If you had told me on Nov 1st

[Paul C]

...that after 9 games Jordan Lyons would be shooting 15-57 (26.3%) and Alex Hunter 11-42 (26.2%) from three (vs D1) and asked me to guess our record I'd have gone with 4-5.

Instead we are 7-2 thanks to defense, Clay Mounce and different other guys stepping up. And Alex not turning it over and Jordan doing other things well, for the record.

But we all said in preseason "Jordan has to shoot well for this to be a good year" and he hasn't yet it's about as good a start to a season we've ever had, outside of last year. No losses to Presbyterian (like a few years ago....and that team went 14-4 in the SoCon).

Lyons is a career 33% shooter and Hunter a career 35% shooter. So if regression to the mean applies, that means this team has upside.

[cavedweller2]

Too much run and gun. As they called it on the Seinfeld basketball episode: They are "chucking".

[DungeonRealm]

After Auburn we have 5 very winnable games, here's to hoping we can take care of business in those to set-up a nice showdown with ETSU in Timmons on Sat. Jan. 4th!

[tya1]

If we shoot 35% plus from the three point arc we win both of the games we lost. This team is fully capable of hitting that percentage every night.

We missed about 7 or 8 layups last night that were contested, but if you get the ball on the backboard without it being blocked you should hit the shot. Make them block the shot - don't give it away. Got to be mentally tough.

We missed two shots on fast breaks by going for the big dunk instead of going up strong and protecting the ball.

Little mistakes mean a lot.

[MNORM]

Too much run and gun. As they called it on the Seinfeld basketball episode: They are "chucking".

"Jimmy's got some new moves"

[Jasper]

...that after 9 games Jordan Lyons would be shooting 15-57 (26.3%) and Alex Hunter 11-42 (26.2%) from three (vs D1) and asked me to guess our record I'd have gone with 4-5.

Instead we are 7-2 thanks to defense, Clay Mounce and different other guys stepping up. And Alex not turning it over and Jordan doing other things well, for the record.

But we all said in preseason "Jordan has to shoot well for this to be a good year" and he hasn't yet it's about as good a start to a season we've ever had, outside of last year. No losses to Presbyterian (like a few years ago....and that team went 14-4 in the SoCon).

Lyons is a career 33% shooter and Hunter a career 35% shooter. So if regression to the mean applies, that means this team has upside.

I am wondering if both our guards are not having some problem adjusting to the new 3 point line. The added distance effects smaller players more than the big guys. If that is the case, they both should be able to make the adjustment and get back to their historical averages.
Defense is the great equalizer in basketball. It's what enables you to win a game when you are having a bad shooting night. We defended the shots, passes and schemes against USF very well the other night but forgot to rebound at critical times. You are correct. Much of our 7-2 record is the result of a stifling defense.