RE: Temple’s men’s 2020-2021 basketball season
One reason Temple has gone from posting a 13-5 conference record in the 2018-2019 season, to a 6-10 conference record in the 2019-20 season, to a 4-10 conference record in 2020-21, is because Temple has gone from averaging 8.6 steals per game in conference play, 1st in the conference, three season’s ago, to only garnering 4.2 steals per game in conference play this last season. That over a 50 percent reduction in steals per game.
The great ball stealers like Rose, who averaged 1.9 steals per game, and NPL who averaged 1.5 steals per game are now gone, and replaced by terrible ball stealers Battle who averaged but .3 steals per game, and Dunn who averaged a .5 steals per game this past season. Temple’s lack of playing a pressure defense also contributed to their poor stats making steals.
Temple this past season committed 2.1 more turnovers per game than their opponents in conference play, as compared to Temple committing an average of 3.2 less turnovers per game than their opponents three years ago. That’s a 5.3 turnover swing.
While one can only hope that Temple will reverse it’s turnover deficit, Temple is not likely to return anytime soon to the days when Temple committed less turnovers than it’s opponents. Until they do, it’s difficult seeing Temple being a successful team.
The turnover differential between opponents is a big factor in winning or losing games. At best, Temple may be able to break-even this season committing turnovers.
One can only hope that PG Hysier Miller a good shooter, ball stealers shooter, ball stealer, and hopefully a low turnover player, replaces Dunn’s playing time and such reduces both Temple’s negative turnover margin, and increases Temple’s scoring.
So one can only hope that Miller, Battle, and Williams, all start in Temple’s backcourt. When Dunn does play he should limit himself to rebounding, and driving to the hoop. .He should shoot far less than he did and that should cut down his high turnover rate.
Temple still needs to improve it’s offense, as three seasons ago, Temple shot 49 percent on two’s in conference play, but only shot 43 percent on two’s the last two losing seasons in conference play.
POSTSCRIPT: Someone on Temple’s coaching staff read this post as Temple made a concerted effort to increase it’s steals and reduce it’s turnover deficit.
As in conference play, Temple increased it’s steals 33 percent, from , 4.2 steals per game the season before to 6.6 steals per game this season. Strickland, White,Jourdain, and Williams, we’re largely responsible for the turnaround.
Conference opponents still averaged more steals than Temple did at 6.8 steals per game.
As a result of Temple making more steals, it reduced it’s turnover deficit in conference games from 2.1 to 1.6 turnovers per game.
(This post was last modified: 05-18-2022 07:34 AM by Miggy.)
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