…it’s interesting how the game of basketball continues to evolve. I think the 3pt evolution has hit its peak as teams focus their offensive attack on the most efficient shots in the game (3pt line and shots at the rim). Defenses have adjusted and are finding ways to challenge both the 3pt shot and protect the rim creating opportunity in the mid-range.

The mid-range shot is the least efficient shot for PPP but as we saw with our 2019-20 team, when teams are able to successfully defend both the 3pt line and the perimeter and you have players who can get you buckets off the bounce in the mid-range (like TJ, Yoeli and Jake Toolson could) it keeps your team in games and your offense grinding out buckets instead of going through long scoreless droughts. It forces defenses to adjust which then opens up the other areas on the floor.

My bet is that BYU basketball balances their offensive attack by adding more of an offensive focus in the mid-range. I think ultimately it will help us improve our 3pt shooting pct overall as a team. For much of the season we were in the top 25 in the NCAA in points in the paint and we stayed pretty consistent in the top 2 or 3 spots in made 3pt baskets and percentage of our shots from 3. I think defenses adjusted to what we were doing and as we saw in several Big12 games as well as in the Duquesne game, teams focused on taking away 3pt attempts and defending the paint. Duquesne did both really well and made things difficult for Fouss in the paint despite not having a lot of size to challenge him.

Jaxson Robinson showed ability to score in the mid-range and shoot off the dribble (hope he returns) and Richie Saunders showed off a nice floater that he worked on in the off-season. If Dawson Baker can get healthy he would be a huge addition here. My hope is Pope prioritizes getting another PG/CG type who can be aggressive and shoot off the bounce and score at all 3 levels to pair alongside Dallin Hall. We have young guys coming in like Isaac Davis and Collin Chandler who can both handle the ball and play off the bounce but being freshman I’m just now sure how much we can count on them contributing, however We need to reduce playing time for the catch and shoot specialists like Trevin Knell and start giving more time in the rotation to players with the ability to score off the bounce.