Concern over perimeter defense is the topic.
In the first 3 minutes and 25 seconds of the second half of Vermont’s game against Pitt Saturday, the Catamounts scored 12 points on four 3-point baskets, and that was eight more points than they scored in the final 11:22 in the first half.
The instant offense was an instant reminder of one of the biggest problems that plagued Pitt last season: perimeter defense.
Defense has been one of Pitt’s strengths through the first eight games of the season. Seven teams have failed to score more than 60 points against the undefeated Panthers. But defending the 3-point shot continues to be a headache for coach Jamie Dixon and his staff.
Pitt ranks 13th out of 16 Big East Conference teams in defending the 3-point shot. Opponents are shooting 37.6 percent from 3-point range. That has to be disconcerting given the level of competition to date. With better shooting teams due soon, it will be imperative for the Panthers to improve.
If Vermont can convert eight 3-pointers, what will a more accomplished 3-point shooting team such as West Virginia do against the Panthers? …
Sounds dire, except for one little fact. Vermont made 27 attempts to just have 8 3s fall. That’s a .296 average. Pitt actually held Vermont below their season average of .314 (including Saturday’s game).
It should be something of a concern, but not the way this article sets it out to be. It’s hard to be that upset about a team throwing up tons of 3s when they are under 30% shooting. Unfortunately, the piece was a little lazy.
There’s reason to worry about perimeter defense considering how much trouble Pitt had with it last season. This isn’t the way to make the case.
3-point shooting versus Pitt: 58 – 154, .377
Opps. avg. 3-point shooting: 428-1230, .348
Teams are shooting better against Pitt right now, but the difference is not that vast. Take out the games against Pitt and the teams are shooting .344 (370-1076). To take the opponent 3-point shooting average down to .344, is 5 made shots.
5 made 3s in 8 games is the difference. Should the defense be tighter? Yes. Yes it should. But then, we always want better. We want to see Pitt keeping teams shooting below the average. Not just average or just above average.
In 3 games, Pitt held teams below their 3-point shooting average: Vermont, Duquesne and Maine. In all 3 examples the difference was exactly one less 3-ball. If the team makes a 3 they are right around or perhaps slightly above the season average.
In 3 games, Pitt allowed teams to shoot just above their average: Penn State, St. Francis (NY) and St. Peter’s. Once again, the difference was one more 3 going down.
The difference really came in 2 games: Robert Morris (10-19, .526) and Auburn (6-12, .500).
The Auburn game can be somewhat excused because they got most of the 3s (5-8) in the second half when Pitt gave the bench a lot more time.
As for Robert Morris, well, simply put, Pitt was lazy on defense that game. RMU came out and hit 7-11 on 3s in the first half. It was a game where Pitt came out without giving much of an effort to begin the game. In fact, Pitt didn’t start turning the game on, until about 2 minutes into the second half.
What I would like to see in basketball, is much like hockey, the +/- ratings of players. That would be a better indicator of the kind of defense they play. I’m betting teams keep some sort of stat like that, but it isn’t a number available for general discussion. It’s a shame, because I think that would be a greater indication of a player’s defensive and offensive value.
