Some highlights from the individual KenPom rankings

by Grady Clapp on Dec 15, 2009 10:12 PM PST

Did you know...

Klay Thompson is seventh nationally in the percentage of shots he takes relative to the rest of his team? Klay fires off 37% of all Cougar shot attempts.

DeAngelo Casto is 31st nationally in block percentage? I know, that's not very surprising. He was 41st last year as a freshman. But still cool.

Reggie Moore is 16th nationally in free throw rate? Again, not a huge shock. However, he's also 69th nationally with a 127.5 offensive rating. For comparison, Klay Thompson is 257th at 118.4.

And the real surprise...

Marcus Capers is 17th nationally in free throw rate. One behind his teammate. Wow.

It's very early and small sample size, grain of salt blah blah blah. We're just having some fun with numbers telling us some things we already know (Klay Thompson and Reggie Moore are beasts offensively, Casto swats everything), and some things we didn't (Marcus Capers may actually provide some offense after all, by getting to the line).

And it was already brought up, but I love looking at our team page and seeing that our Cougars are the 333rd youngest team in the country. This team has some crazy upside. Of course the sports gods hate us, and so I'm sure the Pac-10 will peak in overall talent once again at the exact same time we do.

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The lesson here is simple

MY GOD REGGIE MOORE NEEDS TO TAKE MORE SHOTS.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 15, 2009 10:17 PM PST reply actions

And Capers isn't a complete offensive liability

Still, part of me wonders if Reggie isn’t experiencing an early Taylor Rochestie thing, where he scores more efficiently when he’s a distributor.

Check this out with Rochestie’s ORtg:

2007: 106.5
2008: 119.2
2009: 104.8

And, obviously, last year is when he shouldered more of the load of the offense.

by Grady Clapp on Dec 15, 2009 10:30 PM PST up reply actions

Not when you post a ridiculous FTR like that

You absolutely cannot fluke your way into that.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 15, 2009 10:37 PM PST up reply actions

I'd like to point out, again, that Reggie Moore wouldn't be here without KEN FREAKING BONE

Seriously, what a gift from a new coach making a first impression

by Brian Floyd on Dec 16, 2009 12:07 AM PST up reply actions

Great a high FTR for Capers. At least we know he will hit 60% of his FTs.

by ptowncoug3012 on Dec 16, 2009 12:29 PM PST reply actions

No trip to the free throw line is bad

Unless the player shoots <50% from there or it’s a late-game situation. A 60 percent FT shooter is still generating 6 points per ~5 possessions, or 1.2 points per possession when he’s fouled. That’s oustanding if that guy is getting to the line as much as Capers is.

That also should underscore why it’s so insanely important for Reggie Moore to take more shots. When you’re shooting ~90% from the line and getting fouled as much as he is? Oh my.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 16, 2009 1:10 PM PST up reply actions

Slow down math guy

60% doesn’t take into account him missing the front end of one and ones and absolutely killing a possession because of it.
Until Capers figures out his shot, it soon will become Hack a Capers.
I completely agree on Moore though. I can’t believe teams overlooked this guy in recruiting. I like Thames, but Moore is waaay more polished and I can’t fathom how TB overlooked this guy. I know, I know, Moore’s lack of consistent effort on D, but c’mon TB had to know that we were going to need more offense than just DC and KT.

by ptowncoug3012 on Dec 16, 2009 9:31 PM PST up reply actions

How many of those foul shots are the front end of a one-and-one?

Maybe a handful? That’s why I said ~5 possessions. But I’ll dig into his FT performance later this week in more detail to see what kind of value his FTs are truly bringing to the team.

CougCenter

by Jeff Nusser on Dec 16, 2009 10:40 PM PST up reply actions

Slow down negative guy.

Drawing fouls bring more value than just the free throws that come with them. Getting fouled is such an important part of basketball because it not only helps your team (through free throws and raising the chance that other guys, guys like Reggie Moore and Klay Thompson) but it also hurts the other team by bringing their players closer to disqualification. There is no way that Marcus Capers going to the free throw line at a ridiculous rate is hurting this team.

CougCenter WSU's second main blog

by Craig Powers on Dec 16, 2009 10:46 PM PST up reply actions