What is our offense and what does Miles want it to be?

[PimpMario]

I am again at a loss for words to explain our offense. What would you call it or describe it?

Is that different than what Miles wants it to be when he has completely rebuilt the team?

do we/will we have an offensive identity?

[kldm64]

Miles preaches nothing but defense anymore (just like Doc used to do) so who knows about the offensive end of the court.

[49r]

wow, salty...

[49r]

This is Doc's last year:

 

Category	Offense	Defense	D-I Avg
Adj. Efficiency	100.5 164	98.9 148	100.8
Adj. Tempo	63.3 315		66.1
Avg. Poss. Length	20.0 320	18.4 234	18.1
Four Factors
Effective FG%:	49.0 170	52.6 304	49.0
Turnover %:	21.2 236	19.8 186	20.2
Off. Reb. %:	27.4 297	28.8 48	32.1
FTA/FGA:	28.7 330	33.3 105	36.4
Miscellaneous Components
3P%:	32.4 253	36.7 278	34.3
2P%:	49.3 113	51.0 286	47.8
FT%:	76.8 7	70.4 235	69.2
Block%:	8.7 131	8.3 206	9.2
Steal%:	10.2 232	10.5 98	9.6
Style Components
3PA/FGA:	39.4 45	38.8 323	32.9
A/FGM:	58.7 48	53.7 182	53.6
Defensive Fingerprint:	Inconclusive
Point Distribution (% of total points)
3-Pointers:	31.9 75	33.2 18	27.5
2-Pointers:	49.8 235	48.6 277	52.0
Free Throws:	18.3 285	18.2 273	20.4
Strength of Schedule
Components:	107.0 8	97.7 43	100.8
Overall:	+9.34 16		0.00
Non-conference:	-2.00 222		0.00
Personnel
Bench Minutes:	26.3% 263		30.4%
Experience:	2.54 yrs 2		1.66
Minutes Continuity:	51.6% 155		48.6%
Average Height:	77.0" 91		76.5"

 

 

And this is this year's team to date:

 

Data through games of Thursday, January 26

Category	Offense	Defense	D-I Avg
Adj. Efficiency	105.4 150	98.1 66	104.2
Adj. Tempo	69.1 190		69.3
Avg. Poss. Length	18.1 276	16.3 31	17.1
Four Factors
Effective FG%:	46.6 304	50.5 178	50.3
Turnover %:	18.0 111	20.0 109	18.9
Off. Reb. %:	33.2 73	31.5 266	29.6
FTA/FGA:	30.2 293	32.5 118	35.5
Miscellaneous Components
3P%:	32.1 284	39.3 328	34.9
2P%:	46.0 285	46.4 81	49.1
FT%:	70.2 154	67.7 87	69.8
Block%:	11.5 307	10.9 92	9.3
Steal%:	7.7 81	10.6 44	8.8
Style Components
3PA/FGA:	29.4 319	32.4 61	36.2
A/FGM:	43.7 331	48.2 74	52.7
Defensive Fingerprint:	Mostly Man
Point Distribution (% of total points)
3-Pointers:	24.7 306	31.0 144	30.3
2-Pointers:	56.8 22	51.1 134	50.0
Free Throws:	18.5 234	17.9 260	19.7
Strength of Schedule
Components:	110.7 1	99.9 12	104.2
Overall:	+10.78 4		0.00
Non-conference:	+7.13 25		0.00
Personnel
Bench Minutes:	32.0% 190		32.6%
Experience:	1.35 yrs 285		1.70
Minutes Continuity:	50.2% 182		49.8%
Average Height:	77.5" 86		76.8"

 

 

The thing that really jumps out to me is towards the bottom of each of those columns.  Particularly the SOS section and Personnel.  Notice Doc had the 2nd most experienced roster in the nation playing a much softer non-con schedule.  This year's team's numbers in both those areas are essentially flipped.

[cozrulz]

Our offense in the half court has been bad all year.  The defense has to create transition opportunities for the offense to flow.

 

Speaking of offense...Do they coach inbound plays?  Seems like it is constantly a lob pass to the top of the key.

[Jugular]

A lot of teams use our offense...or we use a lot of other teams offense. NWU ran it some the other night. The biggest differences are 1) they have a post threat 2) they have some stretch 4's that are threats and 3) they were making jump shots. 

 

If we make shots, our offense suddenly looks a lot better

[Huskerpapa]

There is nothing wrong with our offense.  The issue is with players making plays.  They are in position to make an open shot, or make a bunny or make their free throws.  I am not going to throw anyone under the wheels of the bus, but, an offense (our offense) will look so much better when plays are executed as expected.

[hskr4life]

Offenses look a hell of a lot better when you can put the ball through the hoop.  You can draw up open look after open look and if it doesn't go in.... it's always the "offense."

 

I am happy that we teach hard D.  That has kept us in a lot of games and won us a few too.  Especially Maryland.  There will be days when the ball just doesn't go through the hoop.  We have more than we would like.  However, the D can always be there on any given day.  Even when the shots aren't falling.

 

We need to make our open looks.  That's our problem.  Confidence is huge.  And we just aren't making those shots.  The offensive philosophy or strategy isn't the problem... it's the execution of making shots.

Edited January 28, 2017 by hskr4life

[cozrulz]

2 hours ago, huskercwg said:

There is nothing wrong with our offense.  The issue is with players making plays.  They are in position to make an open shot, or make a bunny or make their free throws.  I am not going to throw anyone under the wheels of the bus, but, an offense (our offense) will look so much better when plays are executed as expected.

 

At some point players not making plays is on the coaches.  I would revamp the offense to include a lot more off ball motion.  It seems we hardly ever find a cutter.  Even our open looks aren't from great ball swings.  Now, the offense is going to go through Tai where the coaches hope he gets hot like Peteway.

 

Free throws are an easy fix.  Practice it.

[cozrulz]

4 minutes ago, hskr4life said:

We need to make our open looks.  That's our problem.  Confidence is huge.  And we just aren't making those shots.  The offensive philosophy or strategy isn't the problem... it's the execution of making shots.

 

Ever think the players are losing confidence in the offense being run?

[hskr4life]

1 minute ago, cozrulz said:

 

Ever think the players are losing confidence in the offense being run?

 

If I was a player and had that open of looks... I wouldn't lose confidence in the offense as much as myself for missing them.  What else can an offense do besides get you an open shot with no one within 3-5 feet of you?

[Huskerpapa]

19 minutes ago, cozrulz said:

 

At some point players not making plays is on the coaches.  I would revamp the offense to include a lot more off ball motion.  It seems we hardly ever find a cutter.  Even our open looks aren't from great ball swings.  Now, the offense is going to go through Tai where the coaches hope he gets hot like Peteway.

 

Free throws are an easy fix.  Practice it.

Obviously easier said then done.  Again, every offense looks good when players are hitting shots and every offense looks bad when players are missing shots.

 

Another thing that bothers me is when analysts say someone is defending well, when in reality, open looks are being missed.    

[PimpMario]

There is nothing wrong with our offense.  The issue is with players making plays.  They are in position to make an open shot, or make a bunny or make their free throws.  I am not going to throw anyone under the wheels of the bus, but, an offense (our offense) will look so much better when plays are executed as expected.

Could you argue, that if you havn't been able to get the players to run it in 5 years that maybe something is wrong with your offense if you can't recruit to it?

[royalfan]

We have got to be one of the worst in the nation in differential between our 3 point shooting and our opposition.  This is not a good way for a program like ours to get good IMO. 

[The Polish Rifle]

43 minutes ago, royalfan said:

We have got to be one of the worst in the nation in differential between our 3 point shooting and our opposition.  This is not a good way for a program like ours to get good IMO. 

I looked it up because I was curious too. We're 283rd in 3 point shooting percentage and were 326th in 3 point shooting percentage defense.

[uneblinstu]

28 minutes ago, royalfan said:

We have got to be one of the worst in the nation in differential between our 3 point shooting and our opposition.  This is not a good way for a program like ours to get good IMO. 

Not sure where it ranks, but NU is 315th in 3 point defense. Beilein it or not, Michigan is the second worst team in the country in 3 point defense.

 

NU's 285th in 3 point shooting at .322, so they might be close to worst in terms of 3 point differential. That said, NU's a respectable .367 from 3 since conference play. That would put them at about 107 if they'd shot that well in non-con. Might have picked up another win or two, too...

[uneblinstu]

4 minutes ago, The Polish Rifle said:

I looked it up because I was curious too. We're 283rd in 3 point shooting percentage and were 326th in 3 point shooting percentage defense.

I used the NCAA stats website, things must have changed a touch with today's games.

[brfrad]

In conference only games, we are shooting 36.7% from 3.  Our opponents are shooting 41.5% from 3.  That is a 4.8% difference.

 

Teams that have a larger difference that I can tell:

 

Rutgers 26.0% to 31.0% for a 5% difference.

Michigan 40.6% to 49.2% for an 8.6% difference.

Iowa 31.1% to 40.8% for a 9.7% difference

 

[The Polish Rifle]

1 minute ago, uneblinstu said:

I used the NCAA stats website, things must have changed a touch with today's games.

I ripped mine from teamrankings.com. Actually a nice site for stats, its free and goes into much more detail then say an espn.com or si.com.

[basketballjones]

Very complicated question. And one you couldn't know unless you were at practices and in team meetings.

 

Basketball isn't as black and white as football is (admittedly it's getting muddier as most teams use spread principles, even when they are power running teams, now along with RPO principles and plays). "What" your offense is in basketball is more what is emphasized, and what pace you do it at. For instance, Creighton plays as if the shot clock is not existent- therefore what is clearly emphasized is dudes taking shots they feel are in rhythm to shoot and creating rhythm shots for teammates. They want to run and gun, and beat you via mathematics of field goal percentages and number of possessions. 

 

Wisconsin under Bo Ryan clearly wanted ball reversals, inside touches, and the entirety of the shot clocked used to find the perfect shot. Many other coaches want multiple paint touches via the drive or post entry every possession, before a shot is put up. Some coaches preach give up a good shot for a great one. Some otter preach shooting great shots regardless of when they happen (as in, you make it a great shot if it's something you are good at and you are in rhythm). 

 

Obvioisly there's many different forms of offense and different ways to distort the defense. Some coaches run a designed set every time down the court. Some run a revolving/continuity offense. Some install motion principles with rules individual players abide by as far as screening, cutting, posting, driving, spacing, handing off, or ball screening. But regardless of how you plan to attack the defense, what shots and at what paced define what kind of offense you are. 

 

And it seems to me that full, 100% buy-in from the players, and understanding of the team offensive concept, is what makes the ball going in the hoop at a high enough % to win at the tempo you want. Of course, assuming you have the talent in the first place. 

[Handy Johnson]

Clear out for Tai or Glynn.......