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Now we enter into an exciting new Conference in hopes to be the 'new team on the block', but a team that can win the gold here. Below are some positive comparisons of stats for last Season versus this Season along with areas of stats that need to improve and should get better with all of our players healthy, and ready to play. Yes, this is a tougher schedule this Season, but even so, there is room for enhancing our squad's performance as we march forward towards March. These stats were compiled from goshockers.
The Good--Our field goal % is actually up from .488 to .469 last Season. Considering the amount of easy shots we have missed lately, this is nice to see. Our free throw % is actually up from .733 last year, to an improved .760 this Season, 'so I will hang up and listen'. This next area, I really like and still see more improvement on the horizon. Our rebound margin this Season is improved from 8.9 last Season to 11.5 so far this Season and last I checked we were rated in the top 10 in the Nation on this. Why do I point to this getting an added boost by and by? Duff led us in rebounding last Season and his presence on the court more and more now will enhance this somewhat IMO. Last but not least, our bench has outscored our foes bench in every solitary game and many times it is not even close.
The Similarities To Last Season--Our team 3-point % is just slightly below last Season. Rim Protection is similar as the Shocks blocked 140 shots and were blocked 120 times versus this Season as we have blocked 55 shots and been blocked 46 times. Our assists per game is slightly better this Season at 18 per game versus our foes at 10.8 against us versus 16.3 assists per game at 10.4 against us last Season. This last similarity made me 'scratch my head', that even though we are ranked higher than last Season and it seems we are not playing as good, I had forgotten 12 games into last Season, that we were 9-3 in our first 12 games. Michigan State, Louisville, and Oklahoma State had defeated us in our first 12 games last Season.
These Stats Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb--So then we ponder with perplexity and mull over just why do we seem flat this Season. What up? Not only do we hash out these areas on SN to pinpoint needed solutions, but Coach Marshall is fully aware and brings it up publically by saying "We bring out the best in others this Season." Last Season as usual, the Shocks got more steals which was 235 to our foes 189. Marshall coached teams have nice juicy runs which is sparked by our Defense and turns into points for us, This Season however, we seem to not have as many nice runs which is partially explained with the Shocks giving up 75 steals against us and only having 53 of our own. What? Yup, but more evidence of needed improvement is reflected as we only made 406 turnovers last Season but caused our foes to turn it over 488 times. Ya'll ready for this? This Season, we have turned it over 153 times and our foes 144. This is as rare in Shocker basketball under the Marshall Law Plan, as it is pulling hens teeth at the barnyard I have heard.
Optical Illusion Stats?--It does seem like teams are shooting the ball so much better than last Season but it was not as much so far that I thought, but it all adds up. From the field this Season, the Shocks are shooting .488% and last Season it is .469. This Season from the 3-point perspective, the Shocks foes are shooting .332 and only .311 last Season. This Season we have made 9.3 treys per game and last Season it was 8.6. Our foes this Season have made 9 per game but only 6.7 per game last Season against us. It just seems like these gaps would have been way more than I'm seeing here. Even so, teams have lived by the 3 in the first half to 3/4 of the game, but died by the 3 in the second half with the exception of Oklahoma.
What does it all mean? 3G does much more experimenting in search of finding the most consistent team chemistry in the first Semester than at Conference time. Then, he tends to shorten the bench some, although our bench has been tougher than nails this Season. With that said, we are healthier now, have time to regroup, and never fear, Duff is now here. In the scheme of things with all that said, while the Shocks have some definite concerns to address and we have seemed lackluster more than usual this Season, I'm not worried.
So why am I'm not worried? No other team in the Country has played as well as the Shocks have for the past five or so Seasons on the cold and lonely. We will continue to glove up at home sweet home and protect our fort with wins. Next, Coach 3G seems to find ways to build a head of Shocker steam gradually, as the Season progresses onward to March in search of peaking as a squad when it matters the most. With 6 Seniors along with MM and LS now healthier, Austin and SHJ getting locked in more, this squad will fizz more as we go and not be a dud. Even so, we the SN Nation, are eager to see more defensive anger resulting in more offensive conversions, keeping our own turnovers to a mild roar under 10 a game, but also getting in the passing lanes like hungry hyenas more, to disrupt and confuse our AAC foes. If all this works, watch out!!!!!!!
The Good--Our field goal % is actually up from .488 to .469 last Season. Considering the amount of easy shots we have missed lately, this is nice to see. Our free throw % is actually up from .733 last year, to an improved .760 this Season, 'so I will hang up and listen'. This next area, I really like and still see more improvement on the horizon. Our rebound margin this Season is improved from 8.9 last Season to 11.5 so far this Season and last I checked we were rated in the top 10 in the Nation on this. Why do I point to this getting an added boost by and by? Duff led us in rebounding last Season and his presence on the court more and more now will enhance this somewhat IMO. Last but not least, our bench has outscored our foes bench in every solitary game and many times it is not even close.
The Similarities To Last Season--Our team 3-point % is just slightly below last Season. Rim Protection is similar as the Shocks blocked 140 shots and were blocked 120 times versus this Season as we have blocked 55 shots and been blocked 46 times. Our assists per game is slightly better this Season at 18 per game versus our foes at 10.8 against us versus 16.3 assists per game at 10.4 against us last Season. This last similarity made me 'scratch my head', that even though we are ranked higher than last Season and it seems we are not playing as good, I had forgotten 12 games into last Season, that we were 9-3 in our first 12 games. Michigan State, Louisville, and Oklahoma State had defeated us in our first 12 games last Season.
These Stats Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb--So then we ponder with perplexity and mull over just why do we seem flat this Season. What up? Not only do we hash out these areas on SN to pinpoint needed solutions, but Coach Marshall is fully aware and brings it up publically by saying "We bring out the best in others this Season." Last Season as usual, the Shocks got more steals which was 235 to our foes 189. Marshall coached teams have nice juicy runs which is sparked by our Defense and turns into points for us, This Season however, we seem to not have as many nice runs which is partially explained with the Shocks giving up 75 steals against us and only having 53 of our own. What? Yup, but more evidence of needed improvement is reflected as we only made 406 turnovers last Season but caused our foes to turn it over 488 times. Ya'll ready for this? This Season, we have turned it over 153 times and our foes 144. This is as rare in Shocker basketball under the Marshall Law Plan, as it is pulling hens teeth at the barnyard I have heard.
Optical Illusion Stats?--It does seem like teams are shooting the ball so much better than last Season but it was not as much so far that I thought, but it all adds up. From the field this Season, the Shocks are shooting .488% and last Season it is .469. This Season from the 3-point perspective, the Shocks foes are shooting .332 and only .311 last Season. This Season we have made 9.3 treys per game and last Season it was 8.6. Our foes this Season have made 9 per game but only 6.7 per game last Season against us. It just seems like these gaps would have been way more than I'm seeing here. Even so, teams have lived by the 3 in the first half to 3/4 of the game, but died by the 3 in the second half with the exception of Oklahoma.
What does it all mean? 3G does much more experimenting in search of finding the most consistent team chemistry in the first Semester than at Conference time. Then, he tends to shorten the bench some, although our bench has been tougher than nails this Season. With that said, we are healthier now, have time to regroup, and never fear, Duff is now here. In the scheme of things with all that said, while the Shocks have some definite concerns to address and we have seemed lackluster more than usual this Season, I'm not worried.
So why am I'm not worried? No other team in the Country has played as well as the Shocks have for the past five or so Seasons on the cold and lonely. We will continue to glove up at home sweet home and protect our fort with wins. Next, Coach 3G seems to find ways to build a head of Shocker steam gradually, as the Season progresses onward to March in search of peaking as a squad when it matters the most. With 6 Seniors along with MM and LS now healthier, Austin and SHJ getting locked in more, this squad will fizz more as we go and not be a dud. Even so, we the SN Nation, are eager to see more defensive anger resulting in more offensive conversions, keeping our own turnovers to a mild roar under 10 a game, but also getting in the passing lanes like hungry hyenas more, to disrupt and confuse our AAC foes. If all this works, watch out!!!!!!!
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