Kenpom Defensive efficiency rating: up to #63 after the Alabama game

[Cats192]

We somehow moved up from #68 to #63 despite giving up 96 points to Alabama.

Hopefully the trend continues. As our defense improves, if we can get healthy, we're a sneaky team going into the post-season.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

We somehow moved up from #68 to #63 despite giving up 96 points to Alabama.

Hopefully the trend continues. As our defense improves, if we can get healthy, we're a sneaky team going into the post-season.

I think Aike had a good point in another thread, in that despite all the injuries, we've very much been holding our own in these games, especially defensively, given who the opponents are. If we can stay in the top10 on offense and creep into top50 on defense, that's a formula for success in the tournament. Of course, we'd want to be top10 in both.. but I'd rather have a well-oiled offense than a defense. Give me that and so long as we're at least respectable on defense, we will be fine.

 

[ukcatz12]

Over the last five games we're actually the 12th best defense in the country according to Barttorvik. I dont know if Kenpom lets you filter over a certain timeframe like Barttorvik does, but I assume we're in the same ballpark over that time period on Kenpom. This team is fully capable of playing good defense. I've said it quite a number of times over the last few weeks, but when healthy we were a top 30 defense.

I really think the only question this team has right now is if it can get healthy in time for Butler, Robinson, and Carr to play close to full strength and without rust in the tournament. If that happens I don't think it matters much if we're seeded 3rd, 4th, 5th, or lower, this team is fully capable of making a deep run. If it doesn't happen the reverse is true, our seed won't matter and we'll probably go home early.

 

[TucsonCat]

If my math is correct, Alabama would normally score a hundred in a game that fast and we held them to 96. We did have 15 steals.

 

[Digger-Cat]

Our defense is sooo much better over the last few games.

Maybe we needed that embarrassment at Ole Miss to get our guys to play D with effort

We blocked every one of Ole Miss' punches with our face that night.

 

[Cats192]

Over the last five games we're actually the 12th best defense in the country according to Barttorvik. I dont know if Kenpom lets you filter over a certain timeframe like Barttorvik does, but I assume we're in the same ballpark over that time period on Kenpom. This team is fully capable of playing good defense. I've said it quite a number of times over the last few weeks, but when healthy we were a top 30 defense.

I really think the only question this team has right now is if it can get healthy in time for Butler, Robinson, and Carr to play close to full strength and without rust in the tournament. If that happens I don't think it matters much if we're seeded 3rd, 4th, 5th, or lower, this team is fully capable of making a deep run. If it doesn't happen the reverse is true, our seed won't matter and we'll probably go home early.

I'm sure there's a way to do it. I'm guessing you have to subscribe to be able to access any features beyond the main/front Page.

Torvik is probably the best free option.

I said this in another thread earlier in the week. The actual number doesn't matter. How you play defense in March matters.

If we have figured something out, and we're a top 30 defense going forward, we're a threat (assuming we're healthy).