Calling all Cracked Sidewalk Numbers Gurus...

[denverMU]

Can any of you guys do an analysis of our free throw shooting versus say prior to Buzz (when I believe we actually practiced free throw shooting) and during Buzz's tenure to see when we did better and if we might have one any close games with better free throw shooting %?

[wojosdojo]

IMO, Buzz says he doesnt have time in practice to watch his guys put up shots from the line. Instead, he works on the more important things which leads us to winning the close games. I think if we practiced free throws instead of the other things hes working on in that time or record is simply worse.

[Tugg Speedman]

I did this in a thread recently (not as detailed as the CS guys would do).  IF I can find it, I will link,

The answer was simple, Steve Novak.  When you have a 93% FT shooter that gets to the line 150 times a season, you have great numbers.

Wisconsin leads the nations in FT% at 83%.  MU us about average at 70%.  

I don't know what Wisconsin does for FT practice, that said, are they good because of their practice or who they are?  If Buzz was the Wisconsin head coach, would they be shooting 83% this year?  I saw yes.

Did Steve Novak show up as a great FT shooter or did Crean's practice turn him into a great FT shooter? I say Novak arrived that way and would have shot 93% under any practice scheme.

[NYWarrior]

year by year stats here

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/team/stats/_/id/269/marquette-golden-eagles

FWIW, Buzz's first two seasons at MU saw the team shoot a higher % than the team did in Crean's final two seasons.  This year's team is just about on-par with TC's final bunch -- only 1% difference & far better than the 06-07 TC team (of course MU likely shoots alot more FTs now than those teams as well).  Percentage is not the real story since this team goes to the line a lot more -- free throw rate (FTR) is an advantage under Buzz but the 'sabermetricians' note FTR is not a primary determinant of success for a team.  FTR is the ratio of Free Throw Attempts to Field Goal Attempts.

The offense is sublime, and FTR is part of that mix

http://www.basketballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=1474

[Tugg Speedman]

Found it ....

ESPN stats
Year   Games       FT%          FTA   Notes
2011     25          69.40%      617   Buzz yr 3
2010     34          74.10%      660   Buzz yr 2
2009     35         72.80%      338   Buzz yr 1
2008     35         70.60%      785   Crean
2007     34         66.90%      783   Crean
2006     31         73.20%      635   Novak 97%, 74 FTA
2005     31         71.0%         451   Novak 91%, 146 FTA
2004     31         74.7%         683   Novak 91%, 68 FTA
2003     38          77.1%         857  Novak 95%, 38 FTA   
2002     33        69.20%          720   

----

Wow, I had now idea we had 617 FTAs in 25 games.  That averages 24.8/game.  At that pace and assuming we have 8 gamess left (6 regular, 1 BE, 1 NCAA) we are on pace for 814 FTAs, exceeding the 2007 record of 783.

Also KenPom has our as #154 of 345 teams in FT%.  Again we are 0.694.  D1 average is .687.  So, we are definitely above average for D1.

[willie warrior]

Novak was sure one hell of a shooter.

[Abode4life]

My problem with not practicing free throws, is that it is more than a state of mind like buzz says.  You could definitely tell during the South Florida game when we missed 8 free throws at the end.  We ended up being 7-19 (36.8%) for the game.  You need to practice shooting free throws at the end of practice when you are dead tired, just like it will be at the end of games when it matters most.  Being able to focus on your shot when exhausted takes practice. 

[bilsu]

MU is not a bad free throw shooting team, when the game is not close. They choke at the line. Has nothing to do with practicing and everything to do with mental toughness. Buyckes who is a very good free throw shooter cannot not make it when it matters. Same for DJO.

[Tugg Speedman]

My problem with not practicing free throws, is that it is more than a state of mind like buzz says.  You could definitely tell during the South Florida game when we missed 8 free throws at the end.  We ended up being 7-19 (36.8%) for the game.  You need to practice shooting free throws at the end of practice when you are dead tired, just like it will be at the end of games when it matters most.  Being able to focus on your shot when exhausted takes practice.  

Here we go again with the over-analysis of the FTs at the USF game.  And just 90 seconds of that game to boot! This just in, WE HAD A BAD GAME.

Why don't you over-analyze the Villanova Game where we went 13 of 14 from the foul line?
Why don't you over-analyze the Uconn Game where we went 14 of 15 from the foul line?
Why don't you over-analyze the ND away Game (into a frenzied student section) where we went 15 of 17 from the foul line?
Why don't you over-analyze the Louisville away Game (into a frenzied student section) where we went 23 of 38 (74%) from the foul line?
Why don't you over-analyze the Pitt away Game (into a frenzied student section) where we went 20 of 27 (74%) from the foul line?

AS I've said before, try and fix and anomaly and you make things worse.,  The USF was an anomaly.  The games above show that to be the case.

D1 average for FT% is 68.7%.  MU shoots 69.4%, #154 of #345 teams.  This year we are shooting FT% as a team better than 2002 and 2007, and just behind 2009.  Same coach and same philosophy about FT shooting produced a stellar 74% team average last year.

MU is in the better half of FT% in D1.  Stop fixing something that is not broken.

[jesmu84]

MU 11-12 so far tonight at the line. anyone still want to complain or call out the USF game? Like 84 said.. total anomaly there, just have to move on

[ATL MU Warrior]

MU 11-12 so far tonight at the line. anyone still want to complain or call out the USF game? Like 84 said.. total anomaly there, just have to move on

Maybe Buzz finally learned the grade school practice technique of shooting free throws while tired.

[Tugg Speedman]

14 for 15 FTs in the first half .... but but but they did not practice yesterday or today.  How is that possible?