Running 2017-18 college rings thread

When did pace become a stat, just counting the number of possessions? If that is the definition, then yeah, Virginia plays a slower pace.

But if we are talking about people and the ball actually in motion, UVa doesn't play slow at all. Patient, deliberate and disciplined, yes. But there is lots of quick movement on both ends of the floor.

A Virginia-Miami game from a couple years ago really jumped out at me. The Miami guards were walking the ball up the court, making one or fewer passes then throwing up a jumper 10 or 12 seconds into the shot clock. Almost every possession. One guy handles the ball, four stand around.

UVa was taking 20-25 seconds off the clock, but constantly moving the ball and running guys off screens, even the big men were very active. But Miami was playing faster because they took more (worse) shots?

 

Again, cannot stress enough that I did not start this discussion. They’re in the middle of the exam break right now, for fuck’s sake.

 

I know this is a popular view, but I don't really get it.

Virginia's games aren't lower scoring because they're standing around doing nothing. Instead, it's because they're putting more effort and thought into each possession (and because they play about the best team defense in college basketball). There's more actual motion going on in their typical possession than with most teams (as @Jake_Taylor noted above). They're working hard to get the right shot instead of just the first shot.

Many seem to have this view that a team's entertainment value should be judged by how high-scoring its games are. That ain't the way I see it. There are plenty high scoring AAU games too, as well as in no-defense all star games, but that doesn't mean that's the right way to play. Personally, I get annoyed when I watch teams that just run down and fork up the first dumb shot.

I've enjoyed watching Bennett's UVa teams. Also loved Brad Stevens' Butler teams. Even liked Bo Ryan's Wisconsin's teams. All three systems seemed premised on the notion that there should be no wasted possessions, you maximize every trip down down the floor. The fact that this approach means lower-scoring games doesn't offend me.

 

I wish I could like this post about a dozen times.

 

While I'm not someone who should be posting on a basketball thread, I'm waiting for a virus scan to complete so I have nothing better to do.

Watched the Vols v. Lipscomb a bit this weekend and I was struck how at one point Barnes was caught on mic yelling at his team, "don't shoot the three! You've attempted 4 straight! Go to the hoop!" Am I wrong in thinking this would never have been heard even five years ago -- but today, players would rather make a name for themselves as a Steph Curry than a Dwight Howard/Vince Carter dunking machine?

 

What is this?

 

The Ball Brothers against the field.

 

Indiana lost to Fort Wayne last night, at home, for the second year in a row. This was just a couple days after beating Notre Dame in Indianapolis.

It confirms what I thought watching Indiana-Notre Dame: Notre Dame isn't very good. I don't quite know why.

 

I know it's women's basketball, but this might be the head-scratcher of the year.

Western Illinois 71, Stanford 64, last night in California.

What?!?!?!

 

They are about to go nuts in....wherever the hell Wofford is located.

 

Wofford made the second round of the FCS playoffs. Pretty good athletic department for such a small school.

 

There were a decent number of Terrier fans in the Dean Dome tonight. They left happy, very happy.