They were supposed to be a small, soft team that jacks up threes and can't play defense. We were supposed to be the tougher team. If we hold them to 6 threes, we win by 10+. Oops. We got eaten alive in the paint. Poetic to lose on a layup and a putback after a 1 on 4 offensive rebound. Same with the layup at the end of the first OT. Kudos to Caleb for flipping the script on the other side. Game of his life.
So much for the scouting report
- Thread starter Boogs
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Who said they were small?
Their metrics said they either score from the arc or at the rim - which they did. I think they took two midrange shots all game.
They did what they do, penetrate and kick - we didn't stop them defensively at all, and were in this game because McConnell went off in the first half.
13 turnovers to their 5. 6 FTs to their 16 (because they were attacking the rim, and we were pulling up in the midrange).
We altered our game to truly go 1v1 on defense with no help, and got abused by penetration when they got the matchup they wanted. And even then, we had the ball in our hands with the last shot in regulation - just couldn't will it through the rim.
Worst interior defense of the season by far
Because there was no help defense. Usually our defense sags into the paint and doubles on penetration, and then rushes back out on kick outs. We have up that help today too allow twos instead of threes.
We had not seen a team that spread the floor like ND did since we were playing the likes of Lafayette. Another disadvantage of playing mostly slow, physical, plodding teams in the B1G the last couple of months. I wish the conference went back to about 16 games again.
The metrics, or just the numbers, say that ND scored close to 40% of its points by threes all year. Last night, it was closer to 20%. Its offense was differently focused, vastly, either by design or in-game adjustment. It worked. We looked soft in the middle and lost our defensive identity. As Pike said during the game, we can't do the "we score, they score" thing. We don't win those games. Brey won the coaching battle. It's pretty impressive that ND can score effectively both inside and outside (rare or non-existent is the team that focuses on mid--range scoring). It may be that ND is just a bit better than us.
And, remember, we were away from the RAC. More than most teams, that's a key indicator on whether we win or lose.
This season, Notre Dame has taken 42% of its attempts from the arc, and 36% at the rim.... and just 22% from the midrange. They generally penetrate and kick - but we were staying home on the shooters, so they didn't need to kick it out. They did what they do - get to the rim, take the shot if it's there, find the open shooter if it's not. They were hitting more layups because those were the shots we were giving them - choosing to take away the perimeter.
Alabama's shot distribution is even more extreme than Notre Dame's..... 48% from the arc, 38% at the rim, and just 14% in the midrange. They just have a lower hit rate from the arc than ND does.
No, they weren't doing what they ususally do. The usually score about 40% from three, not 20%. By a wide margin, their goal is to open up the three point shot. I realize what you're saying, but they like the three. Brey adjusted, though, and had his team working post moves and drives to the basket almost from the get-go. And they scored more on us than we usually surrender. Good on him. It still took 2 OTs. I think ND is just a bit better, though, because they have more talent on offense, which makes up for our defensive superiority.
Lesson: we need more shooters and scorers.
Lesson: we need more shooters and scorers.
Yeah - they usually work inside-out, driving to the rim on curling penetration and kicking out when the other team defends the paint. Or passing it into the post, and kicking out when the other team doubles. Penetration to the paint sets up their outside shooting.
We didn't make any extra effort to defend the paint, so they didn't have to kick out. Instead, they just made the layup, because that's what our defense was giving them.
Similar stats to the games they played @FSU and @GTech.
Yeah, I got that the first time. It makes no sense. They shot about half the perecentage of threes yesterday than on just an average day. But, according to you, that had nothing to do with a different strategy by them, it had everything to do with us. Sure.
But isn't Pike known for his tenacious defense.... Certainly not known for his offense
Ooooohhhhh, you've been put on an ignore list....wow I'm sure you're losing sleep at night and it's been detrimental to your family....f'n joke.... The so-called dreaded ignore list