Game 10: University of Northern Iowa, Tuesday, Dec 8th, 7 PM, American Sports Network

[By George.]

We needed Marko to hit the wide open lay up and the front end of the 1 and 1 down the stretch. Late missed lay ups and free throws has plagued this team all season. We are not good enough to overcome missed opportunities. Our offensive boards were impressive but it's disappointing we couldn't convert more points from it.

 

[GMU92]

We needed Marko to hit the wide open lay up and the front end of the 1 and 1 down the stretch. Late missed lay ups and free throws has plagued this team all season. We are not good enough to overcome missed opportunities. Our offensive boards were impressive but it's disappointing we couldn't convert more points from it.

Very few teams can. The last bad FT shooting team I recall that had success was Memphis in 2008 who made the NCAA Final, but lost to Kansas. Championship teams need to be around 80% or higher. This is the reason for DP's rotating FT drill requiring 80 of 100 made.

 

[patriot2000]

Back in the old days before Doc Nix, when I played in the band, at least 1 or 2 players would stop by and thank us. I don't remember if it happened the one year I was there when Westhead was coaching, but I know it happened in the Larranaga years. I think good coaches remind the kids to do stuff like that.

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[GMUgemini]

Very few teams can. The last bad FT shooting team I recall that had success was Memphis in 2008 who made the NCAA Final, but lost to Kansas. Championship teams need to be around 80% or higher. This is the reason for DP's rotating FT drill requiring 80 of 100 made.

Our 2006 Final Four team had a .664 FT per game average. Our best free throw shooting team since then appears to be the 2013-2015 team at .723. A really fun stat: Hewitt's last team here shot .666 from the charity stripe.

 

[GSII]

Can anyone explain Marquise's difficulties at the FT line so far this season:

2013-14: 78.4% (29-37)
2014-15: 79.1 (87-110)
2015-16: 53.6 (15-28)

I put the blame on Handy and his new upper body flex machine thing. Adding strength is good, but the muscle memory needs to keep pace.

 

[psyclone]

My observation (not backed by empirical data) is that there is a significant "mental" aspect to foul shooting. Right now even reasonably good foul shooters (based on last year's stats) like Moore seem to be struggling. We're shooting so poorly from the line this year, that as soon as the first guy steps to the line, some doubt creeps in. And if he misses or fails to nail both shots, the doubt grows and becomes contagious with other players.

Shevon wasn't a terrific foul shooter even last year, but this year he has been even worse. And the entire team seems to struggle in part from that seed of doubt that is planted. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

It's similar to baseball slumps which may go beyond a particular player and become team-wide.

Unfortunately, I don't have any particular solutions. But players and teams break out of slumps. Building self-confidence at the line is the key. Practicing (and making a high %) should build confidence. But making them in practice may not transfer to the added pressure of making them in game situations.

 

[Washingtonian]

The game is being replayed on The Comcast Network right now.

 

[MASONscott]

Good observation -- the ball definitely sticks when Pat is in the game, and it's obvious because the other guys move it beautifully when he's not.

He played 3 years in an offense where he basically got to do whatever he wanted with the ball, and it's not an easy adjustment to simply keeping the ball moving and being content to help the team get the best possible shot.

He's literally the only guy on the team who took a shot off a 1-pass possession last night, and he did it a couple times.

I was shocked DP didn't just jerk him right out of the game the second time. DP even clapped after one of the bricks ... obviously trying to be more encouraging, for whatever reason.

Going to take a less popular opinion here.

Holloway is a scorer. I have no problem with him or Grayer taking open shots when they are there so long is it is within DPs plan. This team is at its worst when they are not a threat from the outside. The fact that DP was encouraging on a Holloway miss says he may have been cold but is still can be relied upon to be our outside shooter.

If anything I thought the ball didnt come his way when he was pretty clearly open. I like (love) MMs and Otis driving to the lane, but an occiasional kick out would be a nice add to the offense.

Imo, Holloway's weaknesses are turnovers and defense not shooting. All shooters have off days. I've heard DP call Holloway one of the best shooters in the A10. I give DP the benefit of the doubt that Holloway is just that.

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[gmujim92]

Nobody is saying that Pat isn't a very good shooter. The point is that the offense doesn't run as smoothly when he's in the game.

He needs to get away from taking the first open shot that comes his way.

Keep the ball moving and a higher percentage shot might open up for somebody else. That is the point of the game, after all.

 

[Pablo]

Nobody is saying that Pat isn't a very good shooter. The point is that the offense doesn't run as smoothly when he's in the game.

He needs to get away from taking the first open shot that comes his way.

Keep the ball moving and a higher percentage shot might open up for somebody else. That is the point of the game, after all.

Now I'm confused! I thought that the point of the game was for a good shooter to take an open shot unless he could pass to a teammate who had an even better open shot.

 

[disgruntled]

Maybe there are differing opinions on what constitutes an 'open' shot.

 

[gmujim92]

Now I'm confused! I thought that the point of the game was for a good shooter to take an open shot unless he could pass to a teammate who had an even better open shot.

Unless you're advocating for a return to PaulBall version 1.0, the definition of an "open" shot largely depends on how "good" the good shooter is.

If it's Steph Curry, by all means, he should take the first open look regardless of how many seconds are left on the shot clock. The guy is shooting 45 percent from 30 feet out, for goodness sake.

Patrick Holloway, however, should seriously consider that if there are 22 seconds left on the shot clock and we've only made one pass on the possession, maybe just maybe there's an opportunity to get something better than a 20-foot jump shot.

The problem is he wasn't coached during his first 3 years at Mason to do anything other than score the ball. We played way too much 1-on-1 under Blewitt and guys rarely passed up shots to get better ones for teammates.

Now we have a coach who wants to make the defense work and emphasizes getting the ball into the paint instead of simply launching the first shot that comes along.

It's called playing as a team.

Hopefully I was able to resolve some of your confusion.

 

[gmu05]

Now I'm confused! I thought that the point of the game was for a good shooter to take an open shot unless he could pass to a teammate who had an even better open shot.

Wow.

 

[Pablo]

Unless you're advocating for a return to PaulBall version 1.0, the definition of an "open" shot largely depends on how "good" the good shooter is.

Hopefully I was able to resolve some of your confusion.

Actually, you haven't resolved any of my confusion. Do you seriously believe that Coach Paulsen would have left Patrick in a game long enough to shoot 0-5 from the field if he were not satisfied with his shot selection? Patrick is a scorer; he's not in the game for his passing or defensive skills (although his defense has improved this season). He just had a bad shooting night.

Patrick knew why he was in the game. Unfortunately, he couldn't deliver against UNI. Say what you want about Patrick, he understands his role and he's never been hesitant to shoot when his scoring was needed.

Now I've never suggested that it was acceptable for any player to take bad shots. But, I didn't see Patrick taking any bad shots on Tuesday night.

 

[gmujim92]

Actually, you haven't resolved any of my confusion. Do you seriously believe that Coach Paulsen would have left Patrick in a game long enough to shoot 0-5 from the field if he were not satisfied with his shot selection? Patrick is a scorer; he's not in the game for his passing or defensive skills (although his defense has improved this season). He just had a bad shooting night.

Patrick knew why he was in the game. Unfortunately, he couldn't deliver against UNI. Say what you want about Patrick, he understands his role and he's never been hesitant to shoot when his scoring was needed.

Now I've never suggested that it was acceptable for any player to take bad shots. But, I didn't see Patrick taking any bad shots on Tuesday night.

We have a whole team full of guys who have bought in and are singing from the same sheet of music, then we have one player doing his own thing. Simply unacceptable. Get with the program or GTFO.

Pat didn't even know how to line up properly to deny his man the ball when we were pressing at the end of the game the other night. Paulsen had to literally walk out onto the court and move him where he was supposed to be.

He is a senior and he had to be moved to the proper spot like a 5-year-old rec league player. Let that sink in for a moment.

 

[Pablo]

We have a whole team full of guys who have bought in and are singing from the same sheet of music, then we have one player doing his own thing. Simply unacceptable. Get with the program or GTFO.

Pat didn't even know how to line up properly to deny his man the ball when we were pressing at the end of the game the other night. Paulsen had to literally walk out onto the court and move him where he was supposed to be.

He is a senior and he had to be moved to the proper spot like a 5-year-old rec league player. Let that sink in for a moment.

As I previously wrote, I don't have a problem with Coach Paulsen excluding Patrick from the rotation. But, if he plays, then don't be surprised if he shoots because this is what he does (he has a total of just 62 career assists). And, if Coach Paulsen is dissatisfied with his shot selection or any other facets of his game, then he should act accordingly.

 

[MASONscott]

Nobody is saying that Pat isn't a very good shooter. The point is that the offense doesn't run as smoothly when he's in the game.

He needs to get away from taking the first open shot that comes his way.

Keep the ball moving and a higher percentage shot might open up for somebody else. That is the point of the game, after all.

As I mentioned if the shots he is taking are within DPs plans then he should shoot when he is open. And, when a Coach encourages a player after a missed shot it is usually to encourage the player (i.e. take that same shot again).

Besides based on PH and DPs relationship this year, it would seem he would be quick to sit Patrick if he wasn't running the system.

The Spread ball screen offense is meant to provide 'drive and kick' 3 PT and 'corner bailouts'. Holloways's offensive game is a good fit for each and my guess is DP had him in UNIs game to take advantage of each. He looked wide open on several occassions. Will be nice when DP is able to get our perimeter shooters the ball (and the shots are falling).



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[gmutom]

Jim and Petey, just curious what shots you saw from Patrick that you thought were bad. Compared to some of the off-balanced crap he threw up over the past few years, I thought he took open shots where he was squared to the basket. He might have shot a little early in the shot clock and had one airball, but I didn't think any of them were forced.

Had he made all or even some of his five attempts, I don't think anybody here would be complaining about how early he shot or how infrequently he passed. I realize Grayer, Abram and Murrell are freshmen, but nobody here is dissecting their passing tendencies or shot selection on a night when they went a combined 5-20 and had only 3 assists.

I guess I'm in the minority, because I'm pulling for Patrick to get his act together on and off the court. If he earns playing time, I hope he takes advantage of it and ends his Mason career on a high note. Tuesday obviously wasn't his night, but hopefully he bounces back against JMU.

 

[gmujim92]

My problem is that when he's in the game, the other four guys are running the offense and he's just doing his own thing.

Two of his five FG attempts against UNI (40 percent) -- including the heinous airball -- came on possessions where only one pass was made and there was still plenty of time left on the shot clock.

Make or miss, those are terrible, low-percentage shots -- and worse than that, he's a senior who should know better. But instead of trying to set a good example for his younger teammates and play within the offense, he's just out there trying to get his.

The only reason he's playing at all is because Paulsen is trying to win and our roster is offensively challenged.

 

[Bricker]

Reading on twitter that Goff reporting Marco suuspended indefinitely for academic reasons. Geez...