BuzzerBeater Forums

First off I'm not a huge fan of Ken Poms numbers.

IU is an offensive team, but it's not like they can't play defense, by Ken Pom they rank #19 in the nation defensively.

Teams in the top 20 of both:
IU #1 Off, #19 Def
Gonzaga- #3 Off, #14 Def
Florida #5 Off, #2 Def
Pitt #9 Off, #17 Def
Ohio St #14 Off, #6 Def
Louis #15 Off, #1 Def

Just outside: Michigan St, Kansas, Duke, Syracuse, Miami

And really KenPom supports Defense?
12 Kentucky #2 Off, #9 Def
11 Uconn #16 Off, #14 Def
10 Duke #2 Off, #8 Def
09 UNC #1 Off, #16 Def
08 KU #2 Off, #1 Def
07 UF #1 Off, #12 Def
06 UF #2 Off, #5 Def
05 UNC #1 Off, #5 Def
04 Uconn #4 Off, #5 Def
03 Cuse #11 Off, #19 Def

Yeah, nobody who can't play defense wins the national title, but Offense seems to be the more important factor to me.

Yeah, nobody who can't play defense wins the national title, but Offense seems to be the more important factor to me.

Clearly, the key is being in the top five in both because that's what supports what I want to happen and life is too short to let statistics rule the day except when, of course, those statistics support what we want.

Sadly, I don't see Florida pulling it out. The "bad in close games" thing is a little overplayed - they were able to come back from double-digits down against 'bama just the other day, but because they ended up winning by more than 10 it means less? On the other hand, the part of that flaw which is apparent is that there's nobody at all that is a go-to guy late, and they've had some serious sloppiness late in halves against the press.

Or, to sum it up perfectly: Bradley Beal came one year too early.

I see Florida with a top 5 offense and defense according to the stats you provided. Being an Ohio State fan it makes me ill to see that.:)
Billy Donavan may become the Darth Vader to Rick Patino's Obi Wan.....
"when we last met I was the learner but now I am the master!"
Donavan was running Patino's offense as pg when Patino was coach at Providence.
For thoes who did not know.....
Hey Billy has one more championship than his mentor too....who would have ever guessed that? :

Last edited by BarryS at 3/19/2013 2:23:03 PM

You made some pretty good points there. Having read that, and taken a second look, I think your last sentence is spot on. But it's worth pointing out that IU would be tied for the worst defense to win a championship the last ten years. Also, the numbers aren't available to me because I don't have a paid subscription to the KenPom website, but am getting this second hand, but I wonder if you stretched it out to the Final Four of every year what kinds of trends would show.

But it's worth pointing out that IU would be tied for the worst defense to win a championship the last ten years.

Valid. Don't ever mention that again.

Also, Kenpom rankings are free, aren't they? I see them and don't pay that fool a dime.

It's all about executing, having guys that can play good man defense, and having good basketball IQ.

I can see this years rankings, but anything more asks for a subscription

Well, to me, I consider the MAC conference a mid-major. I define that as 1 step above the likes of say the MEAC, the OVC, the Patriot League, etc. Considering Akron however, they couldn't of gotten a worse draw. VCU plays their HAVOC defense that I think will extremely stifle and hope for Akron.

You know what would make for an interesting tourny? If all the highest seeds get knocked out in the first round LOL. Too bad it won't happen:P

ACC had a down year. Big Ten has a bunch of good teams. That's all true. But I don't think the gap between the two conferences is that big. Duke beat Ohio State, Miami beat Michigan State, Virginia beat Wisconsin. Indiana killed UNC but the Heels didn't win anything this year and were lucky to be an 8 seed. I think you write off the ACC at your own peril. Sure Miami and Duke have flaws, but so does everyone, especially this year.

Here's the final four. NC, Runner up, other semifinalists.

2012- Kentucky #2 Off, #9 Def- Kansas #19 Off, #4 Def- Ohio St #7 Off, #2 Def- Lville #103 Off, #1 Def
2011- Uconn #16 Off, #14 Def- Butler #50 Off, #49 Def- Kentucky #7 Off, #15 Def- VCU #32 Off, #86 Def
2010- Duke #1 Off, #4 Def- Butler #50 Off, #5 Def- WV #11 Off, #22 Def- Michigan St #28 Off, #30 Def
2009- UNC #1 Off, #16 Def- Michigan St #20 Off, #10 Def- Uconn #15 Off, #3 Def- Villanova #22 Off, #15 Def
2008- Kansas #2 Off, #1 Def- Memphis #4 Off, #4 Def- UCLA #7 Off, #3 Def- UNC #1 Off, #19 Def
2007- Florida #1 Off, #12 Def- Ohio St #4 Off, #15 Def- UCLA #23 Off, #2 Def- Gtown #2 Off, #20 Def
2006- Florida #2 Off, #5 Def- UCLA #28 Off, #3 Def- LSU #50 Off, #4 Def- George Mason #49 Off, #18 Def
2005- UNC #1 Off, #5 Def- Illini #3 Off, #11 Def- Lville #7 Off, #14 Def- Michigan St #6 Off, #25 Def
2004- Uconn #4 Off, #5 Def- Gtech #25 Off, #3 Def- Duke #2 Off, #4 Def- OkState #5 Off, #12 Def
2003- Cuse #11 Off, #19 Def- Kansas #6 Off, #1 Def- Texas #3 Off, #44 Def- Marquette #1 Off, #101 Def

In case you don't want to read my crappily formatted thing:
Lowest Offense- Louisville 2012 #103
Lowest Defense- Marquette 2003 #101

Average offense of final 4 team: 12.63
Average defense of final 4 team: 15.88

Average offense of National champ: 4.1
Average defense of National champ: 9.0

Yeah guys, I think it's official, offense wins championships.