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Was thinking about NCAAB in yesteryear. The 4 Corner Offense

theriver55

theriver55

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Key Aspects of the Four Corners Offense:
  • Origin: Invented by John McClendon in the 1950s and popularized by Dean Smith at North Carolina, it was famously used to run down the clock when leading.
  • Alignment:
    Two players in the baseline corners and two at the top (half-court line) corners, with one playmaker navigating the middle.
    • Goal: To run down the clock and force defenses out of a zone, often resulting in a layup or dunk via back-door cuts.
    • Counter-Strategy: Defenses typically shift to a 1-3-1 zone trap or simply wait for a mistake.
    • Usage: It is now rare due to shot clocks, but still used at the end of quarters to secure the last shot.
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theriver55

theriver55

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The NCAA officially introduced a 45-second shot clock in men's college basketball for the 1985-1986 season, following years of experimentation by some conferences. It was implemented to combat stalling tactics, notably after the 1984 championship game, and was reduced to 35 seconds in 1993, then to 30 seconds in 2015.
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KVB

KVB

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It was absolute garbage, especially when UNC did it for the last five minutes of the game to beat Ralph Sampson's UVA team. I'd rather watch a shootout in hockey than five guys playing keepaway, it isn't real basketball.

Yeah, at one point it's a game of keep away.

Glad they instituted the shot clock.
 

KVB

KVB

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What year did they implement totals in college basketball ? Couldn't find it with a quick good search, didn't ask my asshole AI. :whocares:

I think there some in the 1970's obviously way before my time, but I know some of the history.

When they made the 3 point line in 1986-87, I think Totals really blew up but they did have them earlier.
 
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Jrgum3

Jrgum3

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They instituted the shot clock mainly because of a Kentucky/Cincinnati game in 1983 where the Final Score was 24-11. This was considered good strategy for teams that were undermanned. I for one am glad we don't have to see this crap anymore because it just would be like pulling teeth.
 

theriver55

theriver55

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They instituted the shot clock mainly because of a Kentucky/Cincinnati game in 1983 where the Final Score was 24-11. This was considered good strategy for teams that were undermanned. I for one am glad we don't have to see this crap anymore because it just would be like pulling teeth.
I have also read that the 1985 title game where Villanova slowed it down to beat Georgetown was also a deciding factor. score was 66-64 though so not too bad.
 

Jrgum3

Jrgum3

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I have also read that the 1985 title game where Villanova slowed it down to beat Georgetown was also a deciding factor. score was 66-64 though so not too bad.
That was the 1985 title game but that Kentucky game was shown on ESPN in the early days of that network when they were trying to reach a national audience and they weren't happy to say the least but teams that were heavy underdogs had to try that strategy because there was no rule against holding the ball. Luckily they implemented the shot clock and adopted the three point line the next year and college basketball was never the same. It made it a guards game after big men dominated for the longest time.
 

BigJay

BigJay

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Oct 28, 2021
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Key Aspects of the Four Corners Offense:
  • Origin: Invented by John McClendon in the 1950s and popularized by Dean Smith at North Carolina, it was famously used to run down the clock when leading.
  • Alignment:
    Two players in the baseline corners and two at the top (half-court line) corners, with one playmaker navigating the middle.
    • Goal: To run down the clock and force defenses out of a zone, often resulting in a layup or dunk via back-door cuts.
    • Counter-Strategy: Defenses typically shift to a 1-3-1 zone trap or simply wait for a mistake.
    • Usage: It is now rare due to shot clocks, but still used at the end of quarters to secure the last shot.
      Wikipedia
      Wikipedia +5
1774987671356.jpeg
 

drunkenhorseplayer

drunkenhorseplayer

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I can recall a 1984 rock fight of a tournament game in which Georgetown and Patrick Ewing beat SMU and Jon Koncak 37-36. I reckon games like that were the impetus for introducing a shot clock.
I was at that game, it was in Pullman, WA on the campus of Washington St. If Ewing hadn't beaten Koncak to a rebound on a missed Georgetown FT late in the game, SMU would've pulled off a huge upset. I can still see that play in my mind 44 years later.
 

drunkenhorseplayer

drunkenhorseplayer

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They instituted the shot clock mainly because of a Kentucky/Cincinnati game in 1983 where the Final Score was 24-11. This was considered good strategy for teams that were undermanned. I for one am glad we don't have to see this crap anymore because it just would be like pulling teeth.
I remember powerhouse Oregon St. beating undermanned Stanford 18-14 in 1981, I believe. Stanford played stall ball the entire game.
 
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