http://www.themercury.com/k-statesports/article.aspx?articleId=b7baf2c3a6f84397bdb6fcb7eeed72daPretty decent look at the Cats, breakdown of number differences from last year. 2 in particular really highlight some of our offensive problems.
K-State averaged 19.8 points off turnovers last season, while yielding 13.8 to its opponents. This year's team is averaging 17.7 points off turnovers, while giving up 14.75 points per game.
During Martin's time at K-State, some of the Wildcats' best offense has come in transition. Last year's team averaged 10.5 fast-break points per game, while giving up only five per contest to its opponents. This year, K-State has scored an average of just 8.8 per game in transition, while surrendering 6.6 fast-break points.
Manbeck makes those sound more insignificant than they really are. We are 3 points worse in points off turnovers (+6.0 last year compared to +2.95 this year) and over 3 points worse in fast break points as well (+2.2 this year compared to +5.5 last year). Its not that just that we are getting slightly less, but also our opponents getting slightly more. This leads to -6.35 PPG difference for this year's team in those 2 categories, and thats quite a bit.
Then there is the other stat that Manbeck is overlooking; points at the FT line. We are making 4 less per game this year (3 fewer trips), while our opponents are making 2 less per game (2 fewer trips). Again, doesn't seem like much, but its another -2 point difference added in; so now we're to over -8 points (net) difference per game. Yes, looking at stats on a per game basis isn't as accurate as a %-age basis, but I think overall it still shows the flaws in this team, especially on offense. Just one thing in isolation doesn't seem like much, but when you add up points off turnovers, fast break points, and points at the FT line we are a worse team, and it really doesn't take a huge drop to go from Top 10 to Top 40.
