Jim Master

[HerrosHeroes]

1,283 was his four yr point total at UK.

He was known for his long distance jumpers.

He shot nearly 50% from the field for his career and nearly 85% from the foul line.

My question is how many more points would Master have scored with the 3 point line, especially if it was the distance it initially was?

Is 300 more points a stretch?

Because if so you would be talking about nearly 1,600 total points that would put Jim at around 11th or 12th at UK in scoring.

Its amazing to me that my 3 favorite players to ever lace em up at Kentucky are #31 Master, #32 Pelphrey and #33 Padgett in scoring all time at UK:

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/careerpoints.html

Master may be the greatest shooter to ever play at UK.

 

[Yardeth]

Jim Master could really shoot the ball, his release was so pretty, you expected every shot to fall.

 

[yoshukai]

Hard to say but seemed like most all of his shots were from 20-25 feet. I never saw him play but people say Louie Damper is the one who would have REALLY benefitted.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Jim Master could really shoot the ball, his release was so pretty, you expected every shot to fall.

He lit U of L up in the dream game for 18 including the short jumper at the buzzer to send game to OT.

On one of his deep makes in the 2nd half Packer exclaimed “That was a 30 footer!”

Master was 9 of 13 that day.

 

[Cawood86_rivals]

Remember Master well. Not the fleetest of foot on defense but a really good shooter. I would 300 points would be a reasonable number. Had good size as well. Probably 6-4 or 6-5. Definite zone buster.

 

[onearmedjesus]

I loved his free-throw routine. Could not bend your knees anymore than he did.

 

[UK90]

My question is how many more points would Master have scored with the 3 point line, especially if it was the distance it initially was?

Short answer: a LOT more. Don't know how many exactly, but other than perhaps Dampier and Macy, I'd say Master is at the top of the list of players whose careers would've been far more prolific with the three point shot.

And, fwiw, Jay Shidler's another guy from that era who would've had all sorts of fun with the three.

 

[BigBlueFanGA]

He made 512 shots in his career. He wasn't a driver so most were jump shots. He did have a midrange game so I'd guess 250-300 would be pretty close.

 

[UK90]

I loved his free-throw routine. Could not bend your knees anymore than he did.

Yeah, that deep knee bend shooting form was similar to Macy's and had countless Kentucky kids copying it in the late 70s and early 80s.

I think Master's similarity to Macy ended up being his curse because of the unrealistic expectations it put on his head. He came the same year Macy left, both were Indiana Mr. Basketballs, they looked similar, played similar, even had the same shooting form ..which led to people labeling him the "next Macy."

And, even though he had an outstanding career, there was still this odd sense that he was a disappointment simply because he wasn't as good as Macy ...which, of course, was a totally unfair standard to try to hold the kid to.

 

[KyCat]

He made 512 shots in his career. He wasn't a driver so most were jump shots. He did have a midrange game so I'd guess 250-300 would be pretty close.

That would be my thoughts to based on the 512 made field goals. However, I also suspect that if there was a three point line then he would likely have taken more shots than he did with the field goals only worth two points.

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

He lit U of L up in the dream game for 18 including the short jumper at the buzzer to send game to OT.

End Regulation/Part OT

Full gm:

 

[mktmaker]

Hard to say but seemed like most all of his shots were from 20-25 feet. I never saw him play but people say Louie Damper is the one who would have REALLY benefitted.

I suspect that in a hypothetical survey of knowledgeable UK fans, Dampier is the first name to come up in the greatest shooter category. By the time he graduated, he was UK's 3rd leading career scorer (behind two all-time greats -- Cotton Nash and Alex Groza).

And of course Louie proved his long-range shooting prowess in the ABA where he was the all-time leading scorer. (The NBA did not have a 3-point line then.)

Macy's name is often mentioned, but I don't remember his having the range of Dampier or Master.

Dampier was a better player than Master, but I think Master may have been the greatest shooter of them all.

I was fortunate enough to watch Tom Parker and Kevin Grevey play all their home games. They were splendid shooters.



********



While I am stranded at home...and thinking about this subject...

5-10 Ronnie Lyons was a very good shooter.

Jack Givens was a fine shooter but didn't have the range of those others.

Travis Ford was a great shooter. I was really disappointed that Pitino didn't do more to get him open against Michigan in the Final Four. At 5-9 he suffered a size deficit against the Fab Five.

Tony Delk was a great shooter. I was fortunate enough to see him play two high school games.

When he arrived at UK he was very skinny; he didn't play a lot on our great 1993 team. Once he got playing time as a sophomore, he was one of the best in the SEC. He once scored 53 in an NBA game.

We had some great streak shooters like Rex Chapman, Jeff Sheppard, Tayshawn Prince, and Patrick Sparks. Hardly anyone was as streaky as Devin Booker.

Doron Lamb was a great shooter..as were Brandon Knight and Jamal Murray.

 

[JHannibalSmith]

No question he would’ve hit 100, bare minimum. That’s only averaging one per game over a 4 year career. Or actually a little less than 1/game. A good % of his shots came from 20 ft out. Plus, if the 3 was in place then you have to think Joe B would’ve called several plays per game to get him looks & Master probably would’ve pulled the trigger sooner on a lot of open shots he passed up.

At the time a 20 ft jumper was worth the same as a layup, but with much lower odds for success. So, countless perimeter shots were deferred in favor of waiting for Turpin, Bowie or Walker to come open inside for a much higher % shot. And, those guys would’ve been even better if defenses would’ve had to guard Master on the perimeter & be unable to sag off in the paint. He would have a much different legacy here if he played in the 3 point era, IMO.

 

[UK90]

End Regulation/Part OT

Full gm:

Rarely do I suggest re-watching a heartbreaking loss, but that truly was a special game, and with rare historical impact. Every UK fan should see it just to better understand the history of things.

If only the overtime had gone differently...

 

[trueblujr]

Jim Master could really shoot the ball, his release was so pretty, you expected every shot to fall.

If there was video or archived shot charts it would be easy, but time consuming to figure out. Would be interesting to go back and see that.

I also think it would be interesting to go back and see if the 3point line would have changed the outcome of any games that didn’t have it. Especially some of the more historical games.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

End Regulation/Part OT

Full gm:

Man that place went into a frenzy after Master canned that buzzer beater!

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Master could flat out stroke it from way out.

 

[Ukcatlee]

Dampier, in my opinion, was the best pure shooter who played for the Cats in my lifetime. Parker had a very reliable shot. Probably the best streak shooter I remember was Grevey. Once he got it going he was unstoppable.

 

[UKvisitor_rivals101449]

Master could flat out stroke it from way out.

His stroke was SMOOTH.

 

[Rideordiewildcat]

1,283 was his four yr point total at UK.

He was known for his long distance jumpers.

He shot nearly 50% from the field for his career and nearly 85% from the foul line.

My question is how many more points would Master have scored with the 3 point line, especially if it was the distance it initially was?

Is 300 more points a stretch?

Because if so you would be talking about nearly 1,600 total points that would put Jim at around 11th or 12th at UK in scoring.

Its amazing to me that my 3 favorite players to ever lace em up at Kentucky are #31 Master, #32 Pelphrey and #33 Padgett in scoring all time at UK:

http://www.bigbluehistory.net/bb/Statistics/careerpoints.html

Master may be the greatest shooter to ever play at UK.

One of my favorite players when I was a small kid just really getting into UK BB hardcore.