Through its first bakers’ dozen of games, Kentucky has turned out to be one generous basketball team. No SEC outfit sends opponents to the free throw line more than the Cats. And it’s not even close.
UK’s foes are averaging 27.4 free throw attempts per game, 7.4 more than any other team in the conference. Plus, opponents have taken 99 more free throws than has Kentucky. That breaks down to 7.6 per game more than UK.
Here are the SEC stats:
- Team G Opp FTA PG Own Diff PG
- Auburn 12 170 14.2 209 39 3.3
- Florida 16 239 14.9 302 63 3.9
- S Carolina 15 244 16.3 224 -20 -1.3
- Vandy 16 279 17.4 413 134 8.4
- LSU 15 265 17.7 260 -5 -0.3
- Georgia 13 231 17.8 271 40 3.1
- Arkansas 14 250 17.9 319 69 4.9
- Miss St 14 254 18.1 291 37 2.6
- Alabama 16 292 18.3 304 12 0.8
- Ole Miss 14 279 19.9 265 -14 -1.0
- Tennessee 14 280 20.0 348 68 4.9
- Kentucky 13 356 27.4 257 -99 -7.6
I have to admit that I was “shocked” when I saw that Vandy was at the top of the list. Reminds me of the 1993 game against Vandy, when the recently crowned #1 ranked Wildcats went to Nashville and watched the Commodores shoot 43 FTA (hitting 36), while the #1 ranked team shot 19 (hitting 10).
Tom, I remember that game well. I thought Vandy shot closer to 60 FT’s, or maybe it just seemed like 60.
This team will continue to be outshot from the free throw line. Generally speaking, the more talented team shoots more FT’s. I think the descrepency is also indicative of the teams defensive struggles. Playing man to man will also inflate an opponents free throw attempts.
It doesn’t help that UK has to start fouling to keep it close (as they did with 6 minutes left in the Louisville game).
Ken,
Your recollection was similar to mine. I had to find the info at Jon Scott’s website. It did seem like they shot FT every time they had the ball.
It would be interesting – depressing? – to see the scoring differential from the free-throw line, too.
Ken – Saturday it may seem like 100 attempts for Vandy, though probably only 70!
“Gillispie took Kentucky by storm when he left Texas A&M to replace Smith in Lexington, epicenter of the mentally imbalanced basketball universe. That storm has turned into a hurricane of losses, including several embarrassing defeats.”
Twin Cities. Tubby 11-3.
Here are some more stats regarding fouls and production:
Crawford – 37 fouls, 35 ast
Bradley – 37 fouls, 40 ast
Meeks – 12 fouls, 6 ast
Jasper – 8 fouls, 6 ast, 10 pts
Porter – 29 fouls, 26 ast, 35 pts, 4 free throw attempts
Coury – 31 fouls, 36 reb, 37 pts, 6 free throw attempts