IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Bingo! Cream rises to the top.
Pregame: Illinois vs Chicago State, Sunday, December 29th, 1:00pm CT, BTN
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hooraybeer
- Peoria, IL
don’t love that those conversations/excuses are happening among those close to said player. there are certainly more supportive ways to handle a shooting slump
sacraig
- The desert
Did you have that conversation at a Holiday Inn Express?
Chad Fleck
- Eureka, IL
I feel it just for a bit until I get loose after weight training. But it doesn't matter for long once I get loose. My shot comes back fine.
Then again, I'm not being Fletched. I would think Fletch is keeping such things in mind.
Then again, I'm not being Fletched. I would think Fletch is keeping such things in mind.
Yes I agree. I'm sure Fletch knows how much and how intense the weight training needs to be during season as to not affect their shooting adversely.
Another possible reason for Ben and Wills shooting slump may be this. Earlier in the season when we were playing competition at the level they were accustomed too their shots were falling. Now that we are playing a level up in competition everyone has to expend more energy and effort on both ends of the floor. They have not been able to adjust to it yet. Hopefully they will and then they can become the 3pt snipers we were hoping for.
ginabackes00
CrazedUIFan
This, and it sounds like there is a mental barrier. I watched Melendez before a game in warm ups at Iowa and he couldn't miss. Once the game started, he went cold. I trust that one of the best strength trainers in the country knows how to effectively build strength and not ruin a guy's form.
This is exactly what I was thinking. It's "easy" to perform against the cupcakes and then the Q1 games can hit like a brick wall. It's why Underwood said there's big value to playing teams like Oakland because while you're supposed to beat them they don't make it easy like true cupcakes.
I think this is exactly right.
As an example, I seem to remember Dee Brown being a good jump shooter for Proviso East HS. Not so good a jump shooter his freshman year at Illinois. The diagnosis that freshman season was the challenge of much quicker close outs and much greater height and length of defenders in college. With more experience under his belt, Dee returned to higher shooting percentage on his jumpers in his subsequent years at Illinois.
Funny you mention Dee because this conversation made me think of him as well. Not for the reason you mentioned though. He was a decent shooter his freshman year at about 33%. But his senior year it dipped to 32% after being at 43% the year prior. I think I recall Dee attributing the decline partially to bulking up too much in the offseason while he rehabbed his foot.
I do think building the wrong type of muscles makes it harder to shoot. There's a reason you don't see a lot of great jump shooters who look like body builders.
However, I think the reason for Ben and Will's struggles is more attributable to the jump in competition as you described. I think they'll come around.
Goal 1. Get Will right
Goal 1A. Stay healthy
only goals.
This is going to be a 100 to 40 type score if we play 80%
I remember King high school coach Sonny Cox used to complain that Efrem Winters was lifting too much once he got to Champaign. Especially squatting too much.
Chicago State is 0-14 and most of their losses are by 20+ and all of them are by double digits. This very well may be the worst team in Division 1.
IlliniKat91
- Chicago, IL
Complaining about squatting makes no sense to me. If you're squatting heavy your legs are dead right after your workout, but in the long run should give you more power, particularly on longer shots
Shooting depends a lot on repeatable motion. Lifting weights affects flexibility and strength. So it’s very possible that recalibration of ones shot would be necessary as you gain strength. I still remember colliding with door frames when my shoulders developed.
But the gains far exceed the cost long term if you don’t get too bulky (which is very rare for basketball players). The real advantage to weight training is in leg and core strength. Especially when you have people grabbing you as you go to the basket and at the end of games.
Have heard the night after losing to the Pistons coach said “good bye” but Pippen and Jordan were back in the weight room getting ready for the dynasty.
Keep up the work and good things will follow.
But the gains far exceed the cost long term if you don’t get too bulky (which is very rare for basketball players). The real advantage to weight training is in leg and core strength. Especially when you have people grabbing you as you go to the basket and at the end of games.
Have heard the night after losing to the Pistons coach said “good bye” but Pippen and Jordan were back in the weight room getting ready for the dynasty.
Keep up the work and good things will follow.
While that's true, I've seen some guy on twitter even blaming those Northwestern/Tennessee losses on KJ's turnovers. I'd say the much bigger issue is the shooting. This team has great potential, but if the only way they expect to win is for KJ to have a turnover-free 20+ point game, while the other guys shoot bricks from three, then they're in big trouble.
I doubt their thought process is that extreme, and honestly, both of those things really need to improve. This team has a ceiling if they continue to shoot 43% overall and 32% from 3 and our primary ballhandler coughs it up 4-7x per game. If they can even just be an average shooting team, then there really is no limit with these guys with the rebounding and defense (top 10 in both).
Shooting has been an absolute killer for Illinois lately after they started playing some tougher competition.
In the last 5 games, the Riley/Humrichous/Boswell trio shot a combined 13/69 from three. That's 18.8% - just can't expect to win any games against good teams when three of your main rotation guys are so abysmal from long range. I'll excuse Boswell though, because he provides other crucial things for this team. But Ben's minutes have been inexcusable.
Hopefully this Chicago St game will help them get some confidence back, even though it won't replicate the environment of playing against good teams with good 3PT defense/closeouts.
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I have heard the issue of weight lifting etc. affecting a players shot for many years now. It really makes sense when you think about it.
Yes, I think BU will want to use this game to get both Ben (4) and Will (3) back on track. I hope Ben re-emerges but I think a lower pressure, non-starting role is best for him.
That said, I’d rather see Morez, Tre, and Carey get all the minutes at the 4 and give Ben the night off…that’ll give us some critical looks at different combinations in a very low risk game. That also gets Morez more minutes between (4/5) and Will (3).
As we enter B1G play, we need a dawg mentality at the 4. Carey and Tre stretch the floor as well as get more rebounds and play better D than Ben. Right now, we’re not a great 3pt shooting team outside of KJ . Defense is critical. Booth could be a huge wildcard for us down the stretch, especially if he starts hitting from 3…but he hasn’t had many opportunities. I could see him developing into a Coleman/Quincy hybrid next year with more weight room and shooting development.
skyIdub
"I can't tell you. Secret."
It does briefly, however post-workout, once you shoot hoops at the gym for a few minutes, you’ll get the feel back. It’s something everyone deals with in HS, college, and pros.
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