Things the team could work on

[GKiller]

I remember a big announcement 5 or 6 years ago about an analytics guy. Faded away with no other discussion. Probably like our scheduling consultant in a couple years.

Yep what happened to the analytics guy. I don't think we going to spend big $$ on a scheduling consultant again anytime soon. If so it should be an hourly rate. being at minimum a mini rebuild they'll probably take a quick look and say....uh there is nothing I can do to help u schedule into NCAA at large. 2 minute call, get billed for the hour and move on.

By the way, we are essentially shooting the same from 3 pt this year vs. last. .354 in 20-21. .362 in 19-20. It does feel worse tho.

 

[urmite]

It is not really this simply (it affects other stats) but it should be by individual player not team, so
If you make 60% from 2 you need 40% from 3
If you make 48% from 2 you need 32% from 3 (but maybe someone should be shooting?)

 

[97spiderfan]

Yep what happened to the analytics guy. I don't think we going to spend big $$ on a scheduling consultant again anytime soon. If so it should be an hourly rate. being at minimum a mini rebuild they'll probably take a quick look and say....uh there is nothing I can do to help u schedule into NCAA at large. 2 minute call, get billed for the hour and move on.

By the way, we are essentially shooting the same from 3 pt this year vs. last. .354 in 20-21. .362 in 19-20. It does feel worse tho.

Wow, it sure does feel that way. Were does that rank us nationally in terms of 3 pt fg percentage?

 

[SFspidur]

Wow, it sure does feel that way. Were does that rank us nationally in terms of 3 pt fg percentage?

96th out of 340 ranked teams

Edit: Interestingly, KenPom has us ranked 153rd with a 3PT percentage of 34.1%. The reason? KenPom only counts D-I games, while NCAA counts all games. Going 16 of 33 from three against St. Mary's really helps our NCAA numbers.

 

[Eight Legger]

We did make 16 threes against St. Mary's... That probably skewed the numbers a bit.

 

[GKiller]

We did make 16 threes against St. Mary's... That probably skewed the numbers a bit.

Sure tho we had a couple games like that early in year last season. I think CSN and McNeese games. Granted those are D1 teams and certainly Holy Mary Mother of God is not the same as them, just saying u get those games against weaker comp sometimes.

 

[spiderman]

we complain that we don't ever try to offensively rebound and how bad we are defensively rebounding, but we average 6.7 offensive rebounds per game and our opponents average 9.0
it's not as damning as we say.

watching Duquesne get offensive rebounds in the 2nd half, I feel like a big part of our problem is our help. our interior guys start to help when it's not really needed on attempted penetration. then the shot goes up from inside 15 feet and they can't or don't get back to their man. so now it's a 50-50 ball, no advantage to the defensive player since he doesn't have inside position. Burton can still win his fair share of those with his athleticism. Grant has size but not the quickness or elevation. Cayo is usually outsized.

I know I'd prefer we help less and focus on keeping our body between the man and the basket, but I can hear the screams already if we did that. "WHERE'S THE HELP!!!". but being forced to help creates so many problems. the dump off, the offensive rebound, and if you collapse the defense to help you give up the kick out.

 

[Eight Legger]

I could be wrong, and I guess in theory an offensive rebound is an offensive rebound, but anecdotally it sure seems like the offensive rebounds our opponents get lead directly to baskets a lot more often than ours do. The ones we give up usually seem to be right around rim on second and third chance putbacks. Ours seem to be farther from the basket and may or may not result in an easy scoring chance.

 

[97spiderfan]

We really should only list 1 change because that is all Mooney can handle. His big change last year was that having our big guys hedge out on defense, which worked well in situations last year, but as Eight Legger pointed out, other teams have adjusted too and are now taking advantage of it. Yet, of course, we still do it because it worked once in the past.

 

[spider23]

sman, in addition to the help, I think we need more guys on the perimeter helping out. I know they are out of position playing man and defending the kick out for threes, but as soon as the shot comes up they need to come running in. I see other teams do this and just the extra bodies have a greater chance. It sure seems like the numbers are worse, EL has a point - other teams seem to get one's with point blank uncontested put backs.

 

[spiderman]

yes, on the defensive end I'd like everyone helping out. can't just set up for an outlet pass. maybe some monster rebounding teams have that luxury but we don't.

 

[SpiderRick]

To my original list, I would like to add:

Grow a Pair and DUNK THE BALL!

I'm sick of two things, watching us missing layups when our bigs could have easily dunked; and watching our opponents dunk after dunk after dunk... There's a time for finesse, and there's a time to assert yourself and give pause to your opponents.

 

[I-M-UR]

Bingo. Look

Look no further than in the fundamentals Mooney doesn't teach or prioritize. This has been a pattern over many years. This quote in today's RTD by Mooney re: yesterday's game follows:

"They're a great offensive rebounding team, and that reality hurt us throughout the second half."

Response - Mooney makes a lot of teams look like great offensive rebounding teams.

We don’t rely on the fast break so why not everyone hit the Defensive boards

giving your opponent an offensive rebound is worse than a turnover, because they get the ball at their end and often at the basket

 

[spiderman]

To my original list, I would like to add:

Grow a Pair and DUNK THE BALL!

I'm sick of two things, watching us missing layups when our bigs could have easily dunked; and watching our opponents dunk after dunk after dunk... There's a time for finesse, and there's a time to assert yourself and give pause to your opponents.

it's not so simple unless you have pogo stick legs. it can be slow. did you see the touch pass from Golden to Burton last game? with a quick layup he scores easily. instead Burton gathered, brought the ball down, and tried to explode for a dunk. it took too long. he did get the foul call which is great, but it could have been cleanly blocked too. and he's our best and quickest leaper.

 

[Eight Legger]

Good call on that one, s-man. He needed to know the situation better and just keep his hands high on that one. TJ was the best we've ever had at doing that.

 

[spiderman]

yeah, TJ could spin and get that up on the glass incredibly quick. it's all instinct at some point. I prefer the dunk as it's the highest percentage shot but you've got to know who's around you.

 

[GKiller]

it's not so simple unless you have pogo stick legs. it can be slow. did you see the touch pass from Golden to Burton last game? with a quick layup he scores easily. instead Burton gathered, brought the ball down, and tried to explode for a dunk. it took too long. he did get the foul call which is great, but it could have been cleanly blocked too. and he's our best and quickest leaper.

Yep that is good example sman. I saw that play with my son and immediately pointed it out. Saying that was situation not to go for dunk but just easy lay in. It was clearly a teaching moment for when my son can choose or not choose to go for monster jams lol.

But it's just a sense. TJ was great as EL pointed out with the quick layins, he didn't need to gather like so many. He had that down and played to his strengths.

At same time Rick is right there have certainly been opportunities where we should go strong to hoop and attempt the dunk. Mainly basketball sense and what kind of forward momentum u have.

 

[97spiderfan]

Count me in favor of dunking the ball vs. the lay-up basically anytime. A dunk is an assertive, aggressive power basketball move. That is how I would want my players playing the game. Basketball is a contact sport, most times the more aggressive, assertive teams wins.

 

[spiderman]

ask any player who has the ability to dunk and he'll tell you he'd always choose to dunk if he could.

come on, guys. there's got to be some former dunkers on here.

 

[712_VT]

ask any player who has the ability to dunk and he'll tell you he'd always choose to dunk if he could.

come on, guys. there's got to be some former dunkers on here.

Ya it was a hell of a feeling on my 8 foot hoop.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

come on, guys. there's got to be some former dunkers on here.

Maybe if they lie down on their sides.....

 

[8legs1dream]

what a silly question, of course I know all about dunkin'

 

[SFspidur]

Dunk, pass, and eat cookies.

 

[712_VT]

Dunk, pass, and eat cookies.

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I loved Kevin Smith. Not a big time scorer but a great defender and was always good for some highlight reel dunks. He always got the crowd really into the game which was something I was huge fan of as well. He was truly the best glue guy the Spiders have had since I’ve been a fan, we need more that play with his kind of edge.