So I'm sitting here this morning/early afternoon trying to find things to make me feel more confident about tonight's game, so I looked at the KenPom offensive and defensive efficiency numbers and compared the top 10 teams' performances in each category in this years tournament.
Top 10 Defense:
1. Texas Tech - glad they are not in our region
2. SDSU - out in first round
3. Tennessee - out in second round to a Michigan team that many argued didn't belong
4. OK State - didn't make the field
5. LSU - out in the first round (ignoring that their cheater coach was finally fired)
6. VCU - didn't make the field
7. Auburn - also glad they are not in our region
8. Iowa State - would be happy to play them
9. Gonzaga - I don't think we need to rehash their weak schedule
10. St. Mary's - out but will always think fondly of their beat down of IU.
So only 4 of the top 10 defensive teams remain.
Now let's do top 10 offense:
1. Gonzaga - no need repeating what's above
2. Purdue - nuff said
3. Iowa - I think they played way above their head for the prior three weeks and finally came down to earth
4. Kentucky - took one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament to oust them
5. Kansas - looking great so far
6. Duke - finally playing up to their talent level, and will get the benefit of every call from here on out
7. Arizona - I think the favorite to win it all right now
8. Villanova - always solid this time of year (well, almost always)
9. Baylor - missing two significant pieces of their rotation. Yes I know they would have been blown out yesterday if not for some seriously bad officiating.
10. Houston - going against Illinois right now
So 7 of the top offenses remain.
So does offense trump defense in this years tournament or am I grasping at straws? I can say I would rather play the 4 remaining top defensive teams before the other top 6 offensive teams.
Thoughts?
Top 10 Defense:
1. Texas Tech - glad they are not in our region
2. SDSU - out in first round
3. Tennessee - out in second round to a Michigan team that many argued didn't belong
4. OK State - didn't make the field
5. LSU - out in the first round (ignoring that their cheater coach was finally fired)
6. VCU - didn't make the field
7. Auburn - also glad they are not in our region
8. Iowa State - would be happy to play them
9. Gonzaga - I don't think we need to rehash their weak schedule
10. St. Mary's - out but will always think fondly of their beat down of IU.
So only 4 of the top 10 defensive teams remain.
Now let's do top 10 offense:
1. Gonzaga - no need repeating what's above
2. Purdue - nuff said
3. Iowa - I think they played way above their head for the prior three weeks and finally came down to earth
4. Kentucky - took one of the biggest upsets in the history of the tournament to oust them
5. Kansas - looking great so far
6. Duke - finally playing up to their talent level, and will get the benefit of every call from here on out
7. Arizona - I think the favorite to win it all right now
8. Villanova - always solid this time of year (well, almost always)
9. Baylor - missing two significant pieces of their rotation. Yes I know they would have been blown out yesterday if not for some seriously bad officiating.
10. Houston - going against Illinois right now
So 7 of the top offenses remain.
So does offense trump defense in this years tournament or am I grasping at straws? I can say I would rather play the 4 remaining top defensive teams before the other top 6 offensive teams.
Thoughts?
