If the team s one saving grace won t work for them, they could be out of luck. Again, I must refer back to the basics. The offense set up by Coach Kevin O Neill can succeed. The players just can t settle for outside shots. There have been many occasions this year when players like the struggling Tavaras Hardy have backed off when given the chance at a good look inside.
Players make cuts through the lane and near the basket.
The man with the ball just hasn t discovered them. If Ben Johnson is going to establish himself as a dependable point guard, he needs to find his man cutting through that unfamiliar square underneath the basket. Without a legitimate interior presence the task of playing in the paint seems daunting. However, when you consider that the team pulls down the fewest rebounds in the Big Ten, they can t rely on second chances from errant jump shots. The motion offense needs to find its way closer to the basket in search of quick inside shots.