Wisconsin Basketball: Ethan Happ Can Shoot Now. Maybe
Wisconsin basketball fans may need to find some new online angst since Ethan Happ can shoot now. Maybe. Too soon to know really.
A twitter post from ESPN’s Jeff Goodman offers a glimpse of the refined shooting mechanics of Wisconsin Basketball’s Ethan Happ. Happ extending his shooting range represents a dramatic upgrade to his offensive arsenal and the Wisconsin Basketball offense.
The sensible thing here is to vastly over-interpret the :35 second video and make sweeping generalizations about the future of Wisconsin Basketball, the national economy, and global relations. There are takes. They are hot.
The short video shows Happ making and missing from shots from the top of the key. His new shooting motion has a higher load and launch point and is a quick, smooth stroke.
Wisconsin's Ethan Happ draining 3's today. Will need to do more with Koenig and Nigel... https://t.co/gDDIpbPEDZ pic.twitter.com/5ntiMedNZC
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) July 20, 2017
Happ led Wisconsin Basketball with a 58.6 shooting percentage from the floor. But his numbers are higher because he wisely attempted shots from in close the very definition of “high percentage looks.” He attempted the 2nd most free throws (behind Nigel Hayes) shot exactly 50 percent from the free throw line in 2016-2017. Happ’s free throw percentage actually dipped from 2015-2016 when he sunk 64.3 percent of his free throws, and attempted six more free throws over 2016-2017. Happ has not attempted a triple for Wisconsin Basketball in two seasons playing for the Badgers.
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You can see his 2015-2016 shot chart where Happ attempted two shots outside the paint. This season, the Daily Cardinal led a December 2016 game recap about Happ’s unprecedented #midrange shot. Our friends at Landof10 complete with a Jim Polzin embedded tweet note a similar audible Kohl Center gasp when Happ attempted a #midrange against Northwestern.
If you'r scoring at home, that's now two out of 312 field goals in Happ's career that have come outside the paint.
— Jim Polzin (@JimPolzinWSJ) February 12, 2017
Wisconsin Basketball attempted 789 three pointers last season, and 628 of those (79.6 percent) were by guys no longer on the Wisconsin Basketball roster. Wisconsin Basketball needs to be able to make outside shots to stretch teams defensively and spacing to let the swing offense swing. Happ adding some type of outside shooting would help immensely.
For Happ personally, an improved shooting motion, even if not from three, is important because the structural mechanics are the same for free throws. It’s pretty rare to see a solid free throw shooter unable to make any type of #midrange shots. The last two years if you can afford the fouls, the smart thing was to play super aggressive defense on Happ because it wasn’t a penalty to send him to the line. Perhaps that won’t be true next season.
Happ has always had an explosive first step and elite quickness for a guy 6’10”. If defenders have to step out on him (instead of sagging off and daring him to shoot) he can cause problems off the dribble and get to the rim. Happ on the dribble drive can force a defense to lose its shape and free Wisconsin Basketball teammates for open looks.
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Another advantage for Wisconsin Basketball is that Happ will pull defenders away from the basket freeing up back cuts and lobs for a guy like Khalil Iverson. That’s not to say he’ll be the new point guard, but it complicates the defensive game plan that can’t simply rely on throwing double teams at Happ.
But for Wisconsin Basketball to truly pose a comprehensive offensive threat needs other shooters. Most specifically, Iverson and Brevin Pritzl will need to also show improve ambition and accuracy of the floor to help balance the offensive load.