menu
Logo
99+
Bobcat Attack Menu
Logo
99+
Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: A couple of fun stats/facts
Page: 1 of 1
Kevin Finnegan
General User
KF
Member Since: 2/4/2005
Location: Rockton, IL
Post Count: 1,214
person
mail
Kevin Finnegan
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 2:43 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Going back to the 1950 season (where the schedule is available and results are reliable), this 13-2 start is the best in school history. That's remarkable, and congratulations to the team! The 2011-12 and the 1969-70 teams both started 13-3, but never a 13-2 start.

Also, one of the reasons we have been able to close out many of these victories has been because of the free throw shooting of Mark Sears. He is currently hitting 92.1% of his free throws on the season (82-89 this year). I went back to see the last time we had a 90% free throw shooter who averaged in double digits. The answer is...we haven't.

Since 1949-50 (though admittedly, the stats in the 1950's are less reliable), we have had 13 seasons where a player averaged over 85% from the line and had at least 10 ppg. By free throw success, they are:

1. 88.7% Nick Kellogg (15.5 ppg) 2013-14
2. 88.3% Jordan Dartis (12.6 ppg) 2016-17
3. 87.3% Bubba Walther (12.3 ppg) 2007-08
4. 87.0% Bubba Walther (12.4 ppg) 2006-07
5 (tie) 86.7% Javarez Willis (14.8 ppg) 2014-15
5 (tie) 86.7% Lewis Geter (18.1 ppg) 1990-91
5 (tie) 86.7% Kirk Lehman (12.3 ppg) 1981-82...one of two names I haven't heard on this board.
8. 86.3% Kenny Kaminski (12.6 ppg) 2015-16...I did not remember him being this reliable. That was a surprise.
9. 86.0% Dave Jamerson (19.0 ppg) 1988-89
10 (tie) 85.5% Tommy Freeman (10.5 ppg) 2009-10
10 (tie) 85.5% Geno Ford (18.7 ppg) 1996-97
12. 85.1% Dave Jamerson (17.3 ppg) 1987-88
13. 85.0% Scott Love (15.7 ppg) 1975-76...the other name I haven't heard before

There were a number of players (Stephen Coleman, Tommy Freeman again, Dan Aloi??, Robert Tatum, and Jordan Dartis again) who had seasons at 84.5-84.8% that would've rounded up to 85%.

So, if he can stay on his current pace, he could be our first double-digit scorer to average 90% from the line. He also could, if he can continue at his pace of the last couple of weeks, be the first Bobcat to average 20 ppg while shooting over 85% from the line. Mark Sears could be helping rewrite our record books quite impressively.

Currently, Mark Sears is 28th in the nation in scoring average. That's unbelievable. He has scored double-digits in every single game this year.
JSF
General User
Member Since: 1/29/2005
Location: Houston, TX
Post Count: 6,574
mail
JSF
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 2:59 PM
settings_applications edit_note
He has a legit shot at a 50/40/90 season! Incredible.
OU_Country
General User
Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,401
mail
OU_Country
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 3:14 PM
settings_applications edit_note
JSF wrote:expand_more
He has a legit shot at a 50/40/90 season! Incredible.
Totally agree. He's worth the price of a ticket to watch all by himself.
bobcatsquared
General User
B
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 5,845
person
mail
bobcatsquared
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 4:45 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Great job, Kevin. Thanks.

You might want to take one more closer look. It appears you left off a name from the late 1970s/early 1980s, Jim Zalenka.
brucecuth
General User
B
Member Since: 12/21/2004
Post Count: 1,855
person
mail
brucecuth
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 5:03 PM
settings_applications edit_note
"5 (tie) 86.7% Kirk Lehman (12.3 ppg) 1981-82...one of two names I haven't heard on this board."

If you go back far enough, and I don't know that the archives do, you'll find mention of Kirk coaching his alma mater, Defiance HS, to the D-2 state championship in 2015.

He retired after the 2020 season with 428 victories at 3 HS coaching stops.
cc-cat
General User
C
Member Since: 4/5/2006
Location: matthews, NC
Post Count: 4,015
person
mail
cc-cat
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 5:10 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Look beyond to the conference

ft%

Season: .926 - Darryl Roberts (UA), 75-81, 2008-09 (note - only 81 attempts)

Career: .890 - David Kool (WMU), 605-690, 2006-10
Kevin Finnegan
General User
KF
Member Since: 2/4/2005
Location: Rockton, IL
Post Count: 1,214
person
mail
Kevin Finnegan
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 5:20 PM
settings_applications edit_note
bobcatsquared wrote:expand_more
Great job, Kevin. Thanks.

You might want to take one more closer look. It appears you left off a name from the late 1970s/early 1980s, Jim Zalenka.
Jim Zalenka, according to Sports Reference (www.sports-reference.com/cbb ), never had 10 ppg nor did he ever shoot above (or even close to) 85% from the line.

Jim Zalenka:
77-78: 3.2 ppg, 57.1% from the line
78-79: 4.5 ppg, 72.2% from the line
79-80: 7.9 ppg, 67.9% from the line
80-81: 6.5 ppg, 63.4% from the line
cc-cat
General User
C
Member Since: 4/5/2006
Location: matthews, NC
Post Count: 4,015
person
mail
cc-cat
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 5:40 PM
settings_applications edit_note
JSF wrote:expand_more
He has a legit shot at a 50/40/90 season! Incredible.
Appears 50/40/80 has never been done in the MAC. He's a touch under on fg%

https://getsomemaction.com/sports/2014/6/20/MBB_062014424...
SBH
General User
SBH
Member Since: 12/20/2004
Post Count: 4,677
person
mail
SBH
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 6:12 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Kevin Finnegan wrote:expand_more
Great job, Kevin. Thanks.

You might want to take one more closer look. It appears you left off a name from the late 1970s/early 1980s, Jim Zalenka.
Jim Zalenka, according to Sports Reference (http://www.sports-reference.com/cbb ), never had 10 ppg nor did he ever shoot above (or even close to) 85% from the line.

Jim Zalenka:
77-78: 3.2 ppg, 57.1% from the line
78-79: 4.5 ppg, 72.2% from the line
79-80: 7.9 ppg, 67.9% from the line
80-81: 6.5 ppg, 63.4% from the line
I recall being very disappointed in Z's precipitous decline in his senior year. Que Sera...
IceCat76
General User
IC76
Member Since: 12/5/2016
Location: Byfield, MA
Post Count: 301
person
mail
IceCat76
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 6:39 PM
settings_applications edit_note
I believe Scott Love was part of the same recruiting class as Walter Luckett, Bob Huggins and George Green. Scott was younger brother of Craig Love who was drafted by the Buffalo Braves out of OU.
Lande71
General User
L71
Member Since: 9/19/2010
Post Count: 275
person
mail
Lande71
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 9:05 PM
settings_applications edit_note
IceCat76 wrote:expand_more
I believe Scott Love was part of the same recruiting class as Walter Luckett, Bob Huggins and George Green. Scott was younger brother of Craig Love who was drafted by the Buffalo Braves out of OU.
Disagree. Pretty sure Scott Love and George Green came in together and started school fall of 1971. Walter came in a year later.
Victory
General User
V
Member Since: 3/11/2012
Post Count: 2,519
person
mail
Victory
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 9:41 PM
settings_applications edit_note
In what is probably a random irrelevant stat, when Sears, Carter, or Brown leads us in scoring we are undefeated. When it is BVP we are winless. Well, maybe it isn't 100% random. With Wilson out we are not a physical team and a good way to get points against top notch bigs is for BVP to take outside shots.
RSBobcat
General User
Member Since: 8/23/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,504
mail
RSBobcat
mail
Posted: 1/12/2022 10:55 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Sears 295 TTL Pts TY, 82 Pts are FT's (I think #2 TTL FT Pts in the country), that is 27.7% of his TTL scoring.

And those FT's have been a Key to OHIO pulling out wins in many games as he get's fouled and then to the line late in games.
Victory
General User
V
Member Since: 3/11/2012
Post Count: 2,519
person
mail
Victory
mail
Posted: 1/18/2022 9:15 PM
settings_applications edit_note
Victory wrote:expand_more
In what is probably a random irrelevant stat, when Sears, Carter, or Brown leads us in scoring we are undefeated. When it is BVP we are winless. Well, maybe it isn't 100% random. With Wilson out we are not a physical team and a good way to get points against top notch bigs is for BVP to take outside shots.
This weird oddity is definitely no longer true.
LuckySparrow
General User
Member Since: 10/16/2012
Location: IL
Post Count: 1,814
mail
LuckySparrow
mail
Posted: 1/18/2022 9:32 PM
settings_applications edit_note
That's a great post. Thanks for putting that together for us.

Was thinking about Kaminski just the other day.
The Optimist
General User
Member Since: 3/16/2007
Location: CLE
Post Count: 5,610
mail
The Optimist
mail
Posted: 1/19/2022 12:32 AM
settings_applications edit_note
RSBobcat wrote:expand_more
Sears 295 TTL Pts TY, 82 Pts are FT's (I think #2 TTL FT Pts in the country), that is 27.7% of his TTL scoring.

And those FT's have been a Key to OHIO pulling out wins in many games as he get's fouled and then to the line late in games.
Sears ability to get to the line late in the game reminds me of Armon Bassett's 2010 MAC Tournament. I'll have to go look up the specifics, but I recall him drawing lots of fouls and hitting his free throws at a very high percentage which was a big part of him winning tournament MVP.

Edit:
Armon shot 81% from the line for the full season. His tournament % was higher but still below 85... The volume getting to the line is what is inpressive.

MAC 1st vs Ball State: 11-13
MAC quarters vs Kent: 16-16
MAC semis vs Miami: 15-18
MAC finals vs akron: 7-12

Georgetown: 9-10
Tennessee:2-6

Sears is head and shoulders more accurate than everyone else which is crazy
Last Edited: 1/19/2022 12:44:09 AM by The Optimist
RSBobcat
General User
Member Since: 8/23/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,504
mail
RSBobcat
mail
Posted: 1/19/2022 1:04 AM
settings_applications edit_note
The Optimist wrote:expand_more
Sears 295 TTL Pts TY, 82 Pts are FT's (I think #2 TTL FT Pts in the country), that is 27.7% of his TTL scoring.

And those FT's have been a Key to OHIO pulling out wins in many games as he get's fouled and then to the line late in games.
Sears ability to get to the line late in the game reminds me of Armon Bassett's 2010 MAC Tournament. I'll have to go look up the specifics, but I recall him drawing lots of fouls and hitting his free throws at a very high percentage which was a big part of him winning tournament MVP.

Edit:
Armon shot 81% from the line for the full season. His tournament % was higher but still below 85... The volume getting to the line is what is inpressive.

MAC 1st vs Ball State: 11-13
MAC quarters vs Kent: 16-16
MAC semis vs Miami: 15-18
MAC finals vs akron: 7-12

Georgetown: 9-10
Tennessee:2-6

Sears is head and shoulders more accurate than everyone else which is crazy
!!!
Kevin Finnegan
General User
KF
Member Since: 2/4/2005
Location: Rockton, IL
Post Count: 1,214
person
mail
Kevin Finnegan
mail
Posted: 1/19/2022 11:20 AM
settings_applications edit_note
Another fun fact...Bobcats are now tied for the 4th longest winning streak in school history after extending the streak to nine games last night. Here are our longest winning streaks as a school:

1. 13 games in 1993-94--Gary Trent led the Bobcats to 13 straight wins on a team that included junior Jeff Boals. First win of the streak came on Feb 2 in a blowout win over Kent State (Bobcats were coming off a 1-point loss at Toledo). They wouldn't lose again until the NCAA tournament on March 18, falling to #18 Indiana. 44 days of winning.

2 (tied). 11 games in 1985-86--On January 29th, a team with Robert Tatum, Dave Jamerson and 'Snoop' Graham won over Western Michigan (again a streak starting after a loss at Toledo, by two points here). They would run off 11 straight before dropping a conference tournament game to Ball State 93-69 on March 7. 37 days of winning.

2 (tied). 11 games in 1959-60--Probably the most surprising on the list because the team only finished 16-8, but they did run off 11 in a row from January 5 through February 20. The streak started...you guessed it, after a loss at Toledo, but by 10 points this time. During the streak, the Bobcats did defeat Toledo in Athens when the Rockets were ranked #12 in the nation. The streak ended with a loss to hated Miami 88-74. That Bobcat team did get back on track to defeat Notre Dame in the NCAA tournament. 46 days of winning.

4 (now tied with current streak). 9 games in 2011-12--This is the winningest team in Bobcat history, with 29 wins and a Sweet Sixteen. The streak started after a loss to #7 Louisville (not Toledo this time). However, the streak featured some less than impressive competition at times, including Marietta, North Carolina A&T, and Portland. Streak ended against Robert Morris. Streak lasted from November 30th to December 30th. 30 days of winning.

Current streak of 9 games has the Bobcats off to their best start ever at 14-2. The Bobcats last lost on December 1st at LSU. First win of the streak came in the least impressive of the games on the streak, a 3-point win over St. Francis on December 4th. Today is the 47th day in a row that the team has been winning (starting on December 4th, 2021). That will go to 48 tomorrow. That makes this the longest in calendar days winning streak ever for the Bobcats, though not the longest in consecutive wins. Whether it continues past that will be determined in the Convo on Friday. This streak would have had the possibility of being at 11 right now had OHIO held court against Eastern Michigan and on the road against Central Michigan in the two COVID cancelled games.
Showing Messages: 1 - 18 of 18
reply
vertical_align_top
vertical_align_center
vertical_align_bottom
add_comment
MAC News Links



extra small (< 576px)
small (>= 576px)
medium (>= 768px)
large (>= 992px)
x-large (>= 1200px)
xx-large (>= 1400px)