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Against lesser talent, increasing possessions limits the variance risk of a potential upset (though, yes, this occasionally can backfire). Nagy doesn’t ignore his bread and butter (scoring inside) to chase some pace-and-space pipe dream – rather, he simply understands the math behind playing a higher possession game. Last year marked the second straight season the Raiders shifted into overdrive, as Wright State clocked the Horizon’s second fastest offense for the second year in a row (per KenPom’s adjusted offensive tempo).Īt initial glance, it seems contradictory to the roster’s interior strengths, but it’s easy to extrapolate the method behind this madness: the team with a talent advantage should always seek a higher possession game. Love’s ‘At Rim’ efficiency graded out in the 53rd percentile among all D-I players, a devastatingly low score for a man of his stature.ĭespite owning a substantial size advantage over most Horizon squads, Nagy won’t settle for a methodical, ground-and-pound offense. To put a pin in my previous, “Love was not a great finisher” take, refer to ’s player-specific shot charting. Perhaps I’m underselling the intangible tenacity and toughness he brought to the table but the following chart from is eye-opening: Collectively, Basile and Manns canned 28 of their 60 triples last season.Īs much as I loved Love (ha), this ultra-bullish Wright State ranking is rooted in a fundamental misconception about his impact. They’re not high-volume shooters by any stretch but they won’t hesitate to make the defense pay for sagging off. This ability to stretch the defense is what distinguishes Manns and Basile from Love, who struggled with his finishing touch at times. However, Manns’ range extends far beyond that – he’s drained 33 of his 77 3-pointers over the last three seasons, evidence of his pure shooting stroke. Manns can do damage on the block, but he’s also a mid-range assassin, able to face up and knock down a 10–15-footer with ease. The fact that he chose to stay put and not bolt for greener pastures is a testament to Nagy’s program stability. Horizon League loyalists know how criminally underrated Manns is. He’ll slide into Basile’s former role as the deputy paint patroller. James Manns, another member of WSU’s big man battalion, could be following in Basile’s footsteps, in store for a similar eruption. Shame that 35-point / 14-rebound destruction of Milwaukee’s frontline in the Horizon Tournament was a complete waste ( woof, what a meltdown that was). Often overshadowed by Love’s imposing presence, Basile emerged as the go-to-guy in the dog days of conference play. The cat’s out of the bag on Grant Basile, a 2nd Team All Horizon performer last season. Nagy always has the big man assembly line churning. The million-dollar question is how this holds up without Loudon Love, who effortlessly tossed around helpless defenders like Raggedy Ann dolls. Nearly 20% of all the Raiders’ possessions ran through the post last year – for context, only Purdue utilized a higher frequency of post-up possessions: Look no further than Synergy’s breakdown of Wright State’s offensive playbook. Nagy weaponizes this size and strength over smaller Horizon adversaries like a giant club. Under Nagy, Wright State’s become a big man oasis, where all lumbering ogres are welcomed with open arms. That consistency stems from a distinct identity. Recent conference tournament hiccups notwithstanding, his year-to-year consistency is simply unmatched. No one hates the ‘but can’t win the *big one*!’ narrative more than this guy, so please direct all such comments to another outlet. The Raiders, winners of three straight league regular season league titles with no NCAA Tournament appearance to show for it, will aim to shake the monkey off their back in 2022. And thus, Nagy’s national cache remains relatively dim. But, in this reality, to the postseason victor go the spoils, not the other way around. Outlook: Is Scott Nagy the most underrated coach in mid major kingdom? He should consider lobbying for a complete elimination of all conference tournaments, and, alternatively, champion a model that awards the regular season champion an automatic berth to the big dance.