...going 21-26 and then 20-25, just an astonishing number of points from the line.
Part of the reason I think the good shooting will continue is the way FT shooting complements 3pt shooting--NBA scouts will tell you they have more confidence in a prospect's shooting if they're excellent from the FT but only avg or slightly below avg from deep, as high-level college FT shooting is a better predictor of NBA 3pt success, surprisingly enough.
That this team can go off from deep (while not attempting a huge number, typically), and is not only not being a liability at the line, but able to put up so many points...and throw in top-ten defense....these are the markings of a championship team. Taking the blue goggles off, it's hard for me to see anyone other than another one-seed ending this run (not that they can't lose to UCLA, just saying), and those teams should be rooting hard for someone to upset the other top-seed.
Part of the reason I think the good shooting will continue is the way FT shooting complements 3pt shooting--NBA scouts will tell you they have more confidence in a prospect's shooting if they're excellent from the FT but only avg or slightly below avg from deep, as high-level college FT shooting is a better predictor of NBA 3pt success, surprisingly enough.
That this team can go off from deep (while not attempting a huge number, typically), and is not only not being a liability at the line, but able to put up so many points...and throw in top-ten defense....these are the markings of a championship team. Taking the blue goggles off, it's hard for me to see anyone other than another one-seed ending this run (not that they can't lose to UCLA, just saying), and those teams should be rooting hard for someone to upset the other top-seed.
