So, here are some numbers, because the transformation in Irvin from really good shooter to awful shooter has always fascinated me.
In the first four games of 2014-15, he averaged 20.2 points per game and shot .518 (14-27) from three, .538 overall (28-52).
Those are obviously outstanding numbers. Competition wasn’t awful: Hillsdale, Bucknell, Detroit, Oregon.
I then tracked how Irvin played before Caris got hurt, to see if the change in his role was the reason for his shooting decline. (My memory was that he suddenly fell off a cliff way before Caris was hurt). I was right.
In the next 14 games (Caris got hurt at the end of the NW game), Irvin averaged 12.1 points and shot .358 from the floor (58-162), and .336 from three (31-92).
That is, of course, quite awful. The competition was better (Cuse, AZ, SMU), but he also shot 2-11 against NJIT, 3-12 against EMU, 4-15 against Illinois, and 1-6 against Northwestern.
And actually, after Caris’ injury, he played much better. I didn’t run the numbers because I do actually have to get some work done today (smile), but his points, assists, rebounds were all up, and his shooting was better - not great still, but better.
As to what happened, I have no idea. He looked awesome in those first four games, and then atrocious for the next 14.