The Top 10 Shooting Teams in College Hoops: They Are Marksmen

Michael Jordan once said: “You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.”

Evidently the players on the following teams have the fundamentals down.

Here is a quick look at the top 10 shooting teams in the country.

Rather than just using the standard field-goal percentage, we'll utilize the adjusted field-goal percentage.

Rick Deguchi, on Highbeam.com, said: "Adjusted field-goal percentage is a more accurate barometer of a player's (or team's) shooting proficiency."

Adjusted field-goal percentage is calculated by crediting 1.5 field goals made for any three-pointers made.

So, in a way, teams that effectively make the most of opportunities beyond the arc are given extra credit.

These teams create a variety of combinations of being able to go inside and being able to "drain it from downtown."  

It pays to "shoot the rock" well. These teams are a combined 134-21.

10. Rider (.558 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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The Rider Broncs have started the 2010-11 season well, with a record of 10-5 overall and 2-1 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference.

Rider ranks No. 1 in the MAAC in field goal percentage (48.5 percent) and three-point field-goal percentage (41.3 percent).

Head coach Tommy Dempsey emphasizes balance, as he has four players averaging in double-figures: Justin Robinson (pictured: 15.7 points per game), Mike Ringgold (12.6), Novar Gadson (11.8) and Brandon Penn (10.0)

9. Colorado State (.563 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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LAS VEGAS - FEBRUARY 20: Andy Ogide #32 of the Colorado State Rams prepares to shoot a free throw during a game against the UNLV Rebels at the Thomas & Mack Center February 20, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. UNLV won 70-39. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Imag

The Rams are off to a good start (11-4). Colorado State hasn't finished among the Mountain West Conference's top four teams since 1999-2000, the conference's inaugural season.

They are shooting 49.5 percent from the field and 38.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The Rams top two scorers are also their top two shooters: Andy Ogide (pictured: 15.5 points per game/ 60.2 percent on field goals) and Travis Franklin (14.5 points/ 59.6 percent on field goals)  

In a recent victory over Wyoming, Adam Nigon, a senior guard/forward and one-time walk-on who was playing intramurals his first year at CSU, hit 7 of 10 three-pointers to finish with 21 points.

On the season, Nigon is shooting 51.7 percent from downtown.

8. Arizona (.563 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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LAS VEGAS - NOVEMBER 27: Derrick Williams #23 of the Arizona Wildcats drives between Thomas Robinson (L) #0 and Mario Little #23 of the Kansas Jayhawks during the championship game of the Las Vegas Invitational at The Orleans Arena November 27, 2010 in L

Sean Miller has the Wildcats (13-3, 2-1 in Pac-10) playing at a high level early this season.

As a team, the Wildcats are shooting 48.8 percent from the floor and are making 38.1 percent of their threes.

Having Derrick Williams (pictured) on your side sure helps. The 6'8" sophomore forward leads the team in scoring (19.4 points per game) and is shooting a sensational 64.5 percent (No. 8 in the nation) from the floor and 68.2 percent from deep.

Williams leads the nation in points per shot (2.25) 

Sophomores Solomon Hill and Kevin Parrom are both shooting better than 50 percent from the field too.

Arizona leads the nation in points per shot (1.48).

7. SMU (.569 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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The SMU Mustangs have started the 2010-11 season by going 9-5 in their pre-conference schedule, winning five of their last six games. 

Head coach Matt Doherty's Mustangs are shooting a strong 47.4 percent as a team from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc.

Papa Dia (pictured), possibly the coolest name in Division I basketball, is a 6'9" senior forward from Senegal, who leads the way, scoring 16.8 points per game, shooting 62 percent from the floor and 46.2 percent from beyond the arc.

6. Boston College (.571 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 20: Reggie Jackson #0 of the Boston College Eagles takes a shot as Will Graves #13 of the North Carolina Tar Heels defends on February 20, 2010 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. The Eagles defeated the Tar Heels

The Boston College Eagles (11-4) are ready to compete at the top end of the ACC this season.

The Eagles first-year coach Steve Donahue has his team playing an up-tempo, balanced brand of basketball.

Four Eagles are scoring in double-figures: Reggie Jackson (18.5 points per game), Joe Trapani (14.5), Corey Raji (11.8) and Biko Paris (11.1).

As a team, the Eagles are shooting 48.5 percent from the floor and 39.7 percent from deep.

Jackson (pictured), a 6'3" junior guard, is shooting 53.2 percent from the floor and 46.4 percent from beyond the arc.

5. Ohio State (.574 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 26: Jared Sullinger #0 of the Ohio State Buckeyes looks to the basket against the Miami RedHawks at Value City Arena on November 26, 2010 in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 66-45. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)

Thad Matta's Buckeye's are rollin' !

They are a perfect 15-0 and own the No. 2 ranking.

The team plays good defense, hits the boards and takes care of the ball (No. 3 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 11.66)

Five players average double figures: Jared Sullinger (18.1 points per game), William Buford (13.6), David Lighty (12.7), Jon Diebler (12.5) and Deshaun Thomas.

Ohio State is the No. 4 in team field-goal percentage (50.8 percent)

Super freshman Jared Sullinger (pictured), a 6'9", 280-pound beast, is shooting a hair under 60 percent from the field.

Watch for one of the best regular season games coming up when Ohio State hosts Purdue on Jan. 25

4. Duke (.583 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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KANSAS CITY, MO - NOVEMBER 22: Andre Dawkins #20 of the Duke Blue Devils in action during the CBE Classic game against the Marquette Golden Eagles on November 22, 2010 at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

When you have Nolan Smith, Kyle Singler and Andre Dawkins, you expect for your team to be one of the best shooting teams (heck, the best teams) in the country.

The top-rated Blue Devils have started off their defense of their NCAA championship by dominating their opponents.

They are a perfect 14-0.

Hard to criticize much how the Blue Devils are shooting the ball.

As a team, Duke is No. 2 in scoring (89 points per game), No. 3 in three-point percentage (43.8) and No. 7 in field goal percentage (50.1 percent).

 Andre Dawkins (pictured) is shooting 58 percent from the floor and 54 percent from downtown.

There is a lot of basketball left to be played, but don't be surprised if the Blue Devils are playing in Houston at the beginning of April.

3. Georgetown (.586 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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NEW YORK - MARCH 12: Austin Freeman #15 of the Georgetown Hoyas goes up with the ball against Jimmy Butler #33 the Marquette Golden Eagles during the semifinal of the 2010 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 12, 2010 in New York City. (

In spite of the fact that they have lost two of their first three Big East games, Georgetown (12-3) is off to a good start in 2010-11.

As a team, the Hoyas are shooting 51.7 percent from the field (No. 2 in the nation) and shooting 39.3 percent from beyond the arc.

Of those that play at least 10 minutes per game, seven of them shoot at least 50 percent from the field.

Austin Freeman (pictured), a 6'3", 227-pound guard, leads the team in scoring (18.3 points per game), and shoots 55.4 percent from the field and 46.6 percent from downtown.

2. St. Mary's (.586 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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PROVIDENCE, RI - MARCH 20: Mickey McConnell #32 of the Saint Mary's Gaels reacts against the Villanova Wildcats during the second round of the 2010 NCAA men's tournament at Dunkin' Donuts Center on March 20, 2010 in Providence, Rhode Island. (Photo by Ji

The St. Mary's Gaels are off to an impressive 13-2 start, with their only losses coming against BYU and San Diego State.

Lots of good things are happening on the offensive end: the Gaels are No. 3 in the nation in field goal percentage (51.3), No. 5 in assists per game (18.6) and No. 7 in points per game (84.9).

Six out of their 10 players are shooting at least 50 percent.

Mickey McConnell (pictured), a 6'0" guard, leads the team in scoring (14.7 points per game), shooting 51.9 percent from the floor and making 47.6 percent from three-point range.

1. Kansas (.596 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage)

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LAWRENCE, KS - DECEMBER 18: Markieff Morris #21 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots over Marcus Simmons #43 of the USC Trojans during the game on December 18, 2010 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

At this point in the season, Bill Self's Kansas Jayhawks (14-0) are the best shooting team in the country.

They are not only the best team in terms of adjusted field-goal percentage, but they are also No. 1 in overall field-goal percentage (53.7).

They are shooting 40.2 percent from beyond the arc.

Marcus Morris (pictured) is Mr. Inside/Outside. He is shooting 60.6 percent from the floor and 45.2 percent from three-point range.

With the addition of freshman guard Josh Selby, the Jayhawks are likely to not only maintain where they are at in shooting, but they will continue to get better.