Correct Me If my B-Ball Logic is Flawed...

But you don't get too far in college hoops by constantly jacking up 3-pointers. Teams that do that may hit streaks, and may beat lesser competition, but it just doesn't work against the big boys.



And I maintain that opinion, regardless of whether we beat ASU or not.

There are many teams that live and die by the 3 in the Big Dance.

Maybe you could clarify what you consider "constantly jacking up 3-pointers." Do you have a percentage in mind?

snoscythe wrote:
Maybe you could clarify what you consider "constantly jacking up 3-pointers." Do you have a percentage in mind?

It seemed to me we were shooting them mostly when ASU was on a run. This isn't just an observation from tonight, but from last season as well. Granted, ASU shot many more than we did.

I don't want you to think I'm just saying this based off of tonight's game, this is just something that came to my mind, it's a subject I've been meaning to bring up for a long time, actually.

FWIW, here's what the past five NCAA tourney champs have shot (3-point attempts as a percentage of total shot attempts):



UNC 2005 = 30%

UF 2006 = 35%

UF 2007 = 34%

KU 2008 = 30%

UNC 2009 = 27%



After tonight, BYU this season is shooting 33%.

snoscythe wrote:
FWIW, here's what the past five NCAA tourney champs have shot (3-point attempts as a percentage of total shot attempts):



UNC 2005 = 30%

UF 2006 = 35%

UF 2007 = 34%

KU 2008 = 30%

UNC 2009 = 27%



After tonight, BYU this season is shooting 33%.

I'm not sure that proves much, other than that recent champs haven't been all that hot from beyond the arch.



Besides, you can't just look at percentages. Establishing an aggressive inside game does so much for a team.

Think of a team that shoots tons of 3's at a good %, but shoots too many - as you would a football team that racks up tons of passing yards, but doesn't and/or can't run the ball (think of, say, Houston)



What does running the ball do? It allows you to manage the clock better. It wears down the defense. It opens up your passing game. It keeps the defense guessing, and makes your offense less predictable.

3 Pointers = Passing

Inside Shots = Running



Surely you see what I'm getting at

Italics wrote:

FWIW, here's what the past five NCAA tourney champs have shot (3-point attempts as a percentage of total shot attempts):



UNC 2005 = 30%

UF 2006 = 35%

UF 2007 = 34%

KU 2008 = 30%

UNC 2009 = 27%



After tonight, BYU this season is shooting 33%.

I'm not sure that proves much, other than that recent champs haven't been all that hot from beyond the arch.



Besides, you can't just look at percentages. Establishing an aggressive inside game does so much for a team.

Think of a team that shoots tons of 3's at a good %, but shoots too many - as you would a football team that racks up tons of passing yards, but doesn't and/or can't run the ball (think of, say, Houston)



What does running the ball do? It allows you to manage the clock better. It wears down the defense. It opens up your passing game. It keeps the defense guessing, and makes your offense less predictable.

3 Pointers = Passing

Inside Shots = Running



Surely you see what I'm getting at

Those percentages are not their 3pt percentage. Those percentages represent how many threes they attempt. Example--in 2006, 35% of Florida's shot attempts were three point attempts.



What it demonstrates is that BYU is attempting three-pointers at about the same rate as team that win NCAA championships. These stats just show that if there is a winning mix for your ratio of 2 point attempts to 3 point attempts, BYU is in the vicinity as proven by the five most recent champions. Isn't that what you were asking?



In short, yes, the general philosophy is that "constantly jacking up threes" doesn't win championships. However, to criticize BYU for "constantly jacking up threes" is a pretty baseless position as they are attempting them at the same rate as championship teams.

Open shots are open shots if you have the guys that can hit them. You'll never see Fredette to have a game like that again. This could have been a 30 point blowout if he had been on tonight.

it was still a blowout

I hate watching Tav miss lots of shots, but his late 3 helped the MC fans feel like the game was finally won.



It was actually Fredette with the 4-5 airballs and bad shots that he just threw up that made me cringe today. Not the normal 4-5 JT misses within 30 seconds people are talking about.

Duke and North Carolina are pretty decent and they shoot a ton of threes. The fact is a 3 isnt a hard shot in college, so its actually something a lot of colleges are encouraging ...... when they are open.

You also see quite a bit of zone which makes it possible to swing it and get some good looks from downtown, I like the three pointer.

You also see teams that shoot the 3 AND have a powerful inside presence. Sorry, but we don't. When we shoot poor 3's, we sink like the titanic. (how do you like that analogy? Pretty good, i know)

One problem is that BYU, at times, abandons any sort of post play and tends to UP-CHUCK threes for extended periods even when they aren't falling.

beauso79 wrote:
One problem is that BYU, at times, abandons any sort of post play and tends to UP-CHUCK threes for extended periods even when they aren't falling.

Preach it, brother

The stupid thing it's not like Miles or Hartsock CAN'T score IF given the opportunity down low. They just need more touches closer to the basket,.

Miles cant really score anywhere

I think the point should be moving the ball to a spot where you get an open shot...if it's a 2 or a 3 isn't as significant as if the shot is open or not. If we are shooting well defended forced 3's then there is a problem, if we are moving it around and inside-out and getting open 3's that's OK even if we miss a few the percentages will work out. To do that you have to have an inside presence to keep the defence honest. I'm not sure Miles can consistently do that.



Go Cougs



L Hatton

Louisville KY

I've seen a lot of the argument of, "well, if they're open, take them."

But the fact of the matter is - and I'm not saying this isn't the case - our guys should be spending more time practicing on how to get the open INSIDE shot, or the open layup. On any team or league I've ever played basketball in, I'd say a good 95% of our actual practice time was spent on plays that got the easy inside shot.

Italics wrote:
I've seen a lot of the argument of, "well, if they're open, take them."

But the fact of the matter is - and I'm not saying this isn't the case - our guys should be spending more time practicing on how to get the open INSIDE shot, or the open layup. On any team or league I've ever played basketball in, I'd say a good 95% of our actual practice time was spent on plays that got the easy inside shot.

That's the difference between your leagues and NCAA. These guys have proven they can shoot.



Having said that, I wish BYU had more of an inside presence, but they will live and die with the 3 until they do. I don't know who is going to step up and become that presence, but someday it might happen. I feel BYU often gets one dimensional which leads to predictability which leads to opposing defense having their way. Very frustrating to watch the last couple UNLV vs BYU games because of this.