BYU vs Houston: Soaking in Threes

I’m declaring tonight an Emanuel Sharp game. He’s coming off of one of his two games this season without a 3PM. Houston as a team only shot 3-19 from three in that game against UCF yet still knucked them 79-55. Houston’s team numbers nearly mirror Sharp’s numbers in his last 3 games, as he’s gone a combined 3-17 in them. It’s been a combination of seeing tough looks from the defenses and just not hitting shots. 

He’ll get to see BYU’s 3PT defense tonight, which isn’t an inherently terrible defense. They sit just outside the top 100 in CBB, but from watching them (and labbing to confirm of course), they sometimes get drilled with volume right in one of Sharp’s favorite spots. He loves to spot up on the right side between the top of the key and the wing. It should be a challenge for BYU to physically hang with the double bigs of Cenac and Tugler inside too, which in my mind likely means a few doubles and/or offensive rebounds leading to kick outs. All of which Sharp should benefit from. 

Add in the fact that the last two games where Sharp went 1-3 and 0-7 were at home in the Fertitta Center. A change of scenery could be exactly what he needs to heat up. Especially against a BYU team that will certainly be desperate after losing four of their last five, including three straight losses. If Houston comes out and starts imposing their will on the interior, it’s likely not long before the Cougs start saying let’s make the shooters beat us. 

Sharp is no ordinary shooter so it’s not like they’ll be leaving him wide open. But he's a tough shot maker with range at the end of the day. If he hits one early and gets in a rhythm he could easily end this game with four or five threes. Even if he were to start slow, the adjustments that would follow would certainly be his friend. Let’s hope he brought the strap to mormon country tonight.