2017 challengers for the 50-40-90 Club in college basketball
Jalen Brunson – Villanova
(54.8 FG% – 39.1 3P% – 87.6 FT%)
Villanova’s currently threatening to add two players to the mix, with point guard Jalen Brunson posting an excellent offensive season at the head of defending champions’ offense. You can see his shot chart this year below, only missing the Charleston, UCF, Saint Joseph’s, and Marquette (round 1) games.
His 3-point volume is somewhat low, as he’s only taken 92 attempts so far this year. But he’s been excellent on the same, especially from above the break, where he combines volume and efficiency. He’s also been the only Villanova player comfortable enough with his shot to take (and make) 3s off the dribble; just 57.1 percent of his 3-point makes have been assisted this year. No one else on the team is at less than 77 percent in the same measure.
But he’s also been a real wizard around the basket. Close to 40 percent of his attempts this year have been at the rim, and he’s hitting around 74 percent of them. It’s an incredible mark for a 6-foot-2 (if that) point guard who does not stand out for his pure speed and athleticism. Instead, he uses a combination of impeccable footwork, handles and subtle bursts of change-of-direction/speed to get past his man to the rim. He’s been a welcome driving force for a ‘Nova offense that depended a bit too much on Josh Hart early in the year.
While he’s just below qualification from 3, it’s hundredths of a percentage point. One made 3 can change it. The bigger problem is the free throw percentage. If he wants to pass 90 percent before the end of the season, he’ll need to go on a 33-to-34 of 36 streak, something that would take him ten games at his current average.