The Glass is 3/4 Full

[Sonoma Muskie]

Even though Ball State is a very poor team Xavier’s destruction of them means that the Muskies can match top BE competitors & go deep into NCAA tourney if the X Men, as all aspiring champs improve ball security & therefore reduce turnovers, raise shooting accuracy while hampering opponents productivity. We are on that track. Let’s hope the train can drive on through filling the cup to the brim!

[pdxmuskie]

All about ball security and shot selection.

Shooting accuracy will rise as players learn the difference between good and bad shots. The right guys shooting from deep will solve 90% of that issue.

[skyhops]

I agree. Turning the ball over 18 times will not work in the BE. Defense has been solid

[Sonoma Muskie]

If a player having 6-10 years in organized bb does not know the difference between a good & a bad shot, then maybe he has passed the level where he can compete.
After 8 early season games it is time that the coach informs his players who can shoot & who should use great discretion & self control before taking ill-advised shots.
Nonge is the contradiction because he can hit the 3 surprisingly often. But it is best if there is a teammate or 2 under the basket when Jack fires away.
Kunkel really can’t shoot & he is a liability either way. Too slow & turnover prone.
It is time to pare down to the best 8 or 9 players & get serious about being in mid-season form.

[muskieman]

If a player having 6-10 years in organized bb does not know the difference between a good & a bad shot, then maybe he has passed the level where he can compete.
After 8 early season games it is time that the coach informs his players who can shoot & who should use great discretion & self control before taking ill-advised shots.
Nonge is the contradiction because he can hit the 3 surprisingly often. But it is best if there is a teammate or 2 under the basket when Jack fires away.
Kunkel really can’t shoot & he is a liability either way. Too slow & turnover prone.
It is time to pare down to the best 8 or 9 players & get serious about being in mid-season form.

Guess you never watch much basketball pro or college if you think bad shot selection is just for the newbies.

[Sonoma Muskie]

“Shot Selection” is not something true shooters can ever comprehend. To them the only bad shot is the one that they failed to take. The “Peter Principle” finally takes hold when a player comes to realize that he has risen to a level where the other players are actually as good as he is, if not better!
Only the Michael Jordans never are confronted to face that fact.
Mere mortals must accept that there are occasions when passing the ball to a teammate is a good option, regardless how personally distasteful.
Sometimes we are observing these athletes coming to that rude awakening.

[pdxmuskie]

I like your take Sonoma. I would however say they coach should make passing seem like the path to being drafted.

Efficiency should be what gets a player drafted but in reality, it often isn't. That being said, a guy on the fringe is far more likely to be drafted when he plays within his abilities, defends and tries to make teammates better. Scruggs will not get drafted for scoring big numbers but he might for playing efficiently and defending well. I will eat those words if he can score big while maintaining efficiency. That is possible for him as he can get to the rim often but has to figure out how to avoid turnovers. Forcing the issue is always bad for the team and typically bad for the player.

Hunter and others can play professionally somewhere but they should limit bad shots to improve their chances.