We have hit 48 of our last 53 free throws - 91% - almost Novak-like!

[bamamarquettefan]

Gosh, it seems like a long time ago Buzz was getting ripped for not spending NCAA limited practice time shooting free throws.

Did Steve Novak sneak in the gym?  I know there weren't many fouls called at Notre Dame, but Blue, Mayo and Cadougan combined to hit our final 6 free throws in that one, and we have continued the streak the last two games to make it 48 of our last 53 free throws to go 91% from the line as a team.

Novak hit 243 of 261 to hit 93% for his career.

Obviously the whole team won't stay at that level and there will be a couple of games when we are off, but that's a pretty incredible run.

[tower912]

Must be all of that extra time Buzz is spending in practice on FT's.

[AZWarrior]

If we don't stay at this pace, it will be because of lack of practice.....   

[Dawson Rental]

Gosh, it seems like a long time ago Buzz was getting ripped for not spending NCAA limited practice time shooting free throws.

Did Steve Novak sneak in the gym?  I know there weren't many fouls called at Notre Dame, but Blue, Mayo and Cadougan combined to hit our final 6 free throws in that one, and we have continued the streak the last two games to make it 48 of our last 53 free throws to go 91% from the line as a team.

Novak hit 243 of 261 to hit 93% for his career.

Obviously the whole team won't stay at that level and there will be a couple of games when we are off, but that's a pretty incredible run.

I'm just gonna throw caution to the wind and say it just plain is Novak like.  Anything 90% or better is in my book.

[Milkshakes]

I am not trying to be a downer because it is a great run.  However, I was wondering today if MU is getting to the free throw line a lot less (not saying this to knock the great percentage or explain it).  It is just that often under Buzz we hear about making more FTs than the other team takes...  Seems like as of late the other team is getting to the bonus before we do?

[Tugg Speedman]

Last year it seemed like their was a hundred threads about Wisconsin great FT shooting.  It was all about the way Bo carefully practiced FTs.  That fact that Bucky had a bunch of Novak type FT shooters had nothing to do with it, it was all about Bo.  Many said that MU could learn from Bo and adopt his FT practice techniques.

This year MU is shooting 72% at the line on 599 attempts
Bucky is also shooting 72% but only 405 attempts.

MU has 140 made FTs than Bucky.

[GGGG]

I am not trying to be a downer because it is a great run.  However, I was wondering today if MU is getting to the free throw line a lot less (not saying this to knock the great percentage or explain it).  It is just that often under Buzz we hear about making more FTs than the other team takes...  Seems like as of late the other team is getting to the bonus before we do?

They got to the line 23 times against DePaul....made 22 of them.  DePaul got to the line 16 times and made 10 of them.

[MUMac]

I am not trying to be a downer because it is a great run.  However, I was wondering today if MU is getting to the free throw line a lot less (not saying this to knock the great percentage or explain it).  It is just that often under Buzz we hear about making more FTs than the other team takes...  Seems like as of late the other team is getting to the bonus before we do?

Cincy played a lot of zone.  That had something to do with it.  Plus, Gates does not attack defensively, much, when beaten.

[bamamarquettefan]

I am not trying to be a downer because it is a great run.  However, I was wondering today if MU is getting to the free throw line a lot less (not saying this to knock the great percentage or explain it).  It is just that often under Buzz we hear about making more FTs than the other team takes...  Seems like as of late the other team is getting to the bonus before we do?

your gut is correct, MU is not dominating the "trips to the foul line" as much as they did last year, but it is still a very good ratio.

The kenpom.com measurement is how many free throws do you take as a percentage of field goals you shoot, since you have a lot better chance of scoring from the line than on other shots.

The national average is 36.5%, and MU is much better with a 41.3% rate, while the defense is also very good in only allowing opponents a 31.5% rate.

That makes the offense 62nd best of 345 teams, and the defense 65th best, so both very good.

However, not as good as last year, when MU was the 37th best at getting to the line and the 25th best at keeping teams off the line.

But go back one more year to when we had three-point shooters at guard instead of drivers (Acker and Cubillian), and we were only 244th in getting to the line, though still 21st on defense.

Buzz's first year the 3 Amigos make MU the 12th best team at getting to the line and 38th best at keeping opponents off it.

[jsglow]

We would have gotten to the line more often yesterday if Cincy had attempted to play good defense.  I'd hate to be on their board today.

[muwarrior69]

Either were playing with a smaller ball or the baskets are wider or both.