The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

[J.R. Locke]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Also, I couldn't find a way around the freeze problem I was having. So if you have a PS3 and want to create some plays, and then use a custom playbook for the CPU too and use them both for games in Legacy Mode, you may want to think otherwise. I was able to use created plays in Legacy games, just not while also using a custom playbook for the CPU (which is why I scoured the playbooks for good plays to use).

So we can't use two custom loaded playbooks in legacy? I was hoping to create plays for the USER and CPU.

Also how does the CPU handle zone offense? I could swear instead of running zone plays they just continue to run man to man plays that don't really fit against a 1-3-1 or even a 2-3 zone.

[jsou4646]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Hey Koshi, great thread, couple questions. I played 2k7 on my xbox forever until finding this game when seeing a game play video posted by a guy on here. Since then I got the game and will be getting a 360 very soon. I have read a ton of threads about this game and came upon two issues. One being a glitch in the stats, and the other a lack of updated rosters. What rosters are you using and have you came upon this stastical glitch? Ex players ppg, rbp, and so on. thanks

[spit_bubble]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

So we can't use two custom loaded playbooks in legacy? I was hoping to create plays for the USER and CPU.

Also how does the CPU handle zone offense? I could swear instead of running zone plays they just continue to run man to man plays that don't really fit against a 1-3-1 or even a 2-3 zone.

1. My playbook with created plays would freeze my legacy games when a CPU playbook was also loaded. My playbook with plays from the game worked fine in Legacy games when a CPU playbook was also loaded. This is PS3 by the way.

My PS3 also froze when trying to upload my playbook with created plays to 2KShare. So I concluded there was something in my playbook with created plays that was causing the game to freeze, but I can't say for sure as these games have some complex code in them.

2. I pretty much always run man so I never really noticed. You could just create a playbook for the CPU with plays that work against both.

...What rosters are you using and have you came upon this stastical glitch? Ex players ppg, rbp, and so on. thanks

I use this PS3 one in this thread from last year. It may have been updated, I don't know. I'm not really concerned with current rosters.

As far as the stat glitch. I never experienced it, but also never got past year four of my legacy. If you don't experience that one you will experience others... Namely schools recruiting too many players for one position (not really a glitch I suppose, just the way the game is programmed with players accepting scholarships all on the same day with no way to pull them back when someone commits).

[Qb]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Wow, I have to again commend you on your contributions, Koshi (and others). If I ever get around to playing this game again, these custom playbook suggestions will be a great help. This ones for you...

[asanders28]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Fantastic thread for the information starved CH addict. Does anyone know any tips on attracting top talent? I have moved into a power conference job but I still get beat out by the same 3 or 4 schools each time. I am at Mizzou and each year Duke, Texas, Texas Tech and UCLA beat me out for any 5 star. This happens even for kids I have recruited since their freshman year. Does anyone have an answer or workaround?

Also, as a contribution, I have noticed in that if you study the stats of the kids who played in the ABL, their statistical tendencies carry over to the college game. I noticed that if a PG has a 1:1 or lower assist + steal / turnover ratio, that player will most likely be the most frustrating player on the team, no matter how many stars they have. I have recruted a two star PG that simply didn't have those mysterious glitchy looking turnovers that plagued both of my SR point guards just because I focused on stats, not stars. Also, I recruited the best rebounder that could also shoot that I could find statistically (after the big schools took my prospects) which turned out to be a 3-star SF. I changed him to a PF and his rating improved dramatically and he plays well except against highly rated defenders. Lastly, I don't care how many stars a SG/SF has, if they shoot below 40% in ABL I refuse to recruit them. They simply can't shoot and will let you down more often than not.

Comments?

[spit_bubble]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

...Does anyone know any tips on attracting top talent? I have moved into a power conference job but I still get beat out by the same 3 or 4 schools each time. I am at Mizzou and each year Duke, Texas, Texas Tech and UCLA beat me out for any 5 star. This happens even for kids I have recruited since their freshman year. Does anyone have an answer or workaround?

I think a player's priorities have a big impact. If you find out a player wants something as his top (or even second) priority that you don't have and another school does, you're very likely not going to get that guy.

[ehh]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

I've found that your depth chart is a huge factor, some people have disagreed with me on this.

The sample I used was starting a UConn dynasty with the final '07-'08 rosters and had Stanley Robinson as a small forward, the only SF on my roster. But since he was only a sophomore and already starting there were no four or five-star SF's interested in me.

I backed out of that legacy, changed Robinson's position to PF and started a new dynasty with no SF on my roster. The result? Every five-star SF in the nation had me in their Top 3. The studs want playing time ASAP!

[asanders28]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Thank you! I have noticed the same thing in terms of interest level at my Power Conference school. I had no PF's on my team and all of the top PF's had high starting interest in attending my school. I was still beaten out in the end for all of the 5 stars, but I did get one of the best available 4 star guys. My issue is that the other Power Teams definitely had multiple PFs, were farther away, but had better coach ratings so I guess my prestige wasn't as high as it needs to be. My coach charisma rating is A+ though. I always cut weak walk-ons to make room for new recruits, etc., etc.

It's just frustrating to do everything you can to get a guy you've invested hours of real time in, whether its watching the ABL games, focusing on them from Freshman year on, or any of the other things that may or may not make a difference, yet fall an inch short to Duke or whoever, then you get that cold notification "XYZ has committed to..."

However, I do love this game precisely because of the fact that the software makers are forcing us to figure out the methods to their madness.

[spit_bubble]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

I've found that your depth chart is a huge factor...

Depth chart and potential playing time is a possible player priority. You can still get good players if you already have players at that position, as long as playing time (I forget exactly how it's worded in the game) is not one of the player's top priorities.

My last recruiting class I was able to sign the 12th best SG even though I already had two SGs that were rated in the 70s, because the prospect didn't have playing time as a priority.

I'm telling you, as a player's priorities start to be revealed and you don't meet the criteria, you're gonna have a hard time signing that player.

As far as getting the top five star players, you have to be a very good if not perfect fit for that player, especially when competing with better programs.

[Coachwf]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Also, as a contribution, I have noticed in that if you study the stats of the kids who played in the ABL, their statistical tendencies carry over to the college game. I noticed that if a PG has a 1:1 or lower assist + steal / turnover ratio, that player will most likely be the most frustrating player on the team, no matter how many stars they have. I have recruted a two star PG that simply didn't have those mysterious glitchy looking turnovers that plagued both of my SR point guards just because I focused on stats, not stars. Also, I recruited the best rebounder that could also shoot that I could find statistically (after the big schools took my prospects) which turned out to be a 3-star SF. I changed him to a PF and his rating improved dramatically and he plays well except against highly rated defenders. Lastly, I don't care how many stars a SG/SF has, if they shoot below 40% in ABL I refuse to recruit them. They simply can't shoot and will let you down more often than not.

Comments?

That's why when I want to play a half or so with a recruit I let the rest of the game sim out with full halves. Some guys reduce the minutes of the ABL games, but that skews the stats.

[jsou4646]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

Hey Koshi, great thread, couple questions. I played 2k7 on my xbox forever until finding this game when seeing a game play video posted by a guy on here. Since then I got the game and will be getting a 360 very soon. I have read a ton of threads about this game and came upon two issues. One being a glitch in the stats, and the other a lack of updated rosters. What rosters are you using and have you came upon this stastical glitch? Ex players ppg, rbp, and so on. thanks

Anyone?

[plasticbeast]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

I use the OS version 2 from the 2k share as my roster ( It was made a few weeks after the game came out). And honestly I had never heard of the stat glitch till reading it here. I haven't come across it in the few legacy's I have played.

[jsou4646]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

thanks^

[spit_bubble]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

THE BENEFITS OF USING OFF BALL CONTROLS

Even though I always had my control settings set up for this, I only just started using it and it's great. I don't know how long this feature has been in 2K's basketball games so veterans may be fully aware of it, nonetheless it adds yet another dimension to this stellar game.

To use OFF BALL CONTROLS you have to switch from the default control set up and then use L1 (PS3) to activate them during a game. L1 on the default control set up is used for MAXIMUM PASSING. To save your desired control set up you have to save your profile.

In my mind MAXIMUM PASSING is almost a useless feature. It gives you four different passing types, two of which can be done by other methods.

OFF BALL CONTROLS on the other hand bring a lot to the game. When you press and hold L1 you'll see a menu with four options pop up, and then one of your teammates will have a d-pad icon underneath him as well as an "R1" icon over his head. The d-pad icon is there to indicate which player is activated, and if you press R1 you will switch to that player. To move these icons to another player you have to press right or left on the d-pad.

The options within the menu that pops up are commands that you can give to the player activated. You can tell him to do one of four things: get open, post up, come off a screen, or set a screen.

The advantage of using these controls is that you can use them for quick plays, and then fill your playbook with "normal" plays. It's also nice because you can control who sets a screen for you, because in the QUICK PICK AND ROLL from the normal playbook it's always either the C or PF that sets the screen for you.

It should be noted that the "set a screen" command is in fact a pick and roll command, though the player doesn't always roll. And actually I've found that the OFF BALL CONTROLS have a way of behaving erratically sometimes. I think the best way to use them is when you want or need a quick short play, like when the shot clock is starting to wind down. You can simply back the ball out, press and hold L1, choose a player, and give that player a command.

Pressing R1 so that you actually control the off ball player allows you to choose precisely where on the floor you want that player to go. You can press X (again, PS3) or the square button, to call for the pass or tell the CPU to shoot, respectively.

[spit_bubble]

Re: The College Hoops 2K8 esoteric information thread (learn and discuss the arcane)

MAXIMIZING THE FAST BREAK

I've started to pull off a few more fast breaks than normal, simply by executing lead passes at the right time. Here's a few tips on maximizing the fast break:

1. The first and most obvious thing to do is boost your team's fast break tendency. This can be done in the coaches profile, or during a game if you only want it to be for that game.

2. It helps if your PF and C are good defensive rebounders, as this allows you to release your SF, SG, and PG without risking an offensive board by the opponent.

3. It also helps if your SF, SG, and PG all have a good speed rating, as this will allow you to really put pressure on the defense during transition.

4. The first outlet pass should be done using icon lead passing. So as soon as you get a rebound, bring up the passing icons and lead whoever you pass it to down the court by using the left analog stick. You still might see the player receiving the ball stop to receive the pass instead of getting the pass on the run, but don't let that stop you. Keep pushing the ball.

5. For the final pass after pushing the ball forward on the intial break, a double tap of the X button (PS3) will lead your teammate to the hoop. This type of pass triggers a fairly long animation that takes that player right to the hoop, and it works a lot better than lead icon passing in this situation. You have to be somewhat careful as this pass can get stolen if forced.

6. If one of your teammates has a clear path to the basket while running down either side use L2 and X to attempt the alley-oop. You should try the pass as your teammate is just inside the 3pt line and before he reaches the low post.

7. You can sometimes get a secondary break with one of your big men. If the initial break isn't there, sometimes your big men will be a step ahead of their man down the court. If you wait on the perimeter until they're at about the FT line, use lead icon passing to give them a lead pass for an easy score.