In Search of the Holy Grail of Basketball

[oldude]

The “Holy Grail” in basketball is to achieve the virtually unattainable goal of 50/40/90 for an entire season with shooting percentages from the floor, 3-pt line and FT line respectively. The last player in WBB to make a serious run at the Holy Grail was Sabrina Ionescu during 2019-20, her senior season at Oregon. If Ionescu had made just 2 more 3-pt shots, she would have achieved the Holy Grail.

Fast forward to the 2024-25 UConn Huskies. UConn has not one, but two players who are chasing down the Holy Grail. Heading into the last regular season game, both Azzi and Paige are incredibly close to the unattainable.

Azzi is currently shooting 49/46/93, and is just 4 made shots short of the Holy Grail. Paige is currently shooting 53/41/89, and is just a single made FT short of the Holy Grail.

So as I root for our Huskies to win 2 more championships this season, I will also be closely following Azzi & Paige’s runs at the Holy Grail and immortality.

 

[YKCornelius]

The “Holy Grail” in basketball is to achieve the virtually unattainable goal of 50/40/90 for an entire season with shooting percentages from the floor, 3-pt line and FT line respectively. The last player in WBB to make a serious run at the Holy Grail was Sabrina Ionescu during 2019-20, her senior season at Oregon. If Ionescu had made just 2 more 3-pt shots, she would have achieved the Holy Grail.

Fast forward to the 2024-25 UConn Huskies. UConn has not one, but two players who are chasing down the Holy Grail. Heading into the last regular season game, both Azzi and Paige are incredibly close to the unattainable.

Azzi is currently shooting 49/46/93, and is just 4 made shots short of the Holy Grail. Paige is currently shooting 53/41/89, and is just a single made FT short of the Holy Grail.

So as I root for our Huskies to win 2 more championships this season, I will also be closely following Azzi & Paige’s runs at the Holy Grail and immortality.

Oldude, I think you meant to say that if Paige made just one of her nine misses she would be above 90%. That certainly is a fact.

However, Paige is 75 for 84 at the charity stripe. Therefore, she would need to be 6 for 6 to reach 90%, or 15 for 16 if she misses one.

Similarly, Azzi is 119 for 245 in field goals. For her to hit 50%, she will need to shoot 7 for 7, or 8 for 9, or 9 for 11, or 10 for 13, or 11 for 15.

Also, as another poster alluded to, Gianna Kneepens of Utah, needs to shoot 4 for 4 at the free throw line to achieve 50/40/90.

 

[oldude]

Oldude, I think you meant to say that if Paige made just one of her nine misses she would be above 90%. That certainly is a fact.

However, Paige is 75 for 84 at the charity stripe. Therefore, she would need to be 6 for 6 to reach 90%, or 15 for 16 if she misses one.

Similarly, Azzi is 119 for 245 in field goals. For her to hit 50%, she will need to shoot 7 for 7, or 8 for 9, or 9 for 11, or 10 for 13, or 11 for 15.

Also, as another poster alluded to, Gianna Kneepens of Utah, needs to shoot 4 for 4 at the free throw line to achieve 50/40/90.

Yes. You’re looking at what Azzi and Paige need to shoot to get to 50/40/90. I was looking at what they needed to shoot previously to be at 50/40/90 today.

One related piece of information. Paige was not even close to 90% five weeks ago. But she has not missed a foul shot in 11 games, making her last 33 consecutive free throws. Amazing!

 

[Basingstoke]

I think that Kneepkens just went over the magic threshold, shooting 10 for 10 from the free throw line. All in all, she had a poor shooting game from the field, but she has a comfortable cushion with field goal and 3 point percentages.
She must really be a very special shooter.

 

[Dugway]

Oldude, I think you meant to say that if Paige made just one of her nine misses she would be above 90%. That certainly is a fact.

However, Paige is 75 for 84 at the charity stripe. Therefore, she would need to be 6 for 6 to reach 90%, or 15 for 16 if she misses one.

Similarly, Azzi is 119 for 245 in field goals. For her to hit 50%, she will need to shoot 7 for 7, or 8 for 9, or 9 for 11, or 10 for 13, or 11 for 15.

Also, as another poster alluded to, Gianna Kneepens of Utah, needs to shoot 4 for 4 at the free throw line to achieve 50/40/90.

Did you see her reaction when she missed one of 'em from the charity stripe yesterday; she ended up 4 for 5. I hope that she is not counting while attempting to make shots , but it does make one wonder if Paige didn’t know the exact math to raise her Free Throw Percentage up to 90%.

 

[Basingstoke]

If post-season games count towards season shooting percentages, Kneepkens shot 5 for 7 free throws tonight which, I believe, brings her down to just under 89.5%.
Side note: she shot 7 for 20 from the field and 4 for 10 on 3 pointers (still above 50% & 40% respectively for the season).

 

[oldude]

If post-season games count towards season shooting percentages, Kneepkens shot 5 for 7 free throws tonight which, I believe, brings her down to just under 89.5%.
Side note: she shot 7 for 20 from the field and 4 for 10 on 3 pointers (still above 50% & 40% respectively for the season).

The 90 of the 50/40/90 may be the toughest nut to crack. Every time you miss just 1 FT, you have to make 9 in a row, just to get back to even.

When Paige missed a FT against Marquette, after making 35 in a row, she was visibly upset, resulting in some good natured ribbing by Geno. Paige is all about the team, but clearly she is thinking about 50/40/90 a little bit.

 

[MooseJaw]

The 90 of the 50/40/90 may be the toughest nut to crack. Every time you miss just 1 FT, you have to make 9 in a row, just to get back to even.

When Paige missed a FT against Marquette, after making 35 in a row, she was visibly upset, resulting in some good natured ribbing by Geno. Paige is all about the team, but clearly she is thinking about 50/40/90 a little bit.

Probably she was thinking about that. I felt while watching that after making something like 30 or so that she was upset that her streak ended. If 50/40/90 was that much on her mind, that is a problem, and maybe a good thing she missed. Question, most records carry over through the tourneys, would this accomplishment if archived not carried through post season play?

 

[oldude]

Probably she was thinking about that. I felt while watching that after making something like 30 or so that she was upset that her streak ended. If 50/40/90 was that much on her mind, that is a problem, and maybe a good thing she missed. Question, most records carry over through the tourneys, would this accomplishment if archived not carried through post season play?

In my mind, and I think just about everyone else, 50/40/90 is for the entire season, including conference and NCAA tournament games.

 

[YKCornelius]

In addition to Kneepkens dropping below 90% on her FTs. her starting teammate, Kennady McQueen dropped below 50% on her FG% after an 0-2 night. She will now need to shoot 3-5 (or better) to get back into the 50/40/90 club.

Gianna Kneepkens will need to shoot 7 for 7 at the line to get back to 90%. If she misses one, the challenge jumps to 16 for 17.

I'll be cheering for both ladies to reach the marks, but it will be especially tough to do so on an unfamiliar court during the NCAA tourney.

 

[nwhoopfan]

he 90 of the 50/40/90 may be the toughest nut to crack.

Yep. A certain player I get in trouble for mentioning too often just missed it her Sr. year, she got the 50 and 40 no problem but shot .887 from the charity stripe. Not sure how many more she would've needed to make to hit the magic number.

 

[MooseJaw]

In my mind, and I think just about everyone else, 50/40/90 is for the entire season, including conference and NCAA tournament games.

Then she will still be able to reach the 90 if she sinks enough free throws in the upcoming tourneys. It would be a huge achievement for her. Let's hope.

 

[Skeets]

Then she will still be able to reach the 90 if she sinks enough free throws in the upcoming tourneys. It would be a huge achievement for her. Let's hope.

Those are just arbitrary numbers. The huge achievement will be an NC. That would check the last box on Paige's resume for the mountain, although 3 years from now I hope we'll be having a very interesting debate on who Sarah replaces on said mountain.

 

[MilfordHusky]

Update after Saturday's game:

Paige .535/.395/.890

Azzi .476/.439/.889.

 

[MilfordHusky]

After Sunday's game:

Paige .537/.398/.891.

Azzi .475/.438/.909.