Bruno
PhD Student
Posts: 1423
Loc: Brooklyn, NY
Reg: 11-21-04
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12-21-23 08:36 AM - Post#360758
In response to Ever True
Doubling down on defense is sort of an interesting thought. The reality is that this team’s performance profile isn’t real different than it’s been in prior years. KenPom would say since 2017 MM teams have been solid-to-good defensively and below-average offensively. That’s the case again this year. And to your point the defense hasn’t been quite good enough to offset that.
This team has been the least efficient offensively in the MM era. Look no further than having one of the higher FT rates with one of the lowest FT %s and the poor shooting from 3. They get to the line more than they ‘should’. But they just don’t make enough of their shots. I honestly couldn’t tell you if that was lack of open looks or personnel, but it is very likely both.
Personnel-wise our biggest gap has been the lack of ballhandlers and playmakers in the backcourt. Departures of Pax and Friday have created a vacuum where Lilly just has to handle the ball too much. I don’t mean shooting too much - I mean having to create so much for himself and others. The eye test says Lilly makes way more shots when he’s set up by others, but that’s not most of his shots this year. The forwards handle the ball pretty good but the other guards do not. And yet there’s real talent on this roster, and it’s a team that when the right guys get in rhythm they can beat anybody. But that’s more of a puncher’s chance profile than a sustainable winning one.
Re: Siena, they just got back a transfer who is very talented and hard to guard, and he’s only played one game (and had over 20 and 15 vs. Cornell). So before anyone gets comfy know they’re very likely a better squad than KP would have you believe.
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