Well, first of all, every time we have played a Bruce Pearl coached team, we have had our butts handed to us. Secondly, Davis' style of coaching depends on a very strong inside game. That is why with Dendy and Jones inside the Raiders were very successful. Davis cannot coach a 3-point skilled team which is what he has this year. We should come out of the dressing room shooting 3's but it will never happen with Davis. When do we shoot 3's? As a last resort, after failing to get the ball inside, or Davis' favorite-when down by 10+ points. We made the Belmont game close by shooting 3's late and made the 2 tourney games more respectable by shooting 3's when the games were already decided. We hit 13-30 3's in the exhibition vs.Ole Miss but no way will Davis have his team shooting 3's that often in a game that counts. It is a secondary shot to Davis. Wonder why in all of Davis' years that we have never been a big 3-point shooting team? Simple. He does not believe in the 3 as a primary offensive weapon. The way Davis coaches the use of the 3, players invariably will not shoot it as well as they might because they will be looking over their shoulder to see if coach approved of the shot.
Many of Byrd's teams at Belmont and Insell with several Lady Raider teams knew how to use the 3. Use it relentlessly. Shoot it first, not as a secondary shot. Why shoot a 12-18 foot shot which will likely be more tightly defended when a slightly longer shot, a 3, is more likely to be open and is worth and extra point if you hit it? Too, a longer miss is more likely to be a longer rebound which will often somewhat negate the rebounding advantage of the inside positioned defense.
Davis' style is inside oriented and always will be, regardless of the personnel.
