Danes trying to use 3-point attempts wisely
Fewer long-distance shots result in greater efficiency
To three or not to three is a question the University at Albany basketball players, at least those who have a propensity for making outside shots, are trying to determine as they negotiate their nonconference schedule.
Ualbany (5-3), which plays host to Yale on Wednesday night, is on a three-game winning streak in which they averaged 17 3-point attempts per game. The Great Danes were averaging nearly 25 per game before then.
Fewer threes seem to have resulted in more efficient shots. Ualbany has
converted 37 percent of its shots from outside the arc during the winning streak, 30 percent in the first five games.
“It ’s easy to get trigger-happy out there,” said sophomore guard Cameron Healy, who leads the Danes in 3-point attempts (58), makes (23) and percentage (.397). “When we look at the games where we didn’t shoot well, the first thing is were they good shots? That’s something Antonio (Rizzuto)
and I talk about a lot. We’re great shooters, but can we take great shots? If we’re not and we’re missing, it ’s obvious most of the time why.”
Rizzuto, also a sophomore, had made 13 of
37 for a .351 percentage, totals that are second on the team. Senior guard Ahmad Clark is 10 of 33 for 30.3 percent.
“For me, Cam, Ahmad, shooters shoot,” Rizzuto said. “If it ’s the right shot and you have an open shot, we’re going to try to take that shot. If you miss a few shots, you naturally want to drive in and try to create for someone else.”
Rizzuto had gone a combined 1-for-14 from long range until he made 5 of 7 Saturday in a victory over American University.
Yale (6-3), coming off a 13-point victory over America East favorite Vermont, allows 25 3-point attempts per game, but opponents have made only 25.8 percent. Ualbany has made 32 percent through eight games.
“Against a team like Yale that does a good job of defending from the 3-point line and in, you have to take advantage of the opportunities that you get,” said coach Will Brown, who is seeking his 300th career victory. “The last couple of games, when we’ve been able to rebound the ball and get out in transition, we’ve been able to get some good, clean looks. I don’t mind those uncontested threes in transition.
“In the half-court, we
need to do a better job of recognizing shot clock and not taking a semi-contested shot seven or eight seconds into the shot clock. We need to give ourselves a chance to break down the defense a little more. We’ve settled at times. If we can keep our 3-point attempts at between 16 and 18 or less per game, and give ourselves a chance to get to the free-throw line, that would be ideal.”
Brown said that Yale likely will be the best team to play this season in SEFCU. He called the Elis’ Paul Atkinson, a 6-foot-10 junior, and Jordan Bruner, a 6-8 senior, future pros.
“We’re going to have to play a little different with them being in there,” Rizzuto said.
“Maybe more drive-andkick,” Healy said. “Maybe a little more threes. I don’t want to get too deep (into the lane). Atkinson’s good in the paint for them, and Bruner, as well. We’re going to try to play our normal game, but we don’t want to chuck up too many threes, but get good shots.” Notes: Sophomore forward Malachi de Sousa suffered a sprained MCL in practice Monday and is “probably out” for the Yale game, according to Brown. ... Freshman forward Mitch Doherty rolled his ankle and is also questionable. ... The new target date for the return of sophomore forward Adam Lulka, who hasn’t played since Nov. 16 after spraining his left ankle, has been pushed back to next week. There had been some hope he could return Wednesday, or Saturday at Bucknell.