jrn19 wrote: ↑Mon Apr 01, 2024 12:03 am
Their problem in terms of getting multiple shots off is they play so slow. They don't take their first shot till there's like 20-25 secs left on the clock. By that point, it's really hard to get another quality shot on cage. In 2022, they were 39th in pace. The last two years, they're 60th. A huge part of this is obviously transition; but another factor that I think we haven't spoken of is the clearing. It's taking them so freaking long to clear the ball. The middies are not involved in the clear at all. The ball is passed back and forth between the long poles and McNaney until a shortie maybe gets open past midfield. They need to get some guys who can take the ball upfield. When you clear quickly, you can set up your offense with 60 seconds on the clock. Right now, they are setting up with 40 seconds on the clock. They spin it around for 20 seconds, THEN take a shot. By that point the possession is over.
They have to get this clearing figured out; obviously to maximize possessions, but also because for a team that does need to maximize the possessions they do have and requires more volume, they need longer possessions. Giving yourself 40 second possessions doesn't cut it
Part of the pace is by design. Teams eat into the shot clock on our defense. It’s not because the defense is so good a forcing teams to eat into the clock. Teams are intentionally grinding the defense. So when the Terps get the ball on offense, they’re slowing down to give the defense rest.
I do think you’re right, too, about the time to clear the ball. That’s part of the slowdown. But teams are also forcing the Terps to take so long to clear. Aside from UVA and Michigan, most teams sit way back in that soft ride. Penn State did neither tonight. They weren’t aggressive and didn’t sit back and clog lanes. They also didn’t eat a ton into the shot clock tonight, either.
The offense looked a lot better today. Players finally got into dangerous places off ball, and they were rewarded. Good momentum-building win.
I wonder if McNaney’s pretty bad Q1 was the point for him where he just mentally re-set. The defense in Q1 didn’t look like they trusted him. If he, Wierman, and the offense can build on this from a confidence-perspective, look out.