Getting to know the Summit League (III)

Many Summit League teams thrive off the three point shot. Last year the league had 11 players who shot at least 40% from downtown (minimum of 100 attempts). Summit League teams and players don’t necessarily make jaw dropping amounts of threes. They just consistently shoot quality percentages.

I equate 40% from the long line with a .300 batting average, or close to it. Obviously the number of at bats, or in this case, three point attempts, figures into how consistent a player performs. Usually a player who can exhibit the ability to hit threes at around a 40% clip will more than likely shoot close to a 100 threes in a season, if not more (the usual). That’s essentially what happened last year in the Summit.

IUPUI, the regular and postseason runner up to Oral Roberts last year, shot a collective 42.3% from the three, good for 2nd best in the nation. North Dakota State’s 40.7% was good for 7th best in the nation (NDSU was not full fledged member of DI yet, so it’s not official).

The Summit League as a whole shot a collective 36.95% from downtown.

The Big Ten is the best conference that is closest in proximity to the Summit League. So we have the Big Ten to judge the Summit League by.

The Big Ten shot 34.89% from downtown (11 teams). *Also take into consideration that many of the Big Ten teams played more games than did most of the Summit League teams.

In fact, in terms of three point production, each team save Southern Utah averaged at least 5 made threes/gm.

The Summit as a whole made 6.359 three’s/gm.

The Big Ten made 6.746 three’s/gm (11 teams). *

This Summit may not make the most threes, but the overall percentage of their makes is sound.

Downtown relocation?

So how will the three point line change from 19 feet 9 inches to 20 feet 9 inches affect this guard oriented league? Certainly teams will not throw it inside more frequently because of the lack of competent post players in the Summit. However, we could see the more capable guards drive the lane and, as defenses adjust by playing better help defense, kick the ball out to lethal outside shooters that just may happen to have some more space to work with.

Oakland Head Coach Greg Kampe sumed up why the line change won’t really be that big of a deal for one of his deep threats, “Most of the ones that (Erik) Kangas takes are a foot back anyway.”

The same can be said for many of the outstanding long ball shooters around the country.

So the toughest adjustment might have to be made by the defense. Can a pedestrian style of zone defense be able to get a hand in the face of the shooters that have an extra foot of hardwood to drift back to?

Certainly an overzealous zone defense allows capable slashers to slice into the zone to find open teammates, inside and outside.

The line change will ultimately force teams to play a little bit more aggressively when playing zone. Good defenses could, however, feast on sloppy teams with inexperienced point guards, making the aggressive zone defense a key facet in their overall game plan. Methodical half court style teams prone to turnovers could play right into the hands of a defense’s desire of forcing the offensive action farther and farther away from the basket.

I’m not sure I simplified anything with this diatribe. Using the Big Ten as a basketball model is probably like using T.O. as a model of humbleness.

Anyhoo, basically the Summit League is full of guards aplenty. Real good ones too, who, for the most part, will make you pay from downtown.

ESPN ShootAround- Summit preview from August.