UNM’s 3-Point Defense Put to the Test vs. Red-Hot Tulsa Offense
Graphic courtesy of Erik Moulton/The Pit Press.
Despite boasting one of the nation’s best 3-point defenses, UNM men’s basketball has surrendered timely perimeter shots in key games that likely cost the Lobos an NCAA Tournament berth.
Think back to home losses to Boise State and Colorado State, where the Lobos gave up a combined 26 3-pointers and allowed the Broncos and Rams to shoot a combined 43% from the 3-point line.
In the NIT semifinal against Tulsa (29-7), the Lobos will face their toughest 3-point and highest scoring opponent yet—Tulsa averages just under 85 points per game, ranking 15th in college basketball.
“They’re a great offense,” freshman guard Jake Hall said during media availability on Monday. “(They) shoot a lot of threes, get to the free throw line. We got to do a great job of winning 6-feet and in and maybe limiting their 3-pointers.”
The Tulsa Golden Hurricane hoists 27 3-pointers per game, and shoots 38% from three--the same percentage that former MWC rival Colorado State shot on the season which is good for twelfth best percentage in all of NCAA Division I.
Still, UNM men’s basketball coach Eric Olen is set in his ways—the Lobos will prioritize protecting the paint first while trying to also defend Tulsa’s high octane perimeter shooting.
“That’s always a pillar of what we’re trying to do,” Olen said. “How we rotate, the urgency we rotate, our ability to contest (shots), can we win in rotation? I think those are going to be the questions we got to answer on Thursday.”
If UNM is going to prioritize helping on drives and digging into the paint against Tulsa, the Lobos will have their hands full in marking several 3-point threats for the Golden Hurricane.
Senior shooting guard Miles Barnstable may be the closest thing to Jake Hall that Tulsa has. The sharp shooter has knocked down 99 3-pointers on the season and shoots 41% from three.
The problem with Tulsa is they have two Jake Hall caliber shooters—junior Guard Ade Popoola also shoots 41% from the 3-point line on high volume while averaging 10.7 points per game. Tulsa is 16-1 on the season when Popoola makes three or more 3-pointers on the year.
The Golden Hurricane is not just a 3-point shooting team. Their leading scorer, senior forward David Green is arguablY their catalyst, averaging 15.7 points per game and can shoot the 3-ball while also efficiently attacking the basket. Green’s tool bag is on full display here on this highlight of his three game stretch during American Athletic Conference Play.
Tulsa’s other double-figure scorer is junior guard Tylen Riley, who averages 15 points, 4.4 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game. Riley has gotten to the free throw line 217 times this season and shot a perfect 17-of-17 from the free throw line in Tulsa’s AAC tournament quarterfinal win over North Texas.
Tulsa’s weakness may be their defense. The Golden Hurricane gives up 73 points per game to its opponents, and it lacks size and rim protection. Tulsa averages only 2.4 blocks per game which is 312th in all of NCAA Division I. Outside of starting center Tyler Behrend, Tulsa does not have a player over 6-foot-8 in its rotation. In its seven losses this season, Tulsa has given up an average of 36 points in the paint.
“We always want to attack the basket, whether there is rim protection or not,” Olen said. “Who is there and how they rotate and where they bring help from should inform our end of drive decision making on when to be more aggressive to finish or maybe spray it or make a different decision but everything we do starts with trying to cerate some rim pressure.”
Tulsa’s 29 wins on the season are impressive, but the Golden Hurricane is only 3-5 against Quad 1 and Quad 2 games while UNM is 8-8. The American Athletic Conference ranked No. 10 in the NET, while the Mountain West was No. 6. UNM undoubtedly has played a stronger schedule and is more battle tested.
Tulsa knocked off Stephen F. Austin 89-84 in the first round of the NIT, while beating UNLV 77-66 in the second round. The Golden Hurricane beat conference rival Wichita State 83-79 in the NIT Quarterfinal after knocking down 10 3-pointers in the first half.
Keys to the Game:
1. Defend the 3-point Line: UNM cannot allow the Golden Hurricane to get clean uncontested looks. The Lobos will have to locate shooters in transition, close out in rotation off dribble penetration from Riley, and fight through screens set for Barnstable and Popoola to not allow Tulsa to find its offensive rhythm early.
2. Create Turnovers: Tulsa is a half-court offensive team that likes to operate with comfort to free up their 3-point shooters. In their seven losses and a triple overtime win over North Texas, teams have forced a combined 12.37 turnovers. UNM forces just under 14 turnovers per game and likes to use aggressive defensive ball pressure at the point of attack. The Lobos will have to be physical and create some disruption to not allow Riley to get downhill and into the paint to open up Tulsa’s offense.
3. Attack the Basket: Tulsa has depth, but they’re thin in the front court and offer little to no rim protection. Outside of Behrend who stands at 6-foot-10, Tulsa struggles to protect the basket. UNM’s should look to get into the t and score at the rim with Deyton Albury, Tomislav Buljan, Uriah Tenette and Luke Haupt, which should open up its 3-point shooting for Hall and others.
