What can be learned from the first seven games? What do we need to work on to get better? I know what I think from watching most of the games, but I decided to look at where we are nationally, statistically speaking. Here is what stands out to me:
Offensively, we are #4 in the nation in three-point FG%. That is outstanding. What is not outstanding is that we rank #306 in three-point field goal attempts. To shoot it this well, but score so few points with this skill is something that needs to be addressed. Teams know we can shoot from deep, and will try and try to limit our attempts. We need to get more attempts. One way is for our bigs to get more touches and finish with buckets, so that teams will collapse on them, paving the way for an inside-outside game, passing in to the post, and quickly back outside to a shooter. If we can finish inside effectively, teams will try to zone us sometimes, and with quick passing around the perimeter, we should be able to get open looks at threes. Kelly is our best post player on offense, so when he is in, the ball should be going through him often, either to score, or especially to kick it back out. Another way is to use screens effectively to free up three point shots. Grant, and especially Lars, need to get more effective in the post.
We are not getting enough field goal attempts, and we are ranked #231 in that.
The other offensive area that we need to address is offensive rebounds. Lars, Grant, Kelly, and Thorpe need to get on those boards and get some easy buckets on putbacks. Cal ranks #283 in offensive rebounds. We are ranked #155 in total rebounds, but we could improve that. Two crucial areas where we need improvement are assists and turnovers. We rank #253 in assists and #257 in turnovers. We have two point guards, Austin and Brown, both averaging less than 2 assists per game. We rank #275 in points per game. We have talented shooters, and we need to find ways to get all of them more shots. One way is to cause more turnovers (Cal is ranked #340 in steals), and get more stops on defense
Defensively, we give up way too many field goal attempts, and are ranked #300 in this. We give up way too many three point field goal attempts, and we are ranked #289 in this. We are holding our opponents to low shooting percentages, but we are just giving them too many shots. Hopefully we can tighten this up. One thing I notice on defense is we don't seem to handle an opponent's ball screens very well. I can't tell if we aren't communicating effectively, or we are not skilled in proper defense for these screens. In a recent game, I saw Paris Austin get hung up on a ball screen, unable to fight his way past it, or run around behind it, and the teammate who should have called a switch, apparently didn't call it out for Paris to hear it, or Paris didn't pay attention. Defense needs teamwork, and right now we don't have enough of that.
I've been very pleased so far, and the difference from last year is very noticeable. We have a coach now, and it shows in many ways. The Duke game was unfortunate, but we have played well enough in the rest of the games to win them all. Against Texas, we hung in for 35 minutes, on very tired legs, which led us to a horrible shooting game. We have a long way to go, but I remain optimistic, and I hope all of our fans do so as well.
Happy Thanksgiving to all Bear fans.
Go Bears!
Offensively, we are #4 in the nation in three-point FG%. That is outstanding. What is not outstanding is that we rank #306 in three-point field goal attempts. To shoot it this well, but score so few points with this skill is something that needs to be addressed. Teams know we can shoot from deep, and will try and try to limit our attempts. We need to get more attempts. One way is for our bigs to get more touches and finish with buckets, so that teams will collapse on them, paving the way for an inside-outside game, passing in to the post, and quickly back outside to a shooter. If we can finish inside effectively, teams will try to zone us sometimes, and with quick passing around the perimeter, we should be able to get open looks at threes. Kelly is our best post player on offense, so when he is in, the ball should be going through him often, either to score, or especially to kick it back out. Another way is to use screens effectively to free up three point shots. Grant, and especially Lars, need to get more effective in the post.
We are not getting enough field goal attempts, and we are ranked #231 in that.
The other offensive area that we need to address is offensive rebounds. Lars, Grant, Kelly, and Thorpe need to get on those boards and get some easy buckets on putbacks. Cal ranks #283 in offensive rebounds. We are ranked #155 in total rebounds, but we could improve that. Two crucial areas where we need improvement are assists and turnovers. We rank #253 in assists and #257 in turnovers. We have two point guards, Austin and Brown, both averaging less than 2 assists per game. We rank #275 in points per game. We have talented shooters, and we need to find ways to get all of them more shots. One way is to cause more turnovers (Cal is ranked #340 in steals), and get more stops on defense
Defensively, we give up way too many field goal attempts, and are ranked #300 in this. We give up way too many three point field goal attempts, and we are ranked #289 in this. We are holding our opponents to low shooting percentages, but we are just giving them too many shots. Hopefully we can tighten this up. One thing I notice on defense is we don't seem to handle an opponent's ball screens very well. I can't tell if we aren't communicating effectively, or we are not skilled in proper defense for these screens. In a recent game, I saw Paris Austin get hung up on a ball screen, unable to fight his way past it, or run around behind it, and the teammate who should have called a switch, apparently didn't call it out for Paris to hear it, or Paris didn't pay attention. Defense needs teamwork, and right now we don't have enough of that.
I've been very pleased so far, and the difference from last year is very noticeable. We have a coach now, and it shows in many ways. The Duke game was unfortunate, but we have played well enough in the rest of the games to win them all. Against Texas, we hung in for 35 minutes, on very tired legs, which led us to a horrible shooting game. We have a long way to go, but I remain optimistic, and I hope all of our fans do so as well.
Happy Thanksgiving to all Bear fans.
Go Bears!
