Foul Shooting

[IdaGriz01]

I know we talked about the importance of foul shooting earlier, but the thread was buried so deep I couldn't find if.

Just watched the end of the Temple-Miami game at the NIT. Temple had it within reach at the end, and were making a run. Then a player (62% foul shooter for the season) stepped to the line after being fouled in the act of shooting -- so, of course, he gets two shots. (Neither team was in the double bonus.) If he makes both, we're at the trading-baskets vs stops mode. This dodo absolutely clanked both shots ... we got to see multiple angles of his terrible foul shooting technique (and this guy was a junior, if I heard right).

You could almost see the air go out of Temple. Miami was dumb enough to give Temple a chance at a last-second trey, but really the game seemed over after the (badly) missed FT. The way games are played at the end now, I just do not understand how a coach would leave a player on the court when he can't make foul shots.

 

[Mousegriz]

ND missed 3 big ones down the stretch vs. Kentucky. Gonzaga women lost a 17 point lead in final 6 minutes. 87% FT shooter for them missed two front ends late.

 

[BelierPeaux]

Shooting woes go beyond Foul Shooting. The college game can be painful to watch at times because kids don't want to shoot mid-range shoots and really hone their shooting skills. I think it was Duke's last game where both teams shot poorly from the field and it was something like 3-2 about 6 minutes into the game. I've actually come to like watching the NBA more over the last few years just because it's a much more exciting game to watch anymore. There are some great teams at the top of each conference now.

 

[IdaGriz01]

Shooting woes go beyond Foul Shooting. The college game can be painful to watch at times because kids don't want to shoot mid-range shots and really hone their shooting skills. I think it was Duke's last game where both teams shot poorly from the field and it was something like 3-2 about 6 minutes into the game. I've actually come to like watching the NBA more over the last few years just because it's a much more exciting game to watch anymore. There are some great teams at the top of each conference now.

Actually, they do hone their shooting -- for the three-pointer. At least it seems that way because, if you take out layups and close-in put-backs, many college teams shoot better from outside the arc than they do from mid-range. (Seem to recall the SI had some hard numbers on that, but a check of a few box scores bears out the assertion.)

Today, the college offense is pretty much a few variations on two approaches: Option one is to just pass the ball around the outside until the defense gets unbalanced and someone is open for a trey. Sometimes they try to pass over the top, but that's usually a bad idea and leads to a turnover. Option two: Players drives to basket and tries a layup ... or some TV-friendly flip shot, loop-de-do, or whatever. OR, player gets cut off and kicks it out to an open shooter outside the arc, who fires it up. And that's about it.

 

['68griz]

Shooting woes go beyond Foul Shooting. The college game can be painful to watch at times because kids don't want to shoot mid-range shots and really hone their shooting skills. I think it was Duke's last game where both teams shot poorly from the field and it was something like 3-2 about 6 minutes into the game. I've actually come to like watching the NBA more over the last few years just because it's a much more exciting game to watch anymore. There are some great teams at the top of each conference now.

Actually, they do hone their shooting -- for the three-pointer. At least it seems that way because, if you take out layups and close-in put-backs, many college teams shoot better from outside the arc than they do from mid-range. (Seem to recall the SI had some hard numbers on that, but a check of a few box scores bears out the assertion.)

Today, the college offense is pretty much a few variations on two approaches: Option one is to just pass the ball around the outside until the defense gets unbalanced and someone is open for a trey. Sometimes they try to pass over the top, but that's usually a bad idea and leads to a turnover. Option two: Players drives to basket and tries a layup ... or some TV-friendly flip shot, loop-de-do, or whatever. OR, player gets cut off and kicks it out to an open shooter outside the arc, who fires it up. And that's about it.

I totally agree with your description of today's college basketball. That's why I find it, generally, pretty boring to watch.

 

[Agent G]

It's too bad that the midrange game is becoming less & less a part of the game. Many high level coaches actually don't want mid range shots thinking it's better to possibly get 3 instead of 2 points or that it's better to try for an "and one."

If someone really took a hard look at many of the most successful teams with the most championships they'd find that they usually use all three scoring levels, not just 3's & shots at the rim.

I've been saying for a few weeks now that one of the only ways a team will have a chance against Kentucky is if they can hit midrange shots. It will be interesting to see how Wisconsin does against them. I'm willing to bet that if they are in the game down the stretch it will be partly due to them making those shots.