Amen to that indeed!
I really wanted TJ Holyfield (#22) to come to KU when he was grad transferring, and was not happy but understood him staying in state with Tech. He shot 53.4% FG for SFAustin (58.0% 2PT, 37.6% 3PT), and has improved his 2PT % this year (59.8%) while dropping off a lot from 3PT land (26.1%). But up to today he had only taken 23 3PT shots in 20 games, averaging just over 1 attempt per game, yet hitting over 50% from 3 if attempting 2 or more shots a game. Until today he had made 3 attempts only once, and only had only 4 games where he attempted 2. How is he supposed to get his 3PT eye back if he doesn't shoot? And it seems he does not have the green light to do so, even with open shots.
Today he was 7-12 FG, 4-7 2PT and for 3PT? He took 5 shots, and after missing the first 2 made three in a row late in Tech's effort to come away with the win. Figures he'd find his eye against KU, right? But in the second half alone he passed on 6 wide open 3PT in addition to the 4 attempts (3-4 H2) he did take. I can't help but think (1) he is a better 3PT shooter than this year's #s show, and (2) if he had the green light, especially with his hot hand, we'd be a bunch of unhappy KU fans this evening.
BTW, he is Tech's best FG% shooter by far (54% -- even with the lower 3PT% so far this year -- and the next closest are at @46.9%), a solid FT shooter (75% for his career, 71% so far this season) and is far and away their best shot blocker (he had 4 against KU). I did not realize until today that all of TT's players are guards expect for 6-8/225 Holyfield and freshman F Andrei Savrasov (6-7/225). That's a rough row Beard is hoeing this season.
One other note. The win hosting WVU and the loss today despite his solid performance are the first two 30+ minute games he has played since the Big 12 season started.
Watch out for Holyfield more as Tech faces the last third of its regular season schedule and then the postseason. If he gets the green light to shoot more, they may surprise some teams before the season is over.
