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Message: [QUOTE="Dillon77, post: 4553459, member: 6620"] I don't want to drag this out, but my McGraw's Bench colleague BabaGhanouj this morning posted a char on the offensive and defensive prowess of all 15 ACC teams. It gives a pretty clear overview, offers a few insights and also addresses a few of the issues you and I have bandied about. Here's the chart: [URL unfurl="true"]https://ndnation.com/boards/showpost.php?b=mcgraw;pid=118120;d=this[/URL] [LIST] [*]As you can see, ND, Va. Tech, Duke, North Carolina and Florida State have the highest average rankings, which is pretty darn close to the final regular season standings. Duke finished first in defensive rankings, while Va. Tech was just above ND in offense. The big surprise is that ND came in 2nd in defense. If Kara can next address the offensive portion of the equation...whoa. [*]This is not your Muffet ND team that basically dared you to outscore them. Niele has the athletes (Citron, Prosper, Bransford and Westbeld has improved dramatically) to throw at teams on defense, while keeping her up-tempo pace (rebounding + Miles/Citron). [*]Now, the chart bears out your points about the "old Big East pod" being much easier than what Duke plays. While Louisville is getting better, and Syracuse is dangerous at times, they're nowhere near the competition Duke played in. That's cyclical, of course: just last year BC was much better and Louisville was a monster. It could morph again. [*]I don't know about the argument about a coach making up for lack of superior talent. Isn't it a coach's job to procure talent and the maximize their effectiveness? It's not as if Lawson didn't procure talent: Taylor, Balogun, Brown and Day-Wilson were all major talents coming out of high school and/or from other schools. Lawson got them to play a very effective kind of style. [*]Lastly, I think Ivey was somewhat helped (in a perverse way) by losing Dara Mabrey permanently and Lauren Ebo for a few weeks. She had to readjust her attack while playing the thick of the ACC schedule and came out thriving, with Citron making steps on offense. [/LIST] Two last points: [LIST] [*]I really would've been fine if Kara had won the award, but want to stress Niele didn't just throw the ball out there on the court and watch Miles and Citron have fun. (again, note the defensive improvement). [*]If anyone wants to look at the stats/technical side of the game, scan The Bench from time to time for articles/charts/analysis by Baba, Fighting Artichoke (who posts here also) and Cavanaugh82, among others. They keep (my) opinions honest. ;) [/LIST] [/QUOTE]

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