The sophomore guard showed the maturation of another side of his game yesterday at Comcast Center
Obscured in the box score of the Terps’ 96-72 win over North Carolina-Asheville – a game in which five Terps scored in double figures – Strawberry scored 13 points in 17 minutes. More significantly, he made all five of his attempts.
“D.J. can do a lot of things out there that go unnoticed,” Williams said. “He can make a guy change [his] shot. There’s not stats for that or anything. He makes passes. He gets close to a lot of passes, which puts a little fear into the other team where they don’t run their offense as smoothly. Things like that really make him a good defensive player. And when he shoots the ball like he did today, that’s pretty good. That’s a pretty good combination of a basketball player.”
A change in his shooting technique has resulted in a more confident Strawberry, who has posted double-digit point totals three times this season. Williams said Strawberry’s left hand was too far in front of the ball when he shot last season, causing an awkward spin. By moving his left hand to the side of the ball, he’s become a more consistent shooter.
Among Terps with at least 10 3-point attempts last season, Strawberry shot a team-low 27.3 percent. Through seven games this season, he’s shooting a team-best 46.2 percent and averages better than nine points per game.
“He worked on his shot. That’s where confidence comes from,” Williams said. “When you put time into shooting the basketball, you earn the right to make those shots. Everybody wishes they could shoot better, everybody wishes they were stronger. Well, you’ve got to make it happen, and D.J. [has] made it happen.”
Strawberry used the summer to become comfortable with the new shooting form.
“I just have more confidence in my offensive game,” Strawberry said. “I’m making more shots, obviously. I just shoot it now.”
In a span of four minutes and 10 seconds late in the first half yesterday, he attempted three long jumpers resulting in eight points. Junior guard Chris McCray said Strawberry would have passed on those open looks last season.
“He’s definitely got a lot more confidence in his shooting,” McCray said. “I know last year in the NCAA tournament, he wouldn’t have taken that shot. Against UTEP he wasn’t taking those shots. And now he’s feeling more comfortable and it’s starting to show.
