Considering the transfer of John Walton, heart surgery to Giplaye, lingering injury to Lukas Poderis and the inability of top recruit O’Field to qualify – this season was better than expected. The team fought, scrapped and improved through the season in many ways. Newcomers A.J. Merriweather and Jalen Riley brought skills, energy and swagger. Most individuals showed some strong improvement over last year – including Rashawn Rembert, KGG, Petey McClain and, in the last 1/3 of the season, Lester Wilson. Especially in areas like free throw shooting, 3 point shooting and ballhandling.
Is a 4th place finish in the ASun ‘good enough’? Hell, no. But given the situation at the beginning of the season, producing like the Bucs did was a real achievement.
Games like SFA, Marshall, Valparaiso, the win over FGCU and the tournament win over Lipscomb were a lot of fun.
The Bucs did some things better than they ever have in 3 point shooting, free throw shooting and turnovers.
They were especially strong
free throw shooters making 18.7 per game 656-877 for a .748 percentage. That appears to be the most makes ever, and was 17th in the country.
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...t/team/633
.748 was also the 22nd best in the country, and the best percentage ever for the Bucs, slightly better than 1989-90 (500-674 for .742) or 1983-84 (408-548 for .745). It was more makes but slightly fewer per game than 1991-92 (19 per game: 589-634 for .706 over 31 games).
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...t/team/150
http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/scho...see-state/
They were also historically low in
turnovers – 11.7 per game compared to 14.0 for opponents, a +2.3 turnover margin. That was the 36th best turnover margin in the country.
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...t/team/519
The turnover per game figure appears to be the best ever for the Bucs – although turnover figures are not as complete and do not go as far back as some stats. But the turnover margin has been better a couple of times: +3.7 in 2011-12 (Sheldon Cooley), +3.9 in 1993-94 (Trazel Silvers), +4.5 for Wadood, Smith and Fields in 2003-2004; and +5.9 per game for the great English/Talford/Niblett/Dennis team in 1991-92.
They made 7.9
threes per game, 40th in the country.
http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men...t/team/153 Over 35 games they were 275-758 for a .363 percentage. That’s good, the second most makes ever by the Bucs, and the best percentage since the fine shooting James Anthony/Travis Strong/Tim Smith/Sam Oatman team shot .372 in 2004-2005. But not as good percentagewise as the golden years: 1990-91 (293-724 for .405 - the only Bucs team with more total made 3's), 1989-1990 (249-613 for .406) or 1988-89 (206-496 for .413). Those teams were stuffed with great shooters like Jennings, English, Talford, Pelphrey, West and Geer.
I was certainly glad to make the trips to games this year, and am looking forward to next year.