FalconBlog--Triumphs and Trials in the BGSU Falcon Nation

2003-2004 Statistical Review

With nothing better to do, I decided to take a quick review of the stats for the 2003-2004 team, comparing us to the overall conference.

Conference Review

Not surprisingly, we rank about the middle of the pack on most things. We were the classic average team. We beat the teams that finished below us, and pretty much lost to the teams above us. The season clearly indicates our place in the standings was a fair reflection of our performance.

Our team strength was FT%. We led the league with 77.5%. We also made the most FT's (548) but we played the more games than most of the teams in the league.

Scoring:

We were seventh in the league in scoring (70.8) and eighth in scoring defense (71.2). That left us eighth in scoring margin (-.4). As you will see below, that difference was almost solely at the free throw line.

Field Goals

We were sixth in FG% (44.8%), and third in FG% (42.4%). We made 720 FG's for the year and allowed 723.

Free Throws

As mentioned, we led the league in FT% (77.5%). Our opponents shot only 69.2%, but made more FT's than us (574-552), because they shot 118 more FT's than us…about four per game.

To follow up on another thread, a major part of Kevin Netter's production fall off is at the line. In 2002-2003, Netter shot 205 FTs in 29 games. This season, he shot 120 FT's in 31 games. He played only three minutes less per game this year than last.

3-Pointers

We were fifth in 3-FG% (36.8%), but 11th in defending the 3 (36.2%). We did make more 3's than our opponents (200-186).

Rebounding

We were 9th in rebounding (34.1) and fourth in allowing rebounds (33.0), for a margin of +1.1 (6th in MAC). Not surprisingly, we were 12th in offensive rebounds (10.39) but third in defensive rebounds (23.71).

Turnovers

Our 16.3 turnovers per game were 10th in the league. Just as bad, we created only 13.2 turnovers per game, which was 11th, and our margin (-3.13) was twelfth. Clearly, this is a major weakness for the team on both sides of the ball. We were last in steals (5.29)

Fouls

The league doesn't put fouls into its stats compilation, for understandable but kind of strange reasons. After all, penalties are tracked in football. However, I looked at each team individually, and you can figure it out.

Bottom line is, we were last in the MAC in fouls. Here is the breakout.

1. Kent 18.9/game
2. WMU 19.4/game
Akron 19.4/game
4. OU 19.7/game
5. Marshall 20.1/game
Miami 20.1/game
7. BSU 20.3/game
8. EMU 20.5/game
NIU 20.5/game
10. Buffalo 21.8/game
11. UT 22.2/game
12. CMU 22.4/game
13. BG 23.7/game

More than one extra foul per game from the next team, and nearly five between us and the league leaders. By the way, the stats on the BG website has us with 740 fouls and the stats on the MAC site have us with 735 fouls. Don't know what is up there, but I used the MAC since I was using that for everyone else.

Clearly, this is a problem. Whatever the cause, be it Coach, or our guys getting a "rep," or our guys just making more fouls (or a combination of the above), we fouled way too much. Its reflected in the FT's the opponents shot.

Individually, here are the league's bottom five.

1. Ricardo Thomas 3.933/game
2. Cameron Echols 3.931/game
3. Kevin Netter 3.84/game
4. Jordan, Buffalo guy 3.62/game

Now, we should pause a moment and think about what it takes to reach these lofty levels. This isn't like three-pointers, where a guy can pop up 15 in a weird game and drive his average up. You can't get more than five fouls. So, to nearly average four fouls a game, you need to be in that neighborhood nearly the entire season. You have to be really fouling to get an average that high.

Blocked Shots

We were second in blocked shots, but who really cares.

Two final notes.

First, we were last in the MAC in home attendance. Behind everyone. That is as big a sign of trouble as anything.

Second, Rosefelt gave up a year of eligibility to play 24 minutes.