David Schneider (center) leads William & Mary with 17.3 points per game and is shooting 37 percent from long distance. Photo courtesy of the AP.
It’s no secret three-point defense has been an issue for the Terps this season. Coach Gary Williams’ group is next-to-last in the ACC in three-point percentage defense, and along with the team’s rebounding woes, it’s been a consistently talked about subject.
William & Mary (8-2) is shooting 41 percent from three-point range and launches an average of 27 three-pointers per game. The Tribe will have at least four capable three-point shooters on the floor throughout tomorrow’s game, according to Williams.
That means the Terps (8-3) must deal with William & Mary’s deliberate, but effective perimeter-oriented style.
“Sometimes we tend to go out to the perimeter wondering if they’re gonna shoot it or not,” forward Jordan Williams said. “We know this team, they’re gonna shoot the ball. So we have to be prepared and know that they’re gonna shoot as much as they can from the three-point line.”
That emphasis, however, could have a negative effect on the Terps’ rebounding ability, an already questionable area. The Terps were outrebounded 49-45 by Florida Atlantic in Sunday’s win.
“Our concern is rebounding,” said Greivis Vasquez when asked about the Tribe’s three-point shooting prowess. “We play good defense, but we just give too many second chances. Nobody has gotten 40 points, 38 points. …If we rebound the ball, we’re gonna have a huge chance to win the game because they’re not gonna be able to keep up with our running.”
From the Terps’ point of view, rebounding and three-point defense go hand in hand. Watch for it tomorrow night.
“The hardest three-pointer to guard is off of an offensive rebound, because everybody’s kind of going toward the glass,” Gary Williams said. “They kick it out. You don’t have your defense set up then you can fly at a shooter maybe, but it’ll be from a long way and that’s all you get. So it is definitely a function – I think the last team we played – Florida Atlantic had three threes after offensive rebounds. So, you know, that’s nine points. It doesn’t seem like much but that’s nine points in a game. If you just get that rebound, that’s nine less points they scored.”
A couple of other notes from today’s media availability:
- Sean Mosley “should be fine for tomorrow night’s game,” according to Williams. Mosley practiced yesterday after sitting out Sunday’s game with a slight left ankle sprain he suffered on the last play of the Terps’ Christmas night practice.
- Steve Goins is still in his hometown of Chicago and Williams said the sophomore big man is meeting with his doctor today to discuss his August knee operation.
Aaron Kraut is The Diamondback’s sports editor. He can be reached at akrautdbk@gmail.com.