This has mostly been a positive season, but the biggest disappointment for me has been the 3 point shooting of KK. I was extremely excited to have him on board, the biggest reason being his reputation as an absolute sharp shooter. This man had a .494 3 point % as a freshman in the Big Ten. Yes, it was on limited playing time of 12 minutes a game and just 77 attempts for the season. But this was in arguably the best conference in the country. And his high school stats had similar sharp-shooter accolades.

A .450 percentage was not unreasonable to expect. He currently sits at .349. Had he shot at a .450 rate, that would be 20 more 3 pointers or 60 more points for the Bobcats. It may not sound like much, but that would make a huge difference.

Kenny has attempted 71 more 3 pointers than the next closest on the team, Jordan Dartis. He's attempted 135 more than Simmons. Dartis (.471!), Simmons (.456), & Campbell (.416) have all shot the 3 significantly better than KK.

My point is I feel like this offense was set up to maximize 3 point attempts for KK, and righty so. But I think it is time to tweak the approach some. At this point, there is little reason you could give me for KK attempted more 3 pointers than Jordy. Also, I think KK should trust his dribble & drive abilities and take more chances in the paint.

Disclaimer - The views and expressions of this post are from an uninformed fan for the purposes of discussion. No, I don't think I am a better coach than Saul Phillips, or a better shooter than KK. I also recognize these are kids we are talking about who are trying their best, yada yada.

I'm glad someone started this thread, because I've been thinking the same things. (And I'd echo Ruck's sentiment that I am not a smart man when it comes to basketball strategy, etc., so I don't put much stock in even my own opinions beyond just "this is what it looks like to me.")

The comparison I keep making in my mind is Ivo Baltic. I think KK's ceiling is much higher than what Ivo was, and I also think KK should be a shooter whereas Ivo relied on his jumper waaaaay too much. But I see similarities in decision making on the offensive end like taking ill-advised shots too early in the possession and not working inside nearly enough.

KK's got a weird place in the lineup, though, to be a shoot-first player. The inside-out game seems to work best for us with the 1 or 2 as the shooter. Could KK slide into the 2 (a lineup of something like Simmons, Kaminski, Block, Setty, and Campbell) to work from that spot?

KK's rust from a year off should be gone by now, unless his shoulder is still bothering him.

I dunno...but this is more fun to think about than work, so go Bobcats.

KK reminds me of that pickup player at the Y or on the playgrounds. The one who, when he gets the ball, everyone knows the shot is going up, no matter what. He has blinders on and doesn't see the four players wearing the same color jersey. The one unlike the best "basketball" player on the court who is a triple threat when he gets the ball - a threat to shoot the ball, or pass it, or dribble - whatever is best for the team on that possession.

Too many times this year you just know what's going to happen when KK gets the ball. Being too predictable is not a good thing (unless your Curry).

I do think that the coach needs to impress on KK to hustle more on D, drive to the bucket more, and realize that if his 3 ball stats need to improve or his PT will suffer. PERIOD!





GO BOBCATS

I read somewhere earlier in the year that his shoulder wasn't going to be right all season but that he could work through it.

Interesting stat: We are 4-0 when Kenny takes 10 or more 3pters in a game. He is 23-48 (48%) in those games. In MAC play we are 5-7 in games where he takes fewer than 10 3pters.

I wouldn't disagree with this at all. Gavin seems to be a more effective passer, and smarter defender. I'd just like to see a more rounded game from KK. His fake to get the 17 footer as was mentioned is a nice piece that's been getting better. Also, as coach said, forcing fewer shots would be good. We'll see...this team pretty much is what it is right now. Over the spring and summer, it would be nice to see KK's game get better on D, and on the glass. Of course if he wants to have two games in a row in Cleveland that mirror what Reggie McAdams did in the last week, I'm good with that too!

I admit our offense gets a boost when he's on....but his a total liability on defense. Go back and watch that UB game...he was hitting shots...but getting totally blown off the court on the defensive end.

Just watch him Friday vs. Miami and in the MAC tourney on defense. It'll turn your stomach.

I didn't mention intramural basketball out of respect to a couple of regular posters on BA, both posting in this thread.

'squared and sbh--Can I give you to each other for holiday gifts?! That would increase my fun exponentially and bring the universal karma. Na-ma-ste.


I've no problem with how many shots KK takes, so long as all of them are good shots. Which has not been the case.

Quick, deep, heat checks thrown up with no care for game situation, where our players are on the court--No.

I hear you, Kenny. Well played.

Big game from KK, hope he has two more left this weekend.

Anyone hear the comparison made by the TWSC studio analyst of KK and Kevin McHale during the game's halftime? Something about "blackhole" and what Bird thought of McHale when he got touches in the Celtics' offense.

KenPom only goes back to 2002.

There is NOT ONE YEAR that Ohio has not has AT LEAST 2 players playing and shooting significant minutes over 35%.

That is counting only players with over 50 attempts and leaving out examples like KVK's 6/17 from 3 his frosh year.

KK is NOT a bad shooter. He is a good shooter with some change in his shot that has not nbeen cleaned up

DJ MAC tourney lines If those are hot streaks someone is in trouble.

2010
5/12

2011
2/16

2012
14 /30

2013
4/12

I like KK but his shot selection, espec in light of game circumstances, is not always the best. Just because he's somewhat open doesn't mean that the situation (score, time of game, momentum on court, position of our guys on the court, etc) is ripe to gun it.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I remember Bubba Walther as a guy who we regarded as a gunner. But Bubba seemed to shoot with better regard for whether a shot was wise given all the game circumstances.

KK does rebound a bit but there are points where his defense is not much.