench. McNease is best suited for the role he was in last year, providing minutes off the bench. Calixte is a quality backup point guard. Reynolds is pretty fringe, I don't think he's in the rotation on a really good team.

And that's not even bringing up the original point of the thread, which is that our 3 point shooting is absolutely abysmal. Again, I think that's a function of the above. Guys like Manek and James are competent 3 point shooters. If they're your 4th guy and are getting kickouts from your stars that the defense is focused on, they can knock down shots. Unfortunately, they're the focal point of the offense and they don't have that kind of ability (at least yet, as I'm still hopeful Brady can tap into the star potential I saw from him freshman year).

this is very good stuff ...

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

James' 3 point % is the worst of his 4 seasons. Manek's is much worse than last year's and Reynolds -- a 22% shooter this year, shot 37% last season. It's hard to explain. Calixte (and maybe Bieniemy) is our only consistent 3 point shooter and that hurts a lot.

I think one of the reasons this is true is because we have been unable for about 3 weeks to move the ball into and then out of the lane. McNeace's complete ineffectiveness hurts so badly because he turns the ball over so often when it gets dumped down into him. He's been unwilling to attack the basket and unable to kick the ball out to the open shooter when doubled. Also, Calixte is a decent penetrator but hasn't shown the ability to kick it out to open shooters. Bieniemy is a better passer than Calixte so I'm hopeful that he is able to get into the lane and get more open shots for James and Manek especially. Reynolds is basically left open to shoot and he still can't make them.

The ball has to move, and not just around the perimeter. It has to move in and out and from 1 side to the other in order to open up shots for shooters but even then, those guys have to make shots. It seems like they've all gone into a slump at the same time. The good news is that they've all shown the ability to shoot in the past so maybe they can all come out of their slumps as well.

 

[WichitaSooner]

James' 3 point % is the worst of his 4 seasons. Manek's is much worse than last year's and Reynolds -- a 22% shooter this year, shot 37% last season. It's hard to explain. Calixte (and maybe Bieniemy) is our only consistent 3 point shooter and that hurts a lot.

I think one of the reasons this is true is because we have been unable for about 3 weeks to move the ball into and then out of the lane. McNeace's complete ineffectiveness hurts so badly because he turns the ball over so often when it gets dumped down into him. He's been unwilling to attack the basket and unable to kick the ball out to the open shooter when doubled. Also, Calixte is a decent penetrator but hasn't shown the ability to kick it out to open shooters. Bieniemy is a better passer than Calixte so I'm hopeful that he is able to get into the lane and get more open shots for James and Manek especially. Reynolds is basically left open to shoot and he still can't make them.

The ball has to move, and not just around the perimeter. It has to move in and out and from 1 side to the other in order to open up shots for shooters but even then, those guys have to make shots. It seems like they've all gone into a slump at the same time. The good news is that they've all shown the ability to shoot in the past so maybe they can all come out of their slumps as well.

The point about Muni is a good one. Every time he gets the ball outside 8-10 feet, it results in a turnover or near turnover. Sometimes it is good for a post to take time before making a move, but he is so slow to make a decision that it is very easy for a help defender to get there and double him. With absolutely no inside-out game, open looks are hard to come by, and that's a big problem for a team that already struggles to shoot. Reaves must cringe having to sit out, knowing how much he could help.

 

[AdaSooner]

The point about Muni is a good one. Every time he gets the ball outside 8-10 feet, it results in a turnover or near turnover. Sometimes it is good for a post to take time before making a move, but he is so slow to make a decision that it is very easy for a help defender to get there and double him. With absolutely no inside-out game, open looks are hard to come by, and that's a big problem for a team that already struggles to shoot. Reaves must cringe having to sit out, knowing how much he could help.

To expand on your point, someone said in the Baylor game thread that Muni is a “black hole.” It’s true and also sad that a fifth year senior has not developed a shot or move beyond eight feet from the basket. As you correctly pointed out, even when he knows (or should) the double team is coming, he holds onto the ball until he is at risk of turning it over. By all accounts he’s a smart kid. He just doesn’t have a high basketball IQ—possibly the product of getting a late start in playing the game in high school.

I think we can all agree that Lon has a problem, and it’s not an enviable one: What to do about a key senior who is hurting the team right now? Muni is not a good fit with Doolittle because Doo is more effective down low, and Muni is totally ineffective anywhere but there. He has tried to play Muni and Freeman in the same lineup. That combination might be okay on offense, but our defense and rebounding suffers when they’re on the floor together.

There has to be a solution to this problem, but we may have to wait until next year to see it solved. Sure hope I’m wrong!

 

[sperry]

To expand on your point, someone said in the Baylor game thread that Muni is a “black hole.” It’s true and also sad that a fifth year senior has not developed a shot or move beyond eight feet from the basket. As you correctly pointed out, even when he knows (or should) the double team is coming, he holds onto the ball until he is at risk of turning it over. By all accounts he’s a smart kid. He just doesn’t have a high basketball IQ—possibly the product of getting a late start in playing the game in high school.

I think we can all agree that Lon has a problem, and it’s not an enviable one: What to do about a key senior who is hurting the team right now? Muni is not a good fit with Doolittle because Doo is more effective down low, and Muni is totally ineffective anywhere but there. He has tried to play Muni and Freeman in the same lineup. That combination might be okay on offense, but our defense and rebounding suffers when they’re on the floor together.

There has to be a solution to this problem, but we may have to wait until next year to see it solved. Sure hope I’m wrong!

Muni has proven that about 15 minutes per game is what he deserves. He could have been a really good role player if he didn't think he needs to score points and take shots. That's a guy who should never be shooting the ball unless his hand is touching the rim afterwards. He should never be dribbling the ball or trying to post people up with his back to the basket. Unfortunately, he does both quite often and it's a disaster when he does.

 

[oudna]

I have several issues with McNeace’s game. But I’d actually call his post scoring his best asset.

Can be a pretty tough player to handle down low.

 

[Big Old Booger]

To expand on your point, someone said in the Baylor game thread that Muni is a “black hole.” It’s true and also sad that a fifth year senior has not developed a shot or move beyond eight feet from the basket. As you correctly pointed out, even when he knows (or should) the double team is coming, he holds onto the ball until he is at risk of turning it over. By all accounts he’s a smart kid. He just doesn’t have a high basketball IQ—possibly the product of getting a late start in playing the game in high school.

I think we can all agree that Lon has a problem, and it’s not an enviable one: What to do about a key senior who is hurting the team right now? Muni is not a good fit with Doolittle because Doo is more effective down low, and Muni is totally ineffective anywhere but there. He has tried to play Muni and Freeman in the same lineup. That combination might be okay on offense, but our defense and rebounding suffers when they’re on the floor together.

There has to be a solution to this problem, but we may have to wait until next year to see it solved. Sure hope I’m wrong!

Freeman has been a huge disappointment. From what I've seen of Polla, he's physical enough inside and can rebound. He would play a lot on Kelvin's teams. I think scoring is a challenge for him, LOL.

 

[Big Old Booger]

I have several issues with McNeace’s game. But I’d actually call his post scoring his best asset.

Can be a pretty tough player to handle down low.

If he can learn to catch and do that baby hook shot instead of dribbling yes he can be tough to handle, at times. His defense, though, is atrocious.

 

[AdaSooner]

If he can learn to catch and do that baby hook shot instead of dribbling yes he can be tough to handle, at times. His defense, though, is atrocious.

I’m glad you added, “learn to catch” to your post. I think Hannes may try to make his move before he catches the ball sometimes. He might be able to benefit from that tennis ball drill wide receivers use to improve their hand-eye coordination.

But, that last part about his defense may be too much of an obstacle for him to overcome. He is surprisingly slow of foot to defend even semi-agile bigs. I’m beginning to lose hope that he will ever contribute meaningful minutes, even as a backup player.

Oh, how I would love to be wrong! Can you imagine what a force he could be on the low block?

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

I have several issues with McNeace’s game. But I’d actually call his post scoring his best asset.

Can be a pretty tough player to handle down low.

He is a good post scorer when he's aggressive and attacks the basket looking to score. When he's indecisive he gets double-teamed & ends up turning the ball over.

 

[TINY]

Jamuni has 0 confidence right now and it shows. He was playing well prior to his injury.