In our continuing effort to look forward to better days, we'll be bringing you one fun fact about the Cougar basketball team (almost) each day until the season officially tips off on Nov. 15. Some will be silly, some will be serious, but all will be vital to your knowledge as a Cougar basketball fan.
Did you know ...
... that the Cougs were the 33rd best team in the country at keeping opponents off the free throw line last year? Their 28.4 percent free throw rate was also best in the Pac-10.
That's a great thing, because the Bennett defense is predicated on keeping the opponent in front of you and then making them shoot contested shots over you. When you combine that with the fact that the the Cougs' effective field goal percentage was 43rd-best nationally -- meaning they were exceptionally good at preventing made shots from the floor, too -- you've got the makings of a darn good defense.
In the 2007-08 Cougs' case, the seventh best in the country.
Hat tip to KenPom.com.