by Paul Casey Gotham
What’s in a number?
Some will tell you numbers don’t lie. While others will point out how numbers can be manipulated.
In the coming weeks college basketball fans will have a chance to see how numbers play out on the hard wood.
For example tomorrow night the team with the number one scoring offense in the country, VMI, hosts the Richmond Spiders.
The Virginia Military Institute – you remember them. The Keydets opened their 08-09 campaign with a 111-103 victory over…that’s right – Kentucky. VMI leads the nation with 99 points per game, 13 trifectas per game, and 16 steals.
Richmond, on the other hand, makes 50% of their shots from the field – good for seventh in the land.
Anyone want to guess at the over/under for that matchup?
Circle January eighth on your calendar. That’s when the Washington St. Cougars host the Golden Bears of California. Washington St. boasts the top defense in the country holding teams to 48 points per game on 33.5% shooting from the field.
Cal is number one in three point shooting converting 52.3% from behind the arc.
Tony Bennett’s Cougars will get tested again on January 31st when they travel to Tucson to face the ‘Lute-less’ Wildcats. Arizona has the eighth-best field goal percentage at 50% including 46% behind the arc.
Houston and Memphis should be an interesting Conference USA match. Tom Penders’s Cougars only turn the ball over nine times per game – best in the country. Calipari’s Tigers grab 10 steals per game – tenth in the nation. The two do battle on January 31st.
Monday night the Fightin’ Irish of Notre Dame and the Georgetown Hoyas will play a little truth or consequences.
The Irish have been hitting at a rate of 41% from long-range (8th in the country) for over 10 3s per game (5th in the land). The Irish have also protected the ball well only turning it over nine times a game (#2 on the charts).
Meanwhile the Hoyas are limiting opponents to 33% from the field. Georgetown disassembled the UConn Huskies last night in an 11-point victory. The Huskies usually convert 50% from the field. Last night Calhoun’s corps hit 44%.
Big East battles this year should be a lesson in warfare under the boards.
Four teams from the nation’s top conference rank in the top ten for rebounding margin – Cincinnati (#4 margin of 12), Pittsburgh (#7-margin of 10.5), and UConn and West Virginia are tied for 9th with a margin of ten per game.
January tenth brings a little truth serum. Pitt plays at Morgantown (Hey Doug! Can you score some tix? Are pix a possibility?), and UConn ventures to Cincinnati.
The tenth of January will give the remote control a workout.
In Atlantic Coast Conference action the Clemson Tigers will host the North Carolina St. Wolfpack. Clemson drops 50% from the field while the Wolfpack holds teams to 35%.
We should find out quite a bit about Clemson’s offense. A week later they host Wake Forest. The Demon Deacs limit opponents to 36% shooting.
When playing Clemson the best defense could be an efficient offense. The Tigers show multiple presses from full, three-quarter, and half-court, and look to convert easy layups. Opponents who can take care of the ball will take care of Clemson.
Purdue and Iowa present the Big Ten’s version of contrasting styles.
The Boilermakers hold opposing shooters to 34.9%(good for 4th). Iowa has a three-point percentage of 40% while hitting 9 behind the stripe per game.
The Big 10 combatants face off on January 18th.
L.S.U. and Tennessee will collide January 28th in Knoxville.
The Tigers have the number one rebounding margin at 13.3. Tennessee is 13th with a 9.7 margin.
Trent Johnson’s Tigers dropped nine of twenty from long range against the Washington St. Cougars.
Hey Bruce! Have you taught your kids how to defend the arc yet? You only allowed 8 of 20 versus Temple and 9 of 22 to Belmont. Geez it’s not like you don’t start a bunch of long and athletic guards or anything.
Get ready college hoops fans. We have plenty of hunker-down events in the near future.
43 days until Duke / Carolina. Not that anyone is counting. 🙂
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