Doing it at the line

[DaCoach]

One of the significant positive changes this year vs last is the difference in free throws caused opposed to those drawn. Looking at the 4 key players, here is the improvement.

2008  18.4 drawn      14.2 charged    +4.2 Advantage
2009  20.9 drawn      11.5 charged    +9.4 Advantage

Collectively they're converting at a 75% pace despite James' 46%. That means we've had a 7 ppg average advantage merely from the FT line this year. Added to the fact that fewer guys are getting into foul trouble and limiting their court time, it's a significant improvement for the team. I think we've all noticed that the team is committing many fewer cheap fouls which hurt us at times last year. Buzz and the coaches have got the players reaching less and more vertical in their defensive positioning.

[MarquetteDano]

I posted a poll recently trying to figure out what were the biggest difference in strategy between Crean and Williams.  I was surprised that "less fouling" was not a high percentage.  Williams' free flowing offense won the poll.

Perhaps many believe that even though we are fouling less we are giving up more easy baskets which is offseting the fact we are fouling less.  Just from the poll I would guess than some are concerned about our defense... that it could cost us a game down the road.

There is no doubting that foul trouble, despite the fact that we have a thin bench and play starters such major minutes, has not been a factor this year.  The question is whether it will cost us a game on the defensive end.

Only time will tell.

[Daniel]

Well, we were in foul trouble with Dayton and Tennessee.  Good that we have settled down since.

[DaCoach]

Well, we were in foul trouble with Dayton and Tennessee.  Good that we have settled down since.

I'd attribute that to the early season adjustment to a new defensive system. Our help defense against Dayton was poor and the Flyers were beating us off the dribble. We didn't switch well and ended up reaching too much. Also, it was a back to back game and Dayton had a very deep bench. Dayton had 30 fouls that game and we had 28.

In the Vol game their big guys, especially Chism, outplayed us. Again, it was early in the season against a good big team and we weren't doing a good job of stopping the entry passes. I'd guess how we play against Conn will tell us a lot about how much we have improved in that area.

[bilsu]

The less fouling allows the four players to stay on the floor longer.