Behind the Numbers, Big Red Stats Watch

Below, a look at a few key individual and team stats following Cornell's first nine games.

• According to the Pomeroy statistics, the Big Red are currently the nation's 19th ranked most efficient offense, while the defense is 170th (out of 347 Division I teams). Cornell's defensive efficiency is 4th in the Ivy League.
  

• The Big Red finished 3rd in the nation in team three-point field goal percentage during 2007-2008 (41.5%) and 2008-2009 (41.4%). But when we last checked in with "Stats Watch" following Cornell's seventh game of the 2009-2010 season, the Big Red were only shooting 38.1 percent from the perimeter. Since that time, the Big Red have ramped up the outside shooting game. Following Cornell's ninth game, the Big Red are now averaging an improved 40.1 percent from beyond the arc with Goeff Reeves (45.9%), Chris Wroblewski (43.6%) and Ryan Wittman (41.3%) leading the way. After starting out the season hot with a combined 6/13 performance against Alabama and UMass, Louis Dale is only 10/32 on the season for 31.3%. Fortunately, Dale seems to be climbing out his minor shooting slump, connecting on 2/5 in the last two games.

• Dale leads Cornell in assists and steals with 45 assists (5.0 apg) and 19 steals (2.1 spg). He is on pace to set personal season best averages in each of these categories. But an area he must improve, especially in light of his field goal shooting woes, is free throw attempts. Dale's 16 free throw attempts ranks only 5th on the team, while he is third in minutes played. As an 88% FT shooter (14/26), Dale needs to get himself on the line. In fact, Adam Wire, who is 7th on the team in minutes, averages more free throw attempts per game than Dale.
  

• Cornell's school record of 76.1% free throw shooting on a season was set in 2007-2008. Cornell is currently shooting 76.9% at the line.

• Jeff Foote is continuing his career year on the glass, averaging 8.9 rebounds per game to go along with his 13.2 points. Adam Wire is second on the team in rebounding with 4.2 per game despite only playing 15.6 minutes. Errick Peck is also efficient on the glass, grabbing 2.1 rebounds in just 7.1 minutes.
  

• Mark Coury is arguably Cornell's most overall efficient player, shooting 68% from the floor while contributing 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds in 12.1 minutes per game.

• Max Groebe may not have played much due to illness, but when on the floor, he puts points on the board. Groebe averages 1.6 points in just 3.7 minutes while shooting 4/7 from the floor and 3/5 from beyond the arc.

• And without further adieu, our Slam Dunk Report:
  

Jeff Foote 9 (49 career)
Mark Coury 2 (n/a career)
Errick Peck 1 (1 career)
Adam Wire 0 (4 career)
Alex Tyler 0 (7 career)
Geoff Reeves 0 (3 career)
Andre Wilkins 0 (2 career)
Louis Dale 0 (2 career)
Aaron Osgood 0 (1 career)