Stats for Thought thru first 7 games

[JustbrewitMan]

Some interesting stats I noticed through first 7 games [most are good!]:

Individuals:

-After a cold first two games FG shooting overall and from beyond the arc (5/21 & 2/12), CV has shot 24/48 (50%) and 11/23 (48%) in the past 5 games

-CV has had the same # of TOs in the last 5 games as the first 2 games (9)

-AG is shooting 47% from 3pt range on a decent volume (15-32). Many have been beyond NBA 3pt range.

-As someone whose clear strength is driving the lane for dishes, layups, and getting to the FT line, Terrance Myth desperately needs to find a way to improve his FT shooting (11/21, 52%). His previous years indicate his ceiling is not high (~63% career FT on ~300 attempts), but even getting back to that level will be important given that he will probably be on the court near the end of close


Team:

-Although our team FT shooting has just been OK (70%), our 3 guards who play the highest minutes (JA, AG, CV) are shooting a combined 50/62 (81%)

-In 2018-19, we have essentially the same number of assists through the 1st 7 games (111) as we did through our first 12 games in 17-18. And there were 2 OT games mixed into those 12 games.

-Shot quality matters: We shot 171/419 (40.8%) thru 1st 7 games in 17-18; we have increased that to 227/458 (49.6%) in 18-19.

 

[Edward Sargent]

Good stuff - thanks

 

[firstnline]

I don't know what the stats are for steals and rebounds are but they seem to be way up.

 

[BFieldHusky]

-In 2018-19, we have essentially the same number of assists through the 1st 7 games (111) as we did through our first 12 games in 17-18. And there were 2 OT games mixed into those 12 games.

Wow.

 

[OkaForPrez]

-In 2018-19, we have essentially the same number of assists through the 1st 7 games (111) as we did through our first 12 games in 17-18. And there were 2 OT games mixed into those 12 games.

Wow.

While in undeniable that our ball movement is worlds better than it was last year, don't forget about the impact of pace of play in this statistic.

 

[AntG168]

How about Jalens efficiency? It’s been terrific

 

[auror]

AGs shot looks legit. He's made a couple that weren't just catch and shoot and slightly on the move.

-Shot quality matters: We shot 171/419 (40.8%) thru 1st 7 games in 17-18; we have increased that to 227/458 (49.6%) in 18-19.

A lot more layups for bigs and guards in transition and better 3pt shooting.

While in undeniable that our ball movement is worlds better than it was last year, don't forget about the impact of pace of play in this statistic.

We're still only 239th for assists per FGM. But we were 334 last year.

How about Jalens efficiency? It’s been terrific

He's been great in the paint and in transition. Quietly down to 32% shooting from 3, though.

 

[tcf15]

Only the first 7 games, but...

Josh Carlton is the only UConn player between the 2009-10 and 2018-19 seasons to be averaging at least 9 points and 4 rebounds per game in less than 25 minutes per game, and he's actually doing it in 18 minutes per game. He's averaging 21.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per 40 minutes.

Jalen Adams is only the second UConn player since the 1992-1993 season to be averaging at least 18 points on 14 FGA per game or less. The other player was 2013-14 Shabazz Napier.

Jalen Adams is only the second UConn player since the 1992-1993 season to average at least 18 points per game on at least .500 FG%. The other player was 1992-1993 Donyell Marshall (25.1 ppg on .512 FG%)

 

[GemParty]

What’s our 3point % comparison?

 

[Husky25]

-In 2018-19, we have essentially the same number of assists through the 1st 7 games (111) as we did through our first 12 games in 17-18. And there were 2 OT games mixed into those 12 games.

Wow.

This is not surprising. There was A LOT of isolation/clear out offense last year. I recall the 2nd assist in the win vs Oregon came well into the second half.

Last week, I pointed out that UConn would equal the number of games with 14 or more assists all of last year if they got that many vs Iowa. Spoiler Alert: They didn't (9), but they did vs UNH (14) and UM-L (22).

 

[Husky25]

What’s our 3point % comparison?

So far: 32.6% (17-18) vs. 35.1% (18-19)

 

[auror]

What’s our 3point % comparison?

So far: 32.6% (17-18) vs. 35.1% (18-19)

Should be noted we're about on par with 2 years ago from 3. We're actually currently getting the exact same percentage of points from 3s as we did 2 years ago (with Purvis and Jackson on the team), but our 2pt% is waaaay better than that year. On the other other hand, our FT% is the worst it's been since Drummond tanked it in 2012.

 

[Husky25]

Should be noted we're about on par with 2 years ago from 3. We're actually currently getting the exact same percentage of points from 3s as we did 2 years ago (with Purvis and Jackson on the team), but our 2pt% is waaaay better than that year. On the other other hand, our FT% is the worst it's been since Drummond tanked it in 2012.

Steve Nash drill, anyone?

 

[UconnU]

Steve Nash drill, anyone?

First we must teach the team how to properly draw fouls. Something, oddly, we are not very good at even with all this guard penetration.

 

[JustbrewitMan]

I don't know what the stats are for steals and rebounds are but they seem to be way up.

Steals - 58 vs. 46
OffRB - 95 vs. 63 (!!! - especially given that we're shooting so much better)
DefRB - 185 vs. 178

 

[firstnline]

Steals - 58 vs. 46
OffRB - 95 vs. 63 (!!! - especially given that we're shooting so much better)
DefRB - 185 vs. 178

Thanks for the stats. I knew they were up

 

[JustbrewitMan]

Only the first 7 games, but...

Josh Carlton is the only UConn player between the 2009-10 and 2018-19 seasons to be averaging at least 9 points and 4 rebounds per game in less than 25 minutes per game, and he's actually doing it in 18 minutes per game. He's averaging 21.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per 40 minutes.

Jalen Adams is only the second UConn player since the 1992-1993 season to be averaging at least 18 points on 14 FGA per game or less. The other player was 2013-14 Shabazz Napier.

Jalen Adams is only the second UConn player since the 1992-1993 season to average at least 18 points per game on at least .500 FG%. The other player was 1992-1993 Donyell Marshall (25.1 ppg on .512 FG%)

Impressive stuff for both Josh & Jalen. I probably should have put in a positive stat for Jalen in the OP; he's been so consistently efficient on offense which is what I expect from him as a senior star of the team.

 

[BlueMAB]

While in undeniable that our ball movement is worlds better than it was last year, don't forget about the impact of pace of play in this statistic.

You're not wrong, but the halfcourt offense is much improved. Not only are they actually passing with purpose, they're making the extra pass. Didn't see that often last year.

 

[BlueMAB]

First we must teach the team how to properly draw fouls. Something, oddly, we are not very good at even with all this guard penetration.

I believe Jalen intentionally avoids contact to preserve his body. While it's not beneficial to getting the other team in foul trouble, I think he wants to have a long and healthy career playing professionally, and while he isn't "small", it's a smart move. Banging into those big NBA bodies and ending up on the floor repeatedly can lead to more injuries, or at least take more of a toll. He's able to float around guys and finish, and his body will be better for it in the long run. Remember, he was playing 38 minutes/game last year.

 

[MexicoHusky]

It's official. KO was a lousy coach...

Now this is a thread!

 

[HawkHusky]

Should be noted we're about on par with 2 years ago from 3. We're actually currently getting the exact same percentage of points from 3s as we did 2 years ago (with Purvis and Jackson on the team), but our 2pt% is waaaay better than that year. On the other other hand, our FT% is the worst it's been since Drummond tanked it in 2012.

I've watched a lot of non-UConn basketball games so far this year. I don't think I've been impressed with FT% in a single one. It's pretty bizarre.

 

[auror]

I don't know what the stats are for steals and rebounds are but they seem to be way up.

Steals - 58 vs. 46
OffRB - 95 vs. 63 (!!! - especially given that we're shooting so much better)
DefRB - 185 vs. 178

We're in the top 50 of steal %. Only time in the 16 years we have done that was '14 (43rd) with Bazz, Boatright, and Kromah each above 3% steal rate. VItal is actually above 4% right now. Calhoun didn't believe in gambling for steals. We were often 250th or worse in that stat under him.

We're 22nd in the country in offensive rebounding % right now. Quite impressive considering we're not overwhelmingly large. Some of that is schedule and opponent (2 best teams we played used zone against us and then rest were tiny-sized unusually bad cupcakes). This is something Calhoun DID emphasize. We were in the top 25 every. single. year under Calhoun and often in the top 10. We were even in the top 5 6 times between '02 and '12, and then never in the top 100 with Ollie (as he had an NBA background that de-emphasizes offensive rebounding in favor of transition defense).

Defensive rebounding % is another story. Down in the 150s. Better than the last couple years and on par with Ollie's middle years. Calhoun's teams this decade struggled with this as well, but the Thabeet/Okafor teams were generally in the top 100 (and better in our best years during that span when we had multiple dominant bigs).

 

[Husky25]

(as he had an NBA background that de-emphasizes offensive rebounding in favor of transition defense).

What a damning statement. UConn's transition D was awful the last three years.

 

[RichZ]

-In 2018-19, we have essentially the same number of assists through the 1st 7 games (111) as we did through our first 12 games in 17-18. And there were 2 OT games mixed into those 12 games.

Wow.

A lot of that has to do with pace. A 90ppg team has more assist opportunities than a 70ppg team.

 

[tcf15]

Fast break points through 7 games in 2018-19: 120

2017-18: 44 in seven (hit 120 in game 18)

2016-17: 60 in seven (hit 120 in game 17)

2015-16: 90 in seven (hit 120 in game 11)

2014-15: 71 in seven (hit 120 in game 13)

2013-14: 65 in seven (hit 120 in game 12)

2012-13: 79 in seven (hit 120 in game 11)