Kenpom Climb Watch

[dennismenace]

After seeing the 10 deep play against Miami my hope is they will see themselves as a team of destiny by believing in the game plan and their personal and collective will to enforce that in the game. I used to love to watch the earlier JC teams with 10 man pressure and superior conditioning just stifle and harass other teams
for 40 mins. I especially liked that when they fell behind even by say 8 or 10 in first half they didn't change anything about the defense. It just kept coming harder and harder and wore down the opponent mentally and physically until the tide turned and then they would turn it up a notch like wolves when they smelled blood.
Bring it on!!!

 

[scoscox]

Except for one important aspect, we have to actually beat the majority of all those far superior teams.

I think folks think that once these teams see “UConn” on our jerseys, everyone is just gonna lay down. Remember folks, we are still rebuilding. We are on the right path but next year when we are in a basketball conference with the top to bottom strength of the Big East, we are going to see how far we have come and how far we still need to go. I don’t see us walking in next year and dominating. Obviously I hope I am wrong. But I am not assuming an easy road to the tournament just because we are in the Big East.

should you guys be able to keep both bouknight and akok atleast another year you should compete in the top half at the least. nova will be championship level good next year again and honestly depaul will be loaded if paul reed doesn't go the draft, but everyone else will likely be worse. should be a very good opportunity to finish in the top 4-5

 

[mussels]

After seeing the 10 deep play against Miami my hope is they will see themselves as a team of destiny by believing in the game plan and their personal and collective will to enforce that in the game. I used to love to watch the earlier JC teams with 10 man pressure and superior conditioning just stifle and harass other teams
for 40 mins. I especially liked that when they fell behind even by say 8 or 10 in first half they didn't change anything about the defense. It just kept coming harder and harder and wore down the opponent mentally and physically until the tide turned and then they would turn it up a notch like wolves when they smelled blood.
Bring it on!!!

RK
"Now this is the law of the Jungle,
As true and as old as the sky,
And those that would keep it may prosper,
And those that would break it would die,
As the creeper engirdles the tree trunk,
The law runs forward and back,
For the strengh of the pack is the wolf,
But the strength of the wolf is the pack"

Teamwork!

 

[ucawn]

Stays put at 53 after the 24 point win over Maine. Wasn’t a big enough margin to increase our rank. Glad we covered the line at least.

 

[Waquoit]

Stays put at 53 after the 24 point win over Maine. Wasn’t a big enough margin to increase our rank. Glad we covered the line at least.

Our margin of victory was fine.

 

[HuskyHawk]

KenPom isn’t reflecting reality yet. Look at rankings for Purdue and Iowa State, and Michigan State as #1. Nothing to worry about. We took care of business. You play a game and you can win or lose. Iona coming up then a chance to impress against IU.

 

[joober jones]

Scared about Iona. They’re a decent team. Boys gotta show up ready to play

The ghost of Sam Cassell Jr may haunt us

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

The ghost of Sam Cassell Jr may haunt us

Who will Bunky be rooting for?

 

[UconnU]

Scared about Iona. They’re a decent team. Boys gotta show up ready to play

Iona is going to be TOUGH. They are a top 100 team who returns 4 starting upperclassmen from last season. They took a really good La Salle team to OT. EJ Crawford is the best player in the MAAC. Their PG Asante Gist was a high end 3 star recruit played with RJ Cole for Hurley Sr.

 

[VKong]

Iona is going to be TOUGH. They are a top 100 team who returns 4 starting upperclassmen from last season. They took a really good La Salle team to OT. EJ Crawford is the best player in the MAAC. Their PG Asante Gist was a high end 3 star recruit played with RJ Cole for Hurley Sr.

Not saying you are wrong, I don't know much about them, but Kenpom has them at 178 not top 100...

 

[UconnU]

Not saying you are wrong, I don't know much about them, but Kenpom has them at 178 not top 100...

I think the Kenpom on them is wrong because it includes numbers from the last year, they started 2-9 last year before going on an absolute tear to make the tourney. Most of the preason top to bottom rankings had them around 100. I’m not saying I think we’re going to lose, I just think it will be a tough game ala Buffalo. #95 Iona Men's Basketball 2019-2020 Preview

Ranking Every Team in College Basketball for 2019-20

From Michigan State to UMES, Sports Illustrated ranks all 353 teams in college basketball before the season begins.

www.si.com

 

[Matt1010]

Not saying you are wrong, I don't know much about them, but Kenpom has them at 178 not top 100...

Iona could be a tough game but we are going to be ~12-15 point favorites, so from a vegas standpoint it's one of the easiest remaining games on our schedule. They aren't close to a top 100 team based on Kenpom and La Salle isn't either.

 

[UconnU]

Iona could be a tough game but we are going to be ~12-15 point favorites, so from a vegas standpoint it's one of the easiest remaining games on our schedule. They aren't close to a top 100 team based on Kenpom and La Salle isn't either.

We still have to play St. Peter’s, NJIT, New Hampshire, ECU all much easier games. Iona is still a perennial tournament team that returns everyone, minus McGill, from last year it’s not going to be an easy game. I expect a similar game as Buffalo.

 

[auror]

I think the Kenpom on them is wrong because it includes numbers from the last year, they started 2-9 last year before going on an absolute tear to make the tourney. Most of the preason top to bottom rankings had them around 100. I’m not saying I think we’re going to lose, I just think it will be a tough game ala Buffalo. #95 Iona Men's Basketball 2019-2020 Preview

Ranking Every Team in College Basketball for 2019-20

From Michigan State to UMES, Sports Illustrated ranks all 353 teams in college basketball before the season begins.

www.si.com

Nah. They lost to Ohio U at home by 9 and beat 319th ranked Steton by only 5. Their play this year has actually worsened their rank from the pre-season, so it's not last year's numbers holding their rank back.

Last year they started 2-9 against real teams, and then "went on an absolute tear" against the garbage teams in their conference. The best team they beat during their 10 game winning streak was 212th. And before that streak they lost 4 straight to teams between 234th and 301st.

So sure, a tear from 240th overall to 198th. Their best win last year was neutral court against Hartford. Iona is 1-7 in their games against top 200 teams over last and this year. Buffalo is 28-4 against the same grouping over the same span, including 4-1 this year with the only loss to us.

They're the 2nd oldest team in the NCAA by minutes played, but they're integrating some new rotation pieces so are only in the 68th %tile of minutes continuity. They turn the ball over a ton and basically just chuck 3's. Only problem, Jellyfam still can't shoot.

 

[Kitaman]

Regardless of ranking, all that matters is how we do in our Conference in this final year. We need to leave as we usually do, on top (or top tier). Just saying the Maines, Iona's and similar teams won't do much for us, because of where we were positioned at the beginning of the season.

Its Conference Championship, I just want to win that this season! I'm just glad to 'finally' have a doable and reasonable hope for our team.

 

[businesslawyer]

I think the Kenpom on them is wrong because it includes numbers from the last year, they started 2-9 last year before going on an absolute tear to make the tourney. Most of the preason top to bottom rankings had them around 100. I’m not saying I think we’re going to lose, I just think it will be a tough game ala Buffalo. #95 Iona Men's Basketball 2019-2020 Preview

Ranking Every Team in College Basketball for 2019-20

From Michigan State to UMES, Sports Illustrated ranks all 353 teams in college basketball before the season begins.

www.si.com

LOL. Computer rankings are never "wrong," unless you've literally found a mistake in the program. You may think they are better than their computer ranking, but that doesn't make the KenPoms wrong. Any computer ranking tells you exactly what it's supposed to tell you.

 

[bmayuc]

Don't look now but that 2nd year jump is being clearly reflected in the numbers.

2019 Offensive rating - 109 - ranked 98
2019 Defensive rating - 102 - ranked 129

2020 Offensive rating - 105 - ranked 64
2020 Defensive rating - 92(!) - ranked 51

Offensive rating

 

[Waquoit]

Regardless of ranking, all that matters is how we do in our Conference in this final year. We need to leave as we usually do, on top...

I've been getting back into pro wrestling a little bit lately. I love the idea of taking the belt to the new league.

 

[Waquoit]

Any computer ranking tells you exactly what it's supposed to tell you.

Which is what exactly?

 

[auror]

Which is what exactly?

In this case, how many points a team has scored and given up adjusted for their schedule (via how many points the other teams they have played have given up and scored, with some weight given in the early season to empirically derived factors such as historical team/coach performance, returning minutes, and new player consensus rankings).

 

[CL82]

Very cool Visual....For giggles, I loaded up the P5 in top 50....to see conferences visually.

Interesting but not sure how useful it is when you just do the top 50. By definition it gives a skew to the P5 at the top. Now, if you want to load in and color code every P5 school, then we'd have something.

 

[Storrs South]

For those who do not have KenPom, this site has some interesting analytics:

T-Page for Connecticut - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

• Has UConn at 36% of making the tourney currently
• Notes Bouknight, Adams, Polley, Vital, and Carlton have been the best 5 players to date
• The team is elite at shot blocking, but also gets blocked on their own shots just as much which is no surprise since...
• The team is being held back by an awful 2P%; the only players that rate positive in terms of finishing at the rim are Brendan Adams and James Bouknight
• All of the guards are shooting exceptionally well from the charity stripe, Alterique being the lowest at 75% which is very good.
• Notes that Alterique and Christian have very positive ratings with assists
• The defense seems to be carrying the team at the moment as there are few deficiencies on that side of the ball currently
• Currently projects UConn at 20-11 (11-7), which seems in line with everyone's preseason expectations

 

[CL82]

Except for one important aspect, we have to actually beat the majority of all those far superior teams.

I think folks think that once these teams see “UConn” on our jerseys, everyone is just gonna lay down. Remember folks, we are still rebuilding. We are on the right path but next year when we are in a basketball conference with the top to bottom strength of the Big East, we are going to see how far we have come and how far we still need to go. I don’t see us walking in next year and dominating. Obviously I hope I am wrong. But I am not assuming an easy road to the tournament just because we are in the Big East.

I do I see us competing, however, and that, my friend, is going to be a whole lot of good basketball. It's a year away and I'm already looking forward to it.

 

[billybud]

Interesting but not sure how useful it is when you just do the top 50. By definition it gives a skew to the P5 at the top. Now, if you want to load in and color code every P5 school, then we'd have something.

I didn't have the patience to wade through a gazillion teams....but feel free.

 

[billybud]

For those who do not have KenPom, this site has some interesting analytics:

T-Page for Connecticut - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

• Has UConn at 36% of making the tourney currently
• Notes Bouknight, Adams, Polley, Vital, and Carlton have been the best 5 players to date
• The team is elite at shot blocking, but also gets blocked on their own shots just as much which is no surprise since...
• The team is being held back by an awful 2P%; the only players that rate positive in terms of finishing at the rim are Brendan Adams and James Bouknight
• All of the guards are shooting exceptionally well from the charity stripe, Alterique being the lowest at 75% which is very good.
• Notes that Alterique and Christian have very positive ratings with assists
• The defense seems to be carrying the team at the moment as there are few deficiencies on that side of the ball currently
• Currently projects UConn at 20-11 (11-7), which seems in line with everyone's preseason expectations

Interesting data pages.....I clicked on comparison chart of UConn and FSU to see how the charting works...it is early....but Uconn is clearly ahead in 3 pt shooting rate. That may be scheme or skill.

Chart is difficult for me without a magnifier.'


FSU

Verifying Browser...

 

[Com'rGordon]

How are we not receiving a single vote in the AP poll

 

[Hoophound]

“How are we not receiving a single vote in the AP poll?”

One word: American.

 

[zls44]

The next month is interesting because outside of Indiana, there's no game where they'll be on any national radar unless they lose. Feels like they'd need to win out to maybe jump into the back of the poll before Cincy.

 

[UConnStats]

For those who do not have KenPom, this site has some interesting analytics:

T-Page for Connecticut - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

• Has UConn at 36% of making the tourney currently
• Notes Bouknight, Adams, Polley, Vital, and Carlton have been the best 5 players to date
• The team is elite at shot blocking, but also gets blocked on their own shots just as much which is no surprise since...
• The team is being held back by an awful 2P%; the only players that rate positive in terms of finishing at the rim are Brendan Adams and James Bouknight
• All of the guards are shooting exceptionally well from the charity stripe, Alterique being the lowest at 75% which is very good.
• Notes that Alterique and Christian have very positive ratings with assists
• The defense seems to be carrying the team at the moment as there are few deficiencies on that side of the ball currently
• Currently projects UConn at 20-11 (11-7), which seems in line with everyone's preseason expectations

Great site.

I was just looking at this yesterday... our 2P% is hysterically bad. The culprits:

Gilbert - 30% on 40 attempts
Vital - 37.8% on 45 attempts
Whaley - 30.4% on 23 attempts
Akok - 45.8% on 24 attempts
Carlton - 50% on 66 attempts

All of these should rise. Wilson might as well, but I'm less bullish on that happening.

 

[Towney007]

For those who do not have KenPom, this site has some interesting analytics:

T-Page for Connecticut - Customizable College Basketball Tempo Free Stats - T-Rank

• Has UConn at 36% of making the tourney currently
• Notes Bouknight, Adams, Polley, Vital, and Carlton have been the best 5 players to date
• The team is elite at shot blocking, but also gets blocked on their own shots just as much which is no surprise since...
• The team is being held back by an awful 2P%; the only players that rate positive in terms of finishing at the rim are Brendan Adams and James Bouknight
• All of the guards are shooting exceptionally well from the charity stripe, Alterique being the lowest at 75% which is very good.
• Notes that Alterique and Christian have very positive ratings with assists
• The defense seems to be carrying the team at the moment as there are few deficiencies on that side of the ball currently
• Currently projects UConn at 20-11 (11-7), which seems in line with everyone's preseason expectations

So just because i'm lazy and don't have time - how were we finishing around the rim the last two seasons? Seems like one of those under-the-hood/maybe-not-so-under-the-hood issues this team has had offensively this past year.

And to the best of our ability to read it - how are Ferguson/Springs/Cole/Jackson in those departments?

Because I honestly feel like we're basically one or two finisher/dribble drive guys away from being a real problem for everyone.