Perimeter defense = sadness

[EastStang]

Call me old fashioned, you don't win many games shooting 3's and nothing in the paint. We outscored them in the paint by an almost 5 to one margin. We forced turnovers. Larry adjusts on the fly it seems. We seem to have a jet pack that gets lit with about 7 minutes to go each game. They shot lights out and we still won. Most teams shoot at best 35% from the 3 arc. So if a team has 40 touches a game. And shoots 30, threes, that translates to about 32 points per game. Add in 20 points in the paint and that's 52 points. We win almost every game under 60 points.

[StallionsModelT]

Call me old fashioned, you don't win many games shooting 3's and nothing in the paint. We outscored them in the paint by an almost 5 to one margin. We forced turnovers. Larry adjusts on the fly it seems. We seem to have a jet pack that gets lit with about 7 minutes to go each game. They shot lights out and we still won. Most teams shoot at best 35% from the 3 arc. So if a team has 40 touches a game. And shoots 30, threes, that translates to about 32 points per game. Add in 20 points in the paint and that's 52 points. We win almost every game under 60 points.

You don't think ECU's tired legs and two road wins were critical too? That said the last 7 minutes was way, way better than the previous 33.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

Call me old fashioned, you don't win many games shooting 3's and nothing in the paint. We outscored them in the paint by an almost 5 to one margin. We forced turnovers. Larry adjusts on the fly it seems. We seem to have a jet pack that gets lit with about 7 minutes to go each game. They shot lights out and we still won. Most teams shoot at best 35% from the 3 arc. So if a team has 40 touches a game. And shoots 30, threes, that translates to about 32 points per game. Add in 20 points in the paint and that's 52 points. We win almost every game under 60 points.

Larry has said before he doesn't like to extend the defense to guard the perimeter since it opens up the inside.

Yes, there are times where it seems we are slow to adjust when somebody is going off on us.

[Stallion]

I've never seen a statistic but its conventional wisdom that teams don't shoot 3s well as game goes on and legs tire. Love to see some stats on that. We've seen it numerous times. BTW you can score 3 from Line or by getting a bucket and a foul. I love to see a NCAA stat on that too. Bet we are very high and it could be higher with better foul shooting from our big men. I do know we have been fouled more than just about any team in the country. Late in the game I'll always take my chances by taking it to the rim

[mrydel]

The strength of our offense is down low yet Nic rarely gets clean looks or anyone else for that matter. And our post players have to struggle to get off shots too a lot. What are other teams doing that we aren't on defense then?

Losing

[Stallion]

one reason is Nic is 5-9 and has to get MORE open for shot against your average 6-3 or 6-4 guard. Thank gawd he has the quickest release I've seen-really amazing

[CalallenStang]

Knowing nothing about bball defensive schemes....how would a team, ANY team, adjust to prevent these 3's? I had to listen on radio but everyone is saying they were contested shots.

3-2 Zone

[couch 'em]

Knowing nothing about bball defensive schemes....how would a team, ANY team, adjust to prevent these 3's? I had to listen on radio but everyone is saying they were contested shots.

3-2 Zone

if we are already contesting shots, is it a matter of double teaming the ball or having even more defensive pressure?

[CalallenStang]

Knowing nothing about bball defensive schemes....how would a team, ANY team, adjust to prevent these 3's? I had to listen on radio but everyone is saying they were contested shots.

3-2 Zone

if we are already contesting shots, is it a matter of double teaming the ball or having even more defensive pressure?

It's a matter of contesting ALL the shots, and not allowing a team to get a slightly open look by passing around the perimeter, etc

[Pony_Law]

If a team is patient and makes more than 3 passes you should usually be able to get a 3 with only a defender running out on you. Smu could have Ryan and sterling jacking up 30 threes a game if we wanted to. It is not a scheme issue. Getting a 3 is literally the easiest shot to generate. Nic who is a focus of every team we play (literally teams play with a help defender the whole game) still gets 4-6 good looks a game. A hot three point shooting team is dangerous but not as dangerous as a team that is getting good looks from 5 feet and closer like we were literally all game.

[Stallion]

exactly-its ball movement and passing that usually get the open 3s. The ball moves faster than players can recover

It wouldn't help SMU much because Ben E. and Manual aren't top shooters and SMU is dominant in the paint. I do think Sterling has the potential to be an excellent 3 point shooter in the future. His high 3 point % a blistering 44% is directly related to fact he only takes great open looks due to SMU's great ball movement

[Pony_Law]

exactly-its ball movement and passing that usually get the open 3s. The ball moves faster than players can recover

It wouldn't help SMU much because Ben E. and Manual aren't top shooters and SMU is dominant in the paint. I do think Sterling has the potential to be an excellent 3 point shooter in the future. His high 3 point % a blistering 44% is directly related to fact he only takes great open looks due to SMU's great ball movement

Sterling needs to just shoot more. He passes up a lot of good looks because he prides himself on being a defense glue guy. He has a nice stroke and I actually also love it when he goes into the lane for that floater.

[smusic 00]

Our three is the first pass in the opponents' fast break - Larry Brown (But Sterling should shoot more)

[Hoofbeat83]

Battered Wife Syndrome....you be happy with an NIT final appearance. I'm hoping and counting on that LB and the team have much bigger aspirations and won't be satisfied with good results b/c they have great expectations of themselves. Being putrid for the last 25 years has warped so many minds around here its incredible.

Or maybe we have a bunch of you have never actually seen good football and basketball teams face adversity and overcome it. I was there when about 5 teams took SMU greatest modern day football team in to the wire like TCU in Ft Worth 16-13, UH 20-14 in Dallas, Baylor 22-19 in Waco and Tech 34-27 in Lubbock or trailing Arkansas in closing minutes in Texas Stadium or trailing Pitt in Cotton Bowl heading into 4th Q. Great teams overcome adversity even on days they do not play to their potential. Its one of the most important things I've learned as a fan for 50 years and its so damn exciting to watch a team reach in its guts and pull through. Somebody has got to make a play. Gut check time is why we love and remember sports

Well said, and I was in the same stadiums as you in 1982. It's why I love watching sports. Watching UCONN right now in the tourney is the same thing for me. They reach down deep and make it happen no matter what. Of course we get everything the other team has...we're on top.

[sadderbudweiser]

Two things:

1) LAST YEAR it was lightly regarded teams just like ECU that kept us from dancing.
So we've at least slayed THAT dragon.

2) LB would probably agree that our perimeter d sucks and would admit (often) that he has been out-coached. That would be called both doing your ( his) job.... And Motivation 101.

Go Ponies. Beat Temple.... Any way you can.... Even with lousy perimeter D.