Freshman forward, Taylor Funk, has made a splash since arriving on Hawk Hill averaging 20.3 points and 5.3 rebounds. Although Funk has come off the bench in all three contests, he has made more 3s than the entire starting lineup combined, shooting 59% from deep on 22 attempts.
So, how good of a shooter is Funk? In a benchmarking analysis designed to forecast this season’s top shooters, his name appeared on a short list. Very short. Funk is just the second freshman in the last eight seasons to make at least four 3’s on 50% shooting from deep in each of his team’s first three games. Altogether, there are only 11 players, including Funk, to accomplish this shooting feat in that time. The list of players are all notable snipers from beyond the arc – Ben Hansbrough, Phil Forte, Kim English, James Blackmon, etc. Prior to this year, this group was seven players, averaging 44.2% from 3 in the season they accomplished the feat. No player shot less than 42.5% from deep. There is roughly a 10% margin in 3P% between this group and all other players as team 3P% has been around 34.5% over this time. This year four new players - Grayson Allen, Cedric Russell, DJ Hogg & Taylor Funk - were added to the list, bringing the group to 11 players. Funk not only stands out for being just the second freshman, but he and Hogg are now the tallest players on the list at 6’9”. If Funk finishes this season with a 3P% comparable to the other players on the list, he would be just the third player in the last 15 years, 6’9” or taller, to shoot at least 44% on 5+ attempts per game. He would join Valparaiso’s Alec Peters at 6’9” and Marquette’s Steve Novak at 6’10”. Saint Joseph’s head coach Phil Martelli continued to heap praise on the freshman this week. “Taylor has a well-honed shooting form. His shot looks the same every time he releases the ball,” said Martelli. “He, like all players, must concern himself with only the next shot and not the last shot.” With Allen, Russell, and Hogg having already missed the mark in their fourth game, Funk has an opportunity to stand alone in shooting history. Tune in Thursday as Saint Joseph’s takes on Washington State in the Wooden Legacy.
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On Tuesday, Duke beat Michigan State in a thrilling game as #1 squared off against #2 in the Champions Classic. The game not only featured a showdown of Hall of Fame coaches in Mike Krzyzewski and Tom Izzo, but also provided much anticipated matchups between several top ranked recruits. This game had it all.
It was the first time fans and scouts could see Marvin Bagley, the number one overall recruit this season and a projected top three NBA draft pick, against top tier talent. It was a test for Michigan State’s returning Sophomores Cassius Winston, Nick Ward, Josh Langford, and of course, Big 10 Preseason Player of the Year, Miles Bridges. This was an NBA showcase featuring starting lineups with top ranked recruits. Prior to the start of the game, NCAA analysts were highlighting players to watch. Marvin Bagley. Miles Bridges. Grayson Allen. Jaren Jackson. Gary Trent. Wendell Carter. Watch them they said. They weren’t wrong – they all impressed and the game was fantastic from start to finish. However, it was the name no one had suggested that impacted the game the most, especially after Bagley left the game with an eye injury – Javin DeLaurier. Duke’s 6’10” sophomore big man played 24 minutes of high energy basketball on both ends of the floor. He led all players in the game with a net rating of 47.8 and a plus minus of +22. DeLaurier’s effect can be seen on film and in the numbers. Without him on the court, Duke’s offense and defense were less effective. Marvin Bagley was highly effective in his time before leaving the game with an injury and will be a force, both offensively and defensively. Grayson Allen played one of the best games of his career and was clutch down the stretch. It is not meant as a slight to either player’s performance, but DeLaurier’s play can’t go unmentioned – it truly altered the game and arguably the result. DeLaurier's Eight Plays that Changed the Game: DeLaurier did an excellent job at protecting the rim on Tuesday from the likes of Bridges, Ward, and Jackson. The first three plays are all plays where he blocked or altered a shot. On this last play, DeLaurier didn’t record a block, but he quickly dropped down and forced Ward to pump again and change his shot angle allowing Bagley to get the block. The next three plays are all possesions where DeLaurier flashes his great hands. His feet and hands are always active on defense, but also notice that he is constantly calling out defensive assignments and positioning to his teammates. In the last two clips, DeLaurier grabs an offensive rebound to keep the possession alive. Note, that in both plays it is a tie game in the 2nd half. Give credit where credit is due. DeLaurier needs to be recognized as another force for Duke’s frontcourt.
Michigan State enters the 2017-18 season as a contender for the NCAA Championship led by Big 10 Preseason Player of the Year, Miles Bridges.
Bridges was one of seven players last year to average more than 16 PPG, 8 RPG, 1.5 BPG, and shoot 38% from 3 on more than 100 3PAs. He has a great shot IQ and is highly efficient as 88% of his shots are in the paint or threes, where he made 59% and 39%, respectively. However, Bridges will not be able to carry this team to a Championship by himself. Michigan State’s success will be determined by the play of Cassius Winston and Nick Ward. Cassius Winston is a 6’1” sophomore point guard, who, among returning players, had the 2nd highest assist rate last season. He is an outstanding passer and plays with great pace, but he had to split time at point guard with Lourawls Nairn Jr. The Spartans won games when Winston made plays. They were 15-4 when Winston recorded 5+ assists and a dreadful 5-11 when he was under 5 assists. Tom Izzo needs Winston running the point – all game. Michigan State, offensively, wants to make excellent passes leading to easier shots. Over the last three seasons, they have the highest assist rate of any team in D1. Last season, the Spartans were 11-3 when they assisted on more than 66% of their baskets and 9-12 when under this mark. As decisive as passing was to Michigan State’s success last year, defensive rebounding was just as vital. Since 2009, Tom Izzo’s teams have finished in the top 35 in defensive rebounding, but that ended last year. They weren’t even in the top 75. When center, Nick Ward, had 4+ defensive rebounds in a game the team was 13-4. They were 7-10 when Ward was held under this mark. Miles Bridges is an outstanding defensive rebounder, but it was Ward rebounding the ball that took Michigan State to the next level. Proof? The Spartans were 8-8 when Bridges had 7+ defensive rebounds and 6-6 when under 7 defensive rebounds. Compare this with the Spartan’s 13-4 record when Ward records 4 or more defensive rebounds. Ward had 68% more defensive rebounds in wins vs. losses. Bridges just 7% more in wins. Per Brendan F. Quinn (@BFQuinn), Michigan State was 22 points per 100 possessions better with Ward on the court than off the court last season. Ward is a broad bodied center who runs the floor as well as any big at that size. He was a matchup nightmare for opposing teams last season, especially in the low post. He is the only player in the last eight years to attempt 200+ free throws while averaging less than 20 minutes per game. How good can the Spartans be this year? They will be the team to beat if Winston and Ward play to their ability. Last year, they were 15-4 when either Winston had 5+ assists or Ward had 4+ defensive rebounds. When neither played reached these marks they struggled to a 5-11 record. This is the difference between a Championship contender and team that doesn’t even make the field of 68. They add a top prospect in 6’11” forward, Jaren Jackson. He is a stretch 4 with great length and a 7’4” wingspan – moving Bridges to the 3. Jackson has range and will make highlight tape plays at the rim on both sides of the ball. He stuffed the stat sheet in his first game as a Spartan – totaling 13 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 blocks, and 2 steals. Rounding out the starting rotation is Josh Langford. Their exceptional front court will create many open looks for shooters on the perimeter. Langford is the perfect fit as he shot 52% on catch and shoot wing 3s last season. Tom Izzo will be cutting down the nets on April 2, 2018 in San Antonio for his second NCAA Championship.
Saint Bonaventure has the most underrated duo heading into the 2017-18 college basketball season. They also happen to be the best. It’s not close.
The duo is comprised of Jaylen Adams, a 6’2” senior point guard, and Matt Mobley, a 6’3” senior off-ball guard. Adams is a special talent. Last season, Adams became only the 4th player in the last 15 seasons to average more than 20 PPG, 6 APG, and 2 SPG. Mobley is a dynamic player in his own right – a pure shooter. He was one of six players last season to average 18 PPG, 5 RPG, 2.5 APG, and 1.5 SPG while shooting 37% from 3. In college basketball, a duo as talented as Adams and Mobley is beyond rare. Since 2002, only one other team had two players average more than 18 PPG, 3 RPG, 2.5 APG, & 1.5 SPG, shooting 35% from 3. The other team? The 2003-04 Saint Joseph’s Hawks with Jameer Nelson and Delonte West, who went 27-0 in that regular season under Head Coach Phil Martelli. The Bonnies backcourt duo not only matched Nelson and West’s production in their acclaimed final year in 2003-04, but they also have one year remaining to top it. History will be made in the Reilly Center this year. What makes the duo so successful? Ball Screens: Last season, according to Synergy, the Bonnies were the only team with two players in the top 30 for Points Per Possession (PPP) when shooting in ball screen situations (min. of 150 possessions). They both can score at all three levels coming off of the ball screen as they shot a combined 55% when driving to the basket, 40% on midrange 2s, and an impressive 40% from 3. They possess elite offensive skills, which creates nightmares for defensive game plans when deciding how to defend their ball screen. Defensively, Adams is too skilled and exploits all matchups with opposing bigs after he gets around the corner on the ball screen. Here, he displays his elite hesitation move to freeze Florida big man, John Egbunu, to get to the rim. Transition: When watching the two of them in transition, which often stems from one of their own steals, you can’t help but see shades of Golden State basketball. Both players have a ‘green light’, coupled with unlimited range, which they use to exploit their opponent, especially in transition. Only eight D1 teams, including the Bonnies, had two players in the top 60 for transition PPP. Adams and Mobley are at their best when Adams is finding defensive breakdowns and pushing the ball up to Mobley. Adams notices St. Louis has had a defensive breakdown and there is only one player to defend him and Mobley as St. Louis forward, Elliott Welmer, retreats to the paint. Another dimension of the Bonnies transition game is to push the ball up the court to Mobley for a quick spot up jumper. Adams grabs the rebound and throws an accurate pass up court to Mobley for an uncontested 3. 3’s – Volume and Efficiency: Only two teams have two players returning who made more than 2.5 threes per game last season while shooting at least 35% from beyond the arc – St. Bonaventure and Lipscomb (Garrison Matthews and Nathan Moran). Recommendations: This upcoming season the Bonnies need to push the ball up the court even more and play faster. They were 9-0 in games of 74 or more possessions and just 11-12 in games under 74 possessions. This team should be able to control the pace of every game. Playing faster will have positive compounding effects on both ends of the floor. A duo like this comes around once in a decade. Watch them. History will be made. Match-ups to Watch: Maryland - November 24 - 9:30 PM – Emerald Coast Classic – CBS Sports Network Syracuse – December 2 - 7 PM on ACC Network Extra Saint Joseph’s – January 6th - 8 PM on ESPNU and January 24th - 7 PM on CBS SN Rhode Island – January 13th - 11 AM on ESPNU and February 16th - 7 PM on ESPN2
One game during the 2018-19 season, Mike Daum will become the all-time leading scorer in NCAA history. One of a few records the junior forward from South Dakota State will eventually claim.
So why isn’t anyone talking about him? In the last 20 years, he is only the second player to average at least 25 PPG and 8 RPG, while shooting 50+% on 2s and 40+% on 3s. The other player? KEVIN DURANT. Daum averaged 15.2 points per game his freshman year only to best that output last season at 25.1 points per game. Now, he enters his junior year as the nation’s highest returning scorer and has the NCAA record books in his crosshairs. Record Breaker! If Daum is projected to score the same total points in each of his final two years, as he did last year, he’d finish third in career points. But most players increase their average in their final years - Lionel Simmons, the current record holder, saw an increase of 17.8% in his PPG average from his sophomore year to his final two seasons. Doug McDermott, third on the list, and the most comparable player to Daum, increased his average by 8.95% over that time. If Daum sees the same increase over his next two years, he’ll claim the title Simmons held for 30 years - most career points in NCAA history. McDermott… but better? Daum’s offensive game and production resemble Doug McDermott’s first two seasons at Creighton. Their sophomore season numbers are almost identical. They even have comparable shot type distributions. Shots coming off of post-ups, handoffs, and screens accounted for 39% of both player’s sophomore year points. The only significant difference between the two player’s shots distributions is in points as the roll-man in a pick and roll. Roll-man points were 12% of Daum’s production last season, while just 8% of McDermott’s sophomore year points. Why is this number so high for Daum? He’s not rolling, he’s popping. He is a pick and pop machine! Film Review: Daum – Pick and Pop Daum was the second most efficient player last season in pick and pop scoring. Defenses knew Daum was popping (he popped on 77% of his ball screens), yet they still could not stop him. Even the fourth best defensive eFG% team, Wichita State, had trouble defending Daum on the pop. Here, Daum does an excellent job sealing the on-ball defender and quickly gets his feet around to prepare himself for an open shot. Later, Daum exhibits a strong secondary move after he pops. Wichita State forward, Markus McDuffie, attempts a quick closeout, but Daum pumps and powers his way to the rim. Prediction He will set the career points record as a senior and will then lead his team to the second weekend of the NCAA tournament. It won’t be long before he starts to receive All-American level hype. |
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