Can we start talking about Xavier as a title contender?

[xavierj]

How do they measure defense? Can't be simply points allowed.

You can go to his site and he explains it. But its basically points allowed per 100 possessions against the average of division 1 offenses. So basically wveryone is up against the same metric. Its not points allowed per game. I know the coaches believe in it.

[MauriceX]

You can go to his site and he explains it. But its basically points allowed per 100 possessions against the average of division 1 offenses. So basically wveryone is up against the same metric. Its not points allowed per game. I know the coaches believe in it.

Another way of saying this is that it takes the points allowed and adjusts it based on strength of the opponent and the pace of the game.

So giving up 70 points to a team that is bad and plays slowly can hurt you more than giving up 100 points to a good team that plays fast.

[MauriceX]

I went back to look through the past championship games as far back as Kenpom stats go. It turns out there is one exception: UConn in 2014. Other than that it holds. For 2nd place there isn't as much correlation. (Thank Butler for throwing that off)

Also, these stats do include tournament games. I know there was a question about that earlier.

Again it is team - AdjO-AdjD-Overall

2015: Duke – 3-12-4 beat Wisconsin – 1-54-3
2014: UConn – 39-10-8 beat Kentucky – 10-41-11
2013: Louisville – 4-3-1 beat Michigan – 1-48-4
2012: Kentucky – 2-8-1 beat Kansas- 28-3-4
2011: UConn – 18-13-9 beat Butler – 48-44-33
2010: Duke – 1-8-1 beat Butler – 57-2-9
2009: UNC – 1-21-1 beat Mich. St. – 22-8-6
2008: Kansas – 2-1-1 beat Memphis – 6-2-2
2007: Florida – 1-17-1 beat Ohio State – 3-11-2
2006: Florida – 3-6-1 beat UCLA – 38-4-4
2005: UNC – 2-12-2 beat Illinois – 3-4-1
2004: UConn – 9-5-2 beat GA Tech – 26-6-7
2003: Syracuse – 14-14-5 beat Kansas – 15-4-3
2002: Maryland – 2-7-2 beat Indiana – 23-6-6

[boozehound]

I think the list makes a lot of sense. I think X could get to the Final 4 and then who knows but one game at a time. It's all about matchups and we have trouble w/ really athletic teams.

Agreed. We can play a great game, but we can also play a pretty bad game. It only takes one of the latter before you are done in the tournament.

[Xtemporaneous]

Save the '11 Uconn and '03 Cuse squads, each winner has been elite in either category (10th or above). '11 Uconn just missed with their D ranking but both teams were balanced in their ranking.

We have some work to do.