By Adam Butler
There are five weeks and one Pac-12 Tournament remaining in Askia Booker’s college career. In the coming weeks – probably closer to the end of these final 9 games – there should be some pretty poetic things written about the senior. Four year guys are meant to be celebrated. So perhaps I’m getting a jump start on things. That’s select word choice if you have been following Colorado basketball. It’s a topic not worth delving into. We’ve figured it out already.
So what has Askia Booker been? Polarizing, to be certain. The two point jump shot is the worst shot in basketball. Booker takes 40% of his offense from here. The average field goal percentage at this distance is about 35%. Askia makes 39.2% of his terrible twos. He leads the nation in shot percentage meaning 37.8% of Colorado’s possessions result in a Booker shot. In a season Colorado needed to see incremental improvements throughout its entire roster, Askia has set career highs in:
You need to point a finger at Colorado’s 11-10 record to help you sleep at night? It had best not be at AB. Of course finger pointing never got anyone anywhere. Askia is a fierce competitor. LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. Booker knew that last season’s jump start didn’t mean anything. You play four years to get better. Askia Booker has gotten better.
The unfortunate thing is that he doesn’t the wins to show for it. All of the individual praise can fill a mantel. It’s not soon going to put Askia in his fourth NCAA tournament. My guess, without ever having spoken to the kid about it, that’s a sour feeling.
And I’m sure that’s a sour feeling for CU fans, too.
A lot of this reminds me of watching Kyle Fogg’s Arizona career come to an end. Buff fans are familiar with that; it was their 53-51 win that effectively ended things for him. But coming into the homestretch of Pac-12 play, his Wildcats were a disappointing 5-4 in conference play, 14-8 overall. From that point on, Fogg would average 18 points, Arizona would play to the tune of 7-2 in their final nine and found themselves in Los Angeles with a fighter’s chance to dance. Kyle had 14 points in that game. He missed a shot at the buzzer to force overtime. Arizona was invited to the NIT as a one-seed where Fogg would take just five shots in the final loss of his career.
Sometimes these stories – the four year guys we watched develop and mature and fail and win – don’t always end like Hoosiers. Life happens. But life can often be captured in the journey.
Like watching a young man win a Pac-12 tournament championship, the Charleston Classic MVP, drain Kansas, and lead a team.
Nine games remaining. Enjoy them. These guys don’t come around often.
There are five weeks and one Pac-12 Tournament remaining in Askia Booker’s college career. In the coming weeks – probably closer to the end of these final 9 games – there should be some pretty poetic things written about the senior. Four year guys are meant to be celebrated. So perhaps I’m getting a jump start on things. That’s select word choice if you have been following Colorado basketball. It’s a topic not worth delving into. We’ve figured it out already.
So what has Askia Booker been? Polarizing, to be certain. The two point jump shot is the worst shot in basketball. Booker takes 40% of his offense from here. The average field goal percentage at this distance is about 35%. Askia makes 39.2% of his terrible twos. He leads the nation in shot percentage meaning 37.8% of Colorado’s possessions result in a Booker shot. In a season Colorado needed to see incremental improvements throughout its entire roster, Askia has set career highs in:
- Offensive efficiency
- Effective FG%
- Assist rate
- Turnover Rate
- Steal rate
- Free throw rate
- Field Goal percentage
- Free throw percentage
- Three-point field goal percentage
- Assists per game
- Points per game
- Steals per game
You need to point a finger at Colorado’s 11-10 record to help you sleep at night? It had best not be at AB. Of course finger pointing never got anyone anywhere. Askia is a fierce competitor. LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS. Booker knew that last season’s jump start didn’t mean anything. You play four years to get better. Askia Booker has gotten better.
The unfortunate thing is that he doesn’t the wins to show for it. All of the individual praise can fill a mantel. It’s not soon going to put Askia in his fourth NCAA tournament. My guess, without ever having spoken to the kid about it, that’s a sour feeling.
And I’m sure that’s a sour feeling for CU fans, too.
A lot of this reminds me of watching Kyle Fogg’s Arizona career come to an end. Buff fans are familiar with that; it was their 53-51 win that effectively ended things for him. But coming into the homestretch of Pac-12 play, his Wildcats were a disappointing 5-4 in conference play, 14-8 overall. From that point on, Fogg would average 18 points, Arizona would play to the tune of 7-2 in their final nine and found themselves in Los Angeles with a fighter’s chance to dance. Kyle had 14 points in that game. He missed a shot at the buzzer to force overtime. Arizona was invited to the NIT as a one-seed where Fogg would take just five shots in the final loss of his career.
Sometimes these stories – the four year guys we watched develop and mature and fail and win – don’t always end like Hoosiers. Life happens. But life can often be captured in the journey.
Like watching a young man win a Pac-12 tournament championship, the Charleston Classic MVP, drain Kansas, and lead a team.
Nine games remaining. Enjoy them. These guys don’t come around often.
