Sunday, December 5, 2010

Does Fresno State miss Steven Shepp?

Fresno State is shooting 41% from the floor this season, 21% on 100 three-point attempts and a jaw-dropping 57% at the foul line.

To date, the Bulldogs has been credited with 55 assists while committing 87 turnovers.

As for the shooting numbers, Shepp (who is sitting out the first semester due to academics) posted these numbers last season:

* 37% overall shooting
* 33% from long distance
* 57% at the charity stripe

He totaled 146 assists to 71 turnovers (but keep in mind there is no Paul George and no Sylvester Seay aiming and firing this season).

It's very difficult, if not impossible, to determine cause-and-effect when the samples vary so wildly from season to season but it seems a case can be made that Shepp's ballhandling and passing absence is negatively affecting the Bulldogs so far this season.

Would his shooting be opening up room so that Greg Smith would be less double-teamed? That's appears harder to 'quantify' if you will but seems not so much although 33% looks mighty inviting vis-a-vis 21%.

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