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Message: [QUOTE="malpearl31, post: 5703549, member: 6520"] The only area in which JJ's shooting percentage went up this year was his 3-pt shooting. Here are his shooting stats for the past two seasons: 2024-25 - 2-pt FGs: 131-273 (48.0%); 3-pt FGs: 38-142 (26.8%); Free Throws: 87-127 (68.5%); TS% = 48.7% 2025-26 - 2-pt FGs: 111-239 (46.4%); 3-pt FGs: 24-83 (28.9%); Free Throws: 34-62 (54.8%); TS% = 46.7% The pro-JJ argument during/after last season was that he had to do more, you're right about that - his Usage Rate was 28.6% last year, and he attempted 31.8% of SU's shot attempts when he was on the floor. With Donnie being injured, and with last year's underwhelming supporting cast, JJ was definitely asked to do a lot - and you could argue his poor shooting numbers were a reflection of doing too much. But this year his Usage Rate was down... he was at 22.6% (and attempted 25.8% of SU's shots when he was on the floor)... and in general, you want to see an uptick in efficiency/shooting percentages when a player's usage rate goes down. In JJ's case, that did not happen. He was asked to do less, and unfortunately for Red and SU he was much less efficient while filling that smaller role. For me, the most telling statistic that sums up JJ's year is that he played 30 games - and made a total of just 34 free throws! And it's not like he was launching a lot of 3-pt FGs (which generally get you less FTAs than 2-pt FG attempts), his typical game this year involved a lot of weak forays into the paint for floaters/layup attempts that did not result in opponent fouls or FTAs for JJ. Early in the season, it was discussed on this board that JJ had a mental block of some sort at the free throw line, and I think the 'hitch' in his stroke and multiple air-balled FTAs got in his head and ultimately affected his entire game. Seemed like a nice young man, but I'm happy his tenure at SU is over. He was a big part of the reason why SU was so bad this year. [/QUOTE]

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