Some of the issues make it less likely for Purdue to get to the rim and the issue was the comparison of FTs in the mid range versus behind the arc and the mid range as stated produces more fouls. It really isn't that complex...if players have a good look behind the arc and are comfortable Purdue wants them to shoot. If not, the clock continues and Purdue has a choice of a mid range or at the rim and Purdue would like it to be at the rim such as when Zach was around, but Zach is gone and they may not be able to get there as teh clock is ticking...now what? Why do actuaries take into consideration smokers or other health benefits? Do they separate that population knowing it on the whole is not accurate from the total population. Why at the same age and typical health has a woman's insurance been lower...did the actuaries understand the data? Why is car insurance more expensive for males than females and both under 21? Statistics doesn't change a thing. It records a past event (like using the 1958 mortality tables). It makes you aware, but doesn't change a future event. Some smoke and will never die of lung cancer where as a non smoker of the same demographic may die of something else.
Outside of sets and even to a smaller degree inside sets, there are options or choices as they read the data (players). One player is more of a driver and the other a shooter and so they may see the same thing and react differently. This game is not a video game. Not only do you have two different teams playing with all the players being different with different strengths, but you throw in 3 ref's with different ideas that cover different areas in different times of the game with two coaches trying to alter the current variation of the game each time down the court and player substitutions all adding to more variables in a game that can be determined in a 2 minute run.
There is no magic answer, there are only general ideas that have been successful for certain teams. May and Matt will have a game plan...some general things they have done in a walk through. Players have been scouted and players on both side will be even more aware of the tendencies and the actual speed and strength of certain players as well as tendencies. Each has an idea how they will be attacked and what they need to do to resolve that attack and take advantage of a weakness of the other team. The the ball gets tossed up and reality begins...and little tweaks take place all through the game relative to a player and how a team is defending and attacking you based upon the personnel you have...maybe only on the personnel at a give time. I'm fully aware that Purdue turned Michigan over last game and I expect Purdue will attempt to do that again...and May is aware as well. I doubt Purdue is as successful as the first game on D and FG%...and certainly on D, the refs will have a say. Once in a while you will hear a coach say it is a player's game and that is not to diminish how a coach may affect a game, but ultimately it is the players that must execute...and boy if you have some preconceived idea of what you are going to do and not reading the D and choosing your option, it probably ends up bad and you are on the bench for a while.
