KU effective shooting in 2000-01

By J-W Staff Reports     Mar 27, 2001

This was a gang that COULD shoot straight.

Kansas University’s men’s basketball shot 50.2 percent during the 2000-01 season. No KU team had shot over 50 percent since the 1992-93 NCAA Final Four team had a .515 shooting percentage.

Also, the Jayhawks shot .394 from three-point range and that was also the highest team percentage since 1992-93.

Four of KU’s regulars shot better than 50 percent, led by Nick Collison’s blistering .597 percentage the highest by a Jayhawk since Richard Scott shot 60.8 percent in 1992-93.

Also at or above 50 percent were Kenny Gregory (.567), Drew Gooden (.516) and Kirk Hinrich (.500).

Hinrich’s percentage was slightly higher from three-point range. The 6-foot-3 sophomore made 55 of 109 three-point attempts for a school-record 50.5 percent. The previous three-point mark was 48.6 percent (69 of 142) by Jeff Gueldner in 1990.

KU’s three-point records are based on a minimum of two attempts per game.

Hinrich also was credited with 229 assists during the Jayhawks’ 26-7 season and that number ranks No. 4 on KU’s season list. Moreover, Hinrich was the team’s best free throw shooter at 84.3 percent (91 of 108).

KU finished with a team free throw percentage of .659 after missing 17 of 35 charities against Illinois in the NCAA Midwest Regional semifinals. Opponents shot 68.0 percent at the foul line.

Gooden edged Gregory for team-scoring honors. Gooden, a 6-10 soph, averaged 15.8 points in 28 games while Gregory averaged 15.6 in 30 games. Gooden also topped the Jayhawks in rebounding with an 8.4 average. Eric Chenowith was second at 7.6.

Gregory put up his best career numbers during his senior year with the 15.6 scoring average and a 7.3 rebound average. His previous points-rebounds highs were 12.8 as a junior and 4.7 as a sophomore.

Still, Gregory had the dubious distinction of concluding his KU career with a 43.8 free throw percentage, the lowest by a regular during Roy Williams’ 13 years at Kansas. The previous low was 45.7 by Scott (1990-1994).

Chenowith posted 9.5 and 7.6 scoring and rebounding numbers as a senior. The 7-1 Californian’s best season was two years ago when he averaged 13.5 points and 9.1 rebounds. Chenowith shot 45.7 percent this season and 45.3 for his career.

Kansas was deficient in two statistical categories in 2000-01. The Jayhawks had 36 more turnovers than their opponents and 82 fewer steals.

An indication of KU’s lack of depth can be found in the minutes-played category. Three players logged an average of more than 30 minutes a game Jeff Boschee 33.3, Hinrich 32.7 and Gregory 31.6. Boschee was the team leader last year at 25.9.

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