Louisiana vs Cal Irvine

[BirdofParadise]

Dude it's your overall being OK with everything. Always willing to accept another non effort conference improvement, OK with pushing virtually Lilly pops on every sport. I'm not upset with this game, except hating losing any game. It's pretty much mirrors Marlins history.

Question: You mentioned we are no longer a mid major power. When were we a mid major power (after 1973.)

We've won one outright conference title in 30 years. We've never been a mid major power.

[VObserver]

Those analytics are accurate as far as they go; but they are also a self-fulfilling prophesy. Your better shooters in the NBA rarely take any shots that are not 3s or layups. Lots of those low potency shots are being taken by guys whose best shot is in that hot zone under the goal. If the guys shooting 3s were shooting in the 12'-16' arc, those areas would be red as well. http://www.mavs.com/grantland-ranks-.er-in-the-nba/

Inability to make 3s is a liability to be sure. But the REAL liability is to continue shooting them when you KNOW you can't make them. If you only shoot 20% from 3s, you will always be better off not shooting any.

[BirdofParadise]

And you would be correct when, in fact, you don't have players who have proven they can make shots. But that's not what this team was. This team was the same team that led the league in three point percentage the year before. Players and fans alike, knew (and hoped) they would break out of it at any time.

We didn't know we couldn't make them. We had already proven we could.

[VObserver]

When you are 1-11 in the first half, you know you aren't making them that day. Then you need a plan B.

[Turbine]

Let's do some math. Suppose last night we had not shot a single 3 point shot, but had shot 24 additional 2 point shots instead. Let us further suppose that we made those shots at the same rate we made the rest of our two point shots [39.1%]. That would have given us 27 made two point shots [rounding down from 27.3]. Let us further suppose that on those additional shots, we reached the free throw line at the same rate as we did on our other 2 point shots. That would have given us 31 free throws instead of the 21 we actually shot. If we made 71.4% of those, as we did on the 21 we actually shot, that would have been 22 made free throws, rather than 15 Adding it all up that is 27x2=54 from the field + 22 free throws =77 points. Last time I checked, that 77 points would have secured a 10 point win for the Cajuns. Even if we did not get a single additional free throw, we still would have had 69.

I can guarantee you that the coach from Little Rock would have figured out a way to win with our players.

Good stuff there.

You simply don't need a large sample size, to know when the 3 ain't happening.

[Turbine]

And you would be correct when, in fact, you don't have players who have proven they can make shots. But that's not what this team was. This team was the same team that led the league in three point percentage the year before. Players and fans alike, knew (and hoped) they would break out of it at any time.

We didn't know we couldn't make them. We had already proven we could.

Are you talking about as the season started or as the season wound down?

You know how some say a freshman is no longer a freshman when he has a whole season under his belt?

This team was an entire season removed from their 3-point pinnacle. They needed to recognize their new limitations and play to their current strengths.

If you are talking about as the season started, I agree with you.

[BirdofParadise]

Are you talking about as the season started or as the season wound down?

You know how some say a freshman is no longer a freshman when he has a whole season under his belt?

This team was an entire season removed from their 3-point pinnacle. They needed to recognize their new limitations and play to their current strengths.

If you are talking about as the season started, I agree with you.

During the nine game winning streak, we shot 35% or better from 3 seven times.
Wasn't just talking about last year.

[ZoomZoom]

I can guarantee you that the coach from Little Rock would have figured out a way to win with our players.

Yeah, he brought in 10 new players. Four openings were graduates so I don't know about the other six, we'll learn that with the APR in a year or so. He won't be around to worry about it, he'll be off to a new gig.

[Turbine]

During the nine game winning streak, we shot 35% or better from 3 seven times.
Wasn't just talking about last year.

What would they need to shoot from 2 point range to beat that, about 53% not counting trips to the line?

[ZoomZoom]

Season stats. Looked at the 3 point shots made. Very eye opening.

http://ragincajuns.com/documents/201.ite.pdf?id=880

[Ragin4U]

Its not that straightforward. The 3pt shot is valuable to stretch the defense. Even the threat of the shot is enough to open passing and driving lanes. To try to convert 3pt % or attempts into 2pt % or attempts is impossible. While a closer shot ie 2pt fg is usually a better percentage shot, the defense is also more compressed. Its just not that simple

[VObserver]

The defense is not necessarily more compressed. There are a number of things you can do to create space that do not involve jacking up indiscriminate 3s. The spacing of your players will heavily influence the location of defenders, as will the movement of both players and the ball.

[VObserver]

Yeah, he brought in 10 new players. Four openings were graduates so I don't know about the other six, we'll learn that with the APR in a year or so. He won't be around to worry about it, he'll be off to a new gig.

It is my understanding that Little Rock lost exactly zero APR points as a result of this year's roster changes.

[ZoomZoom]

Question: You mentioned we are no longer a mid major power. When were we a mid major power (after 1973.)

We've won one outright conference title in 30 years. We've never been a mid major power.

Thank you. Glad to see I'm not the only one on that island of opinion.

[Ragin4U]

The defense is not necessarily more compressed. There are a number of things you can do to create space that do not involve jacking up indiscriminate 3s. The spacing of your players will heavily influence the location of defenders, as will the movement of both players and the ball.

My definition of compressed is if you dont defend out to 23 feet, then the defenders are closer to the goal, hence more compressed.
zoomzoom--not sure what you are getting at with the stats.