Room for improvement

[K1 Lover]

In your opinion, what do you perceive to be our team's biggest problem area currently?

In November I would've said that it's Kam's susceptibility to foul trouble, but this is something that he's improved upon significantly. Now I'd say it's the interior D - particularly our inability to defend backdoor cuts.

Let me know your thoughts, I'm simply curious as to what others want to see fixed/cleaned up most.

[tower912]

3 pt shooting, bench.

[GoldenEagles03]

In your opinion, what do you perceive to be our team's biggest problem area currently?

In November I would've said that it's Kam's susceptibility to foul trouble, but this is something that he's improved upon significantly. Now I'd say it's the interior D - particularly our inability to defend backdoor cuts.

Let me know your thoughts, I'm simply curious as to what others want to see fixed/cleaned up most.

3 point shooting. Bench was fine today.

[The Sultan]

3 point shooting. Lack of rim protection.

[DoctorV]

- Over-dependence on Kam Jones.
- No legitimate backup point guard to run the offense.
- A team that isn't as efficient or capable as we thought offensively, especially against better and longer/stronger competition.
- Difficulty finding the open man and creating open lanes in the HC offense.
- Poor and extremely inconsistent outside shooting for a team that values the 3P shot so much. The above all play into this one. I also think that Jop and Kam in particular work so hard, both on the defensive end and on the ball offensively (esp Kam on the latter) that the legs and mind aren't so fresh on the outside shot.
In years past, their main responsibility was to make 3P baskets and score. This season, they've got a lot more on their plate.

I do think the defense will be ok barring health concerns. I've said before that it's much easier to beat teams when you keep them in the 60s and low 70s, but not when you score 57. I also think the defense is much more effective when the guys are playing with confidence due to offensive success.

Gotta figure out a way to unlock the offense

[MuggsyB]

We're better defensively this year but significantly worse on the offensive end.  Last year we had three guys who could make plays off the dribble, this year Kam has to do it alone.  Our passing in particular has taken a big drop.  The question is how do we find higher percentage shots vs a set defense?

No one expects Stevie, Chase, or Jop to be CP3.  Or Kolek or Oso.  But their inability to see the defense on help and move the rock is absolutely killing us.  Move the freaking basketball, basic fundamentals.  If Kam is hard doubled attack in open space, spread the floor, and pass the ball when help comes.  Instead, what is happening most often is trying to score off the dribble downhill no matter what, giving it back to Kam immediately, or taking very difficult shots in isolation. 

We're way too predictable and impatient.  It's okay to want to play fast but we need more motion off the ball, better spacing, and less usage from Kam.  In the Purdue game he dominated without forcing anything.  Moving the basketbal with far less iso crap is what must be done for starters.  All of them are capable, it's basic poise and fundamental hoops.   We can't simply rely on scoring from points off off turns. 

[BM1090]

We're better defensively this year but significantly worse on the offensive end.  Last year we had three guys who could make plays off the dribble, this year Kam has to do it alone.  Our passing in particular has taken a big drop.  The question is how do we find higher percentage shots vs a set defense?

No one expects Stevie, Chase, or Jop to be CP3.  Or Kolek or Oso.  But their inability to see the defense on help and move the rock is absolutely killing us.  Move the freaking basketball, basic fundamentals.  If Kam is hard doubled attack in open space, spread the floor, and pass the ball when help comes.  Instead, what is happening most often is trying to score off the dribble downhill no matter what, giving it back to Kam immediately, or taking very difficult shots in isolation. 

We're way too predictable and impatient.  It's okay to want to play fast but we need more motion off the ball, better spacing, and less usage from Kam.  In the Purdue game he dominated without forcing anything.  Moving the basketbal with far less iso crap is what must be done for starters.  All of them are capable, it's basic poise and fundamental hoops.   We can't simply rely on scoring from points off off turns. 

Muggs, I agree our offense is worse this year. But we're actually slightly better than we finished last year in adjusted efficiency right now. 118.5 to 118.2.

I'd expect that number to drop below 118.2 before the end of the season though.

[MarquetteMike1977]

In your opinion, what do you perceive to be our team's biggest problem area currently?

In November I would've said that it's Kam's susceptibility to foul trouble, but this is something that he's improved upon significantly. Now I'd say it's the interior D - particularly our inability to defend backdoor cuts.

Let me know your thoughts, I'm simply curious as to what others want to see fixed/cleaned up most.

Some of those back door cuts by Xavier seemed to involve illegal screens but yes would agree with inability to defend back door cuts is one of our areas of improvement. We are usually decent at getting in passing lanes creating turnovers and getting deflections. But in the Xavier game today deflections and turnovers created were down.

[MuggsyB]

Some of those back door cuts by Xavier seemed to involve illegal screens but yes would agree with inability to defend back door cuts is one of our areas of improvement. We are usually decent at getting in passing lanes creating turnovers and getting deflections. But in the Xavier game today deflections and turnovers created were down.

The defense wasn't the prob today even if we forced fewer turns. 

[MuggsyB]

Muggs, I agree our offense is worse this year. But we're actually slightly better than we finished last year in adjusted efficiency right now. 118.5 to 118.2.

I'd expect that number to drop below 118.2 before the end of the season though.

Someone mentioned that we take too many threes and added the stat that we're 13th in 3pt attempts but like 220th in percentage.  Shaka isn't going to change his philosophy but from what I've seen we're really poor shooting the trifecta off the dribble.  I'm very curious what that specific stat is.  We also got to the line 7 times today.  Our 2pt percentage has been abysmal in recent games as well and we generally only take lay-ups or Kam has his runner/floater.  My contention is we play too fast and off of one foot too often once we are in the paint and in scoring positions.  It's like a Rhino charge but weren't not Rhinos.  Focus and score the basketball or draw fouls. 

[Zog from Margo]

MU needs to have 3s come off passes from the paint. To get there, they need much more focus on attacking the rim early. And teach Gold to post-up. As of now, MU has too many 3s off perimeter passes and dribbling.

[Newsdreams]

MU is getting plenty of open 3 pt looks. Make them at 35ish% and teams will have to open the paint. Teams are mostly waiting for Kam/Jop/Ross penetration and collapsing on them or really making them change their shots.

[Uncle Rico]

The biggest area of improvement needed is a better fanbase

[The Sultan]

MU is getting plenty of open 3 pt looks. Make them at 35ish% and teams will have to open the paint. Teams are mostly waiting for Kam/Jop/Ross penetration and collapsing on them or really making them change their shots.

Yep. If I have one issue with Shaka it's that its hard to run a five out system if you don't have consistent outside shooting. I have no idea if this is a recruiting issue or something else, but the system seems to be doing what they want it to do, but just like the last two seasons, we are going to have stretches where we don't hit our shots.

[Newsdreams]

Yep. If I have one issue with Shaka it's that its hard to run a five out system if you don't have consistent outside shooting. I have no idea if this is a recruiting issue or something else, but the system seems to be doing what they want it to do, but just like the last two seasons, we are going to have stretches where we don't hit our shots.

He says he expects 3pt shooting to be volatile and inconsistent. MU is on the wrong side of volatile, hopefully gets on the right side soon.

[Uncle Rico]

He says he expects 3pt shooting to be volatile and inconsistent. MU is on the wrong side of volatile, hopefully gets on the right side soon.

Last 3 games:

35% against DePaul

37% against GTown

32 % against Creighton

Match any of those and they win.  Simple game

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Honestly we just need Kam to have some good old regression to the mean and I think we will be fine. Defenses are sagging and aggressively collapsing every time we have the ball. If Kam starts shooting like the 38% career shooter he is, they wont be able to do that.

Like last year, the scout on our team is currently easy on offense. Clog the lane because if they start hitting their threes we aint winning anyway.

[Shooter McGavin]

Honestly we just need Kam to have some good old regression to the mean and I think we will be fine. Defenses are sagging and aggressively collapsing every time we have the ball. If Kam starts shooting like the 38% career shooter he is, they wont be able to do that.

Like last year, the scout on our team is currently easy on offense. Clog the lane because if they start hitting their threes we aint winning anyway.

Yep

[Zog from Margo]

Teams have adjusted defensively. In the last 3 games, two teams went zone and one played a collapsing man-to-man. As a result, MU has played four bad halves out of six against teams that aren't particularly strong. The consensus  appears to be that no adjustments are needed because all MU needs to do is start making shots. That would certainly help. Finger crossed.

My guess, however, is that the staff is exploring adjustments that might help the team make more shots more consistently. For example, the last two games Gold has put more arc on his three. Apparently, that was at someone's suggestion.

[We R Final Four]

Probably Scoop's.

[K1 Lover]

Teams have adjusted defensively. In the last 3 games, two teams went zone and one played a collapsing man-to-man. As a result, MU has played four bad halves out of six against teams that aren't particularly strong. The consensus  appears to be that no adjustments are needed because all MU needs to do is start making shots. That would certainly help. Finger crossed.

My guess, however, is that the staff is exploring adjustments that might help the team make more shots more consistently. For example, the last two games Gold has put more arc on his three. Apparently, that was at someone's suggestion.

Maybe Kam and Ben decided to switch 3pt-shooting forms with each other? I noticed that Kam's arcs seemed to be flatter than usual yesterday.

[Its DJOver]

Transition. I know Shaka/the stats say that any open three is a good one, but seeing 3-on-1 situations ending in zero points because of a missed pull up three with the rebound going out of bounds feels like such a momentum killer. The "worst case" in that scenario should be ft attempts.  Further, even when we attack, with the acceptation of Chase, it seems like we avoid contact to attempt a more difficult lay-up rather than just taking the contact and getting fouled.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

Maybe Kam and Ben decided to switch 3pt-shooting forms with each other? I noticed that Kam's arcs seemed to be flatter than usual yesterday.

Kam seems to have changed his shoot in each of the four years.