Point to ponder on Seth Greenberg

[Jim Johnson]

Okay... I know that this is one of those "dead horse" topics on this board... but not to bash Seth... just consider this:

USF Free Throw Shooting under Greenberg (7 seasons): 62.8%

(Low: 59.0% - 98-99, High: 66.8% - 96-97)

USF Free Throw Shooting under Pascal (9 seasons): 67.2

(Low: 62.5% - 88-89, High: 71.2% - 90-91)

Pascal had 4 seasons higher than Greenberg's highest - and only 1 season below 65%.  

Greenberg only had 2 seasons above 65% 3 below Pascal's lowest.

Why is this important??

The 4.4% difference would have resulted in about 1 point per game more for Seth... who knows if that would have changed any games... (14 of Seth's 100 losses were by 3 points or less)

1997-98 - @ Memphis (L 59-60)

1997-98 - @ Tulane (L 61-63)

1998-99 - @ Cleveland State (L 69-67)

1998-99 - @ Southern Miss (L 58-60)

1998-99 - vs UAB (L 64-67)

1999-00 - vs Marqutte (L 60-61)

1999-00 - vs Memphis (L 58-60 in C-USA Tournament)

2000-01 - @ Utah State (L 66-69 in Top of the World Classic)

2000-01 - @ Wisconsin (L 61-63)

2000-01 - vs Charlotte (L 74-7 in C-USA Tournament)

2001-02 - vs Charlotte (L 78-81)

2002-03 - @ Wright State (L 68-69)

2002-03 - @ Houston (L 57-59)

2002-03 - @ Tulane (L 65-68)

In 1998-99, the team shot 59.0% from the charity stripe... lost three games by 3 or less and two others by 5.  Had the team shot 67.2% - it would have meant 1.9 more points per game.  USF finished that year 14-14... change those 5 games and the record becomes 19-9 -- and probably into March Madness.

In 2000-01, the team shot 60.2% from free throw line... lost three games by 3 points or less and two others by less than 6.  Had the team shot 67.2% - it would have meant 1.5 more points per game.  USF finished that year 18-13.. changes those 5 games and the record becomes 23-8 -- and a 2nd trip to March Madness.  

Free throws are a very basic part of the fundamentals of basketball -- if a coach can't teach free throws, he can not teach any other fundamentals (like preventing turnovers, personal fouls, disqualifications, etc). [This is why I am a Seth-hater... and why I think McCullum will be better... discipline is part of the fundamentals.]

Yes, my friends, free throws really are important.

Go Bulls! Beat the Lumberjacks!

[WoolyBully]

Sooo....you've really hit a lot of slack time at the office as of late, huh?  

[beastiebull]

the flip side of this is that Seth brought a team with no tradition and limitied succes to the cusp of the NCAA's in the toughest conference the program ever played in.

[smazza]

it is time to let go of the  seth thing

[bulls96go]

quit already

[TripleB]

I thought the Seth threads were to be moved to the Big East board ..........??

[Brad]

You have a valid point... except either you can shoot free throws or you can't. Look at Shaq...

[Brad]

Okay Sheriff, let go of my name....

[The Sheriff]

sorry... didn't realize it initially.

[Velcro]

ahh, i thought that was bulliever and his multiple personality disorder at work