Grinnell offense not new, common in MWC

GREEN BAY - You may have already seen the video of Jack Taylor's record breaking performance. It's a story that's taken the nation by fire – be it on the Internet, radio or on television.

Taylor, a sophomore at Grinnell College in Iowa, shattered the NCAA record for scoring in a game with 138 points. The Pioneers routed Faith Baptist Bible 179 to 104.

• Story: Jack Taylor scores 138 points for Grinnell

"I was just focused on scoring and nothing else really mattered and felt like anything I threw up, whether it was, you know, off balance or fading away, it went in," said Taylor.

Taylor, who is from Black River Falls, made 27 of 71 from the 3-point arc, shot 48 percent from the field and 70 percent from the line – all in 36 minutes. The 138 point night breaks the previous record of 113 points set in 1954.

• Photos: Jack Taylor Scores 138 points

Some are lauding Taylor’s accomplishment, while others criticize the team's decision to continue the offensive barrage against the Eagles. However, it's a style of play that's nothing new for those who are familiar with playing Grinnell in the Midwest Conference, like the St. Norbert College Green Knights and their head coach Gary Grzesk.

"There was some talk that they would try to get Jack Taylor that record against that team last night,” said Grzesk. "So, when I heard the score and the amount of points that he put up, it wasn't a total surprise."

Grzesk, in his seventh year coaching the Green Knights, says high scoring games against the Pioneers are commonplace.

"You're going to get in the hundreds, just because of the number of possessions. It's unlike any other game on our schedule. They press, the entire game, they trap – even if you break the press, they're trapping in the front court. They shoot a lot of threes."

That means the Knights practice 2-on-1s, 3-on-2s and finishing lay-ups in the paint to prepare for the Pioneers.

Grzesk says Grinnell uses shifts of players at a time to make their mathematical formula for possessions more effective.

Grinnell holds multiple NCAA Division III scoring records, from average points per game in a season, two former players hold the record for the number of career games (4) scoring at least 50 points. It also has the record for field goal attempts in a game, 3-point field goal attempts in a season and career, as well as the most assists in a game.

While some might say the final score of the game crosses into the area of unsportsmanlike conduct, Grzesk wouldn't comment on that, but says it's just the style of Grinnell's play.

"We kind of let them do what they want, we're going to concentrate and focus on what we're doing against them," said Grzesk.

The Pioneers are on the SNC court at the Schuldes Sports Center December 8.