The most shocking stat in Georgia State’s 63-53 loss at Arkansas-Little Rock on Saturday was zero fast-break points.
It epitomizes what coach Ron Hunter said is negatively affecting his team in its 1-4 losing streak: a lack of baskets in transition, especially on the road where he said the team lacks confidence. It’s also the third time in the past 10 games that has happened.
“It’s the biggest shock to me this year,” Hunter said. “Our kids have been good at that. This team, it’s just been a major weakness.”
Hunter isn’t singling out point guards Isaiah Williams or Isaiah Dennis as the reason, though he says they are inconsistent. It’s more that he said he has been spoiled the previous four years with players such as Devonta White, Ryan Harrow and R.J. Hunter, who were very good in transition.
In past years, one of that trio would hustle with the ball down the court, drive into the free-throw lane and either drop it off to a trailing player for an easy basket, or kick it out to someone on the wing for an open 3-pointer.
None of that is happening this year, at least not on the road, where two of those fast-break goose eggs were put up.
“There are about 10 points a game we aren’t getting in transition,” Hunter said.
The good news is the Panthers will begin a two-game homestand by hosting Texas State on Thursday and Texas-Arlington on Saturday.
The team has played much better at home, where it is 9-1 this season.
In the Panthers’ first five conference games this season, three of which were at home, the team averaged 67 points per game and hit 43.2 percent of their shots. It averaged 13.2 assists and 10.8 turnovers per game. Georgia State went 4-1.
In its past five conference games, three of which were on the road, the team averaged 62.4 points and shot 40 percent. It averaged 8.2 assists and 15 turnovers per game. Georgia State went 1-4. He said many of the turnovers come trying to play in transition, which partially explains the decrease in points and assists and increase in turnovers between the two five-game sets.
“It’s almost like I coach two different teams,” Hunter said. “Our confidence level on the road and then at home.”
Williams, Dennis and Kevin Ware have split time at the point. Austin Donaldson, the only point guard remaining, likely won’t get a shot because Hunter said it would be too tough to put that on a freshman in February.
He wants the point guard to push the pace when possible, but he doesn’t want them to take quick shots, which is what Williams did during a pivotal moment in the loss to Arkansas-Little Rock. Leading by three after attacking the basket on consecutive possessions, Williams hoisted an off-balance jumper from the free-throw line with plenty of time left on the shot clock. He missed and the rest of Georgia State’s players began to shoot jumpers instead of attacking the basket.
Because the point guards aren’t pushing the pace the team settles into half-court sets. When that happens, particularly on the road, the offense runs deep into the shot-clock and a player is forced to put up a well-defended shot, or shot is taken too quickly.
Though the final results are better at home than on the road the transition points aren’t happening there, either. The team has scored 22 fast-break points in its past five home games compared to 26 in its past five road games.
It is affecting the offense of several players.
Jeff Thomas, a catch-and-shoot player on offense, isn’t getting opportunities. Thomas averaged 8.6 points in the first five conference games and 4.6 in the past five.
Markus Crider, who scored a lot of points last year on pick-and-rolls or in transition, is also struggling. His point totals in the past five games read like a Bingo announcer: 4-14-2-11-2.
Williams’ average has dropped from 10.4 points on 32 percent shooting to 5.6 points on 27.8 percent shooting.
Lastly, Jeremy Hollowell, the team’s leading scorer is also having issues. After averaging 15.2 points on 47.3-percent shooting in the firsts five games, he averaged 12.4 points on 34-percent shooting in the past five.
Improving the play in transition, particularly on the road, should improve the offense, according to Hunter.
“That’s where all the deficiencies come out is on the road,” Hunter said. “Good player’s numbers should be better on the road than at home. That’s what we have had. That’s when you are winning 25 and winning the league like we have done.”
