FT% improvement

[FirstDownB]

2011-12: .652 (12th out of 12 in B1G)
2012-13: .641 (11th out of 12 in B1G)
2013-14: .670 (12th out of 12 in B1G)
2014-15: .685 (10th out of 14 in B1G)
2015-16 (to date): .750 (2nd out of 14 in B1G)

Nice work, boys. Our big men today shoot better than our guards did just a couple years ago.

 

[cprh9u]

Really makes a difference. Not sure what changed but glad to see those numbers.

 

[Professor Emeritus]

Really makes a difference. Not sure what changed but glad to see those numbers.

I think it's as simple as a continued team-wide commitment to working on their individual games - another reason among many that, despite the frustration that this team can sometimes cause, I really enjoy this group of Boilers.

 

[BoilerNGold013]

People are actually working on their game. I don't think its anymore complicated than that...

 

[Statey]

People are actually working on their game. I don't think its anymore complicated than that...

The flipside of this is that if it were really as simple as just "actually working on their game" a little more, why did it take 4 years to get to a respectable level? I agree with your thought, just stating what should be the obvious next question in everyone's mind. Given the time period in question, I guess part of the blame probably rests with the Johnson brothers... for guards, they were pretty poor free throw shooters.

 

[cprh9u]

The flipside of this is that if were really as simple as just "actually working on their game" a little more, why did it take 4 years to get to a respectable level? I agree with your thought, just stating what should be the obvious next question in everyone's mind. Given the time period in question, I guess part of the blame probably rests with the Johnson brothers... for guards, they were pretty poor free throw shooters.

My thoughts exactly. Did players not work on it last year or 2 years ago? I don't think you can blame any 1 or 2 players. It was kind of a culture of poor FT shooting for whatever reason. Either way, glad it is better.

 

[lbodel]

My thoughts exactly. Did players not work on it last year or 2 years ago? I don't think you can blame any 1 or 2 players. It was kind of a culture of poor FT shooting for whatever reason. Either way, glad it is better.

I think part of it is who is shooting your free throws.

For example, Isaac was one of the most fouled guys in college basketball last year. However, he wasn't a great free throw shooter. He shot more free throws than anyone on the team - but he was a 55% shooter.

This year, Isaac is nearly 70% and AJ has also improved.

 

[BoilerNGold013]

People have improved their FT shooting. Some guys can't some guys can. So its a combination of hard work and simple physical talent to improve. Why was it so bad? Obviously bad shooters were taking the bulk of the shots. Did the bad shooters work hard on their game? I have no clue. But AJ and Haas along with Davis and Edwards taking a higher% have increased our %.

 

[mathboy]

My thoughts exactly. Did players not work on it last year or 2 years ago? I don't think you can blame any 1 or 2 players. It was kind of a culture of poor FT shooting for whatever reason. Either way, glad it is better.

I think the FT% was tainted by a couple kids who were good players, but could not hit a FT to save themselves. Remember TJ? He got so psyched that he would mist 2/3rds of his FT. I think small changes in the roster, plus kids that are more interested in being in the gym have had a big impact.

 

[Schnelk]

I wish the thread came out after this game. Just sayin'.

 

[toddbrewster]

Actually the weird part is that out of the players who play 10+ minutes a game, our two best pure shooters have the worse FT %. This means that even though we are 2nd, there is still plenty of room for improvement.