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POLL: The Ultimate Question, it seems to me ??

Can a team win six (6) games in a row in late March, shooting 35 or more threes a game ??

  • YES

    Votes: 88 70.4%
  • NO

    Votes: 5 4.0%
  • POSSIBLY, buy highly doubtful ??

    Votes: 32 25.6%

  • Total voters
    125
  • Poll closed .

megablue

All-American
Oct 2, 2012
10,741
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This will be a very interesting season, no question, and will enable all to evaluate the high-level success potential of relying so heavily on the three-point shot. Clearly, the potential is there to blow teams away on hot-shooting nights, but do/will the rims tighten up during the NCAA tournament ??
GO CATS !!
 
I watched several BYU games from last year. There were games where Pope had a lineup to take the ball down low and score because of 3 not hitting or teams taking away the 3. They won 2 of the ones I watched and in both cases, going down low got them back in the game and then 3s opened up late to take the game over.

The one big difference is this team can and will play defense. Pope made 100% sure of it with the portal picks. Not sure what types of defense (meaning pressing, or more like Tubby ball line, or something different) but they will play defense.
 
Villanova 17-18 averaged 30+ 3 point attempts in their tourney run. They had a couple games in that run with at least 40.

I think BYU averaged like 32 a game last year. I think it’ll be hard for them to hit 35+ consistently enough to average that kind've number. I think to hit 35+ as an average they’ll have to play 5 out with a shooter at every position. Neither Garrison nor Williams can shoot them. We also figure to play Lamont a good chunk of minutes at the 1 where he won’t really be a sniper by any means.

Using the Villanova example in 17-18 they went 4-24 from 3 against Texas Tech who had a top 5 defense. Their volume and efficiency were both solid or better in the other 5 games.
 
I think this team will be really good to great defensively. Butler and Oweh would be the best defensive backcourt in the country. Williams is a proven post defender and I believe Garrison will become another good defender.
If we get into sync, and I believe they will, Kentucky will have an elite team defense
 
I believe that we can make a good run, I’m not worried about winning 6 in a row. Right now, I would love to win the first game and make it to the 2nd weekend.
I understand, but am not talking about this year's team specifically. I'm talking about any program using such an dramatic emphasis on three-point shot as a standard offensive philosophy.
 
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I think it is out of necessity this season more than a set in stone strategy going forward.
I see. I didn't realize that. I thought the scheme was based on general analytics and not specific to this year.
 
I see. I didn't realize that. I thought the scheme was based on general analytics and not specific to this year.

I could be wrong but I think we’ll shoot a lot more than we have in future seasons but this might be the high water mark. Probably depends on what he’s got on the bench.
 
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It really depends on how well you shoot 3’s. If the team shoots 35 and makes them at a decent clip, they are going to be hard to beat.
The "decent clip" thing is important. But even for a team that makes 40% from 3, they are going to have nights where they make <30%, <25%, maybe even <20%. Last year we made an amazing 40.9% of our 3's. But last year in 13 of our 33 of our games we made <30% of our 3's, in 8 of our games we made <25%, and in 1 game we made <20%.

Can you find other ways to score when nobody is making them?
Can you lockdown the other team, when you are having trouble scoring?
 
As long as Cal's team is guarding you, yes.
Cal doesn’t participate in tournaments.



Late March legs get tired and big stage jitters. I think they can win it doing it but the percentage will go down and defense will need to supplement lower percentage of 3s.
 
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It really depends on how well you shoot 3’s. If the team shoots 35 and makes them at a decent clip, they are going to be hard to beat.
True, but there are going to be around 5 games a year when a good shooting team isn't shooting that well. Someone earlier mentioned the 17/18 Nova team. They had four regular season losses. In 3 of them, they shot under 30% from three and lost. It's hard to string six games in a row. I looked up the Texas Tech game were they were miserable in the tourney (yet won). They shot 33% from the field and 16% from 3, yet won by 12. How the f does that happen? Don't remember the game but they must have played great d and they hit 29 of 35 free throws. Point is, it is difficult for a team to win 6 in a row in the tourney if you rely on the 3 a ton, but it can be done
 
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That is why, as we saw last year, why you need to play good DEFENSE. Good Defense is much more consistent than good Offense. Ideally you want both. Sometimes you need to outscore a team, and sometimes you need to shutdown a team.
The way I see it, pretty much, a really good team should be more likely to always play well defensively, whereas off-shooting needs are likely to occur every now and then.
 
That is why, as we saw last year, why you need to play good DEFENSE. Good Defense is much more consistent than good Offense. Ideally you want both. Sometimes you need to outscore a team, and sometimes you need to shutdown a team.
The way I see it, pretty much, a really good team should be more likely to always play well defensively, whereas off-shooting nights are likely to occur every now and then.
 
True, but there are going to be around 5 games a year when a good shooting team isn't shooting that well. Someone earlier mentioned the 17/18 Nova team. They had four regular season losses. In 3 of them, they shot under 30% from three and lost. It's hard to string six games in a row. I looked up the Texas Tech game were they were miserable in the tourney (yet won). They shot 33% from the field and 16% from 3, yet won by 12. How the f does that happen? Don't remember the game but they must have played great d and they hit 29 of 35 free throws. Point is, it is difficult for a team to win 6 in a row in the tourney if you rely on the 3 a ton, but it can be done
Very well-stated ... !!
Here is the box score, for those interested. Villanova shot only 24, not 35 threes, however.

 
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Very well-stated ... !!
Here is the box score, for those interested. Villanova shot only 24, not 35 threes, however.


You got to have other options when the 3 ball isn't falling.

That Nova team is one of the most dominant champions I've seen of late.
 
I've shared this data from last year before, but it might add to the discussion in this thread:
Statistics of the top 25 teams, ranked by number of three-point attempts per game for the year
OFFDEFMGN
ATT3PT%FTAORBDRBREBSPTSPTSPTSWL
NORTH FLORIDA33.236.03%16.98.8824.7533.6378.075.82.21616
BYU32.034.77%16.111.9127.5939.5081.469.911.52311
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON30.634.33%17.913.0626.7139.7780.973.67.3278
ALABAMA29.937.27%22.812.7626.8939.6590.181.28.92512
FURMAN29.932.39%20.011.2426.5537.7979.575.93.61716
CORNELL29.734.75%16.79.5725.8735.4482.174.77.4228
PRINCETON29.435.60%16.18.4124.9033.3177.166.610.5245
CHATTANOOGA29.435.94%18.29.2427.3036.5478.271.66.62112
CREIGHTON29.136.84%14.88.4029.7138.1180.469.910.52510
ARKANSAS - PINE BLUFF29.037.53%22.08.4226.1934.6180.181.8-1.71318
UTSA28.833.73%21.913.0927.1940.2877.681.0-3.41121
INDIANA STATE28.738.16%19.37.1528.3135.4684.873.211.6327
KENNESAW STATE28.632.88%22.012.2626.5838.8482.880.82.01516
SAINT JOSEPH'S28.535.24%17.110.0925.7135.8075.570.55.02114
WILLIAM & MARY27.832.31%18.810.3324.8535.1869.872.1-2.31023
LIBERTY27.536.82%14.88.7225.2533.9773.865.58.31814
VILLANOVA27.433.76%15.38.4726.3534.8270.265.64.61816
NEW HAMPSHIRE27.432.43%18.29.1928.2337.4274.174.10.01615
YOUNGSTOWN STATE27.232.34%18.412.7827.1939.9781.270.910.32210
HOFSTRA27.037.08%12.57.7025.0632.7674.268.55.72013
PITTSBURGH26.935.74%18.511.3925.6737.0675.667.68.02211
ARKANSAS STATE26.834.41%20.613.2225.1438.3678.877.01.82017
WOFFORD26.635.92%16.610.5326.6637.1974.573.80.71715
GEORGIA SOUTHERN26.635.19%17.310.5223.7334.2573.379.2-5.9924
UC - RIVERSIDE26.631.75%17.812.3524.5936.9470.772.0-1.31618
AVERAGES28.634.93%18.010.3926.2836.6777.873.34.51914
UCONN23.835.75%18.911.7227.1038.8281.463.418.0373
KENTUCKY24.240.88%19.710.0627.5537.6189.079.79.32310
 
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Games where Kentucky shot 35 (or more) threes in game, from Pitino on … only twenty-six (26) times in 35 years:
DATEOPPONENT3PT3PTA3PT%FTFTAFT%OFFDEFWL
Pitino12/04/1989Mississippi State13350.37125370.676102971
Pitino12/06/1989Tennessee Tech18410.43911150.733111751
Pitino12/09/1989Kansas17400.42518250.720951501
Pitino12/19/1989Furman19470.40411160.688104731
Pitino12/23/1989SW Louisiana15530.28312150.8001131161
Pitino12/27/1989North Carolina21480.43811130.8461101211
Pitino01/06/1990Vanderbilt12370.32411170.64785921
Pitino01/13/1990Louisiana State17460.3708130.61581941
Pitino12/21/1990Western Kentucky9360.25017240.70884701
Pitino01/05/1991Louisiana State17370.45912210.57193801
Pitino01/26/1991Alabama11360.3068130.61583881
Pitino02/05/1991Louisiana State8400.20024320.750881071
Pitino11/22/1991Pittsburgh7360.19418270.66785671
Pitino02/02/1992Louisiana State8440.1827100.70053741
Pitino01/03/1993Indiana16410.3909170.52981781
Pitino03/14/1993Louisiana State14440.3186100.60082651
Pitino02/09/1994Arkansas10400.25014260.53882901
Pitino02/15/1994Louisiana State15370.40510210.47699951
Pitino03/12/1994Arkansas16360.44416240.66790781
Pitino03/20/1994Marquette10380.263590.55663751NCAA
Pitino01/07/1995South Carolina17370.4599120.75080551
Pitino03/04/1995Louisiana State20350.57125320.781127801
Pitino03/25/1995North Carolina7360.19412160.75061741NCAA
Smith11/10/2000UCLA13360.36117280.60792971
Calipari11/14/2023Kansas12380.31622300.73384891
Calipari01/13/2024Texas A &M15390.38513210.61992971
26Totals35710330.3453515240.668232022771115
26Averages13.739.70.34513.520.20.66889.287.6
 
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Three-point shooting and selected stats over the years, including summary by each coach:
COACHSEASONGAMES3PTA/GM3PT3PTA3PT%OFFDEFMGNWINSLOSSWIN%COACH
PITINO1989-902828.92818100.34788.887.90.914140.500PITINO
PITINO1990-912825.52427150.33885.978.17.82260.786PITINO
PITINO1991-923624.73178880.35785.774.411.32970.806PITINO
PITINO1992-933425.43408620.39487.569.817.73040.882PITINO
PITINO1993-943425.23018570.35186.974.612.32770.794PITINO
PITINO1994-953322.32767360.37587.469.018.42850.848PITINO
PITINO1995-963618.62666700.39791.469.422.03420.944PITINO
PITINO1996-984019.42877770.36983.162.820.33550.875PITINO
SMITH1997-983917.52506810.36780.167.013.13540.897SMITH
SMITH1998-993718.32266760.33475.462.712.72890.757SMITH
SMITH1999-003319.51886430.29269.162.86.323100.697SMITH
SMITH2000-013420.82457070.34779.870.69.224100.706SMITH
SMITH2001-023221.62196920.31676.968.28.722100.688SMITH
SMITH2002-033616.32085850.35677.364.113.23240.889SMITH
SMITH2003-043217.92045720.35773.963.610.32750.844SMITH
SMITH2004-053418.72186350.34373.662.611.02860.824SMITH
SMITH2005-063521.72657580.35070.866.24.622130.629SMITH
SMITH2006-073419.12316510.35573.467.75.722120.647SMITH
GILLISPIE2007-083115.91824930.36968.565.62.918130.581GILLISPIE
GILLISPIE2008-093615.92025730.35374.166.37.822140.611GILLISPIE
CALIPARI2009-103818.32316970.33179.364.914.43530.921CALIPARI
CALIPARI2010-113818.62817070.39774.963.511.42990.763CALIPARI
CALIPARI2011-124014.92255950.37877.460.616.83820.950CALIPARI
CALIPARI2012-133316.11845320.34672.664.58.121120.636CALIPARI
CALIPARI2013-144015.32036110.33274.866.68.229110.725CALIPARI
CALIPARI2014-153914.92035820.34974.454.320.13810.974CALIPARI
CALIPARI2015-163618.52446660.36679.568.111.42790.750CALIPARI
CALIPARI2016-173819.92677560.35384.971.513.43260.842CALIPARI
CALIPARI2017-183714.81955460.35776.870.26.626110.703CALIPARI
CALIPARI2018-193716.42156070.35475.864.711.13070.811CALIPARI
CALIPARI2019-203114.81574580.34374.466.18.32560.806CALIPARI
CALIPARI2020-212519.01604750.33770.470.20.29160.360CALIPARI
CALIPARI2021-223417.52075960.34779.466.612.82680.765CALIPARI
CALIPARI2022-233418.02136130.34774.567.76.822120.647CALIPARI
CALIPARI2023-243324.23278000.40989.079.79.323100.697CALIPARI
PITINO8 YRS26923.5231063150.36687.072.614.4219500.814PITINO
SMITH10 YRS34619.1225466000.34275.165.59.6263830.760SMITH
GILLISPIE2 YRS6715.938410660.36071.566.05.540270.597GILLISPIE
CALIPARI15 YRS53317.3331292410.35877.366.410.94101230.769CALIPARI
35 YRS121519.18260232220.35678.567.511.09322830.767
 
Cal doesn’t participate in tournaments.



Late March legs get tired and big stage jitters. I think they can win it doing it but the percentage will go down and defense will need to supplement lower percentage of 3s.
311788972_6148466791833516_4687076571852813258_n.jpg
 
My only concerns with this team are them being one offensive playmaker short and not having somebody be able to create shots late in the shot clock. I know popes offense is movement and scheme, but there are times where you just need a guy to create a basket, and idk if this team has anybody who can do that besides maybe Robinson.
 
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My only concerns with this team are them being one offensive playmaker short and having somebody be able to creat shot late in the shot clock. I know popes offense is movement and scheme, but there are times where you just need a guy to create a basket, and idk if this team has anybody who can do that besides maybe Robinson.
This. It never hurts to have "that guy". Ever. Especially if shots aren't falling or other stuff is just going awry. He's the dude that can go get a bucket and calm every one down.
 
I’m not really sure what this is all about but have a good day.
My apologies, I thought you were another poster. My bad. The other poster had to change or changed his screen name. I see now you've been around a while. Trust me, you'd have laughed. Nothing malicious, just a friendly joke if you were he.
 
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We have several players that can go get you a bucket when needed.
- Robinson
- Oweh
- Brea
- Carr
- Kriisa
- Perry
- Garrison (inside)

Heres the thing at least 2 or 3 of these 10 players, excluding the centers Amari and Brandon should be hitting shots in any given game. Butler, Kriisa, Perry, Brea, Robinson, Oweh, Noah, Chandler, Carr and Almoror. Now that means imo no way should all 10 go cold in the same game at least TWO should be hot every game. We get 4 players shooting good lights out no matter who we play. Obviously its up to coach to find the shot makers.
 
We have several players that can go get you a bucket when needed.
- Robinson
- Oweh
- Brea
- Carr
- Kriisa
- Perry
- Garrison (inside)

Heres the thing at least 2 or 3 of these 10 players, excluding the centers Amari and Brandon should be hitting shots in any given game. Butler, Kriisa, Perry, Brea, Robinson, Oweh, Noah, Chandler, Carr and Almoror. Now that means imo no way should all 10 go cold in the same game at least TWO should be hot every game. We get 4 players shooting good lights out no matter who we play. Obviously its up to coach to find the shot makers.
Kentucky Roster - last year's selected statistics - ranked by minutes per game
MINSPTSREBS3PTAFG%2P%3P%FT%STLBLKASTTOV
KRIISA6'3"18533.411.02.56.30.4290.4440.4240.7750.80.04.72.9
CARR6'10"22032.513.56.82.80.5260.5950.3710.7810.51.51.51.2
ALMONOR6'7"21932.016.45.17.40.4360.4940.3940.8000.50.71.71.6
BREA6'6"20529.111.13.86.10.5120.5780.4980.8750.50.31.20.7
BUTLER6'2"20527.59.32.62.90.4210.4850.3020.5941.50.23.01.5
ROBINSON6'7"19026.414.22.56.90.4260.5320.3540.9080.70.41.31.5
OWEH6'5"21524.911.43.81.70.4930.5200.3770.6431.50.41.01.8
WILLIAMS6'10"26522.912.27.80.10.5170.5190.3330.6550.81.81.92.4
GARRISON6'11"24522.77.55.30.00.5720.5720.0000.6480.81.51.51.7
NOAH6'6"200
PERRY6'2"170
CHANDLER6'4"170
TOTALS251.4106.640.234.2
Comparison of three-point shooting - ranked by number of attemtps
MINSMINSATTATT/MIN3PT%MINSATTATT/MIN3PT%
REEVES
1035​
188​
0.1816​
44.7%​
ALMONOR
1025​
236​
0.2302
39.4%​
SHEPPARD
953​
144​
0.1511​
52.1%
ROBINSON
871​
229​
0.2629
35.4%​
DILLINGHAM
745​
144​
0.1933
44.4%​
BREA
960​
201​
0.2094
49.8%
WAGNER
748​
96​
0.1283​
29.2%​
KRIISA
769​
144​
0.1873​
42.4%​
EDWARDS
686​
85​
0.1239​
36.5%​
BUTLER
1020​
106​
0.1039​
30.2%​
MITCHELL
817​
82​
0.1004​
30.5%​
CARR
1140​
97​
0.0851​
37.1%​
THIERO
535​
22​
0.0411​
31.8%​
OWEH
797​
53​
0.0665​
37.7%​
IVISIC
176​
16​
0.0909​
37.5%​
WILLIAMS
820​
3​
0.0037​
33.3%​
BRADSHAW
358​
14​
0.0391​
28.6%​
GARRISON
721​
0​
0.0000​
0.0%​
BURKS
140​
5​
0.0357​
40.0%​
CHANDLER
0.0%​
HART
10​
1​
0.1000​
100.0%​
PERRY
0.0%​
ONYENSO
448​
1​
0.0022​
0.0%​
NOAH
0.0%​
 
We have several players that can go get you a bucket when needed.
- Robinson
- Oweh
- Brea
- Carr
- Kriisa
- Perry
- Garrison (inside)

Heres the thing at least 2 or 3 of these 10 players, excluding the centers Amari and Brandon should be hitting shots in any given game. Butler, Kriisa, Perry, Brea, Robinson, Oweh, Noah, Chandler, Carr and Almoror. Now that means imo no way should all 10 go cold in the same game at least TWO should be hot every game. We get 4 players shooting good lights out no matter who we play. Obviously its up to coach to find the shot makers.
Every guy on that list can get shots off of other players creation, but only one player on this list can consistently create their own shot, and that’s the concern.
 
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Alabama made a pretty good run at it without having a roster specifically designed for shooting 3's. Pope has seemingly assembled a roster to do just that, how well they are able to do other things will be the key to what this team can accomplish. an they rebound, play enough defense and play situational basketball(closing out games when they have small lead) Shooting 3's on the road sometimes gets hard(or at least making them)
 
Alabama made a pretty good run at it without having a roster specifically designed for shooting 3's. Pope has seemingly assembled a roster to do just that, how well they are able to do other things will be the key to what this team can accomplish. an they rebound, play enough defense and play situational basketball(closing out games when they have small lead) Shooting 3's on the road sometimes gets hard(or at least making them)
They did but the question remains the same. Does Kentucky have any player close to what sears is?
 
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