Free throw shooting...

[Cat Ballou]

...it has been the bane of Cal’s coaching career.

Before the season even started, when I saw that PJ, Vanderbilt, Diallo, and Gabriel were all woefully, inexplicably bad free throw shooters I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere, and missed free throws were going to beat us in the end. That’s exactly what happened.

Someone please reassure me that KJ, Herro, and IQ are good free throw shooters, and our returnees are going to be made to shoot about a million free throws between now and next year in order to shoot a respectable percentage. Shouldn’t be hard considering my 15 yr old niece can hit those same shots at an 80% clip for f@#k sake.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

I saw a recent special on FF history of the last 10 yrs, and CDR talked about the title game where they missed key FTs at the end. He said Cal told them all the night before, to picture themselves making something like 10 FTs in a row or something before they went to bed. CDR said nobody took him serious, and they paid for it. Cal does not undervalue FTs. He just seems to recruit players that just can't make them at key times.

 

[AnarchoNeoLuddite_rivals]

Every coach has "their bane". coach k and dook its athletic guards.

 

[Raptureme]

Utah and WKU just shot 79% and 78% respectively

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Utah and WKU just shot 79% and 78% respectively

Picking NIT teams wasn't the best example.

 

[Elliott Tim]

...it has been the bane of Cal’s coaching career.

Before the season even started, when I saw that PJ, Vanderbilt, Diallo, and Gabriel were all woefully, inexplicably bad free throw shooters I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere, and missed free throws were going to beat us in the end. That’s exactly what happened.

Someone please reassure me that KJ, Herro, and IQ are good free throw shooters, and our returnees are going to be made to shoot about a million free throws between now and next year in order to shoot a respectable percentage. Shouldn’t be hard considering my 15 yr old niece can hit those same shots at an 80% clip for f@#k sake.

I blame the refs. They knew we were young and calling too many fouls on KU
would result in nervousness on our part. This one's on those darn refs! No excuse for their incompetence! imp:

 

[mjj_2K]

FT shooting must be why Tubby Smith is going to be coaching High Point.

Cal's UK teams' overall FT %
17-18: 69.8%
16-17: 70.4%
15-16: 69.0%
14-15: 72.6%
13-14: 68.2%
12-13: 64.2%
11-12: 72.3%
10-11: 71.0%
09-10: 66.8%

Tubby's
06-07: 70.3%
05-06: 67.6%
04-05: 66.3%
03-04: 69.7%
02-03: 70.4%
01-02: 67.2%
00-01: 65.5%
99-00: 68.8%
98-99: 63.9%
97-98: 67.5%

 

[GonzoCat90]

There's zero rhyme or reason between free throw percentage and team success.

In fact, if PJ just makes his average, we win easily.

It's just the one aspect of the game fans feel like they can do so they harp on it.

For a player who attempts 5 free throws per game in a 35 game season, the difference in 80% and 60% is one point per game.

Similarly, if SGA plays his average game, we win. If Quade shoots his average, we win. If Gabriel plays to his average, we win. We lost because of an anomaly, or rather, several.

It's far too simplistic to blame it on free throw shooting.

 

[JC CATS]

...it has been the bane of Cal’s coaching career.

Before the season even started, when I saw that PJ, Vanderbilt, Diallo, and Gabriel were all woefully, inexplicably bad free throw shooters I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere, and missed free throws were going to beat us in the end. That’s exactly what happened.

Someone please reassure me that KJ, Herro, and IQ are good free throw shooters, and our returnees are going to be made to shoot about a million free throws between now and next year in order to shoot a respectable percentage. Shouldn’t be hard considering my 15 yr old niece can hit those same shots at an 80% clip for f@#k sake.

Can your niece take it to the hole and jam it, or dish off if she gets stopped. Can she rebound and play defense like those guys can? If not then I don't want her because she can shoot free throws better than they can. I can hit at a clip better than 60%, but you wouldn't want me in the game

 

[Mike-D]

There will always be a reason why a team lost.

 

[mjj_2K]

There's zero rhyme or reason between free throw percentage and team success.

In fact, if PJ just makes his average, we win easily.

It's just the one aspect of the game fans feel like they can do so they harp on it.

For a player who attempts 5 free throws per game in a 35 game season, the difference in 80% and 60% is one point per game.

Similarly, if SGA plays his average game, we win. If Quade shoots his average, we win. If Gabriel plays to his average, we win. We lost because of an anomaly, or rather, several.

It's far too simplistic to blame it on free throw shooting.

Historically, there's sometimes been a negative correlation between FT shooting and being a really good team. Reason being, teams that struggle from the FT line have very often also been teams that had great big guys, and very, very, very few big guys have been all that good from the FT line. Wilt and Shaq were notoriously awful, but you also see numbers like Bill Russell, career 56.1%, Kareem 72.1%, Bill Walton 66%, Olajuwon 71.2%, Tim Duncan 69.6%. Those type of numbers hold true throughout the sport, beyond elite guys like that, meaning if you have quality bigs, you're likely not going to have a great team FT%.

That's changing somewhat as the game becomes more and more perimeter-oriented, but even this year, Michigan is in the FF with a team FT% of 66.2%, and Kansas (70.5%) is barely above where UK ended up.

People talk about Memphis in 08 and Houston in 83 blowing titles because they couldn't hit FT's, and yeah, that's true to an extent. But you have to ask: what parts of those 2 teams, teams that went 31-3 and 38-2, and came within seconds of winning it all, would you have traded out for better FT shooting? And it's not like there was a mystery there going into those finals. Everyone knew that both those teams sucked from the FT line, just like there was no mystery that PJ Washington isn't very good from the line. Houston and Memphis just happened to be slightly worse than their normal at the worst possible time, just like PJ Washington against KState.

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

Historically, there's sometimes been a negative correlation between FT shooting and being a really good team. Reason being, teams that struggle from the FT line have very often also been teams that had great big guys, and very, very, very few big guys have been all that good from the FT line. Wilt and Shaq were notoriously awful, but you also see numbers like Bill Russell, career 56.1%, Kareem 72.1%, Bill Walton 66%, Olajuwon 71.2%, Tim Duncan 69.6%. Those type of numbers hold true throughout the sport, beyond elite guys like that, meaning if you have quality bigs, you're likely not going to have a great team FT%.

That's changing somewhat as the game becomes more and more perimeter-oriented, but even this year, Michigan is in the FF with a team FT% of 66.2%, and Kansas (70.5%) is barely above where UK ended up.

People talk about Memphis in 08 and Houston in 83 blowing titles because they couldn't hit FT's, and yeah, that's true to an extent. But you have to ask: what parts of those 2 teams, teams that went 31-3 and 38-2, and came within seconds of winning it all, would you have traded out for better FT shooting? And it's not like there was a mystery there going into those finals. Everyone knew that both those teams sucked from the FT line, just like there was no mystery that PJ Washington isn't very good from the line. Houston and Memphis just happened to be slightly worse than their normal at the worst possible time, just like PJ Washington against KState.

Agreed. Nobody disputes that FTs are important, and despite what many think, I do not believe that Cal undervalues FTs or thinks it's not anything to worry about. However, many people overvalue FTs in a sense that they think it's the determining factor far too often. FTs are looked at more because they happen when the clock is off and nobody is on them. People think anyone should be a great FT shooter because of the no defense thing. Forgetting about pressure and fatigue. Also, in many games another aspect of play could be way more determinative, but is not an area most fans notice much.

 

[kybassfan]

...it has been the bane of Cal’s coaching career.

Before the season even started, when I saw that PJ, Vanderbilt, Diallo, and Gabriel were all woefully, inexplicably bad free throw shooters I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere, and missed free throws were going to beat us in the end. That’s exactly what happened.

Someone please reassure me that KJ, Herro, and IQ are good free throw shooters, and our returnees are going to be made to shoot about a million free throws between now and next year in order to shoot a respectable percentage. Shouldn’t be hard considering my 15 yr old niece can hit those same shots at an 80% clip for f@#k sake.

With a broke finger and 20000 screaming maniacs?

 

[mjj_2K]

With a broke finger and 20000 screaming maniacs?

His niece could hit 80%, yet there's never been a team in UK history that managed that number, and only 31 players who finished their career at or above that mark (9 of them played for Cal), with SGA and Quade also currently sitting in that range.

People are wildly unrealistic about FT's, and apparently will continue to be so even though we have 60+ years of statistics at our fingertips that show very little variation over time, and despite the fact that recent FT shooting, NBA and college, is near or above the all-time historical high.

 

[Fawrules]

Can your niece take it to the hole and jam it, or dish off if she gets stopped. Can she rebound and play defense like those guys can? If not then I don't want her because she can shoot free throws better than they can. I can hit at a clip better than 60%, but you wouldn't want me in the game

Amazing how some people can't seem to separate the ability to make free throws in your backyard/an empty gym, to shooting them in an NCAA Tournament game in front of tens of thousands of people with millions of people watching at home on TV, ready to bash you on Social Media, Youtube, and message boards for years if you miss.

 

[outlaw1183]

So what kind of percentage does a great free throw shooter like say Steph Curry shoot in an empty gym. He shoots 90% in packed arenas. He must shoot 120-130% in empty gym. Lol

 

[dtodd4475]

FT shooting must be why Tubby Smith is going to be coaching High Point.

Cal's UK teams' overall FT %
17-18: 69.8%
16-17: 70.4%
15-16: 69.0%
14-15: 72.6%
13-14: 68.2%
12-13: 64.2%
11-12: 72.3%
10-11: 71.0%
09-10: 66.8%

Tubby's
06-07: 70.3%
05-06: 67.6%
04-05: 66.3%
03-04: 69.7%
02-03: 70.4%
01-02: 67.2%
00-01: 65.5%
99-00: 68.8%
98-99: 63.9%
97-98: 67.5%

Free throw shooting is one of the most consistent statistics in all of sports .It is amazing over the last 50 years the total average has never swayed much year to year. 69% for NCAA players and 75% for NBA. I always believed the old timers that said back in their day they all made free throws because of fundermentals, well they kept stats, and it was the same percent. Year in year out, right around 69% nationally was and is the norm.

Those numbers fit right in for the most part

 

[SilentsAreGolden]

So what kind of percentage does a great free throw shooter like say Steph Curry shoot in an empty gym. He shoots 90% in packed arenas. He must shoot 120-130% in empty gym. Lol

By that logic, everyone should be able to hit 40 footers with ease in Game 7 situations too.

 

[On-On-UK_rivals45415]

The pressure of championship play can bring out the "yipps" in anybody.
The loss of confidence is a deadly thing...

 

[Johnfarrel]

Amazing how some people can't seem to separate the ability to make free throws in your backyard/an empty gym, to shooting them in an NCAA Tournament game in front of tens of thousands of people with millions of people watching at home on TV, ready to bash you on Social Media, Youtube, and message boards for years if you miss.

That is very true. On the big stage, shooting your season average is really tough even with seasoned players. It is doubly hard for a team of freshmen who have never been on the big stage to do it.

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

Free throw shooting is much more important than some give it credit for. Although a poor free throw shooting performance in a single game can be overcome if the offense is clicking or the defense is strong, it will almost certainly spell doom for that same game if one of the other two is also struggling.

 

[Trinity45]

Picking NIT teams wasn't the best example.

Why do they shoot freethrows at a closer distance than the NCAA.

 

[GonzoCat90]

Why do they shoot freethrows at a closer distance than the NCAA.

No, but the OP used our poor free throw shooting as a way he knew we'd be bad before the season even started. So listing NIT teams that shoot a high percentage contradicts the idea that free throw shooting correlates to team success.

 

[Trinity45]

No, but the OP used our poor free throw shooting as a way he knew we'd be bad before the season even started. So listing NIT teams that shoot a high percentage contradicts the idea that free throw shooting correlates to team success.

Free throw shooting is one of the easiest things to work on if a team or player really wants to.

 

[wildcatdonf]

There's zero rhyme or reason between free throw percentage and team success.

In fact, if PJ just makes his average, we win easily.

It's just the one aspect of the game fans feel like they can do so they harp on it.

For a player who attempts 5 free throws per game in a 35 game season, the difference in 80% and 60% is one point per game.

Similarly, if SGA plays his average game, we win. If Quade shoots his average, we win. If Gabriel plays to his average, we win. We lost because of an anomaly, or rather, several.

It's far too simplistic to blame it on free throw shooting.

It's those big hands.

 

[$Z71$]

...it has been the bane of Cal’s coaching career.

Before the season even started, when I saw that PJ, Vanderbilt, Diallo, and Gabriel were all woefully, inexplicably bad free throw shooters I knew this team wasn’t going anywhere, and missed free throws were going to beat us in the end. That’s exactly what happened.

Someone please reassure me that KJ, Herro, and IQ are good free throw shooters, and our returnees are going to be made to shoot about a million free throws between now and next year in order to shoot a respectable percentage. Shouldn’t be hard considering my 15 yr old niece can hit those same shots at an 80% clip for f@#k sake.

Your 15 year old niece should try shooting them on a 7 foot goal with a small toy ball her hand swallows. That’s what these 6’6-7’. Guys with 7’ plus wing spans feel like on a 10 foot goal. Then tell me how many she makes. There is a reason 73% as a team puts you toward the top in college. Our teams are 3-5% below that but we also have very long and much larger players than most of the 350+ teams in D1. Not that hard to understand. These guys shoot lots of free throws. The issue isn’t lack of practice. /endthread

 

[wildcatdonf]

Muscle memory
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the term "muscle memory" as related to strength training, see Muscle memory (strength training).

This article is written like a personal reflection or opinion essay that states a Wikipedia editor's personal feelings about a topic. Please help improve it by rewriting it in an encyclopedic style. (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Muscle memory has been used synonymously with motor learning, which is a form of procedural memory that involves consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition. When a movement is repeated over time, a long-term muscle memory is created for that task, eventually allowing it to be performed without conscious effort. This process decreases the need for attention and creates maximum efficiency within the motor and memory systems. Examples of muscle memory are found in many everyday activities that become automatic and improve with practice, such as riding a bicycle, typing on a keyboard, typing in a PIN, playing a musical instrument,[1] poker,[2] martial arts or even dancing.

 

[ArtSmass]

Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style
Rick Barry style!!!!

 

[Whatsup]

I think we got beat because the other team scored more points that we scored. It not brain surgery. All we got to do is score more next year than they do. Now problem fixed. Hee Haw.

 

[Soupbean]

I saw a recent special on FF history of the last 10 yrs, and CDR talked about the title game where they missed key FTs at the end. He said Cal told them all the night before, to picture themselves making something like 10 FTs in a row or something before they went to bed. CDR said nobody took him serious, and they paid for it. Cal does not undervalue FTs. He just seems to recruit players that just can't make them at key times.

True Coach cannot control all of that, all teams practice free throws and when tired etc but nothing can duplicate game pressure. The only thing I might liked to see Cal do in the last game was invert PJ and Knox and let Knox work on his little guy and get fouled.

A coach shouldn't have to do that because years past when you dumped it down low to a big the whistle didn't blow every single time, but now it does partly because the refs bite their whistles on every single touch and partly because guys now days think they have to stop the release of every shot instead of just keeping position and making them miss so they hack, slap and reach on every inside attempt.

 

[The_Answer1313_rivals]

There’s a reason the four factors for efficiency are shooting turnovers rebounds and getting to the line

Sure ft is important no doubt but the amount of times a team gets to the line is really a more important factor.

 

[mjj_2K]

Free throw shooting is one of the easiest things to work on if a team or player really wants to.

And yet it's remained almost exactly the same, college and NBA, for well over 50 years now.

I guess no one has realized how easy it is to work on. Ever, apparently.