I was just looking at some numbers this morning and found that since Thomas has taken over a larger role (the Iowa game is when I started counting) he is averaging 12.6 points per game while shooting 46.7% from behind the arc. That is REALLY good. To put that in comparison, Tyrus McGee led the NCAA a couple years ago shooting 46.4% from three.
Thomas has done this while playing a somewhat limited role. I think that we have all seen how good he can be when given extended minutes. He was ragged a lot during his first two seasons for not putting up big numbers right away, but with more confidence and playing time this season he has been money.
He currently sits at 134 career three-pointers made. He’s averaging 3.1 3’s per-game in the last 16 games. If he continues that production over the course of the rest of the season he will end up somewhere between 165-175 career 3-point field goals. Next year he should see an even bigger role and should be one of our go-to guys. Matt Thomas has a very real possibility to become Iowa State’s all-time leader in career three-pointers made. If he ends the season at 170 3’s he would need 101 to top Sullivan’s mark of 270. Given that we will probably play around 35 games enxt season that would require him to make 2.88 per game (a mark that he is doing right now).
Next year Matt very well could be the best shooter in the conference and maybe top-10 nationally (If you take his 46.7 mark, he would rank 10[SUP]th[/SUP] in the country right now). He will also be expected to take more shots, so these numbers could drop, but that’s besides the point.
Matt is currently hitting 44.3% of this 3’s (along with 46.7% in the last 16 games). Here’s a list of a few player’s best shooting year in terms of 3-point %.
Tyrus McGee-46.4%
Scott Christopherson-45.6%
Fred Hoiberg- 45.0%
Jake Sullivan-47.2%
Dedric Willoughby-45.1%
Granted a lot is going to happen over the next year or so, but it just goes to show don’t rip players for not producing right away. Buddy averaged 7.8 points per game and shot 23.8% form behind the arc his freshman year. He’s running away with the POTY award during his senior season and shooting a blistering 50% from three and averaging 25.7 points per game . Players take time to develop, not everyone is an all-star right away. 2 years ago everyone hated on Matt Thomas and he could walk away being statistically the best 3-point shooter we’ve ever had. I think that he is capable of being an All-Big 12 type of player next year.
Thomas has done this while playing a somewhat limited role. I think that we have all seen how good he can be when given extended minutes. He was ragged a lot during his first two seasons for not putting up big numbers right away, but with more confidence and playing time this season he has been money.
He currently sits at 134 career three-pointers made. He’s averaging 3.1 3’s per-game in the last 16 games. If he continues that production over the course of the rest of the season he will end up somewhere between 165-175 career 3-point field goals. Next year he should see an even bigger role and should be one of our go-to guys. Matt Thomas has a very real possibility to become Iowa State’s all-time leader in career three-pointers made. If he ends the season at 170 3’s he would need 101 to top Sullivan’s mark of 270. Given that we will probably play around 35 games enxt season that would require him to make 2.88 per game (a mark that he is doing right now).
Next year Matt very well could be the best shooter in the conference and maybe top-10 nationally (If you take his 46.7 mark, he would rank 10[SUP]th[/SUP] in the country right now). He will also be expected to take more shots, so these numbers could drop, but that’s besides the point.
Matt is currently hitting 44.3% of this 3’s (along with 46.7% in the last 16 games). Here’s a list of a few player’s best shooting year in terms of 3-point %.
Tyrus McGee-46.4%
Scott Christopherson-45.6%
Fred Hoiberg- 45.0%
Jake Sullivan-47.2%
Dedric Willoughby-45.1%
Granted a lot is going to happen over the next year or so, but it just goes to show don’t rip players for not producing right away. Buddy averaged 7.8 points per game and shot 23.8% form behind the arc his freshman year. He’s running away with the POTY award during his senior season and shooting a blistering 50% from three and averaging 25.7 points per game . Players take time to develop, not everyone is an all-star right away. 2 years ago everyone hated on Matt Thomas and he could walk away being statistically the best 3-point shooter we’ve ever had. I think that he is capable of being an All-Big 12 type of player next year.
