Jackson and Martin missed front ends in the last two minutes | Page 2 | The Boneyard

Jackson and Martin missed front ends in the last two minutes

Unacceptable performance last night you will have those it’s a matter of how you respond to it, so that it’s not a trend of things to come.
The thing us, while the first half was generally lousy, part of that was the right shooters missing a bigger per cent than usual of shots they can make. Not the best performance but made to look worse by the right shot not falling. Against a better team it wouldn’t turn out so well.
 
Are our players allowed to have bad games or are they expected to be perfect every outing?
They will vary in their play.
They are college-aged, and we are fans of essentially minor league ball, watching players' talents develop (or not) near the beginning of their (possible) careers.

This is why coaching decisions & game structure are so essential.

There was a media timeout at 5:23 or so, when I was shocked to see how little relationship the style of play synced up with the score & clock. It was definitively time to be all-in on closing out the game, but the team didn't look like they knew or that anybody had told them.

From all appearances, they had already scored almost as many points as they were going to need if they were disciplined enough to let DePaul take hurried shots & foul itself out, work the clock, protect the ball, and maximize the benefits of free throw drills.
 
You think that practicing foul shots a million times will make every one Bill Sharman?
I bet nobody does.
But there's a lot more room for improvement without setting up a standard of perfection.
 
For the heck of it I looked at our FT % by player and ditto for a few other well known programs, Auburn, UCLA, Kentucky, Duke, Villanova, Gonzaga and Baylor. Obviously a small, unscientific sample. The only of those with more players than UConn in the 70% and higher range are Villanova and Kentucky. Villanova is borderline insane. The point being, I’m pretty sure our foul shooting training isn’t deficient. We are one of the few of those with 2 in the high 80s, Cole and Polley who doesn’t get to the line that much and missed one yesterday. Two of the best foul shooters in our program history, Wes B shot 85% in his best year and Ray 81 in his best. RJ is now just under 90%. Top notch.
 
I bet nobody does.
But there's a lot more room for improvement without setting up a standard of perfection.
If these players were robots it would be way less interesting. Every foul shot is distinct from every other. They practice plenty.
 
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I have the exact same feeling. Love the way he plays, but do not want him on the line when nursing a lead. If it is just close and the defense is just going to play, I'll take Martin out on the floor. If you know the other team is going to foul, I'm hesitant to have him on the floor because he struggles from the line in those situations and can be sketcy handling the ball a bit.
 
If these players were robots it would be way less interesting. Every foul shot is distinct from every other. They practice plenty.
You of all (OK, many) people should know that automatons don't make suitable strawmen, and perfection isn't attainable so why bother with such a comparison?

In 2014, you myst have shared my perception that the free throws were going in, and opponents weren't going to catch up.

Even if I don't necessarily agree with his strategy in not fouling, Calipari (who I'm loathe to quote favorably) nonetheless said, paraphrasing, "You knew they were gonna make them."

I submit that you'd like a team more like that, and, in fact, the team went 7-7 in OT against St John's, after being 10-19 in regulation.

It's improvements by degrees in little things that will determine if this team makes it to the second weekend or beyond.
 
I bet nobody does.
But there's a lot more room for improvement without setting up a standard of perfection.
I hope everyone here watched Providence/Marquette. Aside from it being a fun game, both those teams on the average shoot at a better FT clip than UConn and they were no great shakes down the stretch including some good foul shooters. Seriously, some here have expectations that are out of this world as far as our team goes. I’d bet the ranch our team practices foul shooting as typically as any team and generally perform around the average. Of course it depends on the shooter. Cole on the average makes between 1 and 3 more out of 10 than the others. But he misses them too. Practice definitely helps, but getting a player from the low 60s to low 70s is more likely than getting a player in the low 70s to the mid 80s even with practice til the cows come home. For whatever reason, some people have more ability than others to repeat with precision the same desired physical process than others. Touring pro golfers almost all practice a lot but some are just better at controlling the ball flight or putting than others regardless of practice.

ETA. If a team that went 7-7 in OT that went 10-19 in regulation suddenly figured out how to shoot foul shots during a time out it doesn't make a shred of sense to me that the practice routine is the issue. It depends on who is shooting to a point, but at bottom each shot is it’s own little universe and some are just going to miss.
 
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In the next month with a more challenging schedule. Made FTs will be critical to the outcome of some of our games. Our opponents scout us as we do them. They know who to foul and put on the line. My guess is that whenever possible--It won't be RJ or Tyler. The other guys on the floor need to be able to get it done at crunch time at the line.

Repetition(practice) and muscle memory (pre-shot routine) helps increase the odds. Nova's success over the recent years has been enhanced by their FT shooting. Not a bad example to aspire to
 
Polley needs to be on court in end of game situations. He's been great being a target to receive passes against the press, makes good, quick decisions to break the press and is onions good at the FT line. Defense and rebounding are always an issue. I'd have no problem with the offense/defense subbing between Polley and Martin.

Martin is what he is. A career high 60's percent FT shooter. Dre is a decent FT shooter and I'll take my chances with him on the line.

Martin

1643638776213.png




Jackson

1643638849207.png
 
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Polley needs to be on court in end of game situations. He's been great being a target to receive passes against the press, makes good, quick decisions to break the press and is onions good at the FT line. Defense and rebounding are always an issue. I'd have no problem with the offense/defense subbing between Polley and Martin.

Martin is what he is. A career high 60's percent FT shooter. Dre is a decent FT shooter and I'll take my chances with him on the line.

Martin

View attachment 72855



Jackson

View attachment 72856
I think Polley was in the game instead of Sanogo.
 
In the next month with a more challenging schedule. Made FTs will be critical to the outcome of some of our games. Our opponents scout us as we do them. They know who to foul and put on the line. My guess is that whenever possible--It won't be RJ or Tyler. The other guys on the floor need to be able to get it done at crunch time at the line.

Repetition(practice) and muscle memory (pre-shot routine) helps increase the odds. Nova's success over the recent years has been enhanced by their FT shooting. Not a bad example to aspire to
Yes. But Nova is unusual. The premise that UConn players don’t practice foul shooting enough I suspect is far from true. It might be interesting to learn if Nova focuses more on foul shooting than UConn or any other programs. Maybe they are just better shooters. UConn player stats are pretty normal for even the best teams. The players at this level have been practicing foul shooting for years. I get more interested in players who get to this level and have obvious bad form and relatively poor results. To me it’s hard to know why a player like Martin who has decent form can’t get above high 60s.
 
As a team we shoot fts better than most in our league. In fact we do much of everything better. Am I the only one enjoying our success so far?
https://bigeastconf_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/sports/m-baskbl/2021-2022/confldrs.htm
 
As a team we shoot fts better than most in our league. In fact we do much of everything better. Am I the only one enjoying our success so far?
https://bigeastconf_ftp.sidearmsports.com/custompages/sports/m-baskbl/2021-2022/confldrs.htm
Win Total ? OP showing a great deal of optimism.
 
Bad games shooting the ball happen no doubt. But crappy overall team defense and shoddy ball handling/passing shouldn’t for a team that understands they’re not great unless they pay attention. For much of last night they didn’t pay attention to the detail. Very fortunate it was a DePaul team missing their best. And even more important they had a huge step up game from RJ.

Maybe they’re playing 4-D chess and we’re playing checkers. Deliberately decided to get their bad games out of the way collectively vs. the team they could afford to.

Setting us up to play our best ball against the upcoming gauntlet

Think About It Reaction GIF by Identity
 
I think Polley was in the game instead of Sanogo.

I'd keep Sanogo in there too as the sole post player. Yes, he is inconsistent with FT's but I'd rather have him than Martin on FT line.

When trying to finish out a game, this is the lineup I want on the floor for teams to play pick the shooter for fouls.

Jax and Polley have been a great one two for catching and passing to break the press.

Cole
Jackson
Polley
Sanogo
Gaff
 
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I'd keep Sanogo in there too as the sole post player. Yes, he is inconsistent with FT's but I'd rather have him than Martin on FT line.

When trying to finish out a game, this is the lineup I want on the floor for teams to play pick the shooter for fouls.

Jax and Polley have been a great one two for catching and passing to break the press.

Cole
Jackson
Polley
Sanogo
Gaff
Purely from a foul shooting perspective that’s the 5. Hawkins stats are ok but too small a sample size. The question. I think with Martin gets to be how much time is left and what’s the point differential. Up a point or two with under 30 seconds and your team is going to be pressed, which 5 are the best accounting for both foul shooting and ability to help break a press. I’m not paid enough to decide.
 
I'd keep Sanogo in there too as the sole post player. Yes, he is inconsistent with FT's but I'd rather have him than Martin on FT line.

When trying to finish out a game, this is the lineup I want on the floor for teams to play pick the shooter for fouls.

Jax and Polley have been a great one two for catching and passing to break the press.

Cole
Jackson
Polley
Sanogo
Gaff
This is the best FT shooting lineup, but I suspect Martin is out there because of his toughness and low propensity for turnovers.

Gaffney is a great FT shooter, but you don't trust him to avoid dribbling into trouble, picking it up in a bad place, and getting tied up.

Polley can't dribble and isn't going to out-tough someone for a contested catch.
 
Hurley said it in the post game too- there’s not gonna be many nights when everyone except RJ is off offensively. Just one more player playing to their “normal output” makes this a 20-pt win.
Bad nights happen, but slow offensive starts are a trend, which needs to be addressed. Chief has never been big on starting lineups, but sure that needs to be looked at. Maybe, Whaley isn’t the stretch 4 that Danny was hoping for or shoujd I say dreaming about. True, he will be given numerous open 3 looks, but Chief will volunteer that’s in the opponent’s scouting report and not the result of anything brillant UConn has drawn up.
 
This is the best FT shooting lineup, but I suspect Martin is out there because of his toughness and low propensity for turnovers.

Gaffney is a great FT shooter, but you don't trust him to avoid dribbling into trouble, picking it up in a bad place, and getting tied up.

Polley can't dribble and isn't going to out-tough someone for a contested catch.

Agree with Gaff not having shown reliability holding on to the ball.

Here's what I want to see.

Cole inbounds ball to Jackson as Jackson breaks from the FT line to either the left or the right. Cole steps inbounds and stays on the center line. Jackson either turns and beats his man off the dribble or turns and passes to Polley who is at the mid court circle. Polley can either turn and pass to Gaff who is in the front to create a 2 on 1 break with Sanogo or Polley can turn and pass to a sprinting Jackson who is running the sideline from when he passed to Polley. Cole stays a step behind the ball at all times and is always a relief valve if the ball has to be passed backwards.

Big picture is Cole is the inbounder, Jackson is the first player to touch the ball inbounds and makes the first decision on how to best break the press. Polley is the midcourt decision maker. Gaff only touches the ball on the UConn side of the court. Sanogo is the threat down low and an offensive rebound threat.
 
Agree with Gaff not having shown reliability holding on to the ball.

Here's what I want to see.

Cole inbounds ball to Jackson as Jackson breaks from the FT line to either the left or the right. Cole steps inbounds and stays on the center line. Jackson either turns and beats his man off the dribble or turns and passes to Polley who is at the mid court circle. Polley can either turn and pass to Gaff who is in the front to create a 2 on 1 break with Sanogo or Polley can turn and pass to a sprinting Jackson who is running the sideline from when he passed to Polley. Cole stays a step behind the ball at all times and is always a relief valve if the ball has to be passed backwards.

Big picture is Cole is the inbounder, Jackson is the first player to touch the ball inbounds and makes the first decision on how to best break the press. Polley is the midcourt decision maker. Gaff only touches the ball on the UConn side of the court. Sanogo is the threat down low and an offensive rebound threat.
Sounds fine if it works, but what if Jackson gets trapped in the near corner?

If he doesn't have a bounce-pass along the baseline back to Cole, it's a jump-pass to center court to Polley or a bounce pass with Polley on the move coming to the ball with a defender behind, hoping that he gets there first, doesn't get bumped off of it, or the refs call a foul.

For everything except the FTs in the event of getting fouled, you'd much, much prefer it to be Martin in this scenario.
 
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