Just win baby

[40bill]

Old Al Davis line.
fast pace pretty pass long range.
Grind it out in the paint and hit free throws.
Take a punch (almost literally) and take over the game after.
Play physical
Play finesse.

So far I really like this crew. Pope seemed really happy with the way they pulled together after the incident.....and I have to believe some of that IS being a mature team that has hit that physical Play before.

[Matt Dillon]

Having mature players is definitely paying dividends.

[Joneslab]

Re free throw shooting, this team isn’t a very good free throw shooting team for whatever reason.

[DA#23]

Re free throw shooting, this team isn’t a very good free throw shooting team for whatever reason.

We’ll see how it bears out, but they’re currently at 74.7% which is behind only the 2024 team (77.2%) in this decade.

[40bill]

^^^^ yes, that is kind of an adventure. Williams was certainly improved last night, but it's something that could be a concern as we get into the hack and hold games.

[DA#23]

but it's something that could be a concern as we get into the hack and hold games.

That’s the direction we’re headed, and I do think the team will improve a little as we move forward. The three bigs are going to be particularly important for us in these physical games.

[Joneslab]

We’ll see how it bears out, but they’re currently at 74.7% which is behind only the 2024 team (77.2%) in this decade.

“This decade” being operative.

They're 88th nationally. Kinda surprising given how good they are at shooting generally. I think it mostly has to do with who gets to the line most for us. Butler in particular needs to clean it up.

[DA#23]

“This decade” being operative.

They're 88th nationally. Kinda surprising given how good they are at shooting generally. I think it mostly has to do with who gets to the line most for us. Butler in particular needs to clean it up.

The 2011, 2020, and 2024 teams had higher FT percentages, for what little it’s worth.

I think we’ll see better percentages from some players, but as you say it’s a matter of who is earning the trips to the line. That might not change much just due to the offense.

[Catsrock]

“This decade” being operative.

They're 88th nationally. Kinda surprising given how good they are at shooting generally. I think it mostly has to do with who gets to the line most for us. Butler in particular needs to clean it up.

Butler probably can/hopefully will. Williams…probably not. You get to his age shooting entirely with one hand (his right hand isn’t steadying the ball at all) and it’s probably not going to happen. Don’t know what his percentage was at Drexel. Probably not great. And those are guys who are likely to be on the line BUNCHES.

OK I checked Williams was 65.5% last year. And Butler was, gulp, 59.4% on freebies.

[Jload]

Re free throw shooting, this team isn’t a very good free throw shooting team for whatever reason.

It certainly cost us against Clemson

[Joneslab]

We also didn't get to the line as much as we should've. I thought Clemson got away with some very, um, rough play at times.

[Joneslab]

We also didn't get to the line as much as we should've. I thought Clemson got away with some very, um, rough play at times.

To wit, somebody noted on X that Clemson was called for three fouls in the last 21 minutes of the game.