Basketball is one of the sports with plenty of stats available, even at the Division II college basketball level. Here are some interesting and somewhat obscure statistical trends from both Fort Lewis College basketball teams so far this season.
Each team has over 15 games remaining in their regular season schedule. Will these statistical trends continue to matter over the next few months? Some probably won’t and some will. Regardless, keep an eye on them.
Men’s basketball:
Since senior forward Chuol Deng has become the sixth man, FLC is 3-0, including a 76-69 win over No. 8 ranked West Texas A&M. In that span, Deng is averaging 19 points, 10 rebounds and is shooting 60% from the field (18-30).
Deng has looked much more comfortable coming off the bench and the stats back it up. He hasn’t rushed as many shots and has shot higher-percentage looks.
His rebounding has improved and so has his shot-blocking. Deng has Division I-level talent; sitting for the first few minutes of each game and getting a feel for the game has helped him use that talent better.
FLC men’s basketball head coach Jordan Mast hasn’t been afraid to change up his starting lineups, with nine players starting a game this season. It’ll be interesting to see if he thinks Deng can continue this form in the starting lineup or if he’ll continue to come off the bench.
The Skyhawks are 4-0 when senior guard Biko Johnson has at least five assists.
Johnson has been playing some of his best basketball recently and his recent Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week award is evidence of that.
While Johnson’s scoring sticks out, his playmaking may be underrated. When Johnson sets the table for his teammates, it gets his teammates more comfortable in the offense and the game. It also takes some pressure off fifth year guard Tru Allen and his playmaking responsibilities.
Expect Johnson to continue to play make for his teammates as the season goes on and Johnson gets more focus from FLC’s RMAC opponents.
When Tru Allen shoots better than 40%, the Skyhawks are 6-0.
Allen came into this season as one of the more accomplished transfers on the FLC roster. But shooting struggles from all over the court plagued Allen as he began the season with his new team.
In FLC’s first two games in Florida, Allen went a combined 5-24 and the Skyhawks lost both of those games. He also struggled in the Skyhawks’ loss to MSU Denver and went 2-13 from the field.
Allen has found more of his shooting stroke lately as he and the coaching staff have better identified where Allen can thrive from on the court.
When FLC shoots 35% or better from 3-point range, it's 4-0.
This is one of the less surprising statistical trends for FLC in today’s 3-point shooting-dependent style of basketball.
Allen, Johnson and Deng have all had shooting slumps at times this season. Freshman guard AJ Riggs wasn’t getting time early in the season but has shot 7-11 from downtown in FLC’s last two wins.
A lot of 3-point shooting woes come down to a new team learning how to set each other up for good looks. The Skyhawks might’ve figured this out as FLC has shot at least 35% from deep in its current three-game winning streak.
The Skyhawks have less than 12 assists in all five of their losses.
Mast emphasized with his team the importance of sharing the basketball and this statistical trend shows why. The Skyhawks have some good isolation players like Allen, Johnson and Deng but these players weren’t efficient enough early in the season to lead FLC to wins.
Allen and Johnson specifically have started to set their teammates up for success more recently. This comes from building trust within the group and understanding Mast’s offense better.
Johnson, Allen and Deng each average more than 12 points per game. They’ll be highlighted on every scouting report and will need to set up their teammates for FLC to be successful going forward.
Women’s basketball:
FLC lost the rebounding battle in all three of its wins and won it in three of its losses.
Skyhawks women’s basketball head coach Lauren Zuniga has emphasized rebounding the basketball and said it’s one of her keys to victory. So far, this hasn’t been the case.
FLC has been outrebounded in its three wins by an average of 4.3 rebounds per game. That’s a pretty small margin. A reason for this statistical trend could be since FLC is making more shots in its wins, there are less offensive rebounds available for the Skyhawks.
Regardless of the reason, it’s an odd trend so far and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Skyhawks winning the rebounding battle results in wins going forward.
The Skyhawks are 1-8 overall when they fail to score more than 65 points.
Offense has been a struggle for the women’s basketball team and this statistical trend backs it up. FLC’s lone win when it scored less than 65 points was the 53-47 win over Northern New Mexico in the season-opener.
FLC’s offense is a work in progress as the roster and rotations have changed throughout the season as Zuniga has tried to find the winning group. As the team’s familiarity with each other and the offensive sets grow, Skyhawks fans will hope the scoring does too.
The Skyhawks are 0-4 when junior guard Deniece Ryan scores 15 points.
Ryan’s season-high in points is 15 and she’s done it four times. Strangely, FLC has lost all four of those games.
It could be bad luck that her teammates’ shots aren’t falling on the same Ryan’s are. Another reason could be when FLC has been down, Ryan has taken too much of the burden to score instead of getting her teammates involved.
This trend is unlikely to continue because when a quality player scores the ball very well, there’ll be at least a couple of wins over a full season.
FLC is 3-0 when senior guard Livia Knapp plays less than 31 minutes. The Skyhawks are 0-4 when Knapp scores 10+ points.
Knapp has had an up-and-down season for FLC. As the most experienced guard on the team, Knapp has had at least three turnovers in every game. She’s showcased a good 3-point shot and is shooting 36% from deep. Knapp also has a nice pullup jump shot and can get to the basket.
Zuniga has trusted Knapp to run FLC’s offense and easily leads the team in minutes. When she’s played less than 31 minutes, Knapp could’ve been less tired and made better decisions with the ball. Or that statistical trend is an anomaly that will end soon.
Knapp’s increased scoring tied with none of FLC’s wins is an interesting trend. It’s possible she’s taken too much of the burden to score instead of getting her teammates involved when FLC’s been down.
Whatever the reason may be or if there’s a reason at all, Knapp is an important player for FLC if it doesn’t want to finish near the bottom of the RMAC.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
