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)

Big Red Stats Watch

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

• First, it goes without saying that it is difficult to compare Cornell's statistical performance with other Ivies or even with last season's Cornell team. The Big Red have played a very challenging schedule to date with six of the first seven games on the road. Games against Alabama, UMass, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Toledo, Vermont and Drexel also presented Cornell with opponents arguably possessing more size and athleticism than typical Ivy teams.

• Just as impressive as Cornell's wins at Alabama and UMass, Cornell managed to pull off two wins in the Legends Classic against Vermont and Drexel without the services of either Alex Tyler or Max Groebe. But players were key parts of Cornell's nine-man rotation before their injuries. Tyler was averaging 16.6 minutes per game while Groebe played 4 minutes per game.

• Cornell's three-point shooting is down this season. The Big Red finished 3rd in the nation in team three-point field goal percentage during 2007-2008 and 2008-2009. During 2007-2008, Cornell shot a sizzling 41.5 percent from downtown, while in 2008-2009, the Big Red hit for 41.4 percent. Thus far in 2009-2010, the Big Red are down to 38.1 percent. If you don't count Max Groebe's 3/5 performance thus far, only Geoff Reeves is shooting above the 40% threshold beyond the arc (he is at 43.8%- 14/32). Wittman and Wroblewski are hovering around 39% from deep. Wroblewski shot 44% a year ago, while Wittman finished at 42%. Louis Dale is struggling from deep on an 8/27 performance. Fortunately, Wroblewski is 12/28 from 3-point range in his last five games (43%) after hitting just 1/5 in his first two games.

• Jeff Foote is having a career year on the glass, currently averaging 8.1 rebounds per game to go along with his 12.0 points.

• Despite only playing 11.4 minutes per game, Mark Coury has been extremely productive, contributing 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds per game. Coury is an efficient 12/18 from the field (67%).
  

• A pair of Cornell forwards have struggled shooting the ball. Alex Tyler is shooting 4/21 (19%) while Errick Peck is 6/25 (24%).
  

• Cornell has three players scorching from the free throw line. Alex Tyler is 9/10 (90%), Ryan Wittman is 18/20 (90%), while Chris Wroblewski is 16/17 (94%). Cornell's team 76% free-throw percentage, if maintained, would be just off the school record of 76.1% set in 2007-2008.

• Official Cornell stats have recorded only five slam dunks this season by Cornell, all of which were by Jeff Foote.

• Cornell opponents have shot 172 free throws this season while Cornell has shot only 125.

• Cornell opponents are outrebounding Cornell 235 to 231, although Cornell has 86 offensive rebounds to opponents' 76.

• Cornell has 141 personal fouls in the first seven games, while Cornell opponents have just 123.
  

Slam Dunk Report

Although Cornell finished among the top 5 in the nation in team three-point field goal percentage for two consecutive seasons, the Big Red can also throw down the jams. The following is the final breakdown of the number of dunk shots by Cornell during the 2008-2009 season (career dunks in parentheses). Cornell had 41 dunks last season in 31 total games. With several athletic additions to Cornell's '09-'10 roster, expect to see more dunks this season. Stats courtesy of Cornell Athletics Department. Above, Cornell's Jeff Foote throws down one of his 31 dunks on Penn on March 6, 2009. Cornell's dominating 83-59 win over the Quakers clinched the Big Red's second consecutive Ivy League title and NCAA Tournament bid.

Jeff Foote 31 (41 career)
Adam Wire 4 (4 career)
Alex Tyler 2 (6 career)
Geoff Reeves 2 (3 career)
Andre Wilkins 1 (2 career)
Conor Mullen 1 (1 career)
Louis Dale 0 (2 career)
Aaron Osgood 0 (1 career)

Slam Dunk Report

The following is the final breakdown of the number of dunk shots by Cornell this season (career dunks in parentheses). Cornell had 41 dunks during 2008-2009 in 31 total games. Stats courtesy of Cornell Athletics Department.

Jeff Foote 31 (41 career)
Adam Wire 4 (4 career)
Alex Tyler 2 (6 career)
Geoff Reeves 2 (3 career)
Andre Wilkins 1 (2 career)
Conor Mullen 1 (1 career)
Louis Dale 0 (2 career)
Aaron Osgood 0 (1 career)

Slam Dunk Report

The following is the final breakdown of the number of dunk shots by Cornell this season (career dunks in parentheses). Cornell had 41 dunks during 2008-2009 in 31 total games. Stats courtesy of Cornell Athletics Department.

Jeff Foote 31 (41 career)
Adam Wire 4 (4 career)
Alex Tyler 2 (6 career)
Geoff Reeves 2 (3 career)
Andre Wilkins 1 (2 career)
Conor Mullen 1 (1 career)
Louis Dale 0 (2 career)
Aaron Osgood 0 (1 career)

Slam Dunk Report

The following is a breakdown of the number of dunk shots by Cornell this season (career dunks in parentheses). Cornell has 39 dunks this season through 28 games. Stats courtesy of Cornell Athletics Department.

Jeff Foote- 30 (40)
Adam Wire- 4 (4)
Geoff Reeves- 2 (3)
Alex Tyler- 1 (6)
Andre Wilkins- 1 (2)
Conor Mullen- 1 (1)
Louis Dale- 0 (2)
Aaron Osgood-0 (1)

Slam Dunk Report

The following is a breakdown of the number of dunk shots by Cornell this season (career dunks in parentheses). Cornell has 39 dunks this season through 28 games. Stats courtesy of Cornell Athletics Department.

Jeff Foote- 30 (40)
Adam Wire- 4 (4)
Geoff Reeves- 2 (3)
Alex Tyler- 1 (6)
Andre Wilkins- 1 (2)
Conor Mullen- 1 (1)
Louis Dale- 0 (2)
Aaron Osgood-0 (1)