Long, Tall Sally
December 17, 2002 02:46 PM | General
December 17, 2002
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – West Virginia forward Tyrone Sally is no longer considered just a “slasher.”
 |
||
| Forward Tyrone Sally has made 18 of his last 23 field goal attempts. (All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks) |
The 6-foot-7 forward made 10-of-14 field goal attempts -- including two-of-three from three-point range -- for a career-high 25 points last Saturday against Wofford, and is in the middle of a two-game stretch where he’s made 18 of his last 23 field goal attempts.
“Tyrone has done a good job and is really working hard in practice to become a better shooter,” said West Virginia coach John Beilein.
The transformation in Sally’s shooting touch is nothing short of remarkable.
The Richmond native made a respectable 44.7 percent of his field goal tries last year as a freshman, but most of those attempts were within 10 feet of the basket. In Beilein’s new free wheeling system, Sally has already attempted one more three-point attempt than he tried all of last year.
“When the coaching staff came in I was already familiar with their system,” said Sally. “It’s more like a three-point offense so I knew when they came here that I had to work on my jump shot because I was known more as a slasher.”
Besides taking them, Sally is also making them. He is tied with 6-10 forward Kevin Pittsnogle and guard Patrick Beilein for the most three pointers made on the team with nine.
“Compared to last year, I feel more confident in myself going into games,” he said. “I’m trying not to force anything and just let things come to me.”
That approach is working beautifully. Sally has boosted his scoring average from 4.0 points per game before he entered the starting lineup against James Madison, to his current average of 12.3 points per game leading into the Western Carolina game.
Sally reached double figures in a 70-67 win over James Madison on Nov. 30, and added 11 points in the Mountaineers’ 68-66 upset of No. 8-ranked Florida.
“The Florida win helped us grow together as a team,” Sally said. “Beating a team like Florida let us know that we can play with any team on any given night.”
Building off those two performances against JMU and Florida, Sally produced a then-career high of 20 points in a 64-54 win over UNC Greensboro, making eight-of-nine shots.
A week later, he eclipsed that total with 25 in a 10-point win over Wofford. Keep in mind, the most points he ever remembered scoring in a game was 31 back in high school.
The sophomore credits much of his success to teams gearing up to stop sophomore guard Drew Schifino, whose 33 points at Duquesne on Nov. 25 were a season high.
“When Drew had those big games early that set the tone for the season,” Sally admitted. “He was the main focal point on the team so everyone was worrying about him. That gave a chance for others to make shots and get open.”
The forward also says Beilein and his coaching staff have helped him with a few minor adjustments to his shooting stroke. That, in turn, has made him a more confident shooter.
By slightly moving his elbow in and making sure he is following through on every shot, Sally has gone from a 40-percent shooter to almost a 55-percent shooter.
“They have adjusted my form and technique and that has built up my confidence … you make more shots and you feel more confident,” Sally said.
Because he is now becoming a more confident shooter, his goals have since changed.
“I just don’t want to be a good shooter – I want to be a great shooter,” he said.
Making outside shots will also open up the part of his game he is better known for: slashing to the basket and throwing down spectacular dunks.
"The scouting reports before this year said to lay off me because I will drive before I shoot,” Sally remarked. “Now it probably says I do a little of both, so that will open up my penetration a little more and I can either drive to the basket or kick it out to other open players.”
Despite his recent hot streak, Sally understands he won’t be able to maintain his unbelievable 78.2 shooting percentage for long.
“You’ve just got to take it one day at a time and keep working at it,” he said. “If my shot is not falling, then I’ve got to find another way to contribute to the team.”
He gets another opportunity when the 5-1 Mountaineers face 3-3 Western Carolina Wednesday night after the WVU women’s team plays Wright State at 5 p.m. Tipoff for the men’s game is set for 7:30 p.m. and advance tickets can be order by calling the Mountaineer Ticket Office toll-free at 1-800-WVU GAME.
MSNsportsNET.com’s radio coverage begins at 7 p.m. with the pregame show.
Notes: Coach John Beilein announced after Tuesday’s practice that guard Jay Hewitt has left the team and plans on transferring to a Division II school. Hewitt started three games last year but did not see action in the team’s first six games this season … Wednesday night’s game with Western Carolina is the first meeting between the two schools … Beilein has also never faced the Catamounts … West Virginia received nine votes in the latest AP Top 25 poll and one vote in the latest ESPN/USA Today poll … West Virginia shot 78 percent in the second half of last Saturday's game against Wofford and is shooting 58.4 percent in the second half of games this season ... West Virginia is shooting 49.1 percent this season but has shot better than 50 percent just once against Wofford (63.3 percent) ... the Mountaineers wrap up their four-game non-conference homestand with a 4 p.m. game Saturday against Tennessee. The Vols are currently 3-1 after last Saturday’s miracle half-court shot downed Georgia Tech, 70-69. Tennessee plays Charleston Southern Tuesday night before facing West Virginia … after Saturday’s Tennessee game, Mountaineer fans will have another opportunity to watch Mike Carey’s undefeated women’s club take on a 6-1 Duquesne basketball team that is receiving Top 25 votes. It is one of four men’s and women’s doubleheaders this season … If you were wondering the Tennessee game is not being televised. West Virginia’s first televised game is Tuesday, Jan. 7 against Miami to open Big East conference play.
