It's a snow day here in Alabama, without any snow, so I ran some numbers in comparing the last three teams to reach the stage Kentucky currently sits -- undefeated heading into the final regular season game.
All stats are adjusted for tempo and strength of schedule, per KenPom. Offensive/defensive efficiency numbers reflect the team's rankings PRE-tournament; all other states are final, post-tournament rankings.
Illinois
Offensive Efficiency: 2nd nationally, at 120.2 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 3rd nationally, at 88.5 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Shooting, ranking 10th nationally in 2-point percentage (54.2%) and 14th nationally in 3-point percentage (39.2%), and taking care of the ball, ranking 2nd nationally in turnover percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Not getting to the free-throw line, ranking 314th in free throw attempts per shot, and being good-but-not-great at any one particular thing on defense.
Final Result: Lost the final regular-season game, won conference tournament, lost in the NCAA championship game.
St. Joe's
Offensive Efficiency: 11th nationally, at 114.6 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 7th nationally, at 90.0 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest
Strength(s): Shooting, ranking 6th nationally in 3-point percentage
(40%) and 18th nationally in 2-point percentage (52.8%), and guarding the 3-point shot, ranking 4th nationally in opponent 3-point percentage (24%).
Biggest
Weakness(es): Rebounding, ranking 290th in offensive rebounding
percentage and 258th in defensive rebounding percentage, and getting to
the free-throw line, ranking 250th in free throw attempts per shot.
Final Result: Lost in the first game of the conference tournament, lost in the Elite Eight.
Wichita State
Offensive Efficiency: 9th nationally, at 117.7 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 10th nationally, at 92.7 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Defensive rebounding, ranking 7th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, forcing misses, ranking 31st and 25th in opponents 3-point and 2-point shot percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Shooting from outside/FT line, ranking 138th and 77th nationally in those categories (at 35% and 72% respectively), and being good-but-not-great at any one particular thing on offense.
Final Result: Won conference tournament, lost to ... well, I think we all know what happened.
Kentucky
Offensive Efficiency: 6th nationally, at 118.6 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 2nd nationally, at 85.1 points allowed 100 per possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Defense, ranking 2nd nationally in opponent 2-point percentage (38.5%) and 2nd nationally in opponent 3-point percentage (27.0%), and offensive rebounding, ranking 6th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Defensive rebounding, ranking 213th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, and 3-point shooting, ranking 176th nationally at 34.1%.
This post was edited on 3/5 1:24 PM by Aaron_Smith
All stats are adjusted for tempo and strength of schedule, per KenPom. Offensive/defensive efficiency numbers reflect the team's rankings PRE-tournament; all other states are final, post-tournament rankings.
Illinois
Offensive Efficiency: 2nd nationally, at 120.2 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 3rd nationally, at 88.5 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Shooting, ranking 10th nationally in 2-point percentage (54.2%) and 14th nationally in 3-point percentage (39.2%), and taking care of the ball, ranking 2nd nationally in turnover percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Not getting to the free-throw line, ranking 314th in free throw attempts per shot, and being good-but-not-great at any one particular thing on defense.
Final Result: Lost the final regular-season game, won conference tournament, lost in the NCAA championship game.
St. Joe's
Offensive Efficiency: 11th nationally, at 114.6 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 7th nationally, at 90.0 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest
Strength(s): Shooting, ranking 6th nationally in 3-point percentage
(40%) and 18th nationally in 2-point percentage (52.8%), and guarding the 3-point shot, ranking 4th nationally in opponent 3-point percentage (24%).
Biggest
Weakness(es): Rebounding, ranking 290th in offensive rebounding
percentage and 258th in defensive rebounding percentage, and getting to
the free-throw line, ranking 250th in free throw attempts per shot.
Final Result: Lost in the first game of the conference tournament, lost in the Elite Eight.
Wichita State
Offensive Efficiency: 9th nationally, at 117.7 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 10th nationally, at 92.7 points allowed per 100 possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Defensive rebounding, ranking 7th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, forcing misses, ranking 31st and 25th in opponents 3-point and 2-point shot percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Shooting from outside/FT line, ranking 138th and 77th nationally in those categories (at 35% and 72% respectively), and being good-but-not-great at any one particular thing on offense.
Final Result: Won conference tournament, lost to ... well, I think we all know what happened.
Kentucky
Offensive Efficiency: 6th nationally, at 118.6 points per 100 possessions
Defensive Efficiency: 2nd nationally, at 85.1 points allowed 100 per possessions
Biggest Strength(s): Defense, ranking 2nd nationally in opponent 2-point percentage (38.5%) and 2nd nationally in opponent 3-point percentage (27.0%), and offensive rebounding, ranking 6th nationally in offensive rebounding percentage.
Biggest Weakness(es): Defensive rebounding, ranking 213th nationally in defensive rebounding percentage, and 3-point shooting, ranking 176th nationally at 34.1%.
This post was edited on 3/5 1:24 PM by Aaron_Smith
