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How desperate are we for outside shooting tonight? This desperate ...

They're starting a 3-point specialist who's just 2-for-15 from 3-point range in Pac-10 play. Per Grippi's morning post today:

Monday, Bennett worked with senior Daven Harmeling, who has scored just 10 points in Pac-10 play, adjusting Harmeling’s release and the arc of his shot. Harmeling, who last started in the conference opener against Washington, is slated to start at the small forward tonight.

I hadn't really noticed Harmeling's shot being all that flat, but it would make intuitive sense, given all the shots of his that have rimmed out this year -- especially lately. As someone who does almost all his damage in pickup ball from downtown (mostly because I lack the athletic ability to do anything else), sometimes it's just that little bit of arc that makes all the difference in the world to get that friendly bounce.

With the news that Harmeling is starting, don't be surprised if you see hear Bud tell you that the Cougs are running some specific sets designed to get him some open looks early. They used to do that with Derrick Low to try and get him going, and I really don't see the purpose in starting Harmeling unless this is what you're trying to accomplish.

The bottom line is that we absolutely, positively need Harmeling -- or someone -- to shoot well from outside tonight. The only reliable way to beat a zone is to hit 40 percent of your 3s, whether it's 4-of-10 or 8-of-20. If you don't make a team pay for collapsing that zone inside, you really stand no chance.

0 recs  |  Comment 15 comments |

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This is good to hear

Daven has picked apart the Devils’ zone in the past. I also like him at the 3 instead of the 4. He really deserves to have some positives, he works his butt off. I think I need to have Tony take a look at my shot, you think he is available?

by Dancing Football on Jan 29, 2009 12:07 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

The only downside I see

Is fewer minutes for Capers. Because he’s not going to take Klay’s or Taylor’s minutes tonight. If Daven is really lighting it up, though, he probably end up seeing minutes at the 4, too. My guess is the guy whose minutes are most impacted tonight is Casto. Although, he could be a huge weapon on the offensive glass against a zone …

OK, now I’m just talking myself in circles.

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2009 1:29 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Come to think of it ...

If we’re starting Harmeling at the 3, we almost have to start Casto at the 4. Harmeling and Forrest make up an amazingly bad defensive rebounding duo.

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2009 1:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm tempted to agree with you, based on that

Yet I don’t know how it would be possible that his own coach wouldn’t realize it. It’s pretty darn obvious.

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2009 2:44 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I have noticed that Harmeling's shot is flat

I was fortunate enough to be sitting close to the court during the USC game and right after Harmeling shot his first three, i turned to my buddy and said his shot is significantly flatter.

Hopefully this adjustment will help his shot but frankly, and I know this has been addressed here before, it is hard to get a player like Harmeling open on the perimeter when he is not quick, primarily playing the 4, and you also have other insignificant shooting threats on the floor, like Capers, that the defense does not have to worry about as much on the perimeter.

But here’s to Harmeling having a lights-out game and leading us to a big Pac-10 victory on the road.

Is the game on FSN tonight?

by gabe713 on Jan 29, 2009 3:48 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Maybe it's one of those things you notice more live

Because it hasn’t been that noticeable on TV. I will say this, though — the ball didn’t seem to be coming off his hand as fluid as it did the last two years. It just didn’t look like the same stroke. Even the one he made on Saturday didn’t look pretty.

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2009 5:23 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

To bad I can't see

I paid an extra $5 a month to get Fox Sports Northwest. I am not going to get tonight’s game or Saturday’s game. The stinkin Huskies are taking all the air time. I guess we did last year when we were better than the Huskies. I don’t even know if I would get the games if I lived in Washington.

by SoCalCoug on Jan 29, 2009 3:52 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

channelsurfing.net has it

Make sure you have virus protection though.

by BornCoug on Jan 29, 2009 4:40 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

This is the first time I've been to that site

I’m watching clemson/va tech right now. Cool.

by Jeff Nusser on Jan 29, 2009 5:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

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