Marshall
University men’s basketball head coach Dan D’Antoni is looking for better
offensive production in year two at the helm of Marshall with an offensive
system that historically produces success.
In
year one with a system D’Antoni describes as “organized chaos,” Marshall
finished 11-21 overall and 7-11 in Conference USA play while finishing seventh
in C-USA by averaging 66.8 points per game.
But with an influx of new players and returning players with more
experience, the Herd expects that number to increase.
“It’s chaotic because they have freedom of
movement and freedom of range, but it’s organized because they have principles
that guide them through it,” D’Antoni said.
“It designs things to try to get you a layup, free throw or 3-point
shot.”
The
Herd finished second in C-USA in 3-point field goals made last season with 249
on the season and averaged 7.8 made 3-point field goals per game. Guard Austin Loop was second in C-USA with 84
made 3-point field goals on the season.
D’Antoni
said this year’s team has more speed and is better equipped to run his
system. “Any time you have chaos, it
usually has speed involved in it,” he said.
“This year’s team has more people with speed that can run.”
“We had a lot of people that practiced with us
last year that’s playing this year and I feel like they’ve adjusted well, and
the new players are catching on well,” junior forward Ryan Taylor said.
Taylor led the Herd in points per game and rebounds per
game last season with 14.1 and 8.6 respectively. His 14.1 points per game was good for
thirteenth in C-USA and his 8.6 rebounds per game was good for second in
C-USA.
Taylor said the offensive system in place brings out the
best in him as a player. “A lot of
schools, with me being my height, wouldn’t let me do what I do or play how I
play here,” Taylor said. “But with Coach
D’Antoni and his offensive system, I feel like it shows every aspect of my game
and what I can do.”
“Ryan
Taylor’s changed his entire game from being what was basically catch-and-finish
from somebody else’s job to not only finishing his stuff one-on-one, but
creating, passing, dribbling outside, shooting three’s and playing the whole
floor,” D’Antoni said.
“His
turnovers went from seven or eight a game to two or three, and that was just
improvement of learning the system and how he fits in.”
The
system has produced success in the NBA while D’Antoni was an assistant coach
under his brother, Mike D’Antoni. The
duo helped transform the Phoenix Suns into an NBA Championship contender from
2004-2008, winning a total of 232 game during that time.
The
Suns’ offense averaged 94.2 points per game in the season prior to the D’Antoni
offensive system transformation. The
next season, the team averaged 110.4 points per game, which led the NBA. The Suns never finished lower than third in
the NBA in points per game during that time.
Taylor
said the system can lead to the goals Marshall hopes to accomplish. “Everybody in basketball is basically trying
to play this way,” he said. “The Spurs
won the championship and then Golden State last year running the same system as
Coach D’Antoni has us running here.”
“Our
goal is to always win the last game, which is the NCAA title,” D’Antoni
said. “We can get to be the best in the
country and if we win the last game, we’re the best in the country.”
The
Herd’s regular season tips off at 7:00 p.m. Nov. 19 at the University of
Tennessee of the SEC.
No comments:
Post a Comment