The NCAA basketball tournament has been the premier amateur league in the hoops landscape for years. It is a battleground built for promising players, most of whom have the offensive prowess to make their presence felt in the pro circuit. So, it should come as no surprise that the basketball secrets to scoring in the collegiate scene are sought after by many.
Be that as it may, the treasure trove of knowledge is hidden in plain sight and can only be seen through the lens of coaches, seasoned players, and old heads of the game. If you are looking for it, then you have found the right place.
Truth Unlocked: Basketball Scoring Secrets in NCAA
The brilliance of NCAA hoopers may arguably be the brightest among amateurs in the world, but never let this blind you of the fact that its offensive system is not as complicated as most people make it seem to be. Here is what you need to know about scoring in the big dance.
Quick Trigger
When competing at a high level, wide-open shots are hard to come by. For this exact reason, a scorer’s mentality must always be to take the open shot without hesitation, making the catch-and-shoot technique one of the main basketball secrets to scoring.
It may seem like a simple move, but it takes a concerted effort to execute. The shooter should first find the right spot on the floor before preparing to shoot while waiting for the pass to come. Once the assist is made, the shooter then unloads a shot in an instant to avoid the defender’s close out.
Get defender out of position
Scoring opportunities aren’t always present at elite level competitions. So, you have to create openings in the defense. This is where one of the basketball scoring secrets comes into play, which focuses on getting a defender out of position before making a move.
To pull it off, the best go-to move should be the most simple one among the options, and this comes in the form of the triple-threat stance. In this attack position, you can do one of three options — shoot, pass, or dribble. This keeps the defense honest, and fake attempts such as pump fakes and jab steps can more than put a defender out of position.
Limited dribbles
Efficiency is the name of the game in college ball and beyond. After all, there should be no wasted energy when attempting to gain a leg up over the stiff competition. So, it is imperative to keep the dribbles to a bare minimum, which is considered one of the basketball secrets in scoring.
Take for example NBA deadeye Klay Thompson. The Golden State Warrior, who once played in the NCAA for Washington State, delivered a performance for the ages back in 2018 with 52 points, built on a record-setting 14 triples, in 27 minutes. What’s more impressive is that it only took him five dribbles to produce such a massive output. Talk about efficiency!
Embrace contact
One of the basketball secrets in scoring at the rim is finishing through contact. In high level competitions, there is no easy basket. So, shots at the paint are well contested by the opposing big men, who are more than willing to sacrifice their bodies to prevent a layup or dunk.
To score over physical defenders, the best counter is to use one’s body to negate the impact of collision and convert a basket under pressure. This can also help fish a foul and get a chance at the line for a free throw.
Unravel the secrets to scoring in the NCAA basketball tournament!
Attack spots on the court
No matter how good of a defensive team is, there will always be chinks in the armor. These gaping holes are the attack spots on the court, which are among the basketball secrets in scoring.
There are five known attack spots among basketball elites. These are located at the two elbows within the arc, the two straightline lanes from the elbows to the basket, and the midline at the shaded area. These areas are where defensive lapses occur that any team can exploit to score or find the open man.
Score at will
Now that you have uncovered the secrets, there is no stopping you from finding success even in the NCAA. Time to put in the work and ball out!