While I don't know how much regression there has been, there certainly hasn't been the progression that everyone had hoped for. I have my opinions on the individual pieces, but I'm not going to be critical of individuals here. From an x's and o's standpoint on offense, a lot of the problems have been predicated on the Bobcats inability to shoot the ball consistently. Last year's team shot 37.5% from the 3-point line, this year, 3 percentage points lower. Tyler from last year to this year from the 3 -- 42.9 last year, 37.7 this year, Harry, 40.9 last year, 37.9 this year. Sam 37.6 last year, 31.6 this year. Joe last year, 36.7, 28.1 this year, Zach 27.6 last year, 21.4 this year. When you don't shoot the three well, teams are more apt to play driving lanes more and the floor is not as spread. When the Bobcats run high screen/roll, the opponents aren't respecting anyone that is the screener ... they sag off of the two guys other than Tyler to take the roll away and no one is really a threat to shoot the ball that is setting the screen. You could try Tyler and Harry in the two man game, but then the opponent lifts a third guy up to help on the drive and they stay with Tyler. So, why aren't there more shooters on the roster? Well, as a coach, what indicators were there that the same group of guys wouldn't shoot as well this year?John K wrote:
I don't know enough about the x's and o's of college hoops to even attempt to explain why we're having such a disappointing season. I just know that something has gone wrong. After going 11-7 in conference last year, and 10-3 in the final 13 games, and then starting out 4-0 this year, I was really optimistic about the season. But now we're 2-7 since that 4-0 start, and likely to finish no better than 6-12 or 7-11. 4 of our final 5 games are against the 4 best teams in the conference, while only 1 of our first 13 games was against those 4 top teams. 5 of our 6 conference wins have come against the 4 worst teams in the conference, and to add insult to injury, we lost to last place NAU at home...their only BSC win so far. We have clearly regressed badly since last season, with essentially the same roster. Didn't we return almost everyone from last year's team?. So what gives?
So, you've seen the offer go out to a kid that appears to be able to really shoot the ball. MSLACAT follows the recruiting closely, so he can address whether the incoming freshmen are known as shooters or not. From what I remember, one is supposed to be a pretty good scorer, one is long and rangy. The other kids they offer late will give you a pretty good idea of what holes the coaches feel they need to fill for next year.
