Defense: a look into the stats

[volgolf18]

I posted this on another board as well, so here are defensive stats for the 3 1/2 years with Pearl:

Year Opp PPG / TO forced / OPP FG% / OPP 3-pt FG%
05/06 74 / 545 (18/gm) / 47% / 37%

06/07 75 / 641 (18/gm) / 46% / 35%

07/08 70 / 657 (18/gm) / 43% / 31%

08/09 74 / 186 (15/gm) / 43% / 34%

The reason I am posting this is aside from 07/08 this team is statistically (aside from turnovers forced) better at defense than Pearl's first 2 teams. We have a young team, especially at the 1-3 positions and a lot of these freshman have never truly played D in either high school or the AAU circuit. We are not pressing as much and are using a zone for the first time under Pearl at Tennessee. I know the effort level from these young guys is not where we want it to be on defense, but just give Pearl time and I firmly believe we will be happy with where we are at a little over 2 months from now.

[ivtec_jrod]

cliff notes??

[Oldblood]

Can't overlook the TO forced though. That is a swing of 6 possessions/game (3 more for us and 3 less for opponent).

[Oldblood]

Oh, and also, the past years include much better competition since they have the full schedule whereas 08 has a higher % of cupcakes.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by Oldblood

Oh, and also, the past years include much better competition since they have the full schedule whereas 08 has a higher % of cupcakes.

Pre-season RPI was #1 before the SEC derailed.

[Oldblood]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

Pre-season RPI was #1 before the SEC derailed.

Right, but we have not played our full schedule yet. We've played more weak teams in our first 12 games than the overall % of weak teams in past years.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by Oldblood

Right, but we have not played our full schedule yet. We've played more weak teams in our first 12 games than the overall % of weak teams in past years.

I think the schedule up to this point in the year as opposed to last year's is every bit as tough.

[Oldblood]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

I think the schedule up to this point in the year as opposed to last year's is every bit as tough.

I disagree completely. Last years had every SEC game, the SEC tourney, Memphis, and three NCAA games. Last years had probably 10 more games against NCAA tournament teams. On this one, we'll just have to have a difference of opinion.

[MphsBlues]

Originally Posted by Oldblood

I disagree completely. Last years had every SEC game, the SEC tourney, Memphis, and three NCAA games. Last years had probably 10 more games against NCAA tournament teams. On this one, we'll just have to have a difference of opinion.

My post mentioned "up to this point." Which SEC game did we play in the first 12 games of last year? Your contention was that we are playing more cupcakes in the first 12 games of this year as opposed to last. I disagree.

[TennNC]

Originally Posted by MphsBlues

My post mentioned "up to this point." Which SEC game did we play in the first 12 games of last year? Your contention was that we are playing more cupcakes in the first 12 games of this year as opposed to last. I disagree.

Last year had texas, west va., at xavier, at gonzaga, western ky.

this year had gtown, gonzaga, marquette, at kansas, at temple.

It's pretty similar, though I just think last year's first 12 was more difficult than this year's. that's probably based on my opinion that college bball was stronger overall last year than this year.

[lidderer]

I think his point is that the stats for last year take into account every game, rather than just the games 'up to a point'. If we had the D stats for last year's team after game 12 it might be a more apt comparison. But those stats don't speak to that situation.