Our Free Throw Shooting

[Griffman]

I was looking at our stats today and what jumped out at me was Mullins’ free throw attempts

He has attempted only 3 FT’s all season in 201 minutes played or an abysmal average of 1 FT every 67 minutes on the floor. Karaban is averaging a paltry FT every 20 minutes played. On the flip side, Solo gets to the line every 7 minutes and Demery every 8 minutes. Here is the breakdown of the players ( best shooters ) we need on the Free Throw Line:

MP FTM FTA Min/FTA

Mullins 201 3 3 67 minutes

Karaban 496 22 25 20 minutes

Demery 374 36 46 8 minutes

Ball 409 48 57 7 minutes

To his credit, Solo averaged a FT every 12 minutes last year and has it down to every 7 minutes. It’s quite evident that he’s much more aggressive driving to the hoop and drawing fouls.

Karaban on the other hand got to the line every 12 minutes last year so he has regressed quite a bit.

Our opponents are getting to the line 4 more times per game than us. Our fouling is another subject altogether for another thread but what do we need to do to get Mullins to the line more? I understand he’s playing within a system but by now I would have thought he would be more of a threat going to the basket and drawing the whistle. We know he had the stones to hit them after what he did at Kansas but he’s been to the line 1 time since that game.

Yes, it’s midseason and we are dominating so it’s not a big deal but the lack of Free Throws from Mullins is baffling.

 

[Tmac4468]

paltry

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I don’t have the numbers in front of me but it feels like our worst FT shooters tend to be the ones at the line most often - Malachi and some of the big boys. I have nothing to base that feeling off of, just vibes.

 

[Palatine]

Steve. Nash. Drill.

 

[imno1]

I was expecting “Sucks”

 

[Gurleyman]

Mullins took two at the end of the Kansas game when he was fouled on purpose after a defensive rebound. Everyone joked in the press conference how they knew he would make them since he never misses in practice in the "make them or run sprints" pressure drill.

I would really like to see more of this.

 

[uconngb]

I don’t have the numbers in front of me but it feels like our worst FT shooters tend to be the ones at the line most often - Malachi and some of the big boys. I have nothing to base that feeling off of, just vibes.

It seems that way for sure, but that's because they are the ones missing. Solo and Demary get to the line most frequently per minute, followed by Reed and Smith. As the OP pointed out, it sure would be nice if AK and Mullins got there more often. Smith unfortunately is going to be unplayable late in close games, so Silas had better learn how to control his foul trouble or that is going to be an achilles heel for us.

 

[ToolzieFan]

This got me wondering if our free throw attempt rate was lower than in our title years. It’s a little lower, but not by a concerning amount. Our free throw rate of 30.3 FTA per 100 FGA is fairly in line with recent years. Getting into the line has never been a huge part of a Dan Hurley offense. The percentage itself could be an issue, and would be improved if our best foul shooters got to the line a bit more often.

 

[Marat]

I don’t have the numbers in front of me but it feels like our worst FT shooters tend to be the ones at the line most often - Malachi and some of the big boys. I have nothing to base that feeling off of, just vibes.

This is the key. Maybe we can't really get some of the others to improve FTs signficantly, but having your best FT shooters getting to the line can be adjusted. Karaban, Solo, Mullins, and probably Demary need to be taking more FTs than others.

 

[Lafayette]

Solo FTs are not just driving. What about getting 3 for a foul while trying for a 3pt shot?

That is FT inflation if comparing to AK who more routinely gets fouled closer to the rim.

Also we need to understand which were 1 and 1 and which were in the double bonus.

While not calculus there is more to FT stats than just player vs player per minute.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

This got me wondering if our free throw attempt rate was lower than in our title years. It’s a little lower, but not by a concerning amount. Our free throw rate of 30.3 FTA per 100 FGA is fairly in line with recent years. Getting into the line has never been a huge part of a Dan Hurley offense. The percentage itself could be an issue, and would be improved if our best foul shooters got to the line a bit more often.
View attachment 115665

Yep, our offense is designed to get players clean looks in good areas of the court.

By default, we are not going to be going to the line a ton. Especially on shooting fouls.

 

[noelle]

a big part of the overall picture is higher FTr in college basketball overall. if the uconn offense is trying to generate clean looks rather than exploit the more 'offense friendly' foul calls they'd look worse by comparison. quotation marks because they don't seem to be calling more holds. the new foul calling meta is biased towards a certain drive centric playstyle.

 

[REB1094]

Our two guys that have shot the most FTs are some of our best. Solo and Silas have taken 38% of our FTs and are shooting 81.5% on them

Then it gets rough. Our next three are Tarris, Malachi, Reibe. They take 36% of our FTs and shoot 55%

Next is Karaban, he takes 9% of the FTs at 88%. Then Stewart, 7% at 61%. Nobody else has taken more than 5%

I assume Silas’ attempts will go up as he gets more comfortable and attacks more. Other than that, I don’t think playstyles will be adjusted according to FT%. Malachi just needs to make more, he was a career 74% shooter at Dayton so I don’t know why he’s suddenly barely 50%. Tarris’ form looks decent, he was 64% before injury and 69% after so maybe he keeps improving. Reibe’s FT shooting is probably a sophomore year project lol. Stewart’s form is really stiff but 61% is just way too low

 

[businesslawyer]

I was looking at our stats today and what jumped out at me was Mullins’ free throw attempts

He has attempted only 3 FT’s all season in 201 minutes played or an abysmal average of 1 FT every 67 minutes on the floor. Karaban is averaging a paltry FT every 20 minutes played. On the flip side, Solo gets to the line every 7 minutes and Demery every 8 minutes. Here is the breakdown of the players ( best shooters ) we need on the Free Throw Line:

MP FTM FTA Min/FTA

Mullins 201 3 3 67 minutes

Karaban 496 22 25 20 minutes

Demery 374 36 46 8 minutes

Ball 409 48 57 7 minutes

To his credit, Solo averaged a FT every 12 minutes last year and has it down to every 7 minutes. It’s quite evident that he’s much more aggressive driving to the hoop and drawing fouls.

Karaban on the other hand got to the line every 12 minutes last year so he has regressed quite a bit.

Our opponents are getting to the line 4 more times per game than us. Our fouling is another subject altogether for another thread but what do we need to do to get Mullins to the line more? I understand he’s playing within a system but by now I would have thought he would be more of a threat going to the basket and drawing the whistle. We know he had the stones to hit them after what he did at Kansas but he’s been to the line 1 time since that game.

Yes, it’s midseason and we are dominating so it’s not a big deal but the lack of Free Throws from Mullins is baffling.

Mullins doesn't go to the line because he keeps chucking up 3s without any attempt to fake a shot and get to the rim. I don't mean for it to sound that harsh -- he may end up hitting a high enough percentage that that makes sense statistically, but he's not going to get to the line shooting relatively open 3s before a defender even picks him up.

 

[navery12]

Mullins doesn't go to the line because he keeps chucking up 3s without any attempt to fake a shot and get to the rim. I don't mean for it to sound that harsh -- he may end up hitting a high enough percentage that that makes sense statistically, but he's not going to get to the line shooting relatively open 3s before a defender even picks him up.

Came here to post the same thing but just want to add one caveat to your post which reads as a bit harsh to me (maybe not how you meant it). Mullins actually has a very good shot fake and has used it a ton, he's just pulling up for wide open midrange shots so I don't think that's a negative aspect of his game

 

[businesslawyer]

Came here to post the same thing but just want to add one caveat to your post which reads as a bit harsh to me (maybe not how you meant it). Mullins actually has a very good shot fake and has used it a ton, he's just pulling up for wide open midrange shots so I don't think that's a negative aspect of his game

Was not trying to be harsh to you. Was being sort of harsh to Mullins who has really been settling in his shot selection way too much. Take good 3s, if someone is challenging your 3 put the damn ball on the floor and go to the rim like everyone else. And if you're not hitting 3s, it's fine to keep taking good 3s but stop chucking everything up.

The young man is uber talented. He started here as if he was also incredibly heady but I am wondering if that's really the case.

 

[Donyell 360]

Solo FTs are not just driving. What about getting 3 for a foul while trying for a 3pt shot?

That is FT inflation if comparing to AK who more routinely gets fouled closer to the rim.

Also we need to understand which were 1 and 1 and which were in the double bonus.

While not calculus there is more to FT stats than just player vs player per minute.

I'm pretty sure Malachi leads the team in missed front ends. I can think of at least 2 off the top of my head.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Improvement opportunity

 

[navery12]

Was not trying to be harsh to you. Was being sort of harsh to Mullins who has really been settling in his shot selection way too much. Take good 3s, if someone is challenging your 3 put the damn ball on the floor and go to the rim like everyone else. And if you're not hitting 3s, it's fine to keep taking good 3s but stop chucking everything up.

The young man is uber talented. He started here as if he was also incredibly heady but I am wondering if that's really the case.

That was my point though, I think he's been doing a great job of not forcing up bad shots. He consistently passes up decent looks when the defender is closing out hard with shot fakes and drives to the midrange to get a great look. He's not getting FTs but that's because he's hitting 15 footers instead of going to the rim. That's why I said you're coming across as harsh against Mullins, your description of him is just not a remotely accurate view of his game

 

[businesslawyer]

Was not trying to be harsh to you. Was being sort of harsh to Mullins who has really been settling in his shot selection way too much. Take good 3s, if someone is challenging your 3 put the damn ball on the floor and go to the rim like everyone else. And if you're not hitting 3s, it's fine to keep taking good 3s but stop chucking everything up.

The young man is uber talented. He started here as if he was also incredibly heady but I am wondering if that's really the case.

Am I allowed to make fun of myself? That analysis didn’t age well at all.