BE - Wed 1/20 - 2g, DeP-Marq, VU-Seton...

[Westbrook#36]

Nova didn't actually shoot that crazy from 3. Only made 10. They were smart and only took 19, so the percentage was good. But nova was jacking 30+ threes per game earlier this season.

Yeah they didn't take as many, but when a good team that barely averages 30% from 3 suddenly connects on over 50%, they're usually not gonna have a tough time in that game. And 10 is still a good number of makes, it's not like they were 2-3 for a good %. Especially impressive considering SHU entered the game leading the BE in 3pt% defense.

Seriously, someone is still surprised when Nova shoots the 3 ball well in a game? It's only been a staple of our offense for well over a decade now. It's pretty much the same group that shot 39% from 3 last year, the difference is earlier this year(and sometimes still do) we were settling for, taking contested, and chucking up 3's. That's the main culprit for the decreased shooting percentage. When we take good shots and don't just come down and chuck up 3's we're a pretty good 3 point shooting team.

[Hall2012]

Nova didn't actually shoot that crazy from 3. Only made 10. They were smart and only took 19, so the percentage was good. But nova was jacking 30+ threes per game earlier this season.

Yeah they didn't take as many, but when a good team that barely averages 30% from 3 suddenly connects on over 50%, they're usually not gonna have a tough time in that game. And 10 is still a good number of makes, it's not like they were 2-3 for a good %. Especially impressive considering SHU entered the game leading the BE in 3pt% defense.

Seriously, someone is still surprised when Nova shoots the 3 ball well in a game? It's only been a staple of our offense for well over a decade now. It's pretty much the same group that shot 39% from 3 last year, the difference is earlier this year(and sometimes still do) we were settling for, taking contested, and chucking up 3's. That's the main culprit for the decreased shooting percentage. When we take good shots and don't just come down and chuck up 3's we're a pretty good 3 point shooting team.

That was in no way meant to be a knock on Nova, but since you bring it up, at 19 games in, the 30ish % is more a trend than a fluke. Sure, Nova's been a good 3pt shooting team in the past, but it clearly isn't their m/o this year.

My point is that SHU was impressive in being able to absorb that particularly hot shooting and still play the cats evenly. It was their best 3pt shooting game of the season, and the only comparable one was a 31 point blowout of X. Of games Nova didn't win by at least 10, the only other time they broke 30% was the loss to UVA. And they were under 20% in 3 of the other 4.

Simply put, when Nova's threes are falling, they blow you out (they usually blow you out regardless). SHU did well to stay with them.

[GumbyDamnit!]

My point is that SHU was impressive in being able to absorb that particularly hot shooting and still play the cats evenly. It was their best 3pt shooting game of the season, and the only comparable one was a 31 point blowout of X. Of games Nova didn't win by at least 10, the only other time they broke 30% was the loss to UVA. And they were under 20% in 3 of the other 4.

Simply put, when Nova's threes are falling, they blow you out (they usually blow you out regardless). SHU did well to stay with them.

I think it is a disservice to look at one aspect of any game and make sweeping conclusions. I get what you're saying and there is certainly some truth to it. But others can look at the same game and say:

"I can't believe Nova still found a way to win at SHU when the one guy who absolutely dominates them on their team (Ochefu) was on the bench most of the game."
or
"Man SHU shot lights out from the line--which they seldom do--and yet Nova still won. If they had shot at their normal clip Nova would have won by 6 instead of 1."

Nova shot well from 3 partly because Williard made the decision to double the post. So some of that 3 pt shooting was the result of how they decided to play Nova. At the end of the day SHU matched or exceeded Nova's intensity, and that's why the game was so close. They've got talent and they're still learning how to best utilize that talent as a cohesive team. I look forward to very competitive games vs the Hall in the upcoming years.

Don't know what it is about Carrington but man does he seem to come to play against us.

[Hall2012]

Oh course there's more than just the one aspect to the game, but the reason I'm pointing out 3 point shooting is that it's college basketball's great equalizer. The #1 formula for an upset is the underdog shooting over their heads from beyond the arc. It's rare that the clear favorite is the team to do that and the game is still competitive.

[cu blujs]

I remain convinced that the way to slow down Nova is to force them to shoot from the outside. You might get beat if they get hot and can stay hot for an entire game. But play them that way 10 times, and I think you hold them in the 60s or less at least half the time. So far this year I think Nova has only 2 maybe 3 games where they shot at or better than 40% from outside - and I'm not that impressed with their 18-22 foot range either. They have had many sub-30% from three games. But, they are very good at driving and scoring, and/or passing off the drive. If defenders take the pump fake or fail to close out under control, Nova puts the ball on the floor and goes right past. At that point, they are probably 60% or better that its going to be a bucket, an and-one or at least two free throws. Creighton got killed, because we jumped at almost every pump fake and failed to keep in front of the guy. The result - they shoot 88% from two on a plethora of layups and bunnies. If I am drawing up a scouting plan, I say make them beat us from three (don't just stand and give up uncontested shots of course). Put a hand in his face, but don't jump on the pump fake and always have good balance to keep your guy from easily driving past). Biggest thing to me is that you have to pick your poison in deciding how to defend Nova, and I think your best bet in controlling Nova's offense is try to push them into an outside jump-shooting game. At least that's how I see it from the couch.