http://www.huskiewire.com/articles/2010/.../index.xml

Quote:Over the past five games, NIU has shot 71 percent from the free-throw line. However, that includes Xavier Silas making 41 of 46 freebies over that stretch. Take Silas out, and the rest of the team is 35 of 61, or 57.3 percent. That's better than where the Huskies have been in the past year, but still nowhere near where they want to be.

Quote:It's why "Beat Bubba" came to life and why earlier in the season Silas called for extra free throw shooting practices with his teammates.

Quote:"Part of being a good free throw shooting team is the right people getting to the free throw line," Patton said. "The other night, in the game, ... if you just took Silas out of the equation, that's 3 for 9. It still would have been a poor free throw shooting night.

"Typically what makes you a good free throw shooting team is you've got guys that can shoot the ball."

Those last parts made me laugh

Then don't let the bad free throw players touch the ball down the stretch. If I am the other team, I am waiting for Silas to give up the ball then foul.

OK coaches. It's a situation where we are winning and the other team begins fouling to try to get the ball back, or in hopes we miss or only make one free throw so they can score and make up ground. Considering that they are probably putting some pressure on us, that we still need to defend and at least make them run some clock even if they do score, and that we are going to have to hit free throws........... Who do you have on the court? For this we have to ignore the idea of who had played well up to that point in the game and also pretty much ignore who else the opponents have out on the court (although it is probably a smaller, pressing aggressive and shooting team). Just based on your perceptions of watching them play and the free throw shooting below, for fun, what would your lineup on the court be?

13 SILAS, Xavier 48-61 .787
32 ANDERSON, Darion 34-48 .708
41 KOWAL, Sean 12-35 .343
11 DINUNNO, Mike 12-20 .600
25 NIXON, Tony 3-7 .429
0 FAKUADE, Michael 22-38 .579
1 HALL, Bryan 7-12 .583
30 FISHER, Lee 16-29 .552
4 PATTON, Michael 2-2 1.000
2 ERVIN, Najul 4-12 .333
44 STORM, Tyler 5-7 .714
24 LANDERS, Jeremy 3-6 .500
15 DZEPINA, Ante 3-5 .600
22 PEASTER, Justin 1-2 .500
10 SMITH, Keith 0-2 .000

After Silas and Jake it's pretty much a crap shoot.

DiNunno, Patton and Storm?

Probably take out one of those 3 depending on the size / athleticism of the other team, how they are playing that day and put Fakaude or Ervin in. That way if there is a turnover you still have an athletic big man in to possibly get a rebound / fill the paint and prevent any easy shots. He can throw the ball in too.

If the other team is waiting for Silas to give the ball up they'd probably be out of luck. I don't see that happening unless it's to Anderson and he's wide open.

One possibility is Patton, Anderson, Silas, Storm all based on percentage , and Fakaude/Kowal (both been shooting free throws poorly but have a chance to hit one so pick one). They could hopefully defend and rebound enough while still being an effective offensive group. If you didn't want Storm in there then you'd have to go with another big guy and not pass them the ball to get fouled.

If it is really late and we just flat out need to hit free throws while not worrying as much about stops on their end I'd go with Patton, DiNunno (if he's willing to pass the ball and not hang on to it until he gets fouled), Anderson, Silas and Storm. I'd feel good that this group would hit any 8/10 free throws and could defend long enough to run 10-12 seconds off the clock on defense (even though Silas and Storm could be overmatched inside) and could pass/dribble the ball without turning it over. After all, it would be late in the game and all we need to do is match their baskets with free throw makes.

Bottom line is, Silas should have the ball in his hands as much as possible. Even if he has to go take it out of his own guy's hands. He has proven he can hit the clutch free throws. Nobody else has yet.

I shot two free throws the other day on the court at the Convo, made one. SIGN ME UP!!!!

(01-13-2010 02:25 PM)armour248 Wrote:  After Silas and Jake it's pretty much a crap shoot.

DiNunno, Patton and Storm?

+1
Landers did come through last night.