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Post by bringbackcaro on Jan 9, 2020 8:22:02 GMT -5
We currently have no bigs who can put pressure on a defense in the paint, and one one wing (Pridgen) who is capable of drawing contact going to the hoop and he is a freshman who is still learning the college game.
While a horrible stat, it is not surprising given the current roster and something that I think will naturally improve as soon as our roster starts to turn over.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 9, 2020 8:39:05 GMT -5
We attempted 6 free throws last night and made 5. Right now, we are averaging 8.5 points per game from the charity stripe. Only 5 teams in the country average less than us. I believe only 8 or 9 teams attempt fewer free throws per game than us. This has got to improve. Holy Cross averages 12.6 FTA, and is ranked 346th (of 353). There was a steady slide towards the bottom during the previous regime. That was part and parcel of Carmody's offensive approach, and the players whom he recruited have been largely contact-avoidant. Pridgen is the exception - Butler too, but opponents don't need to foul him to thwart him down low.
2018-19. 12.8 (351st) 2017-18. 15.0 (339th) 2016-17. 16.7 (324th 2015-16. 19.4 (262nd)
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Post by bringbackcaro on Jan 9, 2020 9:28:19 GMT -5
We attempted 6 free throws last night and made 5. Right now, we are averaging 8.5 points per game from the charity stripe. Only 5 teams in the country average less than us. I believe only 8 or 9 teams attempt fewer free throws per game than us. This has got to improve. Holy Cross averages 12.6 FTA, and is ranked 346th (of 353). There was a steady slide towards the bottom during the previous regime. That was part and parcel of Carmody's offensive approach, and the players whom he recruited have been largely contact-avoidant. Pridgen is the exception - Butler too, but opponents don't need to foul him to thwart him down low.
2018-19. 12.8 (351st) 2017-18. 15.0 (339th) 2016-17. 16.7 (324th 2015-16. 19.4 (262nd) Butler's straight-line (or banana peel wide turn) drives from the three point line to the baseline with no change of pace are not difficult for D1 players/defenses to guard. It requires a total defensive breakdown for someone to not get between a D1 player and the hoop when they attempt a drive from the 3-point line (or beyond) to the rim, and Butler does not have the ability to navigate those additional defenders. RW would not allow much more talented players attempt those types of plays. I'm not sure how he's still getting away with trying it.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 9, 2020 9:35:27 GMT -5
Maybe the coaches believe AB provides value in other areas of the game, and as a result allow for him not being perfect.
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 9, 2020 11:19:18 GMT -5
I suspect BN really appreciates ABs work ethic and put-it-all-there effort during games. He's one of the few juniors showing leadership.
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Post by Tom on Jan 9, 2020 12:42:00 GMT -5
I suspect BN really appreciates ABs work ethic and put-it-all-there effort during games. He's one of the few juniors showing leadership. Leadership can be shown in different ways - some of which aren't too obvious to someone sitting in the stands for two hours a week not detracting from Austin at all, but there could be some other leaders in that class that we aren't aware of
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 9, 2020 12:47:35 GMT -5
Don’t disagree but “showing leadership” means outwardly manifested to the writer - me. Hidden leadership is exactly that. We can only go by what we observe. It was my theory as to why BN has AB on a long leash.
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Post by Non Alum Dave on Jan 9, 2020 15:10:29 GMT -5
What coach is his right mind is going to microcoach a kid who is 1) one of I believe 5 kids that has been able to suit up for every game, 2) is one of the toughest kids on a team desperately needing physicality, 3) has proven to be as good of a rebounder as any player on the team, and 4) when he plays within himself is a proven double digit scorer. Just because one person is fixated on what the kid can't do while ignoring the positives he brings doesn't mean he needs to be coached to death. As bison would say, silly.
I loved Torey Thomas, one of my favorite players all time; a true leader and winner. Guess what: he still missed a boatload of layups over his 4 years.
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Post by WorcesterGray on Jan 9, 2020 15:58:07 GMT -5
This has sort of de-volved from a discussion of why Holy Cross doesn't get to the line to a defense of Austin Butler as a player. That's unfortunate.
Other than his stubborn insistence on driving headlong into traffic, I think he's a more valuable player this year - the rebounding spike alone carries more weight with me than the more moderate drop in his shooting numbers. And what's not been discussed much, if at all, is that his assists have popped up, too - his A% is higher than anybody other than Lowder, and since taking over as the quasi-PG vs. Sacred Heart, his A/TO is 20:9, his assist rate has gone up, and his TO rate has dropped.
The toughness has always been there. He's Nelson's proxy on the floor now, and the team's natural leader. I'm understanding better why Nelson wants him in his current role, but I do hope he becomes more of a drive-and-kick guy, especially if/when we play inside out offensively with Faw and Niego around the arc.
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Jan 9, 2020 16:07:56 GMT -5
This has sort of de-volved from a discussion of why Holy Cross doesn't get to the line to a defense of Austin Butler as a player. That's unfortunate. Other than his stubborn insistence of driving headlong into traffic, I think he's a more valuable player this year - the rebounding spike alone carries more weight with me than the more moderate drop in his shooting numbers. And what's not been discussed much, if at all, is that his assists have popped up, too - his A% is higher than anybody other than Lowder, and since taking over as the quasi-PG vs. Sacred Heart, his A/TO is 20:9, his assist rate has gone up, and his TO rate has dropped. The toughness has always been there. He's Nelson's proxy on the floor now, and the team's natural leader. I'm understanding better why Nelson wants him in his current role, but I do hope he becomes more of a drive-and-kick guy, especially if/when we play inside out offensively with Faw and Niego around the arc. You have to wonder if that would, indeed, be very effective since PL teams would expect him to just put up a shot
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 9, 2020 16:27:33 GMT -5
AB's FT shooting so far is .640. The Crusaders, as a team are shooting .642 for whatever that's worth. He may not be helping, but he's not hurting the team either.
Austin made .698 of his FTs freshmen year, .694 his sophomore year. Not among the best but at 70%, somewhat respectable. Pretty sure he'll rise to his career average as the season progresses.
Agree it would be nice to see him kick it outside on his drives more frequently.
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Post by hchoops on Jan 9, 2020 17:05:03 GMT -5
It seems as if drive and kick would not come easily to Austin. I presume he never had to do it in HS and he certainly did not have to it the past two seasons. it is a skill that requires practice. Point guards have to have it. Austin played mostly the three the past two seasons. Even if BN wanted him to start doing it, it would be a challenging adjustment.
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Post by possum on Jan 9, 2020 18:11:02 GMT -5
Agree with Hoops when AB goes to hoop he's looking to score not pass, when he goes right to the shot he has some success but when he stops before trying to finish he gets in big trouble and it usually ends with a block or a bad pass. I think at this point in his career it would be difficult for him to look to pass rather than shoot when heading to the basket. Everyone would be best served by him getting back to his natural position but that will require that Lowder play many more than the 19 minutes he played last night. Unfortunately, Reilly hasn't been the answer at the point so Butler has been forced to play out of position.
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Post by sader1970 on Jan 9, 2020 18:44:51 GMT -5
Agree, AB at point is not optimum for him or the team.
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Post by longsuffering on Jan 9, 2020 20:19:52 GMT -5
Agree with Hoops when AB goes to hoop he's looking to score not pass, when he goes right to the shot he has some success but when he stops before trying to finish he gets in big trouble and it usually ends with a block or a bad pass. I think at this point in his career it would be difficult for him to look to pass rather than shoot when heading to the basket. Everyone would be best served by him getting back to his natural position but that will require that Lowder play many more than the 19 minutes he played last night. Unfortunately, Reilly hasn't been the answer at the point so Butler has been forced to play out of position. AB ended up with a travel call once last night as the defense converged on him. He might not have been able to execute a successful pass to anyone at that point with about eight long arms waving all around him.
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Post by efg72 on Jan 9, 2020 20:26:27 GMT -5
At this point Reilly and Lincoln are 3-5 minute subs could give 10 min but all predicated on Lowder at the point. They offer change of pace
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Post by HCFC45 on Jan 9, 2020 20:50:55 GMT -5
Someone correct me if I am wrong, but didn't we have another AB a number of years back who was also asked to play out of position? Must have something to do with the initials!
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Post by hchoops on Jan 9, 2020 20:53:31 GMT -5
Andrew Beinert had played a lot of point guard in AAU ball. To my knowledge, this is the first time Austin had ever played the point
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Post by HCFC45 on Jan 9, 2020 20:56:47 GMT -5
He may have, but don't think he was recruited to play PG...
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Post by efg72 on Jan 9, 2020 20:58:39 GMT -5
We played his lightning team 3 time I believe and if I recall correctly he was more of a 11/2 and really think that is what he was -neither a point or 2G
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Post by HCFC45 on Jan 9, 2020 21:01:20 GMT -5
Wasn't he recruited for his shooting ability? As opposed to his play making ability...
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Post by efg72 on Jan 9, 2020 21:06:59 GMT -5
He may have, but don't think he was recruited to play PG... Ralph was recruiting 3 kids at that position in this order Aaron Bond-selected Davidson Andrew One of my players who tore his ACL during that spring andrew was not a 1-2 Aaron was a Swing as was the player on my team
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Post by hchoops on Jan 9, 2020 21:08:20 GMT -5
Andrew was a guard who could score and was an excellent passer. His dribbling was not his strongest quality.
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Post by efg72 on Jan 9, 2020 21:11:30 GMT -5
Nor was it for the other 2 players Actually coached Aaron for a time as well
andrew was a very solid player and maybe the best fit for HC —give Ralph credit
interestingly the top 2 schools for all 3 were HC and Davidson
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Post by timholycross on Jan 9, 2020 21:39:26 GMT -5
This has sort of de-volved from a discussion of why Holy Cross doesn't get to the line to a defense of Austin Butler as a player. That's unfortunate. Other than his stubborn insistence of driving headlong into traffic, I think he's a more valuable player this year - the rebounding spike alone carries more weight with me than the more moderate drop in his shooting numbers. And what's not been discussed much, if at all, is that his assists have popped up, too - his A% is higher than anybody other than Lowder, and since taking over as the quasi-PG vs. Sacred Heart, his A/TO is 20:9, his assist rate has gone up, and his TO rate has dropped. The toughness has always been there. He's Nelson's proxy on the floor now, and the team's natural leader. I'm understanding better why Nelson wants him in his current role, but I do hope he becomes more of a drive-and-kick guy, especially if/when we play inside out offensively with Faw and Niego around the arc. You have to wonder if that would, indeed, be very effective since PL teams would expect him to just put up a shot Wouldn't that approach reflect some of the offensive principles of the much-maligned Bill Carmody?
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