3P Shooting for Next Year

[GHSWolverines]

Clinigan can stretch the floor and shoot the three.

 

[tzznandrew]

Clinigan can stretch the floor and shoot the three.

I'll believe that when I see it somewhere besides a highly edited video of him either in practice or playing inferior talent. I can make a video where I look pretty damn good if I wanted...

 

[CallMeBruce]

Just one man’s opinion, but folks here that tout Polley’s 3-point ability are looking through rose-colored glasses. Let me tell you something - he’s not very good. He doesn’t shoot enough 3’s to be effective. He doesn’t shoot unless he’s WIDE open, which makes it easy to close him out. And he doesn’t hit enough shots when he does take them.

The Huskies need better 3-point shooters - on this we all agree. UConn also needs better ball movement and spacing to get better looks for those shooters. The roster, as it currently stands, does not have an outside shooting threat that concerns any opponent. I’m hopeful that this changes for 2021-22.

Polley averaged 9.4 three-point attempts per 40 minutes. He took three-pointers on 14.2% of possessions while he was on the floor. Who, in your mind, takes enough threes to be "effective?"

 

[CallMeBruce]

Here is the glaring problem:

SF: Martin/Jackson

Martin shot 32% - Shot 1-17 from the 'Nova game to the end of the season. 3-22 since the Providence game.
And then there's Jackson. He shot 2-17 the entire year. Can't win many games with your SF shooting 3's like this. I can see Hawk/Akok seeing time at the 3.

Sanogo isn't a C. He's a 4 with limited range. He's 6 ft 9. There's guys on a lot of teams with his height banging 3s with consistency.

This where is Clingan comes in as a true 5 in the year after next which will put Sanogo in a position where he can do his most damage.

How long has it been since you've watched a college basketball game? 15 years?

 

[ZenConn]

How long has it been since you've watched a college basketball game? 15 years?

Yup. I think I saw a few 6 9 guys play the point and forward positions in this year's tournament though.

 

[navery12]

Yup. I think I saw a few 6 9 guys play the point and forward positions in this year's tournament though.

So then you'd agree we should look at a player's skillset to decide their position and not just say 6'9" = Power Forward right?

 

[ZenConn]

no we're not. he's the best C UConn has had since oriakhi

No he isn't. You don't think Andre Drummond was a center?

 

[ZenConn]

So then you'd agree we should look at a player's skillset to decide their position and not just say 6'9" = Power Forward right?

You and @bendm are right in saying that Sanogo's skillset caters to being a center - albeit having a few more inches to his frame would benefit him greatly.

 

[Jbirdp5]

Glass half full thought. If Cole is at the 1, Hawkins is at the 2, akok at the 4 (hitting 3s at a decent clip) then we will be ok with Jackson and Martin at the 3 not being great shooters can be more acceptable.
I’ll take off the rose colored glasses and ask this question. If we bring in a marksman to play the 2/3 who does it hurt more, Martin or Jackson? Who’s minutes do you see being the most negatively impacted?

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

Glass half full thought. If Cole is at the 1, Hawkins is at the 2, akok at the 4 (hitting 3s at a decent clip) then we will be ok with Jackson and Martin at the 3 not being great shooters can be more acceptable.
I’ll take off the rose colored glasses and ask this question. If we bring in a marksman to play the 2/3 who does it hurt more, Martin or Jackson? Who’s minutes do you see being the most negatively impacted?

Second glass half full thought: shooting is an issue for this team but we've been talking about it so much that the extent of the problem has been blown wildly out of proportion.

 

[tzznandrew]

Second glass half full thought: shooting is an issue for this team but we've been talking about it so much that the extent of the problem has been blown wildly out of proportion.

If you just assume some natural progression from a number of our players, we'd be a slightly above average shooting team.

You don't need to bomb 40% average from 3 to be a very good team.

 

[superjohn]

If you just assume some natural progression from a number of our players, we'd be a slightly above average shooting team.

You don't need to bomb 40% average from 3 to be a very good.

Exactly, we have to get better but reasonable improvements should get us there and we don't have to have a team full of snipers to win like some are implying. We had someone posting yesterday that every single top team the past couple of years was a great three point shooting team. I thought they were absolutely overseeded but Houston got it done this season with the 102nd best three point shooting team, Kansas was the #1 overall seed last season and they were the 117th best three point shooting team.

 

[ToolzieFan]

Our KenPom offensive efficiency was 27th and our defensive efficiency was 29th. Yes, Bouknight helped immensely, and yes, we clearly could use a playmaker who can get an easy bucket or make big shots. However, getting a ton of offensive rebounds and taking care of the ball also goes a long way. I think we’ll be solid next year either way, but another shooter could raise our ceiling quite a bit.

 

[bendm]

No he isn't. You don't think Andre Drummond was a center?

forgot about him. so sanogo is our best C since drummond...that's your only rebuttal to my half a dozen other points?

 

[ZenConn]

forgot about him. so sanogo is our best C since drummond. but that's your only rebuttal to my half a dozen other points?

Look above. ☝️ I mentioned that yes for Sanogo's skill set, it does make him a center.

 

[the Q]

Exactly, we have to get better but reasonable improvements should get us there and we don't have to have a team full of snipers to win like some are implying. We had someone posting yesterday that every single top team the past couple of years was a great three point shooting team. I thought they were absolutely overseeded but Houston got it done this season with the 102nd best three point shooting team, Kansas was the #1 overall seed last season and they were the 117th best three point shooting team.

Kansas also had arguably the two best defensive players in the entire country.

That’s a tough formula to replicate

 

[tzznandrew]

Kansas also had arguably the two best defensive players in the entire country.

That’s a tough formula to replicate

Sure, but if you take out Adams and Bouknight, the team shot 34.8% from three. That's with Jackson (I also didn't count a Hurley make and a Springs miss). But that alone is already almost a point and a half better as a team.

That's .05 worse than this year's Villanova and .04 worse than Alabama.

We can have a very good team that is a legitimate contender if our players just make basic, natural progression in their shooting. Hell, Cole shot 41% from three after February once he got caught up to speed.

 

[superjohn]

Kansas also had arguably the two best defensive players in the entire country.

That’s a tough formula to replicate

I'm pretty confident UConn will lead the country in blocked shots again next season and have a great team defense.

 

[T-Squared]

Just one man's opinion - not a good post.

Lol - ok, Elton John.

 

[NJHusky]

He should be working like crazy on finishing at the tin,

This. He can’t be missing so many bunnies.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Second glass half full thought: shooting is an issue for this team but we've been talking about it so much that the extent of the problem has been blown wildly out of proportion.

If you just assume some natural progression from a number of our players, we'd be a slightly above average shooting team.

You don't need to bomb 40% average from 3 to be a very good team.

Or perhaps, figure out why Martin regressed? He was our best 3 point shooter midway through the season. With Jackson, I think we can all be relatively certain that he is working on that part of his game. I would be shocked if Akok isn't working on it as well. I'd be shocked if Sanogo isn't working on adding a face-up 12-15 footer, which would make him even more dangerous.

Gaffney has a really nice looking stroke. I hope he has the confidence to let it fly more often. Too much gloom and doom about shooting here.

 

[tzznandrew]

Or perhaps, figure out why Martin regressed? He was our best 3 point shooter midway through the season.

I think he just regressed to the mean. He shot 31.7% on 243 attempts at URI and he shot 32% this year on 50 attempts. He might be able to get that to 35% or so, which would be nice, but this just may be who he is.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

I think he just regressed to the mean. He shot 31.7% on 243 attempts at URI and he shot 32% this year on 50 attempts. He might be able to get that to 35% or so, which would be nice, but this just may be who he is.

Yeah I think Martin is who he is. He's going to have nights where he goes 4-7 from 3 and nights where he doesn't hit anything. Honestly, it's largely the same with his finishing around the rim. He just doesn't have a hell of a lot of touch offensively. When he's on he looks fantastic. His value is in rebounding, running, defending, being a rugged physical presence, and hopefully making the occasional shot.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I think he just regressed to the mean. He shot 31.7% on 243 attempts at URI and he shot 32% this year on 50 attempts. He might be able to get that to 35% or so, which would be nice, but this just may be who he is.

If he didn't get there by going 1-17 or whatever it was, I'd agree. That seemed really odd.

In any event I agree there is room to hope for improvement.

 

[jibsey]

I'm looking for Gaffney to attack the rim a lot this year. I hope he's working on his shot.

 

[Storrs South]

Tyrese from 3 is hard to figure out. I'd be inclined to agree it was a regression to the mean, but it could also be he didn't have the ball in his hands as much.

Earlier in the season, it was really him or Bouknight driving the offense depending Bouk's health. He shot 44% from 3 while Bouk was out. When Bouk came back, not only was Bouk taking a lot of touches but Cole had also emerged as a legit 3-level scorer. Plus Sanogo had emerged making Tyrese the fourth option. He shot 15% upon Bouk's return.

Could be less a regression to the mean and more of what he experienced at URI with Fatts & Dowtin taking a lot of the touches away from him.

The quality of competition was not any different during his cold streak missing all his 3s in successive games v. Georgetown, Marquette, Seton Hall and Georgetown again.

My bet is he just started to force the issue with the limited touches he got and then became a mental thing. If he could get to 35% from 3, it could be huge for his game and for the success of the team.

 

[alphasigko]

IMO DOOMED!