Troy will shoot fast and often
Posted on Thursday, January 24, 2008
TROY, Ala. — Troy wants to shoot as many three-pointers as possible. UALR has the Sun Belt Conference’s best three-point shooting defense.
Tonight something likely will give as UALR (12-6, 4-3 ) travels to Alabama for a 7: 30 p. m. Sun Belt Conference game against Troy (9-9, 2-5 ).
Troy isn’t the best threepoint shooting team in the Sun Belt by percentage. But Troy has made and taken more three-pointers (207 of 581 ) than any other conference team. And it’s not even close. The next best is Louisiana-Monroe, which has made 163 of 457.
Troy’s offensive philosophy is simple: Run the ball down the court as quickly as possible and take the first available shot — no matter where it comes on the court.
“First available good shot, that’s what they’re looking for,” UALR Coach Steve Shields said. “You’re talking about a team that has taken 581 threes for the year. In comparison, we’ve shot 292.”
Troy has made at least 10 three-pointers in 16 of 18 games this season, while UALR has not allowed an opponent to make more than nine. That’s because UALR has allowed opponents to make only 90 of 338 three-pointers this season (26. 6 percent ). Most teams have shot well below their season average when playing UALR.
“It will never be more important for us to get a good contest on the shots from the three-point line, get five good blockouts every time, and go chase the ball,” Shields said.
Troy is led by O’Darien Bassett, who averages 19. 4 points per game and has made 44 of 127 three-pointers this season. Four other Troy players have made at least 20 three-pointers: Justin Jonus (41 ), Brandon Hazzard (29 ), Jerome Odem (29 ) and Trayce Macon (24 ). Those four have made more threepointers than all of UALR’s players except Terrance Akins (32 ).
“Bassett is a premier guard in our league, but they’ve got a number of guys who can shoot the three,” Shields said.
Troy wants to get on a roll, using its press to force turnovers that result in either a quick basket for them or a quick shot by its opponent.
“It’s all about winning the next play and not worrying about the last possession,” Shields said. “You also have to be able to handle their press.”
The press is a concern because UALR has averaged 17. 3 turnovers per game this season. UALR had 18 turnovers in Saturday’s 72-65 loss to South Alabama.
“Troy is very up-tempo. They’re going to press, then go back into their zone defense,” Shields said. “[On Saturday ] I thought we rebounded the ball well. We defended extremely well. But our last three games have been 18, 21, 23 turnovers.
“ We’ve got to value it better than that, especially against a team like this. They feed off of that. That’s where they get their easy baskets.”
The zone defense could also present another problem. UALR has made 96 of 292 three-pointers this season for 33 percent, worst in the Sun Belt Conference.
But it doesn’t necessarily take a three-point barrage to have success against Troy. Florida International, which has made 93 of 263 threepointers this season, beat Troy 74-49 on Jan. 9 by making 6 of 13. Middle Tennessee, which has made 94 of 278 three-pointers this season, beat Troy 65-64 on Jan. 16 at Trojan Arena by making 5 of 16.
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