Shooting Stroke
December 27, 2004 08:15 AM | General
December 27, 2004
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Frank Young’s three for five shooting performance in West Virginia’s 82-48 victory over New Hampshire last Tuesday may have been just what the doctor ordered.
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| Sophomore Frank Young is coming off a season-high eight points last Tuesday against New Hampshire.
All-Pro Photography/Dale Sparks photo |
Young struggled in the Mountaineers’ first seven games making only four of 20 field-goal attempts including zero for 11 from three-point range. Against the Wildcats, he finished the game with a career-high eight points with two threes.
“It does give me confidence because I wasn’t shooting the ball well to start the season off,” he said. “When I came out and hit my first shot in transition and then hit my first three in the second half it really felt good and I started to get my confidence. When I hit my second three I really started to feel comfortable.”
And while it was important for Young to hit his first shot from close range, he says the two three-point shots from the corner might have been the biggest he’s made this season.
“Even though I was scoring in previous games they were layups or shots off the blocks. When I hit that (three-point) shot I really felt good and it got my confidence up right away,” he said.
The 6-foot-5 sophomore admits this is the first time in his career he can ever remember having this much trouble shooting the basketball. As a prep senior Young was the team’s top scorer at Florida High School in Tallahassee averaging 22.3 points per game.
“I was pretty consistent in high school because maybe I was more comfortable because I was the go-to guy,” Young said.
Young maintains it has been an adjustment for him coming off the bench and then being asked to shoot. And while he never considered himself a streak shooter in high school, he did have the leeway to get himself into a rhythm in games. As the team’s ninth man he isn’t afforded that luxury right now.
“The first couple of games I would be in there for two to three minutes or less than that and I would get one or two shots and never really get into a rhythm,” Young said. “I was able to get into a rhythm to hit my shots against New Hampshire.”
Mountaineer coach John Beilein noticed a slight technical flaw in his jump shot that Young believes he has helped correct.
“I think it was a little bit of form from what Coach Beilein was pointing out to me and maybe a little bit of confidence,” Young said. “I know when I start missing a few of my shots I really didn’t have my confidence. I would hit my shots in practice and in the game I wouldn’t hit my shots.”
Young understands that it is imperative that he pick up his game now if he wants to remain in the team’s regular rotation when Big East play starts.
“I know it’s going to be tougher getting more playing time in the Big East because it’s tougher competition,” he said. “If you’re not playing well he’s probably not going to have you out there.”
The sophomore is comfortable with his role as the ninth man off the bench right now and is simply pleased that he has been able to contribute to the team’s best start in 22 years.
“I’m comfortable with (his role),” he said. “I came into the season knowing that I was going to have that role. I go into each game knowing I have to play hard for every minute that I’m in there and try to help the team anyway that I can.”
Because the team has performed so well in recent games, that has enabled younger players like Young the opportunity to get substantial playing time to work on their games. Frank is conscious of that: “The first eight have been playing really well on offense and defense and that has provided an opportunity for the other guys to come in and show what we can do.”
Young believes one of the primary reasons the team is 8-0 and beating its opponents by an average of 21 points per game is because of its defense.
“We play better defense than we did last year at this time,” Young admitted. “We were playing teams last year that weren’t maybe as good as a Big East team and we were still letting them score. I think our defense has improved to really clamp down and not let teams shoot as well as they did last year.”
Young credits more ball pressure and an emphasis on individual man-to-man defense as the two reasons for the improvement.
“Coach Beilein has really put an emphasis on pressuring the ball and playing good one on one defense and I think everyone has really improved their one on one defense in man,” he said. “If you don’t have help off man then it makes the team get a fewer amount of offensive rebounds.”
West Virginia now has stiff challenges from here on out, beginning with a home game against nationally ranked George Washington on Wednesday. Young says the players have circled this game on their calendars.
“I know it’s going to be a tough game because they’re a real good team but we’re going to come out ready and play real good defense and shoot the ball well,” he said.
Beilein says it was important for Young to regain his shooting stroke in time for WVU’s stretch of games against George Washington and N.C. State before the Big East season starts on Jan. 5 at Villanova.
“We needed him to make those shots,” said Beilein. “We haven’t been in serious foul trouble and we’ve lived a pretty blessed life right now but there are going to be times when he needs to make a couple of shots so now in the GW game it’s not, ‘Oh man I haven’t made a three yet this year.’
“That’s important for him.”
