The extra 10 feet could hurt NCC if Holmes beats them down the court and gets some easy buckets. The big guys could be less effective with the extra running needed to cover against transition over the course of the game.

 

My fear for Grant's boys, in addition to their lack of depth.

It's harder to find the set point with the big back drop as opposed to having a wall directly behind the basket in high school gyms.

 

This is why I think Hatton is dangerous in this gym. He's played 7 games here already.

I believe the floor is 10 feet longer. NCC did a good job getting back and stopping Holmes fast break in the first game. Holmes didn't get much out of transition. If NCC can do this again, their inside game advantages will outweigh what Holmes gets out of transition.

 

I usually like the bigger lineup in the big arena because they get more inside shots. Outside shooting is tougher in the big arena because it takes a bit longer to focus on the rim. It's harder to find the set point with the big back drop as opposed to having a wall directly behind the basket in high school gyms.

 

The extra 10 feet could hurt NCC if Holmes beats them down the court and gets some easy buckets. The big guys could be less effective with the extra running needed to cover against transition over the course of the game. I don't think Holmes or NCC will shoot anywhere near the percentages they shot in the first game.

 

 

Those would be closest to my arguments as well.

 

In a big arena with an unfamiliar shooting background, teams who can pound the ball inside have a slight advantage. I remember reading a quote from Ron Dawn in the Sweet 16 preview the year they played Male (& Michael Bush, LaVar Carter, etc.) in the first round where he even said this much when talking about how many teams have a philosophy to try to go inside earlier more than they otherwise might (but he also said NCC would not be abandoning their game plan and style of play that got them there either).

 

As for the longer court, I think this negates the advantage of having a bigger team, as the bigs will have to get up-and-down a longer floor. This may not be as much of a factor for two teams who like to slow it down and pound the ball inside, but would be much more of a factor in a game between teams like NCC and Holmes who contrast styles.

 

Something that I'm surprised hasn't been mentioned is the quickness factor, as, in theory at least, you would expect that against a team who presses frequently, the extra length on the floor means that some of the passes may be traveling a little further (and thus be more prone to steals, tips, etc.) given there is an extra five feet to go when breaking the press to beat the 10 second count.

I don't know that there is any statistical evidence (or other) that it helps or hurts a team. Has the longer floor affected things the past few years?

 

Last year Boone County was guard heavy but I would hardly call them a "fast breaking" team, yet they were able to win it last year.

 

Dixie was probably a quicker, better shooting team last year but were bounced by Cooper.

 

When Newport shocked Holmes a few years back, I doubt the floor had anything to do with it.

 

Having said this, I have noticed that right from the tip, the 10 extra feet seem to take about a half a quarter for teams to get used to. You will see some baskets underneath you don't normally see in a game. (more room to manuever). But again, I don't see how it can have a clear advantage to one type of team over another. Seems the players on BOTH teams take a little adjustment period for the extra space.

I don't know that there is any statistical evidence (or other) that it helps or hurts a team. Has the longer floor affected things the past few years?

 

Last year Boone County was guard heavy but I would hardly call them a "fast breaking" team, yet they were able to win it last year.

 

Dixie was probably a quicker, better shooting team last year but were bounced by Cooper.

 

When Newport shocked Holmes a few years back, I doubt the floor had anything to do with it.

 

Having said this, I have noticed that right from the tip, the 10 extra feet seem to take about a half a quarter for teams to get used to. You will see some baskets underneath you don't normally see in a game. (more room to manuever). But again, I don't see how it can have a clear advantage to one type of team over another. Seems the players on BOTH teams take a little adjustment period for the extra space.

 

It certainly did help them in the late 3rd, early 4th, when they went into a slow down. They were so adept at creating space off the dribble and passing that NewCath couldn't cover up the extra spacing when they were chasing the ball.

 

When Newport shocked Holmes a few years back, I doubt the floor had anything to do with it.

 

 

When Newport bounced Holmes a few years back they were similar teams with similar styles, just Newport happened to shoot the lights out while Holmes I don't think hit their first outside shot til the second half when they were already staring at a 20 point defecit.... So IMO this comparison is apples to oranges...