I'm not a total hoops stat geek, but I do find some value in looking at how fast a team plays (how many possessions they get during a game) and how efficient they are when it comes to points scored per possession.
I used the kenpom.com formula for determining possessions (FGA-OR+TO+ (.475 * FTA)) and ran some numbers. They are certainly at least interesting for the Gophers. Over 1.0 points per possession is decent. Over 1.05 is pretty good. And over 1.10 is very good. Under 1.0 isn't great. And under 0.95 is really not all that great at all.
2008-09 Full Season
The Gophers average 65.6 possessions per game and are scoring 1.04 points per possession.
2008-09 Big Ten season
The Gophers average 63.6 possessions per game and are scoring 0.980 points per possession.
The slowdown isn't a surprise because of the style of basketball that is played in the Big Ten. It also means that the Gophers are having to run more halfcourt offense AND that they aren't as good at it.
I pulled out the last eight games and the numbers are quite surprising
In those eight games (starting with the Northwestern game), the Gophers are averaging 65.95 possessions, but are scoring only 0.915 points per possession.
I think part of the reason why possessions are up is because of the team's massive number of turnovers in this stretch when compared with the rest of the season and the relatively few number of offensive rebounds. In these eight games, the Gophers have 30 more turnovers (120) than O rebounds (90).
But the points per possession is extremely scary. It's not a shock that this team isn't playing well offensively, but I didn't realize it was this bad.
Here is a little context:
Last season in Big Ten play, the Gophers average 65.15 possessions per game and averaged 1.012 points per possession.
Two years ago, the Molinari team averaged 62.15 possessions per Big Ten game and averaged .923 points per possession.
What does this mean:
This season's team plays close to as slow as the Molinari team and, over the last eight games, has been less efficient than that 3-13 team.
It's not a surprise the Gophers have been losing games.
The good news, however, is that KenPom still has the Gophers winning three of the last five Big Ten games. But the Badgers game here is very, very close to being a toss-up.
I used the kenpom.com formula for determining possessions (FGA-OR+TO+ (.475 * FTA)) and ran some numbers. They are certainly at least interesting for the Gophers. Over 1.0 points per possession is decent. Over 1.05 is pretty good. And over 1.10 is very good. Under 1.0 isn't great. And under 0.95 is really not all that great at all.
2008-09 Full Season
The Gophers average 65.6 possessions per game and are scoring 1.04 points per possession.
2008-09 Big Ten season
The Gophers average 63.6 possessions per game and are scoring 0.980 points per possession.
The slowdown isn't a surprise because of the style of basketball that is played in the Big Ten. It also means that the Gophers are having to run more halfcourt offense AND that they aren't as good at it.
I pulled out the last eight games and the numbers are quite surprising
In those eight games (starting with the Northwestern game), the Gophers are averaging 65.95 possessions, but are scoring only 0.915 points per possession.
I think part of the reason why possessions are up is because of the team's massive number of turnovers in this stretch when compared with the rest of the season and the relatively few number of offensive rebounds. In these eight games, the Gophers have 30 more turnovers (120) than O rebounds (90).
But the points per possession is extremely scary. It's not a shock that this team isn't playing well offensively, but I didn't realize it was this bad.
Here is a little context:
Last season in Big Ten play, the Gophers average 65.15 possessions per game and averaged 1.012 points per possession.
Two years ago, the Molinari team averaged 62.15 possessions per Big Ten game and averaged .923 points per possession.
What does this mean:
This season's team plays close to as slow as the Molinari team and, over the last eight games, has been less efficient than that 3-13 team.
It's not a surprise the Gophers have been losing games.
The good news, however, is that KenPom still has the Gophers winning three of the last five Big Ten games. But the Badgers game here is very, very close to being a toss-up.