Free Throws Hardly the Only Reason the Utes Lost
Much as I agree that coach Jim Boylen at least has a fair argument about the free-throw disparity between his Utes and the rival Brigham Young Cougars last night, that's certainly not the whole story of the 67-59 loss at the Marriott Center.
Boylen himself pointed out that the Utes took 11 more shots than the Cougars.
Eleven!
Yet the Utes made only three more baskets, because they shot a season-worst 37 percent, something Boylen did not even mention after the game.
Figure if the Utes shoot even a modest 42 percent -- itself, considerably below their league-leading 48.8 shooting percentage -- they make three more baskets, which is at least six more points, which probably gives them the lead down the stretch and keeps them from having to commit the fouls that allow the Cougs to shoot six of their 32 free throws in the final 41 seconds, when the game was all but final.
Part of the reason the Utes took so many more shots, of course, is that so many more of the Cougar shots resulted in fouls that turned into free throws and don't get counted as attempted field goals in the box score.
But it's also true that the Utes seldom give the referees much reason to call fouls on their behalf.
Center Luke Nevill had the best argument last night, having earned just one free throw while taking 14 shots deep in the paint, but the rest of the Utes have a tendency to settle for perimeter shots -- 20 of their 59 were three-pointers -- and seldom finish what few drives to the basket they attempt. Instead, they often drive part-way to the basket before kicking it outside again.
That's not a winning strategy to getting to the free-throw line regularly. In fact, the Utes entered the game ranked above only Colorado State -- which has played much of its season without starting center Stuart Creason -- in the Mountain West Conference in free throws attempted per game. The Utes averaged 15.6 attempts, coming in, while the Cougars averaged 20.7.
What's more, having Nevill on the floor more with fewer fouls against him might not have made the difference that Boylen perhaps imagines, considering how many easy shots Nevill missed when he was in the game, and that the Utes held the Cougars to only 39.6 percent shooting, as it was.
Boylen himself pointed out that the Utes took 11 more shots than the Cougars.
Eleven!
Yet the Utes made only three more baskets, because they shot a season-worst 37 percent, something Boylen did not even mention after the game.
Figure if the Utes shoot even a modest 42 percent -- itself, considerably below their league-leading 48.8 shooting percentage -- they make three more baskets, which is at least six more points, which probably gives them the lead down the stretch and keeps them from having to commit the fouls that allow the Cougs to shoot six of their 32 free throws in the final 41 seconds, when the game was all but final.
Part of the reason the Utes took so many more shots, of course, is that so many more of the Cougar shots resulted in fouls that turned into free throws and don't get counted as attempted field goals in the box score.
But it's also true that the Utes seldom give the referees much reason to call fouls on their behalf.
Center Luke Nevill had the best argument last night, having earned just one free throw while taking 14 shots deep in the paint, but the rest of the Utes have a tendency to settle for perimeter shots -- 20 of their 59 were three-pointers -- and seldom finish what few drives to the basket they attempt. Instead, they often drive part-way to the basket before kicking it outside again.
That's not a winning strategy to getting to the free-throw line regularly. In fact, the Utes entered the game ranked above only Colorado State -- which has played much of its season without starting center Stuart Creason -- in the Mountain West Conference in free throws attempted per game. The Utes averaged 15.6 attempts, coming in, while the Cougars averaged 20.7.
What's more, having Nevill on the floor more with fewer fouls against him might not have made the difference that Boylen perhaps imagines, considering how many easy shots Nevill missed when he was in the game, and that the Utes held the Cougars to only 39.6 percent shooting, as it was.
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 12:28 PM |
1 Comments:
One of the more perceptive comments I've seen about free throws since last night's game.
A glance at the shot chart proves what you're saying.
Shots from within 10 feet: BYU was 5 of 14; Utah 6 of 14. But Nevill took the bulk of Utah's shots while standing flat-footed, while BYU had Fredette, Cummard, Tavernari, Loyd, and Burgess all driving in, in addition to the work by Plaisted and Miles. You're going to get more fouls on a drive than on a turn-and-fire strategy.
Moreover, Utah committed more shooting fouls. Three of the first 6 fouls by Utah in each half were shooting fouls; only one of BYU's first 6 fouls in each half came on a shot. That's a discrepancy of 8 foul shots right there.
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