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At risk of inflating Mark’s noggin, thought I’d start an end of the year analysis of Kenpom prior to the Elite 8 games. Couple things that are interesting. Especially as we possibly look for another head coach and style of play becomes a topic. Some intuitive, perhaps some not.

Efficient offense really is key to success in March: 6 of the Elite 8 teams are rated in the top 14 in adjusted offense.
#1. Gonzaga
#3. Baylor
#7. Michigan
#8. Houston
#11. UCLA
#14. USC

However, Defense is, too. 5 of the Elite 8 are rated in the top 10 in adjusted D.
#4. USC
#6. Houston
#7. Gonzaga
#8. Michigan
#10. Arkansas

Interestingly, despite fans often wanting up and down basketball, Tempo does not appear to be nearly as important. Only 2 of the elite 8 are rated even in the top 1/2 of all 350+ D1 teams.

#6. Gonzaga
#17. Arkansas

6 of the Elite 8 rank in the bottom 1/2 of all D1 teams and 3 rank near the absolute bottom in Tempo.

#178. Baylor
#224. USC
#247. Michigan
#305. Oregon State
#326. Houston
#337. UCLA

Finally, worth noting when you fill out brackets in the future that of the Elite 8, all but Oregon State rank in the top 18 overall in Kenpom. Granted each of these get a bump by still being alive and beating good teams...but 7 of the top 18 is hard to argue with.

http://kenpom.com/

I feel like tempo and efficiency tend to be counter-active to one another...this kind of confirms it. Interesting stuff.

I put up a chart a year or so ago that showed in the last 12 or 15 years ( dont remember which )that the final four participants all had adjO and adjD in the top 25....

(03-29-2021 01:31 PM)rath v2.0 Wrote:  Finally, worth noting when you fill out brackets in the future that of the Elite 8, all but Oregon State rank in the top 18 overall in Kenpom. Granted each of these get a bump by still being alive and beating good teams...but 7 of the top 18 is hard to argue with.

http://kenpom.com/

Right, before the tourney, UCLA, USC, and Oregon St. weren't in Kenpom's top 20 overall. It's true that the others in the Elite 8 all were, but that doesn't tell you much of anything given that they were also in the top 20 in every other ranking, including pretty dumb ones like the coaches poll.

Yeah, UCLA was 26 after the First 4 game vs Michigan State and they are #16 now. They have moved up due to going 4-0 so far in the tournament. Like I said, there is a bump for continuing to win against decent competition. But they have been #12 or better in offense for the past month at least because they were neck and neck with WVU for the #11 spot before Selection Sunday...I remarked at the time that it was a sign of the coming apocalypse that Huggs and Cronin were each coaching offenses in the top dozen in the nation.

Lol. Didn’t know the thread posted twice.