the lost art of scoring in college basketball

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Guys leaving early for the NBA surely plays a factor, but the drop off in scoring over the last 20 years in pretty insane.

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Teams play D now that would change no matter what players left early for the NBA

There's just not as much room to operate now.

Players are bigger, more athletic, faster, and they defend more cutthroat.

Physical play is the true catalyst - watch old film and you can see how much space there is on the floor to operate.

Nowadays you often have to set 2 screens to get a shooter open for jump shot, a shot that still can be contested by an athletic defender fighting through a screen.

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There's just not as much room to operate now.

Players are bigger, more athletic, faster, and they defend more cutthroat.

Physical play is the true catalyst - watch old film and you can see how much space there is on the floor to operate.

Nowadays you often have to set 2 screens to get a shooter open for jump shot, a shot that still can be contested by an athletic defender fighting through a screen.

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so you think the level of play has improved since the early 90's?

I don't understand. Some of the GOATS of basketball are from this past era of "inferior athleticism" some of you are referring to.

I don't agree with the writer's argument that the 35 second shot clock hasn't contributed to lower scoring. He even stated that teams try to increase possession efficiencies. Teams like Butler and Wisconsin can increase efficiency while also lowering the number possessions in the game by grinding down the shot clock. This kills these teams overall scoring, as well as their opponents who can't push up the tempo.

Obviously the increased athleticism and length in the college game has contributed to lower scoring, but only really the best of the best high major conference teams have elite athleticism. Your average Southland conference game isn't featuring 6'8" small forwards with 7'0" wingspans.

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Nowadays you often have to set 2 screens to get a shooter open for jump shot, a shot that still can be contested by an athletic defender fighting through a screen.

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And an away player on a breakaway could get hauled down from behind with a flying tackle, and it's no better than 50-50 the ref would call a foul. Of course, it's no better than 50-50 that he dribbled the ball to get free in the first place, so I guess it all evens out.

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yeah people act like this is because players are worse and shite but it's clearly because players are better IYAM. teams cant score that much because they are playing better defenders. simple as that. the bottom and middle tier D1 basketball players are so much fricking better than 20 years ago.

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I think there is a good chance the really mediocre/bad teams are better than they were 20 years ago and that there is a bit more parity. But you don't actually think the level of play in college basketball is higher now than it was back then do you?

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I also wonder if the steady decline of pure shooters in the game has an impact as well. It doesn't seem that you have as many guys who come into college ball anymore that are fundamentally sound shooters. I could be wrong though.

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you still have shooters in the HS ranks, but nowadays they get exposed on defense in college. fundamentals only can help you so much when you get blown by and outjumped