Emphasis on shoot. With a side order of long-distance.
In this one, N-G sniped 10-for-23 from beyond the arc and the marksmanship reared its pretty face early. Forward Derrick Stewart drilled a trey to open the game. Billy Shank then followed one, two, three more and the lead was 10 points, at 12-2, never to be outrageously challenged.
Wait. Was that the same Billy Shank who went scoreless during the teams' regular-season meeting, going 0-for-5 total and 0-for-4 on treys as N-G was taken to overtime?
Indeed.
"We watched the film on that this week," said Sutton, a 5-10, 150-pound junior point guard. "I knew Billy was off that game, but I didn't realize he didn't score.
"Just because he didn't have any points, I was still going to pass him the ball. He's too good a shooter. He always has confidence."
Sutton then mentioned the pregame drills, specifically how assistant Mike Casey was feeding the ball again and again to Shank and other shooters.
"I can't say I was watching him non-stop, but it looked like Billy was mostly making them," Sutton said. "But even if he wasn't, I still would have been passing it to him."
Though N-G coach Carl Arrigale never expects much from Sutton in the way of scoring, Hanif did manage six points. In the much-more-crucial department, he dished eight assists and scrambled for six rebounds.
"I was getting those assists early," he said, smiling. "Just pass the ball and watch it go in.
"When I come downcourt, I'm just looking to get us the best shot. Off the penetration, I can look for threes or something down low or on the wing. It's my choice, really, and I'm pretty good at making the right one."
