The table below summarizes the shot distribution of Temple’s oppenents this year – both in the games against Temple, and over the whole season. (3PA = 3-point attempts, FGA = field goal attempts, %3PA = 3PA/FA)

                vs. Temple       Season
Opponent       3PA FGA %3PA   3PA  FGA %3PA
Villanova       18  43 41.9   219  602 36.4
Illinois        22  51 43.1   215  682 31.5
Rutgers         23  58 39.7   181  563 32.1
Drexel          28  55 50.9   181  582 31.1
Arizona St.     11  48 22.9   181  555 32.6
Penn St.        29  53 54.7   160  561 28.5
South Carolina  35  73 47.9   290  853 34.0
Miami FL        20  45 44.4   219  753 29.1
Indiana         39  61 63.9   234  606 38.6
TOTAL          225 487 46.2   644 1880 32.7

The only numbers that matter are the one under %3PA. From this we see that eight out of Temple’s nine opponents so far have shot more three’s than they normally do. Overall, teams have made 33.3% of their 3-point attempts compared to 34.3% on the season, so it’s not like Chaney’s defense is particularly good at affecting a team’s accuracy from long range.

The previous post was titled “John Chaney, Genius”. But really he is a defensive genius. Offensively, Temple becomes more and more anemic every year. Yet still, they are able to pull off a few upsets, clogging up the middle offensively and preying on teams laying bricks from the perimeter.