Who takes the last shot?

[waterhead]

We have 5 guys in the starting lineup who can score. We lost Caupain who often found himself with the ball in his hands with the clock winding down for the last 2 seasons perhaps more than that. With the game on the line who do you want with the ball in their hands this year?

Broome will, by most accounts, be our most elusive player and did a good job of getting to the line at Sacred Heart. He can probably score in many different ways from a 3, to a pull up J, to getting to the bucket. If he's willing to make a smart pass...he could be the guy.

Washington has a reliable go to move in the paint with pretty good efficiency. With the right matchup he might be a decent option. Will he make a smart kick out pass though?

Clark can back a guy down and finish with efficiency and if it's not there he is more than willing to make the smart pass.

Evans is our most gifted athlete and leading scorer from last year. Perhaps a bit indecisive but has all the tools.

Cumberland showed his effectiveness at keeping his defender guessing with a 3 ball, a nasty pump fake and a killer running floater.

Team effort? Why put it in one guys hands if we can draw up a nice play to take advantage of a good matchup?

Other? Anyone else you would like to see with the ball in their hands in late game?

 

[Nati lite]

I think Evans will be our go to guy. Last year he hit some big shots for us especially against Marshall. He also led the comeback @Tulsa that led to Caupain's shot.

 

[waterhead]

Cronin must be licking his chops as opposed to most years in terms of x's and o's. He has all kinds of options to draw up a last second play. I assume he will do just that...but when that play breaks down or we have to wing it because we don't have timeouts etc...we will have to put the ball in someone's hands. Usually that is going to be a guard who can create a little bit.

I tend to lean toward Cumberland right now. We have to get a reliable shot off and not risk turnovers in these scenarios. I am not sure how reckless Cane will be in these situations as of right now. Cumberland seems like a gamer. I would like to see Evans getting off any open looks that he can but I'm not sure he will be the best at creating the best look on his own.

I also don't mind Clark getting some touches in these scenarios but I prefer a guard getting most of them.

 

[rogerOH]

Broome with the ball -breaks his defender down -kickout to Evans or Cumberland- Clark and Washington crash the boards.

 

[waterhead]

Broome with the ball -breaks his defender down -kickout to Evans or Cumberland- Clark and Washington crash the boards.

I like it!

 

[jacobkdoyle]

No offense to Washington but definitely not him.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Could be someone different every time. I don't like the idea of having a firm answer on this and forcing it to be that player. We have enough guys that we can take whatever the defense gives us. Could be Broome breaking down the defense, could be Cumberland or Evans in iso. Could be Clark getting a paint touch. Heck, could be Trevor Moore shooting a 3.

 

[kskenyon4]

i know every time I can remember when Clark has the ball in the final 10 seconds he scores...

 

[waterhead]

i know every time I can remember when Clark has the ball in the final 10 seconds he scores...

He usually does something good with the ball in these situations. The problem is can we get it to him in the right position when we need it to happen? If we can...I am all for doing that. He makes great decisions. If he has a single defender he can score if he gets doubled he makes the right pass.

 

[waterhead]

Could be someone different every time. I don't like the idea of having a firm answer on this and forcing it to be that player. We have enough guys that we can take whatever the defense gives us. Could be Broome breaking down the defense, could be Cumberland or Evans in iso. Could be Clark getting a paint touch. Heck, could be Trevor Moore shooting a 3.

As a general strategy I like team effort and matchups but when we are stuck with the ball and 5 seconds left I don't mind having a "go to guy" (or two) to get the ball in their hands. It helps avoid confusion. I agree with you about Washington.

We are going to be very versatile in late game situations!!

 

[waterhead]

Could be someone different every time. I don't like the idea of having a firm answer on this and forcing it to be that player. We have enough guys that we can take whatever the defense gives us. Could be Broome breaking down the defense, could be Cumberland or Evans in iso. Could be Clark getting a paint touch. Heck, could be Trevor Moore shooting a 3.

Good point on Moore! I didn't really think about Moore but it might be a good option if he gets hot in a game to stick/keep him in there.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

He usually does something good with the ball in these situations. The problem is can we get it to him in the right position when we need it to happen? If we can...I am all for doing that. He makes great decisions. If he has a single defender he can score if he gets doubled he makes the right pass.

Why is that a problem?

 

[UCBearcats]

Good point on Moore! I didn't really think about Moore but it might be a good option if he gets hot in a game to stick/keep him in there.

As long as it's not Quadri Moore I'm good.

My guess is Cronin will go with Cumberland with the game on the line. Mick has always seemed to go with the head down and drive to the rim strategy with the final possession of games. It's not a very good strategy but I've heard Mick talk before about the odds of a foul or getting a look at the rim being better than relying on a jumper or a 3 to go down.

No one on our team will be better at bullying their way to the rim than Cumberland. I'm guessing he'll be our designated head down and attack the rim guy.

 

[jacobkdoyle]

Good point on Moore! I didn't really think about Moore but it might be a good option if he gets hot in a game to stick/keep him in there.

Yeah I mean who knows. And as you pointed out in another thread, we have TONS of guys with experience. So I don't worry about players shrinking in the moment and being unsure of what needs to be done.

Most likely, based on how the particular game goes, we'll have a good idea of who we will want taking a shot in that game. And it could be different based on so many circumstances.

 

[waterhead]

Why is that a problem?

If you call a play to get it to Gary on the block but we can't get it there (say he get's faced up)...then it might be a problem with little time on the clock to move to plan B.

I like the option of getting it to Gary on the block when it's there. I feel like 75% of the time Gary will either make a bucket or make the right pass to the open guy. Clark is one of our smartest players and he's not selfish!

 

[rogerOH]

I am super high on K. Williams- Diarra I hope he is that diamond in the rough that contributes right away- still think Nsoseme redshirts- but am not as high on T. Moore to contribute as quickly. I have seen all the players(online full games) between 6-10 senior H.S. games each( not Diarra) and Moore was the least impressive, played on a good team but I Don't think he averaged double figures-did have one game with (9) 3's but also had a lot of games with 3, 5, 7, points. In his defense I don' think he was used correctly on S.K.S. and did not start a lot of their games esp. early in the season. Seems to have a good stroke and while he didn't handle the ball found open players very well. I have been wrong plenty of times but I think he takes at least 2 years which is fairly normal. Also like that he has wanted to be a bearcat for quite a while. Wish him much success.

 

[waterhead]

Yeah I mean who knows. And as you pointed out in another thread, we have TONS of guys with experience. So I don't worry about players shrinking in the moment and being unsure of what needs to be done.

Most likely, based on how the particular game goes, we'll have a good idea of who we will want taking a shot in that game. And it could be different based on so many circumstances.

Yeah...I mean we have Washington who has no problem putting up a shot if he needs to in crunch time. Clark has been battle tested for 3 years. Evans has nailed some big shots. Cumberland is a gamer. Broome has already played "The Man" for his team for a couple of years.

We have a couple of "shyish" players but they are also two of our best players...if not the two best all around players we have! It's hard to call them shy...maybe they just are not selfish is probably a better way to put it.

Let's not forget when we need a big play on D in a crucial situation that Clark and Evans are the most likely to get the job done.

 

[Chad Brendel]

I am super high on K. Williams- Diarra I hope he is that diamond in the rough that contributes right away- still think Nsoseme redshirts- but am not as high on T. Moore to contribute as quickly. I have seen all the players(online full games) between 6-10 senior H.S. games each( not Diarra) and Moore was the least impressive, played on a good team but I Don't think he averaged double figures-did have one game with (9) 3's but also had a lot of games with 3, 5, 7, points. In his defense I don' think he was used correctly on S.K.S. and did not start a lot of their games esp. early in the season. Seems to have a good stroke and while he didn't handle the ball found open players very well. I have been wrong plenty of times but I think he takes at least 2 years which is fairly normal. Also like that he has wanted to be a bearcat for quite a while. Wish him much success.

After seeing Trevor in workouts this summer, I think you will be way off base on him...

 

[waterhead]

I am super high on K. Williams- Diarra I hope he is that diamond in the rough that contributes right away- still think Nsoseme redshirts- but am not as high on T. Moore to contribute as quickly. I have seen all the players(online full games) between 6-10 senior H.S. games each( not Diarra) and Moore was the least impressive, played on a good team but I Don't think he averaged double figures-did have one game with (9) 3's but also had a lot of games with 3, 5, 7, points. In his defense I don' think he was used correctly on S.K.S. and did not start a lot of their games esp. early in the season. Seems to have a good stroke and while he didn't handle the ball found open players very well. I have been wrong plenty of times but I think he takes at least 2 years which is fairly normal. Also like that he has wanted to be a bearcat for quite a while. Wish him much success.

I really can't wait to see Williams play after reading your insights on him! I hope he is good for 15+ minutes. You have watched a lot more of them than most fans have. Diarra, at the very least, has the height and athletic ability to get in there and be serviceable for back up minutes. Seems like he has a good motor and his outside shot is pretty smooth. We don't need a lot from the bench guys but any good surprises means we will be that much better as a team!

 

[waterhead]

After seeing Trevor in workouts this summer, I think you will be way off base on him...

I know summer league play is hard to gauge sometimes...but he scored a lot of points and he wasn't doing most of that damage from 3. I like the sound of that since he was reportedly being brought in for his 3 point prowess. Perhaps you are talking about other times you have seen him this summer but I was certainly happy seeing he could score lots of points without landing a lot of 3's.