Getting Seth Allen Open Three Pointers

Feb 16, 2013; College Park, MD, USA; Maryland Terrapins guard Seth Allen (4) defended by Duke Blue Devils guard Quinn Cook (2) at the Comcast Center. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports

Maryland sophomore guard Seth Allen will be looked upon to take a major step forward in his progression next season. With the departure of Pe’Shon Howard, Allen will handle most of the point guard duties for the Terps. As well as running the offense, Seth will be looked at as a primary scoring option. As a freshman he averaged 7.8 points per game, but with a 38.9% FG percentage, he will need to not only pick up his scoring but do so more effectively.

While Seth was one of the youngest players on the team, he was one of the players called upon in late game situations. Despite the low shooting percentage, he had no fear shooting the ball, especially from three. As the season progressed, Coach Turgeon looked to Seth as a spark plug off the bench. His 31.2% three point shooting wasn’t the best, but Seth had the ability to get the offense going every now and again by connecting from deep.

In the ACC Tournament win over Duke, Maryland played perhaps their best game of the season. What is great about looking back at the game isn’t just that Maryland beat Duke, but how much you can learn off that game for next year. Here are two Seth Allen three pointers from the wing, off of plays we are sure to see next season.

1) 13:17 left in the first half. Maryland 12 Duke 8. Maryland 0 FG in 3:22.

Maryland is using Nick Faust to run the point, and Dez Well as a decoy for Seth and Charles Mitchell. Seth is coming to the wing off a Charles Mitchell baseline screen.

One of the many things that makes Seth a great player is that he is always active. Curry has read the first screen that Mitchell set. Instead of staying put, Allen looks for Mitchell to set another screen, but also recognizes that Dez Wells and Faust exchanges spots and Dez has picked up his dribble.

With Curry trying to go over the top of the screen, Seth cuts back to the three point line. Not only is Curry out of position to contest the shot, but Mitchell’s man, Ryan Kelly isn’t in position to help. Dez delivers a perfect pass to Allen, who has recovered enough to set himself for open three pointer.

2) 1:12 Left 1st Half. Maryland 31 Duke 26. Shot clock: 24.

With 11 seconds off the shot clock and Maryland looking to retain momentum heading into the half, they call on Seth Allen. Here Mitchell has the ball up top, with Allen starting on the weak side baseline. Len sets a brush screen on Tyler Thornton to get Faust the ball.

Len is now position to set a screen on Seth Allen’s man, Rasheed Sulaimon. While Allen is coming up from the baseline, Mitchell is getting himself into position to set another screen on Sulaimon. Equally as important as setting that screen, is Mitchell keeping Thornton and Josh Hairston in the middle of the court.

Mitchell now has screen on Sulaimon set, but because of his earlier screen Hairston is out of position. Thornton has recovered to square up with Faust, but since Allen came off Len’s screen quickly, Faust is able to have a clear path to hit Allen. Seth now has an opening from the almost the same spot as the first three.

The difference between this shot and the first one, is Seth didn’t have to work extra to get the ball. Len and Mitchell set the screens at the right spots on the floor to get Allen an open look. With Seth’s quickness, those screens don’t have to be set for long. With Seth being a lefty, Coach Turgeon makes sure to get him the ball in a position where he doesn’t have to take an extra dribble or step to get his shot off.

While Alex Len won’t be on the court with Allen to set that screen, Maryland has the ability to use either Shaq Cleare, Evan Smotrycz, or Damonte Dodd to set it up. Seth’s ability to penetrate the lane will be another way to get him involved this season. However, with the loss of Logan Aronhalt, Maryland will need Allen to hit these open threes to spread the floor.