67.7% free throws in our losses

Jan 3, 2003
145,534
15,709
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FT shooting isn't that bad on the season, nor was it vs Vandy. We did have a bad stretch, but have improved since then, making 70.4% on the season, which is about an average UK FT% season. If you throw out Ware we are at 71.8%; throw out Ware and Wheeler (who appears done) and we are 72.8%.
Wallace was <60% for awhile, is up to 76%.
Oscar is back over 70% (72.5%).
Our 5 current starters are 79%, 77%, 76%, 72%, 63%, with 91% returning from injury. Even Theiro is 74%.
 
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kyhoward

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2018
860
1,333
0
Free throw shooting is using good technique until it becomes 2nd nature. Even an average shooter from the field can become an excellent free throw shooter.

If I were a Division 1 head coach, I would pay out of pocket to have a free throw shooting guru come preseason, periodically during the season, and even post season to work on players FT shooting techniques.

We have such a person and UK great in Kyle Macy but don’t think he and COW get along. But there are others!
 
Jan 3, 2003
145,534
15,709
0
Well, apparently our defense shoots free throws, I keep hearing it's our defense that lost the game Wednesday night.
I've not heard that. It was quite obvious it was our shooting 40% from 2, 15% from 3.
So not the FTs, and not because not shoot enough 3's, and not the Defense (although that didn't help).
 
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Trinity45

All-American
Oct 26, 2005
3,378
5,247
113
Shot 22 more free throws than Vandy and still lost. Insanity.
Again this is something in the past Cal has said they do not work on in practice, why I don't know, because in practice you can create pressure situations, just shooting FT's on your own you can't.
 

mcnicKY91

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2021
2,106
3,027
0
We should let Toppin let em rip from 18' just for you.
Like I said to you in another thread...take away nine 3s that we took and replace them with nine Toppin midrange jumpers, and guess who wins the game...UK.

I guess I prefer winning playing "archaic" offense over losing jacking a bunch of threes b/c analytics says it is a better shot than a midrange two.
 

mcnicKY91

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2021
2,106
3,027
0
FT shooting isn't that bad on the season, nor was it vs Vandy. We did have a bad stretch, but have improved since then, making 70.4% on the season, which is about an average UK FT% season. If you throw out Ware we are at 71.8%; throw out Ware and Wheeler (who appears done) and we are 72.8%.
Wallace was <60% for awhile, is up to 76%.
Oscar is back over 70% (72.5%).
Our 5 current starters are 79%, 77%, 76%, 72%, 63%, with 91% returning from injury. Even Theiro is 74%.
Yeah...I think we shot 25/35, which reduces to 5/7. Not great, but far from terrible. We lost because we couldn't make any wide open threes (3/19), and b/c Livingston got abused off the dribble...which has been a recurring theme with this team.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
I've not heard that. It was quite obvious it was our shooting 40% from 2, 15% from 3.
So not the FTs, and not because not shoot enough 3's, and not the Defense (although that didn't help).
It's being said in most threads on this board. It's mind numbing to me.

When a team only scores 68 points, you're on your home floor, you get 15 more rebounds and take a ton more free throws, it wasn't your defense that lost the game.

We held Vandy below their season average, we didn't come close to hitting our average.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
Like I said to you in another thread...take away nine 3s that we took and replace them with nine Toppin midrange jumpers, and guess who wins the game...UK.

I guess I prefer winning playing "archaic" offense over losing jacking a bunch of threes b/c analytics says it is a better shot than a midrange two.
So you would rather see Toppin take 20 18 footers, than see Reeves shoot wide open 3's? If so, you're a fool, especially when you see the box score. We didn't just miss threes, we missed from everywhere on the court.

We missed 16 threes, but we missed 27 two's and if Reeves is open from the outside, he needs to take it. This isn't the damn 60's.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
Yeah...I think we shot 25/35, which reduces to 5/7. Not great, but far from terrible. We lost because we couldn't make any wide open threes (3/19), and b/c Livingston got abused off the dribble...which has been a recurring theme with this team.
So, we am I reading the box score wrong? Are you saying we only missed threes, we didn't actually miss 27 two's, like the box score says?

19 three point attempts is less than the average most college teams take, you would have a point if we shot 30 of them, 19 is not a big number. But 27 misses from inside the arch, is massive.

Again, we take the 8th most long two pointers out of all D1 teams, but we only rank 218th in D1 on long 2 point shot makes. You have to be a fool to think taking long two's is a good idea.

27 missed two pointers, you simply can't defend that.
 

mcnicKY91

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2021
2,106
3,027
0
So you would rather see Toppin take 20 18 footers, than see Reeves shoot wide open 3's? If so, you're a fool, especially when you see the box score. We didn't just miss threes, we missed from everywhere on the court.

We missed 16 threes, but we missed 27 two's and if Reeves is open from the outside, he needs to take it. This isn't the damn 60's.
I think you missed the point. If we substitute nine Toppin mid range shots for nine threes the Cats bricked, and you extrapolate the numbers proportionally based upon how UK shot that game, Toppin will make 3. That is 6 more points, resulting in a UK win.

Statistically speaking, in UKs 4 game winning streak, they averaged only 13 threes a game. They then shoot 19 and brick the majority of them. I am no brain surgeon (just a damn fool according to you), but I stick with what is getting me Ws.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
I think you missed the point. If we substitute nine Toppin mid range shots for nine threes the Cats bricked, and you extrapolate the numbers proportionally based upon how UK shot that game, Toppin will make 3. That is 6 more points, resulting in a UK win.

Statistically speaking, in UKs 4 game winning streak, they averaged only 13 threes a game. They then shoot 19 and brick the majority of them. I am no brain surgeon (just a damn fool according to you), but I stick with what is getting me Ws.
The bottom line is, you're scenario is a woulda coulda shoulda.

How do we know one of Toppin's long two point misses wouldn't have been a made Reeves 3 pointer if he made 1 more pass? It goes both ways.

In most games, if you leave Reeves open, he hits more times than not, with Toppin from 18', you can't say that.

We lost by 2 points, you can literally blame it on any single play, but even you have to admit, 27 missed 2's, is a ton. 10 missed free throws is way too many misses for a team that has been way better than that.
 
Jul 11, 2007
27,222
34,299
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Free Throw Lives Matter.

 
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mcnicKY91

All-Conference
Aug 6, 2021
2,106
3,027
0
The bottom line is, you're scenario is a woulda coulda shoulda.

How do we know one of Toppin's long two point misses wouldn't have been a made Reeves 3 pointer if he made 1 more pass? It goes both ways.

In most games, if you leave Reeves open, he hits more times than not, with Toppin from 18', you can't say that.

We lost by 2 points, you can literally blame it on any single play, but even you have to admit, 27 missed 2's, is a ton. 10 missed free throws is way too many misses for a team that has been way better than that.
Not sure what else to tell you dude...I literally just gave you stats supporting the fact the Cats were successful taking less 3s. Again, they averaged only 13 a game in their 4 game winning streak (in which they have looked their best all year).

Then they follow that up by jacking up 19 3s (50% more than they did in their 4 game winning streak). Guess what happened, they lost.

I am supporting my take with an undeniable fact, specifically related to how this team functions offensively and its success related to that functionality. You can continue to ignore it if you would like, but those are the facts as it relates to this version of the 2023 UK team.
 

Gone by morning

Redshirt
Mar 2, 2023
20
22
0
I think you missed the point. If we substitute nine Toppin mid range shots for nine threes the Cats bricked, and you extrapolate the numbers proportionally based upon how UK shot that game, Toppin will make 3. That is 6 more points, resulting in a UK win.

Statistically speaking, in UKs 4 game winning streak, they averaged only 13 threes a game. They then shoot 19 and brick the majority of them. I am no brain surgeon (just a damn fool according to you), but I stick with what is getting me Ws.

Don’t take him seriously. Nobody else does. An internet stranger that is never wrong about anything and insults anybody that disagrees with them can’t be taken seriously and is nothing but a blowhard hiding behind their keyboard.
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
Don’t take him seriously. Nobody else does. An internet stranger that is never wrong about anything and insults anybody that disagrees with them can’t be taken seriously and is nothing but a blowhard hiding behind their keyboard.
Says the guy that keeps getting banned. Hi Cardsstink. How many times you been bannned now, 20?
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
Not sure what else to tell you dude...I literally just gave you stats supporting the fact the Cats were successful taking less 3s. Again, they averaged only 13 a game in their 4 game winning streak (in which they have looked their best all year).

Then they follow that up by jacking up 19 3s (50% more than they did in their 4 game winning streak). Guess what happened, they lost.

I am supporting my take with an undeniable fact, specifically related to how this team functions offensively and its success related to that functionality. You can continue to ignore it if you would like, but those are the facts as it relates to this version of the 2023 UK team.
Not taking and making enough threes is why UK will not get to another FF as long as Cal continues to ciach here.

You aren't goung to beat the best teams when you don't use the best weapon there is in basketball.

You guys wonder why Cal has this program in the cellar, it's because **** like this.
 

gamecockcat

Heisman
Oct 29, 2004
10,524
13,501
0
Lot of things to comment on.
1. We took 22 more FTs than Vandy and hit, what, 2/3 of our attempts? Since the team's season average is ~70%, I don't see where that is such a statistical anomaly. This team isn't a great FT shooting team (which of Cal's teams were?). And, for the posters who, during and after the game, complained how the refs had it in for UK like they always do - WTF? 22 MORE free throws doesn't seem to me like the refs were biased against UK v. Vandy.
2. If, and this is a HUGE if when it comes to Cal's coaching, the 3-ball comes from running a good set and someone getting a good look, then, yeah, taking more 3s makes sense. From what I've seen this year, many of our half court sets are: dribble/weave/pass back and forth 25' out until there's less than 10 seconds to go on the clock and then try to create something. More times than not, the resulting shot from wherever on the floor is contested, rushed and not a result of running any kind of offensive set.
3. I'm sure everyone's definition of 'midrange jumper' is different but mine is 12-17 feet. From 17' to the arc, I'd classify it as a 'long 2'. I don't think we should be working for 18' jumpers if that's what Cal meant. I do think we should be working for 12-17' jumpers as we're gonna hit a helluva lot more of those than 18+-footers. Plus, by working for those, if the defense collapses, you should be able to kick it out to the arc for a good look at a 3. Regardless, a contested 3 with the clock running down is never a good shot I don't give a **** what the analytics say. If it's Steph Curry taking it, OK. Last I looked, he doesn't play for UK.
4. How bad would we have lost if Oscar hadn't come up with TEN offensive rebounds? Most likely double digits, I'd say. Oscar was a force against Vandy but we didn't seem to even look his way in crunch time. Like it or not, that's coaching. In tight games, your coach has to run something that exploits a matchup advantage and I just don't see it with Cal's teams these past few years. I never expect us to be efficient down the stretch and make the one play at the end to win it anymore. No confidence in Cal/the staff's ability to draw up a play to get one guy with a matchup advantage a good shot. No confidence at all.
 
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Jan 3, 2003
145,534
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So you would rather see Toppin take 20 18 footers, than see Reeves shoot wide open 3's? If so, you're a fool, especially when you see the box score. We didn't just miss threes, we missed from everywhere on the court.

We missed 16 threes, but we missed 27 two's and if Reeves is open from the outside, he needs to take it. This isn't the damn 60's.
I want the guys to shoot whatever shots they can/will make to maximize scoring. Vs Vandy that WAS NOT 3’s (15%).
 

kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
I want the guys to shoot whatever shots they can/will make to maximize scoring. Vs Vandy that WAS NOT 3’s (15%).
It wasn't 2's either, they missed 27 of those.

When Reeves and CJ are open, they have to shoot for so many reasons. That's simple basketball. Yiu can't assume they're going to miss, especially Reeves.
 

cats#1again

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2011
8,011
4,587
0
So you would rather see Toppin take 20 18 footers, than see Reeves shoot wide open 3's? If so, you're a fool, especially when you see the box score. We didn't just miss threes, we missed from everywhere on the court.

We missed 16 threes, but we missed 27 two's and if Reeves is open from the outside, he needs to take it. This isn't the damn 60's.
He absolutely needs to take it. I don't care if he shoots every other trip down the floor.
The problem is, this team gets ice cold quite often. If you have 6/7 mins where you miss every shot, you're gonna have a close game. If you have 2 of those stretches you're probably beat.
CJ has killed us this season.
 
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kyjeff1

Heisman
Sep 8, 2012
51,342
72,195
113
He absolutely needs to take it. I don't care if he shoots every other trip down the floor.
The problem is, this team gets ice cold quite often. If you have 6/7 mins where you miss every shot, you're gonna have a close game. If you have 2 of those stretches you're probably beat.
CJ has killed us this season.
Totally agree.
So, the thing that needs to happen when you're struggling to make shots, you simply have to go to Oscar, or use any of the guys that have a height/length advantage in the paint. We kept taking quick jump shots without Oscar touching the ball.
 

cats#1again

All-Conference
Nov 27, 2011
8,011
4,587
0
Totally agree.
So, the thing that needs to happen when you're struggling to make shots, you simply have to go to Oscar, or use any of the guys that have a height/length advantage in the paint. We kept taking quick jump shots without Oscar touching the ball.
True, but that is what we did against st peters. Coaching staff were put down for a year over doing it too
 
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