The Four Factors give teams the four statistical areas (efficiency, free throws, turnovers, and rebounds) that contribute to wins and losses. For many coaching staffs, this is a good starting point. For others, however, I believe it can be even simpler. Whether you’re deciding how many guys to send to the glass, how often to press, or what to run offensively, knowing whether your intention is to be more efficient with your opportunities or get extra ones is a good place to begin.
Hoop Insights: The Balance of the ‘Noles
by Aaron Hanshaw | Just Play Sports Solutions | Analytics Academy There are a handful of things in life that we’ve come to accept are inevitable. Death and taxes are the most commonly used examples, but there are others, too. In the college basketball world, even in a year where Duke and Syracuse may miss the tournament, one thing remains
Hoop Insights: The Muss Bus is Rolling
by Aaron Hanshaw | Just Play Sports Solutions | Analytics Academy Every year, as the end of the regular season nears, we see some top teams falter in surprising ways. Top-ranked teams go down to bottom-feeders, and streaks come to an end. Whether it’s players with an eye on the postseason or just a lack of respect for teams at
Hoop Insights: ‘Bama is Airing it Out
If you’ve been watching the SEC lately, though, you know one thing is as certain as the taxes you’ll soon have to file: Alabama is going to shoot an absolute ton of threes.
Hoop Insights: UVA and the Importance of Jay Huff
by Aaron Hanshaw | Just Play Sports Solutions | Analytics Academy There’s this funny thing about Virginia under Tony Bennett: People talk a whole lot about the team, and sometimes talented players get lost in the conversation. It isn’t a bad thing at all; basketball is a team sport. It’s also not Bennett’s fault, as he’s not sitting around grabbing
Hoop Insights: Mizzou Basketball Is Winning Without the Three
A big factor in Missouri’s success this season is the high percentage shooting around the rim by Jeremiah Tilmon.
Hoop Insights: The Supreme Play of Luka Garza
by Patrick Schmitt / Just Play Solutions – Analytics Academy The Iowa Hawkeyes are currently experiencing their best season since Lute Olson coached them to the Final Four back in 1980. Current head coach Fran McCaffery has a 203-145 record in 11 seasons at Iowa. The Hawks roster this year is full of upperclassmen and
Hoop Insights: Rutgers is Here to Stay
by Aaron Hanshaw / Just Play Solutions – Analytics Academy After finishing 20-11 last year with an 11-9 record in the Big Ten, everyone should’ve known Rutgers was for real. But if there was any doubt headed into this season, Steve Pikiell’s group has erased it, starting off 7-1 and winning three of their first four
Hoop Insights: Gonzaga’s Offensive Efficiency
by Patrick Schmitt / Just Play Solutions – Analytics Academy Mark Few has had a great career at Gonzaga, having won over 600 games as head coach of the Bulldogs since 1999. This year’s team may be the most talented in his tenure, as they’re off to a 6-0 record, with three victories over top-15
Hoop Insights: Marquette’s New Go-To Threat on Offense
The player making the strongest impact from this rebuilt 2020-2021 roster is guard Koby McEwen. The Senior from Toronto played second chair to the likes of Howard in seasons past, only averaging 9.5 points per game in 2019-20. Yet so far this season, he’s been the go-to scorer late in games for Marquette and is leading the team with 15.7 points per game (almost three full points ahead of his next teammate).
Hoop Insights: Kentucky’s Shooting Woes
by Aaron Hanshaw / Just Play Solutions – Analytics Academy In a year where so many things look different than they once were, it’s no surprise this college basketball season has begun in equally unusual fashion: Bill Self is playing small ball, Frank Martin is bald, and the highest-profile tournament took place in New Jersey.
Hoop Insights: Wisconsin’s Wizard – Micah Potter
Micah Potter could be the secret weapon that unleashes a Badger run deep into March. Potter has given the Badgers a new option to run their offense through and has made them a better defensive team in conference play.
