Poll on UConn Men FG Shooting

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Please vote on why you think the UConn men are shooting a high FG%.

 

[Ozzie3178]

Need another category.... All the Above

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Poll has been edited Ozzie. Note that the poll software enables you to change your vote if you wish.

 

[Silk31]

I think we just have better players/shotmakers this year. While I love the high FG% coming off last year when every possession was a struggle to score, I am at a loss for why we are one of the worst in the nation at FT attempts.

I still see our guys attacking the rim so it's not like we are just strictly a jump shooting team. It's very odd to see as we are typically a team that can rely on getting to the line when our shooting is in a rut. We have the players that can drive the line and draw contact so I'm not sure why this hasn't translated yet.

You would think with the new handchecking rules in place that our guards would be able to get other teams in foul trouble. Our own guards seem to have an issue with staying away from ticky tack perimeter fouls so maybe other teams are just quicker to adjust

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

What is interesting is that UConn has shot way less FTs than its opponents and has also hoisted way less 3 pointers than opponents. Here are the stats:

FTs
UConn 146/199, 73.4%
Opponents 145/224, 64.7%

3 POINTERs
UConn 80/212, 37.7%
Opponents 80/258, 31.0%

It's unusual to me that UConn should have both less FT attempts and less 3PA. Not sure what to make of these stats. One way to interpret them is that they suggest a lack of aggression, but not sure if that is it. The percentages are good of course but you can shoot well and still be soft.

The rebounding numbers and turnover numbers are also in UConn's favor, meaning they should have way more possessions than opponents, although I could not find a stat on possessions. The stats are inexplicable to me when you put all of this together. This team doesn't make any sense- statistically speaking.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Here is something else to consider. I read in the UConn media guide that UConn has not shot over 50% FGs for a season since the 1980-81 team, which featured Chuck Aleksinas, Mike McKay, Corny Thompson, Vern Giscombe and I think Karl Hobbs might have been a freshman that year. That team shot 51.6%. It has not been done since.

With the unfortunate injury to Brimah, we are going to see this team transform from one that was somewhat defensive minded to an all out offensive-minded team. Will the FG shooting be over 50% for the season? We shall see. Regardless, this is what all you guys have wanted, more offense. We will see if it comes at a price.

 

[the Blades]

I think it's way to early to know anything about Uconn's shooting percentages. First take a look at the schedule and who they put the numbers up against. All these were home games vs cupcakes except one, Ohio St. (with a nothing special RPI of 86 ) ....but ouch !... look at the rest of the RPI's:
Maine 311
New Hampshire 218
Furman 301
Sacred Heart 331
Mass-Lowell 269
Central Conn. St. 350

But it's not just the cupcakes.... I think it may have something to do with the home court. When you look at the 4 games away from XL or Gampel vs. better comp, the shooting drops to 44%..as does their record at 1-3....Shooting is never a constant that you can count on....but tough defense, rebounding and taking care of the rock are things that translate anywhere vs. any team..... As the saying goes " if you live by the jump shot, you can die by the jump shot "..... By the way tonight's game at Texas( RPI -23) is vs. the highest rated team of the year.

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

All very true which is why I included "hot start vs. bad teams" among my poll choices.

Despite this there are elements present that enable us to hope UConn can achieve and offset on offense what it obviously lost on defense with the Brimah injury. Brimah is not going to be playing any time soon, so we have to hope that this offense/defense tradeoff can work. If it doesn't, this season could go south on UConn before Brimah returns.