Even Duke couldn't foul us out
- Thread starter Smashcat
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This year opponent free throw rate rank = 3rd
Last season? 204th
Obviously this will go up since the SEC just seems to be obsessed with calling fouls but huge difference.
Last season? 204th
Obviously this will go up since the SEC just seems to be obsessed with calling fouls but huge difference.
Other thing is rebounding on the defensive end
This year? 33rd
Last season? 234th
This year? 33rd
Last season? 234th
But but I thought we were #23 and rebuilding with a new Coach and all new players???
Final Four or Bust
Final Four or Bust
I really can't fault anyone for being skeptical. This was a little different than say Cal bringing in an entire new squad of Freshman because at least these players have had track records in the past with other teams but you just never know how things are going to come together (or how quickly they would come together).
I think most felt the rating systems were underrating us. But i still don't think we have the question answered of just how much. Are we a top 15 team? Top 10? Top 5? Title contender? I think there's a bunch that still needs to be answered.
Like who is our go to player when we have to have a basket? We have a lot of players who will shoot it for the win and I have confidence in them to win the game. We are very lucky that Coach Pope was able to hand pick players that are very good teammates and players. Just not any Superstars, that starts happening next year. I just want the Superstars to be team players first and foremost and I think that is who we recruit and not chase the stars by there names.
Maybe it's ok to not have that one guy so long as our guys don't all turn to stone in crunch time waiting around for someone to make a play.
I felt like in that Duke game, those last two possessions by Duke, you knew who their go to guy was. You knew Flagg was going to try and do something. And it just didn't work. No doubt he will also make big shots for them down the stretch but I also wonder if you want to be too predictable.
Maybe we have multiple "go to" guys here. That might not be a bad thing.
One thing is for sure, we are going to have our fair share of close games in the SEC and it will be interesting to see how that's handled.
I like this, but I hope this isn't just an aberration and we see these numbers regress to the norm.
But it does seem that we're past the era of players just not knowing how to defend without fouling (and possibly a little bit of having a coach that isn't hated by the entire sport).
But it does seem that we're past the era of players just not knowing how to defend without fouling (and possibly a little bit of having a coach that isn't hated by the entire sport).
I think their experience is very helpful on that front. Also, I'm sure Pope's defensive approach is part of this.
But I wouldn't be surprised if the fact that Pope isn't screaming his head off and getting in referees' faces helps this situation a lot. Calipari's temper tantrums and run-ins with officials, and his resulting reputation with officials often preceded him in games. Sometimes I felt like every starter began the game with a foul each. In big games, it seems like we always had a starter sitting the bench by the middle of the first half with 2 fouls.
But I wouldn't be surprised if the fact that Pope isn't screaming his head off and getting in referees' faces helps this situation a lot. Calipari's temper tantrums and run-ins with officials, and his resulting reputation with officials often preceded him in games. Sometimes I felt like every starter began the game with a foul each. In big games, it seems like we always had a starter sitting the bench by the middle of the first half with 2 fouls.
THIS EXACTLY. You beat me to it. It cannot be underestimated how many referees had a hard-on for calling fouls against Cow. Any sort of contact gave refs a chance to stick it to him, and admit it or not- there are a LOT of refs that hate Cal.
Every coach needs to chew a ref's tail every now and again, but I like that Pope does it respectfully and then pipes down.
FREE THROWS MATTER.
I don't have the numbers, but we don't seem to draw a large amount of fouls either. The games so far this season have been so much more enjoyable to watch, without the endless trips to the free throw line.
We need to take with a little grain of salt considering these numbers have mostly been put up against not the greatest competition in the world. That being said, i think a lot of times things like this are a matter of defensive philosophy.
Outside of Oweh, I can't even recall a player even in foul trouble through the first five games. We might just have a team that doesn't foul much.
100% correct. We rank 308th in getting to the line.
Our offense has been mostly fueled by hitting a high % of shots (3rd in effective FG%) and not turning it over (25th in turnover %).
Offensive Reb% (201st) and Free Throw Rate (308th) has not been what we do.
Our offensive numbers are actually despite the style difference from last season pretty similar in rank:
Effective FG% 3rd vs 5th last season
Turnover % 25th vs 26th last season
Rebounding% 201st vs 174th last season
Free throw rate 308th vs 246th last season
The other nice thing is EVEN IF a player gets 2 fouls in the first half, the roster is deep enough to weather the storm as opposed to 9 scholarship players w/2 players at any given time sitting out with "injuries".
Plus the depth is actually legit FOR EACH position... not having 3 centers and no backup SG when the SG is in foul trouble.
Plus the depth is actually legit FOR EACH position... not having 3 centers and no backup SG when the SG is in foul trouble.
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Because they actually get down and play defense as a team, none of these crap that Cal played.
A lot of fouls are the result of fatigue. When you have a team where nobody plays more than 24mpg, you aren’t gonna foul nearly as much.
Really just illustrates too that you can do this multiple ways.
The reason why people didn't like Cal's offense was because it was outdated and frankly.........it looked ugly. But it was still effective in a lot of seasons.
Trip down the court..........this year we hit an open shot after passing it around a ton of times. Under Cal, we'd take a contested mid range jumper, have someone like Oscar rebound and put it back in.
2 points is 2 points. One just "looks' much nicer lol.
The reason why people didn't like Cal's offense was because it was outdated and frankly.........it looked ugly. But it was still effective in a lot of seasons.
Trip down the court..........this year we hit an open shot after passing it around a ton of times. Under Cal, we'd take a contested mid range jumper, have someone like Oscar rebound and put it back in.
2 points is 2 points. One just "looks' much nicer lol.
That’s a big stat, keeps our starters in the game and keeps free points off the board.
The thing about us not getting to the line it's also a byproduct of how we play I feel.
If we are going to shoot a lot of threes, we probably aren't going to be very highly ranked in getting to the line as well.
But if we are going to shoot 42% from 3 all season long, then bombs away.
If we are going to shoot a lot of threes, we probably aren't going to be very highly ranked in getting to the line as well.
But if we are going to shoot 42% from 3 all season long, then bombs away.
We just don’t need to foul much. The way we play, when we are leading we allow the other team to maintain the flow of the game it seems. Not to say we don’t play defense, but kinda lull them to play our game. However, such as the 2nd half of the Puke game, we can lock down if we need to to an extent.
I know one thing, unless he become much more reliable from the stripe, we'll not be able to keep Williams in the last few minutes of a tight game.
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