Turnover margin
Much has been said about Appalachian State’s high number of turnovers the last two seasons, but perhaps just as notable is the fact that the Mountaineers haven’t forced any turnovers.
The result is a turnover margin that ranks last in the Southern Conference.
The Mountaineers have reduced their turnovers recently, but opponents have turned the ball over just 10.8 times against them – an average of nearly nine per game less than league-leader Western Carolina. The Mountaineers have averaged just 5.2 steals a game, half the amount of the league-leader.
Coach Buzz Peterson said there is a reason his team doesn’t force many turnovers.
“We’re not out there pressuring a lot,” he said. “Our personnel doesn’t match that, to do a lot of that. We’ve got one guy in there weighing almost 300 pounds (center Ike Butts) and another that has bad knees (forward Josh Hunter). Sometimes we’re limited in what we can do, so we have to kind of protect the goal – which I think is most important.
“If I had my way I’d be out there pressuring, getting in the passing lanes and doing all kinds of things…but we don’t force a whole lot. We’re concentrating on protecting the goal rather than being out there focusing on making you turn it over.”
Peterson said that he’s pleased to see a reduction of turnovers made. The Mountaineers have had totals of 7, 12 and 13 – all less than their season average of 16 – in three of the last four games.
“Maybe their tired of having to run up to the roof,” said Peterson, who has players run up steps to the top row of seats at Holmes Center after turning the ball over in practice.