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Justin Williams had a pretty good look at the improved offensive flow the last couple games. There was a lot on our ability to get things in transition and the secondary break, but also improvement in getting from the initial transition/secondary break to your motion sets. I know the article itself is paywalled (for those not subscribed to the Athletic) but his twitter feed has a couple examples.

Of course I think actually making open shots is a factor that can't be ignored as well.

Interesting. Hadn't thought about or really notice the secondary break thing. I recall that Roy Williams emphasized it.

I tend to agree with you that a lot of the improvement may simply be that they couldn't possibly continue to shoot it as bad as they were.

It's some of both to me. Basketball is a team sport and playing together in your system can make up for talent deficiencies. Why do veteran small conference schools make deep NCAA runs? Because they've been together and play great as a team. Coach K almost lost to UCF with RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Cam Reddish. That said we shot way above our talent level Sunday. If we continue to get more comfortable in our offense our offense will improve and we'll have more days where we get hot shooting but offensive talent is limited on this team. It's hard to see how over an extended period of time we would be able to play top 75 offense.

After how we shot at Memphis I’m expecting us to go about 3-26 from behind the arc in our next game. This team will average out to what is on the back of its baseball card.

(01-12-2022 09:35 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  After how we shot at Memphis I’m expecting us to go about 3-26 from behind the arc in our next game. This team will average out to what is on the back of its baseball card.

Hmmm maybe that’s our issue. These guys are supposed to be playing basketball right?

I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

(01-12-2022 09:35 AM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  After how we shot at Memphis I’m expecting us to go about 3-26 from behind the arc in our next game. This team will average out to what is on the back of its baseball card.

I think giving more minutes to the better players and combinations helps. There are still going to be off nights shooting the 3 ball but you can overcome that with good offense that creates better looks and good defense.

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

I think you're going to be waiting a while. Also his superstar brother is averaging 2.9 ppg and a rebound and an assist in 11 mpg. I think they may have been a little over-hyped.

Our 5-game average Adjusted Offense score on T-Rank is the highest it's been all year. Given that Tulane was our worst offensive performance by far, that seems to indicate we're definitely getting better on that side of the ball.

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I'd be curious to see how the fans waiting for Madsen to bust out correlate to those calling for Blue Smith to finally get his chance on the outside.

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I think the same can be said for DDJ. After shooting 36% his last year at Michigan, some thought he would come in and be a decent 3 pt shooter. Here we are 35 games later and people are still expecting him to get out of his 26% funk. Maybe 2019 at Michigan was the exception instead of the rule.

(01-12-2022 12:21 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I think the same can be said for DDJ. After shooting 36% his last year at Michigan, some thought he would come in and be a decent 3 pt shooter. Here we are 35 games later and people are still expecting him to get out of his 26% funk. Maybe 2019 at Michigan was the exception instead of the rule.

DDJ is more scorer than shooter. Volume guy that would benefit from having a real alpha to play off of.

(01-12-2022 12:21 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I think the same can be said for DDJ. After shooting 36% his last year at Michigan, some thought he would come in and be a decent 3 pt shooter. Here we are 35 games later and people are still expecting him to get out of his 26% funk. Maybe 2019 at Michigan was the exception instead of the rule.

DDJ brings more to the table that just one supposed skill though...that's the fundamental flaw with comparing those two.

(01-12-2022 12:06 PM)geef Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I'd be curious to see how the fans waiting for Madsen to bust out correlate to those calling for Blue Smith to finally get his chance on the outside.

And those thinking Evan Prater is going to be a Heisman finalist in three years.

That venn diagram is probably a very large circle at this point.

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

Bolded, we kept begging Mick to find a three point assassin to come off the bench during his teams' dreadful scoring droughts. Maybe someone thought Madsen would fill that role for Wes on this team.

I haven't given up hope completely. Depending upon the extent of that hip injury we know it doesn't take much in terms of body alignment to throw a shooter off. But if we don't see some sign of it soon it seems we still have great need in this area.

And it's always frustrating to watch some obscure reserve come off the bench for X in the Shootout and drop a dozen points on our 'Cats. Where does Wes find "that guy"? The Help Wanted sign should be up for at least a situational sharpshooter on the recruiting trail.

(01-12-2022 12:42 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 12:21 PM)Cat-Man Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I think the same can be said for DDJ. After shooting 36% his last year at Michigan, some thought he would come in and be a decent 3 pt shooter. Here we are 35 games later and people are still expecting him to get out of his 26% funk. Maybe 2019 at Michigan was the exception instead of the rule.

DDJ brings more to the table that just one supposed skill though...that's the fundamental flaw with comparing those two.

I agree. I'm not trying to compare the 2 players overall. But I know some have commented that he will eventually heat up from 3. Just stating that DDJ's game is not from 3 pt land and he should probably adjust his game as such. (ie. stop shooting them as much)

As far as Madsen. I think something weird is happening there. I don't view him as a great shooter, but IMO he had some productive games where he would hit a key mid-range shot or 3 ptr here and there or would be active on defense and get a deflection or two to spark a run. Now he seems like he is lost and/or has no confidence.

I've been messing around with https://barttorvik.com/ Teamcast feature. UC needs to run off a great stretch here to get into tournament position. Something like 10 of their next 11 (every game is winnable, the two toughest games are both at home).

(01-12-2022 09:30 AM)RealDeal Wrote:  It's some of both to me. Basketball is a team sport and playing together in your system can make up for talent deficiencies. Why do veteran small conference schools make deep NCAA runs? Because they've been together and play great as a team. Coach K almost lost to UCF with RJ Barrett, Zion Williamson, and Cam Reddish. That said we shot way above our talent level Sunday. If we continue to get more comfortable in our offense our offense will improve and we'll have more days where we get hot shooting but offensive talent is limited on this team. It's hard to see how over an extended period of time we would be able to play top 75 offense.

Bolded, I think that's why Mick's teams won a lot of games. We can argue about their ceiling in terms of talent come March, but they almost always defended like a well oiled machine.

Conversely, watching Memphis Sunday it would be frustrating being a Tigers fan. So much talent on the court but I'm at the point where I don't believe Penny will ever orchestrate a deep run in the NCAA. Those guys just don't stay focused consistently throughout the game. As long as we're in the American, I wish them well; Memphis advancing would give the AAC more postseason credibility which is still badly needed.

Thankfully though, we don't have to carry that AAC banner (or millstone) after next year. Conference basketball bona fides instantly move to the top of the heap playing in the B12.

(01-12-2022 12:43 PM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 12:06 PM)geef Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 11:58 AM)BearcatMan Wrote:  

(01-12-2022 10:43 AM)levydl Wrote:  I'm still waiting for Madsen to break out LOL.

If I hear another commentator say anything about Madsen being a good shooter, I swear to god lol.

In Red and Black, that man is shooting 26-90 (29%) from behind the arc in 28 games played, including a 5-9 game that skews the average by almost 4%.

I'd be curious to see how the fans waiting for Madsen to bust out correlate to those calling for Blue Smith to finally get his chance on the outside.

And those thinking Evan Prater is going to be a Heisman finalist in three years.

That venn diagram is probably a very large circle at this point.

Bman I think this one is kind of hard to tell at this point. Since he has never been given the chance to run the whole offense yet.