Will Markus ever miss a FT?

[Silkk the Shaka]

A 97% shooter missing kind of proves the opposite

What? If he had shot his normal % the whole ending would have been different. We got zero points when we almost always end up with 2 there.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

What? If he had shot his normal % the whole ending would have been different. We got zero points when we almost always end up with 2 there.

Ah I see what you are saying. Sure, if Markus hit one of those it could have changed the outcome of the game by a point or two....of course if Howard hit anywere near close to his 64% 2FG% instead of 2/10 it would have changed the outcome a lot more. Or if we didn't have have three more turnovers...or allow them to shoot 57 eFG%....or allow them to grab double digit offensive rebounds...or allow them to draw 8 more fouls than us...

We fans like to focus in on missed FTs for some reason when really their impact is minuscule on the total outcome. Reality is, our season FT% as a team is 78.9%. We made 75% of our FTs today. Even if you say we "shoot our average" by making one more (which would be 83%) it is only a difference of 1 point.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Ah I see what you are saying. Sure, if Markus hit one of those it could have changed the outcome of the game by a point or two....of course if Howard hit anywere near close to his 64% 2FG% instead of 2/10 it would have changed the outcome a lot more. Or if we didn't have have three more turnovers...or allow them to shoot 57 eFG%....or allow them to grab double digit offensive rebounds...or allow them to draw 8 more fouls than us...

We fans like to focus in on missed FTs for some reason when really their impact is minuscule on the total outcome. Reality is, our season FT% as a team is 78.9%. We made 75% of our FTs today. Even if you say we "shoot our average" by making one more (which would be 83%) it is only a difference of 1 point.

Of course. But all of those things are affected by Villanova's excellent defense. When a 97% FT shooter gets sent to the line late in a tight game against the #1 team in the nation and you emerge with zero points, your already slim margin for error gets even slimmer.

[GGGG]

Of course. But all of those things are affected by Villanova's excellent defense. When a 97% FT shooter gets sent to the line late in a tight game against the #1 team in the nation and you emerge with zero points, your already slim margin for error gets even slimmer.

Again, that's not the point.  It's always better to make a foul shot than not make a foul shot. 

But Markus' bad field goal shooting (and bad decision making) was 99% of his "bad" today.  Missing the FT was about 1%.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Again, that's not the point.  It's always better to make a foul shot than not make a foul shot. 

But Markus' bad field goal shooting (and bad decision making) was 99% of his "bad" today.  Missing the FT was about 1%.

If a $100 bill is lying on the ground, unless you're a millionaire you bend over and pick it up. That was a $100 bill lying on the ground. We did not pick it up.

[Jay Bee]

If a $100 bill is lying on the ground, unless you're a millionaire you bend over and pick it up. That was a $100 bill lying on the ground. We did not pick it up.

We bent over though, a1na? (nh)

[Silkk the Shaka]

We bent over though, a1na? (nh)

Ha I will grant you that!

[GGGG]

If a $100 bill is lying on the ground, unless you're a millionaire you bend over and pick it up. That was a $100 bill lying on the ground. We did not pick it up.

Bad analogy.  FTs aren't as easy as bending down to pick up something.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Of course. But all of those things are affected by Villanova's excellent defense. When a 97% FT shooter gets sent to the line late in a tight game against the #1 team in the nation and you emerge with zero points, your already slim margin for error gets even slimmer.

Sure. It's just not the impactful on the final outcome of the game. There are dozens of other things that are much more meaningful.

If a $100 bill is lying on the ground, unless you're a millionaire you bend over and pick it up. That was a $100 bill lying on the ground. We did not pick it up.

But this isn't a $100 bill lying on the ground. It's a free throw. And despite the word free being in the name they are not easy. Statistically, D1 players make between 65% and 70% of their free throws. And no player has ever gone 100% in a season (with a meaningful amount of attempts). Markus is going to miss them occasionally. And while it was big in that moment, overall it is not that big to the final outcome.

[forgetful]

Bad analogy.  FTs aren't as easy as bending down to pick up something.

You've clearly never had a lower back injury, or never did a really hard leg-day for the first time in a long time.

#FTsBeEasy

[skianth16]

Sure. It's just not the impactful on the final outcome of the game. There are dozens of other things that are much more meaningful.

Missing the front end of a 1 and 1 is meaningful. It's a wasted possession. That definitely matters in a close game. It may not be any different than a missed FG, but it's still big. If you missed the front end, you're missing a shot that gives the defense a much higher percentage chance at a rebound than a typical FG, and that is a bad possession. To me, it seems similar to taking a bad shot, and I think most people would agree that matters.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Missing the front end of a 1 and 1 is meaningful. It's a wasted possession. That definitely matters in a close game. It may not be any different than a missed FG, but it's still big. If you missed the front end, you're missing a shot that gives the defense a much higher percentage chance at a rebound than a typical FG, and that is a bad possession. To me, it seems similar to taking a bad shot, and I think most people would agree that matters.

It's not the same as a wasted possession. It puts a foul on an opposing player which is valuable. FTs matter in the moment but minimally in the grand scheme of the whole game. It's as simple as that.

[Newsdreams]

Truth is more than the missed FT Markus played really bad today, fouling too much, making bad decisions by driving against 3 defenders at least 3 times. He was like bad Rowsey today.

[skianth16]

It's not the same as a wasted possession. It puts a foul on an opposing player which is valuable. FTs matter in the moment but minimally in the grand scheme of the whole game. It's as simple as that.

With free throws making up about 25% of Nova's scoring, I just can't see how so many people say they don't matter. Shooting 20+ FTs, the difference between 60% and 90% matters. That's 2-3 possessions.

[Floorslapper]

The free throws no matta thing is the absolute dumbest and most absurd talking point here.  Period.  End of story.   

Free throw rate matters
Free throw attempts matter
Free throw make percentage matters.

[We R Final Four]

End of story? Yeah......probably not.

[Jay Bee]

The free throws no matta thing is the absolute dumbest and most absurd talking point here.  Period.  End of story.   

Free throw rate matters
Free throw attempts matter
Free throw make percentage matters.

Nope. This is false. #FTsNoMatta means team FT% isn't relevant to winning b-ball Games. You're simply wrong

[Floorslapper]

Nope. This is false. #FTsNoMatta means team FT% isn't relevant to winning b-ball Games. You're simply wrong

Just because Team FT% is not one of the Four Factors, does not mean it is irrelevant as it relates to winning basketball games.  You're simply wrong, but feel free to continue on with this inane point.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Just because Team FT% is not one of the Four Factors, does not mean it is irrelevant as it relates to winning basketball games.  You're simply wrong, but feel free to continue on with this inane point.

Theatrically it matters some. It's just not statistically significant

[Jay Bee]

Just because Team FT% is not one of the Four Factors, does not mean it is irrelevant as it relates to winning basketball games.  You're simply wrong, but feel free to continue on with this inane point.

Run the correlation and the truth will be revealed. You're wrong. Sad!

[Herman Cain]

Just because Team FT% is not one of the Four Factors, does not mean it is irrelevant as it relates to winning basketball games.  You're simply wrong, but feel free to continue on with this inane point.

I agree with this analysis.

[real chili 83]

Anyone think Marcus could have been injured on Sunday. Many of his misses were off the font of the rim....as he did not have enough lift. 

[mug644]

Anyone think Marcus could have been injured on Sunday. Many of his misses were off the font of the rim....as he did not have enough lift.

I don't know about injured, but I kept thinking he looked tired with his shots falling short. I suppose it could be a long season catching up with him. Sure hope he bounces back soon.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Anyone think Marcus could have been injured on Sunday. Many of his misses were off the font of the rim....as he did not have enough lift.

Well, maybe he is tired from all the shots he is taking....37% shot usage in conference...a star player should be around 29% according to "Scorecasting", which is where Rowsey is.  Sam only at 17%.  He needs to be around 24% and that has to come from Markus. 

[DUNKS45]

Anyone think Marcus could have been injured on Sunday. Many of his misses were off the font of the rim....as he did not have enough lift.

He looked tired and frustrated to me with his foul trouble, I think he was  trying to do too much. Big game tomorrow.