Cleaning Out the Stat Bin

[Pardner]

• The two JUCO's led MU in offensive efficiency.  Fulce, on sparse minutes, with a rating of 130.4 and Jimmy B at 131.5 (which led all BE players with significant minutes) over the entire season.  JB also had the highest floor percent of all BE players over the entire season (an individual's floor % would be his scoring possessions divided by his total possessions).  Is a year or two of maturity a good sign of things to come?
• Almost 305,000 fans attended MU home games this season, including the exhibition game--up 5.4%.  BE per game attendance of 18,194 was the highest ever--up 1.6%.  OOC, excluding the two CIT games, was 14,377--up 1.2%.  Tough team, tough fans in a tough economy
• MU's defense finished 51 according to Pomeroy.  In MU wins, the defense held opponents to 7% below their opponent's scoring average coming into the game.  In losses, MU gave up 8% more than average.  Home (3% below) vs. Away (2% below) and BE (5% below) vs. OOC (4% below) showed essentially no difference.  Match-ups matter
• Across all games the entire season, Wes led all BE players in % of points scored off FT's (33.2%) and FT attempts (257)

[New Era Warriors]

interesting stats. thanks for the information Pardner

[Pardner]

Big East Ref Report

Looked at refs MU has seen the most year to year since joining the BE.  As a caveat, I track this because I like stats...not because I gamble or insinuate that the refs consistently "decide" games.  That said, refs are a part of the game...and there is a wide discrepancy on consistency from crew to crew.    However, stats show refs get 95% of the close calls right..(and conversely, rabid fans probably get 95% wrong).  If anything, it is interesting to confirm or deny conspiracy theories. 

The attached shows the stats (click on the paper clip below to open the word document)...color coded to show factors out of the range of the average (red, yellow, green) based on favorability or not to MU averages/tendencies.

• The gap in fouls between MU and their opponents improved from a -1.6/game last season to a +3.4/game--or a 5.0 foul swing per game this season.  MU had the worst gap in the Top 25 and 15th worst in the BE last year.  This year, MU had the 5th best gap in the Top 25 and 4th best in the BE.  Only UCONN, UNC, OKLA and Syracuse had more favorable differentials.  Four teams with Bigs.
• Pat Driscoll is "The Man" for MU.  MU is 9-1 with him in the BE on the road.
• Hate to say it, but THiggs and Eddie are coming around (Eddie was even doing his famous pose for the Faithful this year).  Burr and Cahill may be the most consistent.
• Games with O'Connell, Greenwood (none this season, thank god) and Stephens don't seem to lead to good outcomes.

[Badgerhater]

Interesting Stats Pardner,

However, can't some of MUs change in foul percentage be attributed to Buzz having plays defend by moving their feet instead of Crean's poking and reaching in order to create "deflections".  Also, due to a short bench, Buzz was adamant about the team minimalizing fouls.

[Pardner]

Interesting Stats Pardner,

However, can't some of MUs change in foul percentage be attributed to Buzz having plays defend by moving their feet instead of Crean's poking and reaching in order to create "deflections".  Also, due to a short bench, Buzz was adamant about the team minimalizing fouls.

No question...totally different approach for Buzz vs. TC (and MU had Ooze to rely on last year too on the backline).  Your point is the "cause" to the "effect" on the stats I listed.  Getting to the line and keeping our opponents off of it was the biggest improvement this season.