Shooting struggles hampering Cowboys

Published 3:20 pm Thursday, December 26, 2024

In a long-range firing world, the Cowboys struggle to find their target.

Despite the shooting woes, McNeese State still finds itself at 6-5 heading into conference play. 

How long they can survive without a consistent 3-point attack remains to be seen. Despite their shooting struggles, they are doing enough to win games.

Email newsletter signup

“When you don’t make 3-point shots, you have to find other ways to score,” said McNeese head coach Will Wade. “We have done that, but not all the time. We are going to have to hit shots.”

Wade has said one of the problems was the defensives McNeese has seen. With an upgraded schedule, clean shots have been hard to come by.

“We could not shoot much worse,” said Wade. “We have got good shooters; we just don’t take the right shots.”

That first forward step was supposed to be last Sunday when McNeese played struggling Louisiana-Lafayette in the Cajundome. The Cowboys won 64-56 despite being outside 24-3 from beyond the 3-point line. 

McNeese made just 1 of 16 shorts from distance, while the Cajuns were 8 of 24. The Cowboys made up for the difference with a 13-4 edge on free throws and outscored ULL in the paint 38-22. 

Combine, that gave McNeese a 51-26 edge, making up the 3-point mismatch.

“When the long shots aren’t going in, you have to take it to the basket,” said McNeese guard Sincere Parker, who had 22 points against ULL. 

Unfortunately, this has been an ongoing issue with McNeese. The Cowboys have been outscored on 3-pointers 285-207 this season, as opponents are 95 of 280 (34%). 

McNeese is 69 of 231 (29%). Last year, the Cowboys shot 38% on 3s and were outscored by less than one of those a game.

The numbers are even worse when you remove the two non-Division I games this season. McNeese has made just 49 threes in those nine games while their opponents have hit 83, a 102-point difference, good for an 11.3 disadvantage per game.

Last season, McNeese averaged 7.6 threes a game while giving up 8.2. This year, those numbers are 6.3-8.6. Those numbers are 5.4-9.2, an almost 12-point disadvantage in D-1 games.

“Our offense is very poor, as poor an offense as I have ever coached,” said Wade. “When you are a terrible team in the half court, and you don’t score in transition, then you have a very tough time on offense.”

Guard DJ Richards has been the Cowboy shooter struggling the most so far this season. Last year, Richards hit 45.1% of his 3-pointers, averaging 11.4 points a game. 

In the first 11 games this season, he has made only 30.2% (16-53) and scored just six points. Take away the two non-DI games, and Richards is at just 23% (9-39).

“I have got to make the shots I’m getting,” said Richards. “I feel like I can play in Switzerland and I will make shots when I have my confidence. 

“I know what I can be and what shots I can make. I’m going to do that right now. I’m coming back from break with my head right and ready to go.”

The Cowboys need Richards and others to improve their shooting if they want to repeat as Southland champs and return to the NCAA Tournament.

“We have to continue to play better, to do the things we are capable of doing,” said Wade. “We have not been able to get them to do what we want them to do. That is on me.”

The Cowboys hope that opening the league with two games at home after the week off will help them refocus on their game.

And refocus on putting the ball through the hoop.