This was a blueprint game

[rwhitney014]

Penn State outshot us from the field, from 3 and from the line. By 10, 10 and 20 percentage points, respectively. And we won by 9.

The reality is, we're not a great shooting team. When we're at our best, we're hounding defensively, aggressive on the boards and disruptive on the ball.

Today, we kept Tony Carr (nearly 20 PPG) to 8. We kept Mike Watkins (nearly 14 PPG) to just 2 FG attempted. We out-rebounded PSU by 9, even though we missed 37 shots from the field and they missed 19. That's because we had 16 offensive boards to their 6, and because we were a +7 on turnovers, including 5-1 in our favor on live ball steals.

If we want to win games the rest of the way, this is how we're going to do it. Hoping for the ball to suddenly go through the hoop at a statistically significantly higher clip is unrealistic. Committing to defense, rebounding and ball pressure, however, is not. Today showed we can win a Big Ten game with this style, against a team that beat us by 15 when we didn't outperform them on the boards and on turnovers.

Now we have the plan. Let's go execute it and see what happens.

 

[Figrating]

Real thoughtful, rw.

With all the scrapping, though, I hope a few of our players will regain their peak performance level SHOOTING! REGAIN! They might, they might, they might!

GZ I hate to start a game getting down by 8 and hovering there for a while, especially after the last few outings, and to f'g PSU who just kicked our ***. Tested my dedication again.

But now I'm ready for Minny and the rest of the season. NU still has something to prove.

Huge W.

 

[DaCat]

With PSU hitting at a 70% clip during the early going, it was looking ugly. But our guys played with relentless energy, especially Gaines in the second half, and we clawed back in the game. We didn't turn the ball over cheaply like we were doing in other games. And we closed them out down the stretch, part of which was them finally starting to miss some shots, perhaps our defense finally wore them down. Hoping it's the start of a good steak for us. Win out like football, baby!

 

[hoosboot]

Penn State outshot us from the field, from 3 and from the line. By 10, 10 and 20 percentage points, respectively. And we won by 9.

The reality is, we're not a great shooting team. When we're at our best, we're hounding defensively, aggressive on the boards and disruptive on the ball.

Today, we kept Tony Carr (nearly 20 PPG) to 8. We kept Mike Watkins (nearly 14 PPG) to just 2 FG attempted. We out-rebounded PSU by 9, even though we missed 37 shots from the field and they missed 19. That's because we had 16 offensive boards to their 6, and because we were a +7 on turnovers, including 5-1 in our favor on live ball steals.

If we want to win games the rest of the way, this is how we're going to do it. Hoping for the ball to suddenly go through the hoop at a statistically significantly higher clip is unrealistic. Committing to defense, rebounding and ball pressure, however, is not. Today showed we can win a Big Ten game with this style, against a team that beat us by 15 when we didn't outperform them on the boards and on turnovers.

Now we have the plan. Let's go execute it and see what happens.

I don't know...I'm not sure the plan can be to try to get 22 more shots per game than the opposition. That's a hard road to take night in and night out. Our effort was better, but our defensive execution wasn't consistently better. Love that we got the W, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to get that many more shots per game against most of the B1G.

 

[NJCat]

I don't know...I'm not sure the plan can be to try to get 22 more shots per game than the opposition. That's a hard road to take night in and night out. Our effort was better, but our defensive execution wasn't consistently better. Love that we got the W, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to get that many more shots per game against most of the B1G.

Make. Shots.

 

[No Chores]

Penn State outshot us from the field, from 3 and from the line. By 10, 10 and 20 percentage points, respectively. And we won by 9.

The reality is, we're not a great shooting team. When we're at our best, we're hounding defensively, aggressive on the boards and disruptive on the ball.

Today, we kept Tony Carr (nearly 20 PPG) to 8. We kept Mike Watkins (nearly 14 PPG) to just 2 FG attempted. We out-rebounded PSU by 9, even though we missed 37 shots from the field and they missed 19. That's because we had 16 offensive boards to their 6, and because we were a +7 on turnovers, including 5-1 in our favor on live ball steals.

If we want to win games the rest of the way, this is how we're going to do it. Hoping for the ball to suddenly go through the hoop at a statistically significantly higher clip is unrealistic. Committing to defense, rebounding and ball pressure, however, is not. Today showed we can win a Big Ten game with this style, against a team that beat us by 15 when we didn't outperform them on the boards and on turnovers.

Now we have the plan. Let's go execute it and see what happens.

Excellent analysis in all respects. Accurate and well done.

 

[freewillie07]

I don't know...I'm not sure the plan can be to try to get 22 more shots per game than the opposition. That's a hard road to take night in and night out. Our effort was better, but our defensive execution wasn't consistently better. Love that we got the W, but I'm not sure we're going to be able to get that many more shots per game against most of the B1G.

Lindsey just hasn't been as great a 3-point shooter as he was in previous years (he's on pace for his lowest 3pt% for a season in his career). McIntosh hasn't had it lately either. Even in this win, they shot a combined 1-10. The rest of the team shot 4-9.

If those two start stroking it from deep, look out.

 

[NJCat]

If those two start stroking it from deep, look out.

Both seem to be struggling with leg injuries, which hurt 3 point shooting. Bryant of course had the knee injury plus a rolled ankle. Scottie is wearing a sleeve on one leg, indicating that something is hurting. Need your legs to shoot the 3.

 

[Jonny2TheP]

Penn State outshot us from the field, from 3 and from the line. By 10, 10 and 20 percentage points, respectively. And we won by 9.

The reality is, we're not a great shooting team. When we're at our best, we're hounding defensively, aggressive on the boards and disruptive on the ball.

Today, we kept Tony Carr (nearly 20 PPG) to 8. We kept Mike Watkins (nearly 14 PPG) to just 2 FG attempted. We out-rebounded PSU by 9, even though we missed 37 shots from the field and they missed 19. That's because we had 16 offensive boards to their 6, and because we were a +7 on turnovers, including 5-1 in our favor on live ball steals.

If we want to win games the rest of the way, this is how we're going to do it. Hoping for the ball to suddenly go through the hoop at a statistically significantly higher clip is unrealistic. Committing to defense, rebounding and ball pressure, however, is not. Today showed we can win a Big Ten game with this style, against a team that beat us by 15 when we didn't outperform them on the boards and on turnovers.

Now we have the plan. Let's go execute it and see what happens.

What was really crazy about today was our dominance down low. PSU absolutely destroyed us in the paint just two weeks ago. Also throw in the fact that playing a zone defense typically leads to more opponent offensive rebounds and second chance points.

Considering these two things, it’s pretty incredible how much we dominated the boards and paint today.

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Lindsey just hasn't been as great a 3-point shooter as he was in previous years (he's on pace for his lowest 3pt% for a season in his career). McIntosh hasn't had it lately either. Even in this win, they shot a combined 1-10. The rest of the team shot 4-9.

If those two start stroking it from deep, look out.

Ash was 1-1 from downtown!

 

[mikewebb68]

Both seem to be struggling with leg injuries, which hurt 3 point shooting. Bryant of course had the knee injury plus a rolled ankle. Scottie is wearing a sleeve on one leg, indicating that something is hurting. Need your legs to shoot the 3.

Yup. In the Minny game, Scottie landed hard on the sleeved leg after he was fouled on a made layup, and was clearly in pain. Lots of players (BMac, Scottie, Falzon) trying to tough it out as best they can,

 

[freewillie07]

Yup. In the Minny game, Scottie landed hard on the sleeved leg after he was fouled on a made layup, and was clearly in pain. Lots of players (BMac, Scottie, Falzon) trying to tough it out as best they can,

Agreed. We can only hope that time will heal them up, or that they’ll adjust. I’m not questioning their toughness, but they can’t shoot 1-10 (or worse) on 3-pointers every game if NU is going to string together a run here.

 

[Fitz51]

If we play teams the level of Penn State the rest of the way, we’re gold!

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

Beat Michigan to go 5-5 in BT

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

With PSU hitting at a 70% clip during the early going, it was looking ugly. But our guys played with relentless energy, especially Gaines in the second half, and we clawed back in the game. We didn't turn the ball over cheaply like we were doing in other games. And we closed them out down the stretch, part of which was them finally starting to miss some shots, perhaps our defense finally wore them down. Hoping it's the start of a good steak for us. Win out like football, baby!

Doesn't hurt that Collins has finally realized this isn't a good man-to-man team and mixed some zone in on defense.

 

[freewillie07]

If we play teams the level of Penn State the rest of the way, we’re gold!

Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Rutgers are all ranked well below Penn State on KenPom. And they make up 5 of the last 10 for NU.

Win those, split with Maryland and split with Michigan, and suddenly it’s another winning conference season. IF they keep up the intensity.

 

[Medill90]

OP is an excellent post.

"The reality is, NU is not a good shooting team."

OK. I've refused to face up to this fact for some time. They're not a "bad" shooting team, but they're not a "good" shooting team either.

The mid-range game is closer to bad than mediocre.

But a better than average defense, solid rebounding, excellent free throw shooting, and low turnovers will win some games. (which I'm sure is the first time you've all heard that)

 

[CappyNU]

It is true that we are not a great shooting team, but the performance this year is significantly worse than what we have seen from these guys over their careers. It definitely can get better and hopefully as they build confidence they get there.

Player True Shooting% this year in B1G games
BMac - 40.5% (worst of career, last year 49.8%)
Lindsey - 42.6% (worst of career, last year 49.9%)
Pardon - 58.6% (worst of career, but barely, last year 59.4%)
Law - 51.4% (last year 48%, increase due to better 2-pt%)
Skelly - 46.8% (worst of career, last year 50.7%)
Benson - 43.5% (last year 56.9%)

 

[hdhntr1]

Lindsey just hasn't been as great a 3-point shooter as he was in previous years (he's on pace for his lowest 3pt% for a season in his career). McIntosh hasn't had it lately either. Even in this win, they shot a combined 1-10. The rest of the team shot 4-9.

If those two start stroking it from deep, look out.

But both took it inside and were hitting there and that opened up other things. Offensive rebounding and not turning the ball over to a team at the top of the league in steals sure helped.