MONROE - Many area high school basketball coaches are skeptical about whether implementing a 35-second shot clock for the 2019-20 season will make the game better.
The WIAA Board of Control on June 22 approved a plan to implement a 35-second shot clock beginning in two years. There has never been a shot clock in high school basketball in Wisconsin. However, in women's and men's college basketball games there is a 30-second shot clock. The NCAA switched the shot clock for men's college basketball from 35 to 30 seconds in 2015.
Monroe girls basketball coach Sam Mathiason said the margin of victory for some teams could become even greater when a shot clock is added.
"My initial reaction is I think the game of basketball in the state of Wisconsin is pretty good," Mathiason said. "I don't know if it (shot clock) will be better for the game. I think this will favor the better teams because you will have more possessions. As you increase the possessions, the better teams will have more scoring opportunities. The 20-point games may become 30-point games, and the 30-point games may become 40-point games."
Black Hawk girls basketball coach Mike Flanagan sees the merit to a shot clock for fans, but he's not sure if it's in the best interest of high school teams.
"I think the big impetus was to prevent teams from stalling and to make the game better for the spectators," said Flanagan, who has coached Black Hawk for 11 years and led the Warriors to three state tournament appearances. "People want to see more scoring and teams get up and down more. I think it is a quick fix to a really isolated problem. I think the biggest thing is you will see even bigger score discrepancies. The teams that are more athletic and are the better team will not want to have a shot clock violation and they will get more shots up. Change can be exciting for a coach. The big issue I have is the cost."
Many schools will have to order new electronic shot clocks, which can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to purchase, said Monroe boys basketball coach Brian Bassett. In addition to a scorebook keeper and timer, many schools will have to hire a third person to be the shot clock monitor.
Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he received an email from a Badger Conference athletic director that estimated a $4,000 cost to purchase a shot clock.
"I have no idea if that is accurate," Newcomer said. "It hurts. There will have to be some accommodations to our budget. There will be more man hours. I don't think it's worth it. In high school basketball games a shot clock is not needed."
Bassett is a proponent of adding a shot clock to the prep game.
"I like it because I think it adds more strategy to the game that the coaches have to work on," Bassett said. "I think it will make it better because teams will be attempting to make moves to the basket instead of running out the clock."
No longer will teams be able to spread the floor with players in four corners to slow the pace of the game down for long stretches when they are playing a more athletic, quicker and physical team.
"You will see more blowouts and not as many upsets," Bassett said. "Some coaches take their foot off the gas at the end of games. Now, you will have to keep it on."
Mathiason said a shot clock would not have had a great effect on the outcomes of Cheesemakers' games last season. However, he predicts coaching strategy changing when the 35-shot clock is implemented. Mathiason said many teams may opt to use a three-quarters press and then switch into a zone.
"Any time someone plays a zone it will take you more passes," he said. "It may lead to some forced 3-point shots and some rushed shots. Teams will pack it in a little bit more."
Other teams may let the shot clock run down and then may use a high pick-and-roll play, which has become popular in college basketball, Mathiason said.
"Based on the level of skill your team has it could be an advantage or a disadvantage," he said of running pick-and-roll plays late in the shot clock.
Mathiason said coaches will have to train players on where to look at for the shot clock.
Bassett understands there are some decisions in regards to offensive sets and plays coaches will need to make when the shot clock is added.
"Coaches will have to decide if they run their same set plays or run one play once the shot clock runs down to 10 seconds," he said. "It (adding the shot clock) will really stress ball handling. You have to have good ball-handlers to get good shots at the end of the shot clock."
The WIAA Board of Control on June 22 approved a plan to implement a 35-second shot clock beginning in two years. There has never been a shot clock in high school basketball in Wisconsin. However, in women's and men's college basketball games there is a 30-second shot clock. The NCAA switched the shot clock for men's college basketball from 35 to 30 seconds in 2015.
Monroe girls basketball coach Sam Mathiason said the margin of victory for some teams could become even greater when a shot clock is added.
"My initial reaction is I think the game of basketball in the state of Wisconsin is pretty good," Mathiason said. "I don't know if it (shot clock) will be better for the game. I think this will favor the better teams because you will have more possessions. As you increase the possessions, the better teams will have more scoring opportunities. The 20-point games may become 30-point games, and the 30-point games may become 40-point games."
Black Hawk girls basketball coach Mike Flanagan sees the merit to a shot clock for fans, but he's not sure if it's in the best interest of high school teams.
"I think the big impetus was to prevent teams from stalling and to make the game better for the spectators," said Flanagan, who has coached Black Hawk for 11 years and led the Warriors to three state tournament appearances. "People want to see more scoring and teams get up and down more. I think it is a quick fix to a really isolated problem. I think the biggest thing is you will see even bigger score discrepancies. The teams that are more athletic and are the better team will not want to have a shot clock violation and they will get more shots up. Change can be exciting for a coach. The big issue I have is the cost."
Many schools will have to order new electronic shot clocks, which can cost between $2,000 and $5,000 to purchase, said Monroe boys basketball coach Brian Bassett. In addition to a scorebook keeper and timer, many schools will have to hire a third person to be the shot clock monitor.
Monroe Activities Director Jeff Newcomer said he received an email from a Badger Conference athletic director that estimated a $4,000 cost to purchase a shot clock.
"I have no idea if that is accurate," Newcomer said. "It hurts. There will have to be some accommodations to our budget. There will be more man hours. I don't think it's worth it. In high school basketball games a shot clock is not needed."
Bassett is a proponent of adding a shot clock to the prep game.
"I like it because I think it adds more strategy to the game that the coaches have to work on," Bassett said. "I think it will make it better because teams will be attempting to make moves to the basket instead of running out the clock."
No longer will teams be able to spread the floor with players in four corners to slow the pace of the game down for long stretches when they are playing a more athletic, quicker and physical team.
"You will see more blowouts and not as many upsets," Bassett said. "Some coaches take their foot off the gas at the end of games. Now, you will have to keep it on."
Mathiason said a shot clock would not have had a great effect on the outcomes of Cheesemakers' games last season. However, he predicts coaching strategy changing when the 35-shot clock is implemented. Mathiason said many teams may opt to use a three-quarters press and then switch into a zone.
"Any time someone plays a zone it will take you more passes," he said. "It may lead to some forced 3-point shots and some rushed shots. Teams will pack it in a little bit more."
Other teams may let the shot clock run down and then may use a high pick-and-roll play, which has become popular in college basketball, Mathiason said.
"Based on the level of skill your team has it could be an advantage or a disadvantage," he said of running pick-and-roll plays late in the shot clock.
Mathiason said coaches will have to train players on where to look at for the shot clock.
Bassett understands there are some decisions in regards to offensive sets and plays coaches will need to make when the shot clock is added.
"Coaches will have to decide if they run their same set plays or run one play once the shot clock runs down to 10 seconds," he said. "It (adding the shot clock) will really stress ball handling. You have to have good ball-handlers to get good shots at the end of the shot clock."
