Key Element Missing

[Wildcat_Fan]

First off great win against Eastern. That was a solid team that we started off slow and kept our composure fought back and then finished strong.
One thing that I think we are really missing without D lill and Scotty B is someone who will just pull the trigger. Watching them come off screens with even an inch of room they would get off a shot. Watching our team we just dont have someone who can hit those shots. Putting aside leadership and everything else they brought to the table just another thing we will miss..

 

[SWWeatherCat]

I think Berry is more than capable of that and would bet Senglin and Gittens can become proficient at it too. No one will do it like ScottyB, though, he was king! What I noticed vs Eastern is they ran a lot of motion looking for an off-screen shot like that. Unless I just couldn't see it, Weber doesn't seem to look for that kind of shot too much. I would sure like to see more of that instead of the times they get a little carried away jacking up quick 3's.

 

[oldrunner]

We have good shooters. They just need to relax and keep shooting. Now that we are playing more regularly, I think it will allow our whole team to get into a better rhythm. We have had first game jitters about 6 times this season. What we are really seeing is the development of some very talented freshmen. Their continued development will morph into those missing key elements.

 

[Webergrad02]

I am not worried at all. We were so spoiled to have our two best 3 point shooters in school history here the last few years. Spot up guys that can come off screens and get a shot off quickly are hard to come by. Dame has the ability to create for himself or come off screens. I think we have different types of shooters this year, but will be just fine.

 

[3Wildcats]

I wonder could Dame and Bam shoot 3s as well as they did when they first arrived on campus or did they get better over the years that they were with our coaching staff. Maybe we can give our coaching staff time to develop this group into shooters.

 

[oldrunner]

Both were good shooters when they got here and both improved as shooters and ball handlers as they matured. Both of them worked really hard to improve their games and both are making a living at it now. No matter how good you are, you can get better if you have a strong enough desire. The difference between a good shooter and a great shooter is all of the hard work that it takes to gain that level of confidence. Our freshmen seem to have that work ethic. I see greatness for them in the future.

 

[WSUProf]

Do we have anyone right now who can come off a screen and knock down a 3 like Bamforth did last year? No. But very few teams do. What we are missing is simply Berry knocking down 3s at a better rate. So far this year he is shooting just 29% from beyond the arc, compared with last year's 41%. Some of that may be due to teams keying on him more and the fact that he doesn't have Bamforth out there who shot 46% from 3.
But one thing I see this year that I didn't see much of last year - except from Berry - is our guards getting to the rim. Gittens is shooting an incredible 57% from inside the arc. Dunks and lay-ups tend to be very high percentage shots.

 

[3Wildcats]

You are correct oldrunner they were good shooter when they got there just like Senglin and they improved just like all the freshmen will do with their continued work with the coaching staff. If they move the ball like they did at certain points in the game more consistently they will get those wide open 3s that are easier to hit and their confidence will grow. Then the tougher 3s will start to fall.

 

[Wildcat_Fan]

If we dont have someone who can knock down those shots, we know that this coaching staff is capable of getting those open looks. Look at Nick Hansen, sharp shooter. He didnt create his own shot like Dame and Bamf but he got those good looks and knocked them down. That is what we need to develop and I know we have more than one that can take that role

 

[oldrunner]

As I think more about it, this year, that role belongs to Berry. He has just been in a little shooting slump. I think that we will see him come out firing tonight. He is too good not to. Once he gets rolling, things will get a lot easier for everyone else. I think that the coaches should put some plays in for him to get some early, good looks at the rim and then let it go from there. If he gets on track, the dynamics of the game are much different. Plus, he really is our senior leader and best player.

 

[Wildcat_Fan]

Case and point tonight against PSU around the 18 min mark Gittens passes up a wide open three then gets it back goes to shoot it and bails out midway thru the shot and passes to Berry who goes to shoot an open three and also bails out!! Two in a row. We finally settled down and hit some good shots ( J Rich ) but that series was absolutely ridiculous,

 

[oldrunner]

And, a few minutes after that, Senglin pump faked his guy out of his shorts, dribble moved to the side and created his own 3. A few minutes later, Berry came off a screen and hit another 3. It's all about confidence and rhythm. J Rich got it started with some spot up 3s.

I like the rhythm we are getting into. It will be a hard fought game in Colorado.

 

[3Wildcats]

I said yesterday for ours guys they need to get those wide open looks to hit the 3s we want them to make and what did they get when the were patient against that zone. They got the ball to the free throw line and our post made the right pass for a wide open 3s and then came the confidence they needed. Just have to be patient against the zone and not force up 3s or drive out of control take what they are giving us.

 

[WSUProf]

Lots to be happy with about last night's game. 45% from 3. 88% from the line. Gave up only 5 offensive rebounds. A rebounding margin of plus 12. 18 assists on 24 field goals. 26 points off the bench. Hopefully this wasn't all because we were playing PSU.
And individually there were some great state lines: Senglin had 8 assists, 1 steal, and only 1 turnover. Berry had 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and was 9-10 from the line.
Hill is coming on as a strong power forward.
This weekend will be real tough. A split would be great.

 

[n.ogdencat]

You can tell that the team chemistry is really starting to improve to. They are getting use to playing together.

 

[oldrunner]

It is clear to me, as far as BSC play goes, we do not have a missing element.

With that said, If we want to move to the next level, we need to either develop or recruit wing players of the 6'7'' to 6'8'' ilk, who can do all the things that our current 6'4'' guys can do. Hill could develop into that sort of player, and I hope he does. It is a difficult thing to recruit. Everyone in the country wants them and they don't grow on trees. It's not just about the offensive side of the ball. They need to be able to shut down the other teams best guy. In the BSC that 'best guy' is almost always another 6'4'' guy. However, the top mid majors and almost all of the high majors have the 6'7'' to 6'8'', athletic wing, who can do it all.

Is that guy out there, ready to sign with our Wildcats, or in the program now, I don't know. However, I can hope, can't I? :thumb: :thumb:

 

[SWWeatherCat]

Scratching my head with the FTs last night-- late in the game they were 19-20 for 95%; that kinda came outta nowhere. I don't buy that FTs will improve once you start playing games more regularly or "gel" as a team. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise. :thumb:

Great game, overall. We saw a lot of good things, including the offense coming along more. As mentioned already, there are still things that are a little shaky but it's nice to see the growth; something that was hard to see OOC. I love seeing the athleticism come out, including more sweet throw-downs-- I think I counted four total. Joel looked better and I can't hardly wait for Hill to have this year under his belt. Senglin & Gittens are going to be great, although, Gittens will take a little more time. JR coming off the bench is working, great adjustment by Rahe! :clap:

I'm still disappointed and worried about the lack of "strength" they seem to have offensively in the paint. I don't know UNC's strengths off the top of my head but I worry our bigs are going to need to step it up to be competitive Thursday. Weber has a home-heavy schedule through the first eight so this could be a very important road trip to stay in the top of the standings as they continue to 'gel' as a team. :woo: Weber State basketball has finally arrived.

 

[3Wildcats]

I agree with you oldrunner if we want to move to the next level a 6'7"- 6'8" wing would help get us there. I think Hill as the athletic ability and talent to do it and maybe the new recruit Richardson I believe is his name. We sure know we have the coaching staff to help them get there hopefully they have the work ethic that it will take to get there.

 

[UtahPirate]

Scratching my head with the FTs last night-- late in the game they were 19-20 for 95%; that kinda came outta nowhere. I don't buy that FTs will improve once you start playing games more regularly or "gel" as a team. Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise. :thumb:

I'm sure we were all pleasantly surprised about the FTs. I kept thinking that if we were shooting them at our normal rate the game would have been a nail-bitter. Instead our lead always felt comfortable.

This was an interesting quote from Rahe that the Trib ran in their game story -- hits both the FT and 3's points:

"Weber State entered the game shooting only 31.4 percent from the 3-point line. Richardson, a senior from Lewisville, Texas, had managed to make only 10 of his 39 3-point attempts.

That all changed against Portland State, despite Rahe purposely not talking to his players about their 3-point shooting woes before the game.

"I haven’t said a word about it," he explained. … It’s like free-throw shooting. You don’t [yell] at guys for missing free throws because then they get tight and miss more.""