3-pt shooting next year

[Archer2]

Of the returning players who attempted more than 10 three pointers last year, these were their shooting percentages:

Joel 68 of 178, 38.2%
JJ 35 of 120, 29.2%
Nate 26 of 81, 32.1%
Theo 18 of 62, 29.0%
Kenny 1 of 13, 7.7%

Removing Kenny's atrocious numbers still only brings our average up to 33.3%, which equates to 50% from two point range. My question is, can we realistically expect improvement from those guys? And if so, how much can we realistically expect?

I think JJ, Theo, and Kenny will all improve on their '16 percentages and hopefully Kenny will improve dramatically. If we could average 35% as a team, I think that would suffice to keep defenses honest. we averaged 32.7% this year.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Spacegrass]

I would expect all to improve except Joel. Think his percentages will stay similar. Expect him to be more of a volume shot taker next season.

 

[DSouthr]

I am not really all that worried about kenny's shooting numbers, really small sample size, kid is a well over 35% shooter from the trey. What really is in your face is Justin and Theo's numbers are nearly equal from the trey considering how Theo really has such messed up form and Justin's shooting form is so much more refined.

Quiz question folks, what do ya have when you have a kid with very good shooting mechanics shooting a nearly equal % as a kid with extremely poor shooting mechanics? Hint, maybe one of them needs to take better shots, shot selection is kinda important yeah?

 

[DSouthr]

Of the returning players who attempted more than 10 three pointers last year, these were their shooting percentages:

Joel 68 of 178, 38.2%
JJ 35 of 120, 29.2%
Nate 26 of 81, 32.1%
Theo 18 of 62, 29.0%
Kenny 1 of 13, 7.7%

Removing Kenny's atrocious numbers still only brings our average up to 33.3%, which equates to 50% from two point range. My question is, can we realistically expect improvement from those guys? And if so, how much can we realistically expect?

I think JJ, Theo, and Kenny will all improve on their '16 percentages and hopefully Kenny will improve dramatically. If we could average 35% as a team, I think that would suffice to keep defenses honest. we averaged 32.7% this year.

What are your thoughts?

Joel shot really well, especially considering he didn't take as many shots early season as he took later season, usually you see shooting % drop later season as defenders know they have to check you and the season wears on your legs. With Theo it is kinda surprising that he hit 18 treys with that shooting form, this was a focus point for him this off season, expect improvement there. Kenny just needs to get in to the feel of the game with playing time and his numbers will go up dramatically.

The 2 surprises are JJ and Nate, for 2 different reasons IMO. Nate as hard as I am on him for some things IMO takes really good shots but I think he lost a little confidence when his PT dropped because his shot dropped better when he played more minutes. JJ on the other hand, I didn't always love his shot selection, took a lot of hard contested long jumpers that seemed at times to be what he settled for. When he rushes his shot his accuracy drops, he needs a bit cleaner looks to get himself square and on balance and not have to rush it. He seems to love the deep corner and to hit that he has to catch and then turn to get square, work on turning before the catch so he is able to be on balance quicker, be in his shot motion on the catch rather than on the turn after the catch. Upper body and core strength will help him with that.

 

[IDUNK4HEELS]

I have a feeling the outside shooting might surprise a lot of fans this season. Britt is a senior and like somebody else said he takes good shots. Berry and Jackson will now be juniors and will be expected to pick up the slack in points with the departures of Paige and Jphnson. It is a proven fact that most college players make their biggest improvement from their freshman to sophomore season so saying that I fully expect Kenny Williams to be more of a offensive weapon. Theo has had his moments and even with that ugly shot of his when the ball goes thru the net style points don't me a thing...

 

[Hark_The_Sound_2010]

Theo and JJ shouldn't be taking as many 3s this year. Theo's form is banged up, and JJ is much more effective slashing to the rim. I don't expect Berry or Brit's percentages to change much, and am fine with them shooting the 3 ball when they get the opportunity (Joel should be shooting it much more than Nate though). I'm hopeful Kenny will improve, and whether its him, 7th, or Brob that steps in at the 2 once Roy finally gives up on Nate starting about halfway through ACC play - we'll need which ever one to be able to hit the 3 at a pretty reliable clip.

 

[Archer2]

I agree that JJ took some tough threes at times, Dave. And while we need him to be a consistent 15+ PPG scorer, he does need to take good shots. He doesn't have the quickest release so he needs to concentrate on being squared up and ready to shoot when he receives the ball.

I hope you and Gary are right about Kenny's shooting being much improved this year. Fact is, it has nowhere to go but up, so I think it will improve considerably.

If he, Joel, and JJ are consistent threats from long distance(say 35% accuracy), we should be hard to defend.

 

[DSouthr]

I agree that JJ took some tough threes at times, Dave. And while we need him to be a consistent 15+ PPG scorer, he does need to take good shots. He doesn't have the quickest release so he needs to concentrate on being squared up and ready to shoot when he receives the ball.

I hope you and Gary are right about Kenny's shooting being much improved this year. Fact is, it has nowhere to go but up, so I think it will improve considerably.

If he, Joel, and JJ are consistent threats from long distance(say 35% accuracy), we should be hard to defend.

Flash back with me arch on 2 players, the first PJ Harrison as a freshman, he scored very little, at times couldn't buy a bucket, didn't get a ton of PT because of it. Then look at him as a soph, he was deadly from the outside, I mean serious deadly. How many of us begged for PJ to start at the 2 spot that Jr season, I know I sure did. But who started over him as a mere freshman, well that would be the second guy I want to flash back to in Marcus Paige. Recall, while he got warmer as a his freshman season went on, in the early going I think most of us were wondering why Roy stayed with him as a starter. But that soph season from Marcus, outstanding and I don't think many of us cared where he shot it from, we assumed it would go in, our assumptions were right most often.

Now I share those 2 just to remind, lot of our better shooters struggle as freshmen but come that soph season they show us that shooting touch and I honestly do not think kenny will be any different. I don't want to go to over the top on kenny but honestly, from what I hear the last thing we need to worry about is kenny's ability to shoot the ball, he is outstanding. All that kid needs is the confidence of knowing he will get solid PT and that will happen this season... While I do think Roy will start nate at the 2, it would not shock me at all to see kenny start game 1 at the 2 and never give his starting spot up for the rest of his UNC career.

 

[Ozheelfan]

Hafta disagree Dave, I believe Theo is the likely starter at 2. We could go back and forwards on it for the next 5 months or so, but I'm happy to wait to see what Roy does.

I do agree, Joel should hold steady, JJ should be much better, Theo should too (hope he's drinking the Hubert Davis Coolaide all summer) Nate may not be much better from 3 but Kenny just has to be better.

 

[DSouthr]

Hafta disagree Dave, I believe Theo is the likely starter at 2. We could go back and forwards on it for the next 5 months or so, but I'm happy to wait to see what Roy does.

I do agree, Joel should hold steady, JJ should be much better, Theo should too (hope he's drinking the Hubert Davis Coolaide all summer) Nate may not be much better from 3 but Kenny just has to be better.

Yeah, who starts and who plays the major minutes at the 2 guard spot is going to be one of if not the biggest story lines for this team heading in to next season. I can say I think nate will start and kenny get big PT or Theo can take the spot but none of us know how that will unfold. Heck, 7th or Brob could come in and take over the spot, we just won't know until that opening tip. It is fun to speculate, thats all I am doing but I love the talent we have to pull from at that position in what may be our most deep position.

When it comes to Theo, I don't think any of us would argue, he will get starter minutes and he deserves starter minutes. Even if Theo does not begin the game, IMO he is a 6th starter. So much so IMO that even thou team captains are usually seniors, I would have 2 team captains in Joel and Theo due to the grit and passion they play with, those 2 fellas bleed leadership and IMO this team will go as far as those 2 leaders can take us. That doesn't mean those 2 guys have to lead us in points or any other stat, it means they will lead us in that they will set the tone for how we play and the rest of this team will follow the tone set by those 2.

I would only add, if Theo does start at the 2, he HAS TO SHOOT BETTER. My concern is that I have a hard time believing that Theo can revamp that jump shooting stroke so much that he can become a consistent jump shooter in just this off season. Not saying it is impossible but I do think it is unlikely and that I am expecting only marginal improvement in his jump shooting after this off season. It isn't as if all he has to do is a tweek here or there, his shooting mechanics need a major over haul. I am on pins & needles to see how far he progresses with this and really hoping to be impressed in a great way. We MUST HAVE solid jump shooting from our 2 spot, that IMO is an absolute key for next season.

 

[Archer2]

Yeah, who starts and who plays the major minutes at the 2 guard spot is going to be one of if not the biggest story lines for this team heading in to next season.

I think most of us are agreed on this. At his point I think it's the only starting spot that's realistically up for grabs, barring injury. It will be a hot topic of debate all year long.

When it comes to Theo, I don't think any of us would argue, he will get starter minutes and he deserves starter minutes.

Undoubtedly, IMO. He brings too much to the lineup not to play major minutes. He is easily our most versatile player, offensively and defensively, capable of playing SG/SF/PF as needed. And I think he will be a lockdown defender this coming year. His jumper is the only question mark at this point. I believe I'm like you in believing most of Theo's minutes will come at the SF/PF spots with spot minutes at SG.

Optimally, someone in the group of Kenny/Theo/BRob/7th will seize control of the SG spot very early on and Nate will be used 10 MPG as the backup at PG to Joel, and possibly at SG very late in games when we have the lead and need to ice the game at the line. I think it would allow us to settle into our rotations earlier, win an extra game here and there, and help with our NCAAT seeding. In lieu of that, we will see a lot of different guys at the SG spot until someone emerges as Roy's clear cut choice.

I would only add, if Theo does start at the 2, he HAS TO SHOOT BETTER. My concern is that I have a hard time believing that Theo can revamp that jump shooting stroke so much that he can become a consistent jump shooter in just this off season. Not saying it is impossible but I do think it is unlikely and that I am expecting only marginal improvement in his jump shooting after this off season. It isn't as if all he has to do is a tweek here or there, his shooting mechanics need a major over haul. I am on pins & needles to see how far he progresses with this and really hoping to be impressed in a great way. We MUST HAVE solid jump shooting from our 2 spot, that IMO is an absolute key for next season.

Agreed. I think it is imperative that we get consistent scoring from the SG spot and some of that is going to have to be from 3-pointers.

 

[jeans15]

Theo at the 2.. what is there to debate?

 

[DSouthr]

Theo at the 2.. what is there to debate?

Read thru what we have been discussing, plenty to debate actually.

 

[Archer2]

Theo at the 2.. what is there to debate?

The nearer the season gets, the more intense this debate will become. Do you not remember the Drew vs Marshall debate that raged nearly all season?

While it's quite possible that Britt will start initially, although I hope not, there will be much gnashing of teeth if he does. As I stated above, I hope one of the other four candidates will seize the SG spot very early on, it may not happen. It may very well be ACC season before it all shakes out, but I hope not.

Regardless, expect to see a lot of tinkering with the lineup initially and a lot of grousing about it. It's what fans do.

 

[DSouthr]

The nearer the season gets, the more intense this debate will become. Do you not remember the Drew vs Marshall debate that raged nearly all season?

While it's quite possible that Britt will start initially, although I hope not, there will be much gnashing of teeth if he does. As I stated above, I hope one of the other four candidates will seize the SG spot very early on, it may not happen. It may very well be ACC season before it all shakes out, but I hope not.

Regardless, expect to see a lot of tinkering with the lineup initially and a lot of grousing about it. It's what fans do.

Yeah, I think it is pretty well understood that Nate is who I do expect to begin the season as the starter at the 2 but I as well think most folks understand that Nate is not my preferred guy to start at the 2. It actually would not surprise me to see Nate start at the 2 most if not the entire season and Roy adjust the PT to reflect who he wants in during crunch time and for the majority of the PT.

And you are spot on about Roy tinkering with is line up early, he does that nearly every season but I do expect pretty much the only tinkering he will do will be at the 2.

 

[Archer2]

Yeah Dave, I think that's where the majority of the lineup tinkering will occur. He already knows the small lineup can be very effective with one big and Joel/a SG/JJ/Theo. It's just a matter of who the one big will be(I happen to think it might be most effective with Isaiah or Tony), and who the SG will be. I think how the SG spot shakes out will largely determine how much we employ the smaller lineup, that and foul troubles.

 

[jeans15]

The team started out great with Theo in the starting line up last year to begin the season....Theo is the better playmaker than Britt, and brings more versatility to the position.

Britt coming off the bench allows UNC to keep a rested ball handler in at all times.

A senior to play with bench players would also bring stability to the bench.

Britt would be to small at that position as a starter on defense.

Just my opinion.....I like Theo's potential.....It won't be reached coming off the bench.

 

[DSouthr]

The team started out great with Theo in the starting line up last year to begin the season....Theo is the better playmaker than Britt, and brings more versatility to the position.

Britt coming off the bench allows UNC to keep a rested ball handler in at all times.

A senior to play with bench players would also bring stability to the bench.

Britt would be to small at that position as a starter on defense.

Just my opinion.....I like Theo's potential.....It won't be reached coming off the bench.

Tell me this, it is late in a tight game and the defense is sagging in to take away our easy inside scoring ops, Joel is being face guarded as our main jump shooting threat and Justin doers not get the space he needs, they sag off of our 2 guard daring him to shoot. Who do you want taking that shot Nate or Theo based off of what yo have seen so far?

WE started out great with Theo at the 2 last season against who? Recall that little NIowa team? Those early games while marcus was out were teams we should have beaten solidly so not having Marcus was not that big a deal. Well, up until we saw that NI team that is... No offense to Theo, I love him as a player but for him to play at the 2 he has to shoot MUCH MUCH better than he has so far. Look more to what Roy dd late season vs much higher level competition than early when he was tinkering.

 

[Steat]

A little off topic, but my prediction is that Pinson will step up this year and achieve at least second team All-ACC this season. Barring any major injuries, the Heels are a Final Four contender next season. To avoid a noticeable drop in the program after next season, two things, at minimum, must happen IMO over the next several months.

1. One of Woods, Williams or Robinson must play a significant role in the coming season. The player's perfomance must standout similar to the jump that Berry made last year. I'm not worried about Bradley as he will do his job.

2. Roy must sign, at minimum, one impact big for 2017.

These are the absolute "minimum" changes that must happen over the next several months for the Heels to remain relevant in the national picture after 2016. We could see an Indiana type drop-off if these two things do not happen.

 

[jeans15]

Tell me this, it is late in a tight game and the defense is sagging in to take away our easy inside scoring ops, Joel is being face guarded as our main jump shooting threat and Justin doers not get the space he needs, they sag off of our 2 guard daring him to shoot. Who do you want taking that shot Nate or Theo based off of what yo have seen so far?

WE started out great with Theo at the 2 last season against who? Recall that little NIowa team? Those early games while marcus was out were teams we should have beaten solidly so not having Marcus was not that big a deal. Well, up until we saw that NI team that is... No offense to Theo, I love him as a player but for him to play at the 2 he has to shoot MUCH MUCH better than he has so far. Look more to what Roy dd late season vs much higher level competition than early when he was tinkering.

I would have to assume no one has made any improvements under your scenario. What if Theo develops a nice 2 point shot..and Theo is a better offensive rebounder, which plays big in your scenario.

Besides face guarding leads to one on one match ups....you could go inside or run backside action, using Berry as a decoy, for Justin who could end up being the best 3pt shooter on the team...He was averaging 20 a game whIle Marcus was out

Or you can get the ball into your point guard and run a 1 - 4 offense with Berry with the ball in his hand. Before they can face guard.

 

[DSouthr]

I would have to assume no one has made any improvements under your scenario. What if Theo develops a nice 2 point shot..and Theo is a better offensive rebounder, which plays big in your scenario.

Besides face guarding leads to one on one match ups....you could go inside or run backside action for Justin who could end up being the best 3pt shooter on the team...He was averaged 20 a game whIle Marcus was out

Or you can get the ball into your point guard and run a 1 - 4 offense with Berry with the ball in his hand. Before they can face guard.

Respectfully, I would suggest you go watch the alum game vs our current players, Theo is in it, notice his jump shooting and tell me if you think it has improved from what you saw last season. Then we will talk...

 

[jeans15]

Respectfully, I would suggest you go watch the alum game vs our current players, Theo is in it, notice his jump shooting and tell me if you think it has improved from what you saw last season. Then we will talk...

Its June....TBH..I don't ever expect him to be a great shooter. More the intangible you need to be a great team.

 

[Steat]

scrimmage highlights.....

 

[DSouthr]

Its June....TBH..I don't ever expect him to be a great shooter. More the intangible you need to be a great team.

Yeah, it is June and July is what, a week away, meaning we are nearly 3 months in to the off season? IN another 3 or 4 months we will begin practice, so almost half way thru this off season and still Theo's shot looks like it did last season. I am not knocking the kid, I don't expect a radical change considering how much of his shot needs retooling. I am just making the point that Theo does not shoot well enough still to make defenses feel the need to guard him as a jump shooter and IMO that is not good for him to be our starting 2 guard. I would almost rather Theo started at the wing (3) and Justin at the 2 but I would worry about Justin having to guard opposing 2s.

Heck, I would actually be OK with Theo starting at the 4 along side Hicks in our front court but that could be a problem vs longer front courts, opposing coaches are right now figuring out ways to attack our small ball look, I prefer it be a thing we go in to during a game than how we start off a game. I consider Theo a starter even if he does not begin the game, what really matters after all is playing time and IMO Theo will easy get starter minutes, no matter who begins the game. I would be fine with Theo and Justin rotating who begins the game, so that both get to start. But I just don't want Theo at the 2 because IMHO it does not put us in the best position.

 

[Archer2]

Yep, Theo will get starter's minutes, whether he starts or not. And so far, I see very little improvement in his shooting mechanics, which doesn't bode well for expecting much better shooting percentages. Don't know that I've ever seen a player fall back on his jumper quite as much as Theo does.

TBS, I agree 100% with jeans15 when he says "Its June....TBH..I don't ever expect him to be a great shooter. More the intangible you need to be a great team."

Theo brings great energy, athleticism, and the ability to rebound, defend, and pass to the table. He will be a very important part of next year's team. But like others, I don't expect to see him too many minutes at the two. We really need Kenny, BRob, or 7th to emerge there. Stilman may even get some minutes there, I understand he's a good shooter, and while his lack of quickness would be a liability at PG, it wouldn't be as much of a liability at SG.

 

[jeans15]

I just want UNC to win....so whoever starts will have my support.

 

[DSouthr]

Roy is gonna tinker some early on with combinations and he very well could try Theo some at the 2. But the truth is he tried that tinker last season early and it didn't really work out great but you can afford to tinker early when the competition is less than it becomes later season.

I expect to see Roy really tinker with Tony with different combinations to see what Tony has, to see what he can do when the lights are on. I expect to see either 7th or BRob get a lot of early run to see if they are ready to produce, and I expect to see a lot of nate and Kenny at the 2 early on.

Now let me give you guys something interesting to consider, we have seen Roy elect to play a freshman at the point and over the last few years do that by playing that freshman beside his most experienced PG. We saw that with Marcus and Dexter when many (myself included) were screaming what about starting PJ at the 2. WE saw that the next season with marcus and Nate, we saw it with Joel berry and Marcus at the end of Joel's frosh season and to a greater extent last season. Roy seems to really like developing his next PG by playing him with his current PG. So could we see that yet again this season and 7th Woods be our starter in the back court along with Joel Berry, to groom 7th as our future PG? I know, many don;t think so because they don't see 7th as really a PG but I can't tell you I really saw Marcus as a PG when I first saw him his frosh season.

I am saying with all this discussion of who will start at the 2, don't be shocked if it is neither Theo, Nate, or Kenny. Don;t be shocked if that starter ends up to be 7th because Roy has done this now for the last what, 4 or 5yrs now? Roy kinda does have to get a PG with big time experience this season to be ready in the event Joel does leave after next season. Even if Roy brings in a point in this class he will still want him starting along side another PG with experience and the most likely guy for that would be 7th Woods. Just tossing that out for speculation

 

[Archer2]

I've wondered the same thing Dave. I really hope 7th develops into our next great PG. Joel and 7th would make for an explosive back court, one that could be great defensively with their quickness and strength. I hope 7th is thinking the same thing.

 

[DSouthr]

I've wondered the same thing Dave. I really hope 7th develops into our next great PG. Joel and 7th would make for an explosive back court, one that could be great defensively with their quickness and strength. I hope 7th is thinking the same thing.

While I for sure understand why those that don't feel 7th will be a great PG feel the way they do, it really did not go to well last summer when he tried being a PG and he for sure has lots to work on to be able to be a PG in the ACC.

But don't underestimate the kid, it starts off with him being extremely teachable, this is a kid that wants to learn, that wants to get better, that needs to be coached. I think 7th will very quickly endear himself to Roy, I think in some ways in the type of kid he is Roy will see his next Marcus Paige, not in the way they play but more in the way they go about what they do.

Gary was talking about "Carolina Kids" in a thread and IMO 7th, like Marcus, like Joel Berry are all excellent examples of what I at least see as a "Carolina Kid". Coachable, a level of humility, a kid more concerned with his team than his own spotlight, a kid that just excels no matter what the challenge ahead of him may be in his sport or in the classroom.

And athletically, as a potential PG, the kid does have a very nice explosion with the dribble, he won't just go to the basket, he will attack it and he will do that with abandon. He just needs to work on those handles when he is not attacking, and he needs to gain a better feel for setting his mates up in good position for their own unique ability to finish. UNderstanding what his team mates are supposed to do and then understanding what his team mates unique strengths and weakness are.

 

[Archer2]

Agreed.

 

[Ozheelfan]

I like your thinking Dave. Not sure if we'll see 7th start, but there's every chance we see him share time with Joel and/or Nate.

That's where I see 16-17 being a bit different than recent years - Joel B will not only be given the keys to the team, but likely the papers, the garage remote, a bottomless tank of gas and an unconditional licence to take them as far as he can. (similar to Marcus before the injury bug bit in his Jnr season)

 

[DSouthr]

I like your thinking Dave. Not sure if we'll see 7th start, but there's every chance we see him share time with Joel and/or Nate.

That's where I see 16-17 being a bit different than recent years - Joel B will not only be given the keys to the team, but likely the papers, the garage remote, a bottomless tank of gas and an unconditional licence to take them as far as he can. (similar to Marcus before the injury bug bit in his Jnr season)

Actually Oz, the more I think about it and realizing how Roy does things this may be the most likely scenerio with 7th starting along side Joel. I mean think about it, not only does Roy seem to prefer starting 2 PGs together but he really seems to like starting his future PG with his most experienced and/or best PG.

Think about it, no matter if Joel leaves after next season or not, no matter if Roy brings in a PG from the 2017 class or 2018, he has to have someone ready in either event. So would he realizing that feel the need to get his best candidate to back up Joel that will be with us past this coming season ready to take over the PG duty in the event he does lose Joel and does not sign a 2017 PG? And even if he does snag a 2017 PG, he would want to prep that guy by playing beside another PG with experience and the only guy I see is 7th to fit that bill, if Joel ends up leaving after next season.

 

[Archer2]

The more I think about it, the more that idea appeals to me, Dave.

 

[TPFKAPFS]

JJ never has to guard a 2 with TP in the game! Roy has no problem with cross guarding as he did it almost every game with Marcus and JB. I would love to see 7th develop into a great PG and I feel the potential is indeed there. I just don't see it happening by him being a starter at the 2 next season. Our starter will almost certainly come from the group of NB, KW, and TP even though I see the logic in your post. I think 7th will get significant run at both the 1 and 2 , but how much will depend on his how well he learns the system on O and D. I believe Stllman will receive only mop up and short, situational stints due to the wealth of talent in our back court. (barring injury or extreme foul trouble) I believe the solution is indeed to call JJ the 2 and TP the 3, but these are semantics at best because they can be interchangeable. So if TP realizes he isn't a natural 3 pt shooter and focuses on hs considerable midrange game and JJ tightens up his handles and is more aggressive, we are set.

 

[Archer2]

I think the general consensus is that Nate will get the nod at SG initially. I hope not, but he probably will. Regardless, I hope that whoever gets the lion's share of the minutes there is capable of shooting 35+% from long distance. Most teams today have at least two consistent three point shooters in their starting five, and many have three of them. It seems we are lucky if we have two guys who can shoot the trey consistently well(I consider 35+% consistently good).

Here are the three point shooting percentages for teams in the 2016 Final Four:

Oklahoma 42.2%
Villanova 36.2%
Syracuse 36.0%
UNC 32.7%

So those teams averaged 36.8% from long range for the year. Our 32.7% was good for 263rd out of 346 D1 teams. That is just not getting the job done. And I know we're traditionally an inside oriented team but still, that's pretty pathetic. Three point shooting is becoming ever more important is basketball. Heck, the GSW won a title with it last year and went to the finals this year predicating their offense on the trey.

Without Brice, and with Kennedy(health?) and Isaiah(foul trouble) both having issues which limit their PT and productivity, we need scoring from the SG position next year. Period, end of sentence. Does it have to be from long distance? Obviously not. But I think a good portion of it will have to be, barring someone showing that they can consistently penetrate the defense and go to the foul line. Joel can do that but I don't know that we've got a SG who can. Ergo, my belief that we need perimeter scoring from the SG position next year to realize our teams full potential.

Our woeful perimeter shooting the last few years is also why I desperately want us to sign Platek, someone who I think can provide the outside punch we've been missing.

 

[DSouthr]

I think the general consensus is that Nate will get the nod at SG initially. I hope not, but he probably will. Regardless, I hope that whoever gets the lion's share of the minutes there is capable of shooting 35+% from long distance. Most teams today have at least two consistent three point shooters in their starting five, and many have three of them. It seems we are lucky if we have two guys who can shoot the trey consistently well(I consider 35+% consistently good).

Here are the three point shooting percentages for teams in the 2016 Final Four:

Oklahoma 42.2%
Villanova 36.2%
Syracuse 36.0%
UNC 32.7%

So those teams averaged 36.8% from long range for the year. Our 32.7% was good for 263rd out of 346 D1 teams. That is just not getting the job done. And I know we're traditionally an inside oriented team but still, that's pretty pathetic. Three point shooting is becoming ever more important is basketball. Heck, the GSW won a title with it last year and went to the finals this year predicating their offense on the trey.

Without Brice, and with Kennedy(health?) and Isaiah(foul trouble) both having issues which limit their PT and productivity, we need scoring from the SG position next year. Period, end of sentence. Does it have to be from long distance? Obviously not. But I think a good portion of it will have to be, barring someone showing that they can consistently penetrate the defense and go to the foul line. Joel can do that but I don't know that we've got a SG who can. Ergo, my belief that we need perimeter scoring from the SG position next year to realize our teams full potential.

Our woeful perimeter shooting the last few years is also why I desperately want us to sign Platek, someone who I think can provide the outside punch we've been missing.

The only thing I would slightly differ with you on is that I do think we have some very good shooters but 2 of the shooters we depended on and IMO our 2 considered best shooters going in to last season, struggled to shoot much of the regular season last year in Marcus and JJ. Now of course Marcus is gone and I know, Kenny only hit one trey last season but kenny did not get enough PT to really settle in to the games as a shooters have to, notice how Britt's shooting declined as his PT declined.

I would add that Brob is a dependable outside shooter, you are not going to average in the high 40% range at any level and not be a solid shooter from distance and 7th may be a bit streaky but don't under estimate that kid's ability to knock down treys, especially if he can see the ball go in a time or 2. Clearly if Nate has a clean look he can knock it down so I think we have a solid and very deep supply of guys that can come in and knock down treys from the 2 spot. And numbers wise I think we will be able to go to more numbers of guys to knock down long jumpers than we did last season. No knock on Marcus but we all watched him struggle during so much of last regular season, would not surprise me at all to see our production from the 2 increase, may not be one guy that does it but the collective is deeper than last season and that could be more productive over all.

 

[heelmanwilm]

What is "what topic will be brought up most at post game pressers?" Alex

 

[Archer2]

What is "what topic will be brought up most at post game pressers?" Alex

Either that or what is "who should be starting at PG for the Heels?"