Tuesday, February 15, 2011

2011 mid-season team notes on player efficiencies

My analysis, cross-posted, of the individual player rating stats I crunched for the first-half of the conference season, and what it might mean for each Big Ten team. The rating system and its explanation can be found here. Without further ado, here's my school-by-school notes.

Illinois
Jaw-droppingly good! McCamey's been pretty good still, but not the senior superstar most expected. Mike Davis is playing as well as he ever has, but the real surprise is despite Bill Cole's solid performance, Jereme Richmond is just flat-out demanding more minutes with his very good numbers. Richmond is the future of the Illini, and it'll be interesting to see how next year's stellar class fits in with him.
I'm concerned... DJ Richardson continues hit open jumpers and not do much else, and Brandon Paul shoots a lot without much efficiency. However, the regression of Tyler Griffey and Meyers Leonard in conference play has to concern Bruce Weber. If Davis or Mike Tisdale aren't playing aggressively, who does he go to?
I can haz more PT? Joseph Bertrand has posted good efficiency numbers is his very limited minutes, and probably deserves some more time. However, he'd have to take minutes away from Cole or Richmond for that to happen this season. Otherwise, I think the perception of this being a disappointing season for the Illini is a little overstated by their fans. The Big Ten is a great conference this year, and it's hard to win a lot of games with seniors who never really displayed dominance as a team.

Indiana

Jaw-droppingly good! Uhhhhh, maybe "jaw-droppingly average?" Verdell Jones maintaining his effective performance despite injuries bears mention, as does Jordan Hulls' giant jump in efficiency despite increased usage. Christian Watford's average performance as a featured part of the offense has been pleasant for IU fans, as has his relatively quick return from injury. Jeremiah Rivers would be really good if only he could keep the turnovers under control.
I'm concerned... Maurice Creek was, unfortunately, the disappointment of the season, as he would've been valuable if he'd been 80% the player he was as a freshman. Creek was pretty obviously less than 50% before his injury. Bobby Capobianco & Derek Elston's regression has also been disappointing, but maybe that's just how Crean develops big men. After all….
I can haz more PT? Tom Pritchard has bounced back nicely from a disappointing sophomore season, and is really the guy IU needs to play heavy minutes if they are to continue to surprise quality opponents (and the Big Ten has nothing quality opponents). Victor Oladipo does need to play more, as he's the best per-possession player for the Hoosiers, but I do like having Will Sheehey start – he seems to have quick hands and an aggressive attitude from the opening tip that's catching. And if he picks up a foul or two early, it's not crippling for the team. Matt Roth also is playing decently in-conference.

Iowa
Jaw-droppingly good! Melsahn Basabe is the surprise of the conference, but Bryce Cartwright should be mentioned, too. The fact that Fran McCaffrey was able to bring in two Big Ten-level starters over the summer should serve notice to the rest of the league- don't sleep on Iowa!
I'm concerned... Matt Gatens and Eric May have not been the improved players I expected them to be, and Zach McCabe and Devyn Marble haven't been all that great, either. Still, Marble at least looks to be a future starter for the Hawkeyes, and May is recovering from injuries.
I can haz more PT? Jarryd Cole and Basabe shouldn't lose any minutes, but Devon Archie and Andrew Brommer have been nice surprises off the bench. Outside of Marble, I don't see any need for increased PT for any one player, but it's been surprising how fast McCaffrey has made this a dangerous team with an entirely different playing style.

Michigan
Jaw-droppingly good! Darius Morris' improvement has been jaw-dropping indeed. He has the look of a future NBA point guard, and no Big Ten team relies so heavily on one player to create offense. Maybe others have been surprised, but I think Novak's improved performance this year was to be expected. After all, he's finally playing in position, & is no longer forced to match up against guys like Blake Griffin!
I'm concerned... Stu Douglass, Jordan Morgan, and Tim Hardaway weren't looking all that great efficiency-wise, but post-number-crunching they each have had breakout games, so who knows. Evan Smotrycz is currently to be the least efficient player in the rotation. Blake McLimans hasn't seen much time, but registering zeroes is never a good sign.
I can haz more PT? Jon Horford should see a few more minutes, in my estimation, as Jordan Morgan was the worst starting center in the conference. However, Morgan's got the size and runs a mean pick-and-roll with Morris, but keep an eye on Horford this season and next. Otherwise, the fact Michigan is even discussing a possible NCAA berth this late in the season should redeem Beilien for last year.

Michigan State

Jaw-droppingly good! Still Draymond Green. Simply the best per-possession and per-game player in the conference, and a very, very large part of all of MSU's close wins. Kalin Lucas appears to be playing at the best of his career, and Delvon Roe is second only to Sullinger and JaJuan Johnson in the middle.
I'm concerned... Three top-ten players, and this is still a mediocre team in the conference. Durrell Summers seems to be the most hurt from Korie Lucious' dismissal, as Lucas' assists seem to go mostly to the bigs, while Lucious found Summers and Appling for open shots. That said, Summers (and Appling) needs to step it up in a serious way if MSU is to have any life in the post-season.
I can haz more PT? Granted, my system favors reserve big men, but Derrick Nix and Adriean Payne seem to be the best of that bunch. Unfortunately, Green and Roe seem to do best at the 4 and 5-spots, and not the 3 and 4. If Nix can integrate himself into the line-up and get major minutes while not decreasing Roe and Green's effectiveness, MSU may be able to rally. Chris Allen's dismissal and Russell Byrd's injury are also really being felt right now by Sparty fans.

Minnesota
Jaw-droppingly good! For a guy who I never expected to play, Trevor Mbakwe has been truly jaw-droppingly good. Right now, he's playing at the three-spot and still dominating. It bears mentioning that point guards Al Nolen and Devoe Joseph were playing quite efficiently before the injury and apparent losing-of-the-marbles, respectively.
I'm concerned... Blake Hoffarber is the worst point guard in the conference, but it's obviously not his fault. Really, the lack of depth at this position is a real concern, as the departed transfer Justin Cobbs wasn't great last season, but he was a lot better than the out-of-his-depth Maverick Ahanmisi.
I can haz more PT? Al Nolen needs to get healthy. Rodney Williams and Blake Hoffarber's efficiencies are suffering as they play out of position. Chip Armelin strikes me as the guy who really needs to start getting more minutes, even though he can't shoot from distance, he really just makes things happen.

Northwestern

Jaw-droppingly good! Juice Thompson has been quite the leader this year despite shouldering insane minutes, and guards Alex Marcotullio and JerShon Cobb have been pleasant surprises as well.
I'm concerned... Drew Crawford has really faded in conference play, posting per-possession numbers equivalent to the other worst rotation player, Davide Curletti. Shurna has also taken a step back, but it's hard to call his performance disappointing as he struggles through injuries and remains productive.
I can haz more PT? I've long been a Mike Capocci advocate, and so to see him play a crucial part in almost upsetting Ohio State was satisfying. However, I can't figure out why Bill Carmody doesn't give his starting forwards more rest as they invariably seem to break down with the heavy minutes foisted upon them. You can ask Juice Thompson or Craig Moore to play 95% of your possessions, but Shurna and Coble take a lot of abuse in the post, and when valuable per-possession players like Peljusic and Capocci are just riding the pine, I can't figure out why he doesn't spare his key players some punishment. Furthermore, it has become apparent that Carmody ended NU's NCAA hopes when he chased away Kevin Coble, instead of being patient with a talented young man who never had basketball as his life's priority. I realize Northwestern has never had it so good, but they are no threat to ever make the NCAA's as currently led by Carmody. If perpetual NIT snubs are good enough for the NU administration, so be it.

Ohio State
Jaw-droppingly good! Um, Jared Sullinger. Amazing. However, I should note David Lighty –the one-time afterthought in another amazing recruiting class- has become a really solid multi-position player. Also, Aaron Craft has been shockingly good for a freshman point, but it's easy to rack up assists when there's this much talent surrounding you. We'll see next season if he's more like Bobby Hurley or Greg Paulus.
I'm concerned... Thad Matta plays Lighty, Diebler, Buford, Craft, and Sullinger heavy minutes, and Lauderdale and Thomas only in rotation. This may get him into trouble in the postseason if the Buckeyes run into foul trouble or injuries, as only Jordan Sibert gets any minutes on the perimeter.
I can haz more PT? DeShaun Thomas is the one guy on the team who really looks like he deserves more minutes than he gets. You could make an argument for Sibert or Smith to get more minutes, but until OSU looks vulnerable (and even post-Wisconsin, they really don't), why would you argue with Matta?

Penn State
Jaw-droppingly good! Jeff Brooks. Efficient, productive, and when he was out for a home game with Michigan, Penn State missed him big-time. Jackson and Battle have both been good, and Andrew Jones finally returned to form, somewhat. Tim Frazier looks to be the star of next year's team.
I'm concerned... Zero depth here, as the bench is terrible. Billy Oliver, Cameron Woodyard, and Jemaine Marshall are putting up walk-on numbers. Oliver, for example, is about half as efficient the 10th player on last year's squad – (the redshirted) Sasa Borovnjak.
I can haz more PT? Um, Taran Buie may not have been great in the pre-season, but he was another player at least. If he could convince DeChellis that he'd shaped up and return, it would help this team out a lot. As it stands now, he may not ever come back.

Purdue
Jaw-droppingly good! For all of the wailing that Boiled Sports and Hammer and Rails has done about E'Twuann Moore, he's the clearly the best off-guard in the best conference in the country – performing at a much higher rate than Talor Battle. I think they expect him to be some fantasized version of Michael Jordan or something, but honestly – what more can he do? JaJuan Johnson might be the best center in the league at the end of the season, but he's currently taking a backseat to Sullinger, which, y'know, who isn't? Lewis Jackson has really stepped up his production, as has Ryne Smith. I know Boilers hate to hear this, but with a healthy Hummel, this likely would have been a championship squad.
I'm concerned... The lack of quality depth inside is less dire than I worried it might be, as Carroll and Bade are putting up average per-possession stats. However, they are doing this in less than half of the available minutes at the four-spot, meaning that Kelsey Barlow and DJ Byrd are filling in for the majority of those minutes.
I can haz more PT? Matt Painter's done a pretty great job, and I don't have anything really to comment on. Maybe Barlow could use a few more minutes and Smith could use a few less, and I'm curious to see how Carroll develops, but this is a good deep team.

Wisconsin

Jaw-droppingly good! Jordan Taylor's growth is now on an Evan Turner-like scale, except that Turner was a least a legit starter from the time he stepped on campus. Jon Leuer's got relatively low efficiency for the impact he has on the game, and it's been a while since I've such a tough, yet skilled big man. He reminds me a lot of Alan Henderson. And Keaton Nankivil is really opening eyes with his surprising performances, right now- he's the best B10 power forward not named Green, Brooks, or Mbakwe.
I'm concerned... Ryan Evans and Rob Wilson are both good athletes, but are putting up truly terrible numbers. The regression is not such a big deal this season, but who's gonna start at forward alongside Bruesewitz next season?
I can haz more PT? Nothing obvious here, except I'd like to see Jared Berggren get some more possessions as he's the likely starter for UW next year, as far as I can tell. Bo Ryan is squeezing his top players for their production, and he is getting results.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

2011 Ratings- Conference Halfway Point

The full spreadsheet can be found here. The what and why is here.

Quick notes: The Big Ten is definitely better than in recent years. The efficiency ratings are up across the board, and this despite the loss of a *lot* of key players. I did include six players in my ratings that may not play again this season (Nolen, Joseph, Watford, Lucious, Creek, and Hart), but none of them are real outliers who would've affected the data. And quick btw- check out MSU's presence in the ratings- one wonders how they're playing so poorly, until you look at Korie Lucious' numbers and see that he was playing pretty well in the Big Ten game (11.7/.3017). It's little wonder that the Sparties have crashed with only the disappointing Summers and Appling (and walk-ons) to rely on otherwise on the wing.

The Highlights
Overall per-game mean: 10.7
Overall per-game median: 9.8
Overall per-possession mean: .3069
Overall per-possession median: .3017

Top 10 per-possession
1. Draymond Green, MSU (.6523)
2. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota (.5742)
3. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (.5415)
4. Jeff Brooks, Penn State (.5305)
5. Derrick Nix, MSU (.5283)
6. Jared Sullinger, OSU (.5171)
7. Delvon Roe, MSU (.5141)
8. Jereme Richmond, Illinois (.4963)
9. Darius Morris, Michigan (.4933)
10. Keaton Nankivil, Wisconsin (.4903)

Top 10 per-game
1. Draymond Green, MSU (33.0)
2. Jeff Brooks, Penn State (29.6)
3. Trevor Mbakwe, Minnesota (28.7)
4. Jared Sullinger, OSU (28.5)
5. Jordan Taylor, Wisconsin (28.3)
6. JaJuan Johnson, Purdue (27.5)
7. Etwuann Moore, Purdue (24.8)
8. Darius Morris, Michigan (24.6)
9. Kalin Lucas, MSU (23.1)
10. Delvon Roe, MSU (22.2)

Freshman 15 - First team
Jared Sullinger, OSU (28.5/.5171)
Jereme Richmond, Illinois (15.9/.4963)
Melsahn Basabe, Iowa (20.2/.4879)
Aaron Craft, OSU (17.6/.3643)
Victor Oladipo, Indiana (12.1/.3807)

Second team:
Adriean Payne, MSU (3.7/.4156)
Deshaun Thomas, OSU (6.2/.3138)
Chip Armelin, Minnesota (5.0/.3183)
Terone Johnson, Purdue (9.3/.3196)
Josh Gasser, Wisconsin (12.1/.3918)

Third team:
Travis Carroll, Purdue (4.7/.2834)
Jordan Morgan, Michigan (8.9/.2516)
Will Sheehey, Indiana (5.4/.2816)
Tim Hardaway, Jr., Michigan (12.1/.2689)
Jershon Cobb, Northwestern (12.9/.2842)

[HM: Jon Horford, Michigan (3.7/.2939)]

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Per-Possession Efficiency Breakdown 2010

A little bit of breaking down of the individual player rating stats I crunched, and what it all might mean. I'll list my school-by-school notes, and then the top tens.

Illinois

Jaw-droppingly good! Demetri McCamey played very well despite the position switch and the loss of Meachem and Frazier. He's the best point guard in the conference, and that's saying a lot. Hey, Illini fans- do you still wish you'd gotten Eric Gordon instead of McCamey?
I'm concerned... I really think it was pretty outrageous that DJ Richardson got the Freshman of the Year award. His per-possession efficiency was 89th out of 117 players, and it was well below Christian Watford's efficiency rating to boot. Were the only criteria three-point and free-throw shooting?
I can haz more PT? Tyler Griffey posted some very efficient numbers in his limited time so far. He'll get more PT next season.

Indiana
Jaw-droppingly good! Well, there wasn't a lot of that this season. Verdell Jones maintaining his effective performance despite increased usage bears mention here. Otherwise, it's Derek Elston & Bobby Capobianco's surprisingly effective play off the bench that's the biggest positive.
I'm concerned...Jordan Hulls' had a very low rating that despite his outburst against Northwestern, declined as the season went on. Tom Pritchard wasn't great, but actually bounced back statistically in the second half of the Big Ten season. Also, Devan Dumes had a poor showing in his final season.
I can haz more PT? Capobianco & Elston really need more time on the floor if Watford and Pritchard continue to struggle next season. Mostly, the Hoosiers' hopes pivot on a full recovery by Maurice Creek.

Iowa
Jaw-droppingly good! Aaron Fuller had an amazing year, really, and will be missed. Centers Jarryd Cole and Andrew Brommer also showed some efficiency I didn't expect.
I'm concerned... Matt Gatens had a bad year, but Cully Payne can't continue to be the answer at point unless he makes some real improvements. Brennan Cougill bounced back from a bad showing in conference play, but he won't be returning for a year.
I can haz more PT? Um, Cole and Brommer are going to get more minutes, as the interior depth will be even shallower next season for new coach McCaffrey. The numbers don't really favor anyone else, but I think Eric May & Matt Gatens are going to be better next season.

Michigan
Jaw-droppingly good! DeShawn Sims. He's was Michigan's best player and everyone knew it, but he kept up his numbers with a very good efficiency rating. Manny Harris pretty obviously had his eye on the NBA all season, and it resulted in a disappointing regression in 2010.
I'm concerned... Stu Douglass and Laval Lucas-Perry got plenty of minutes, and but were pretty poor in efficiency. Also, I can't believe that Anthony Wright got about the same amount of time Zack Gibson. It actually makes me start to question if my esteem of coach Beilien is too high.
I can haz more PT? Matt Vogrich had surprisingly good numbers for a rookie and a shooter. And Darius Morris did a fine job for a freshman point. This could be Michigan's starting backcourt for a while.


Michigan State
Jaw-droppingly good! Draymond Green. Simply the best per-possession player in the conference, and a very, very large part of MSU's injury-hobbled run to the Final Four. Raymar Morgan had a great senior year. I have every confidence that he'll make it onto an NBA roster very soon.
I'm concerned... There's not a lot of quality backcourt depth here. I know Korie Lucious had a good run in the tournament, but his conference play was not great. And with Lucas being somewhat fragile, the freshmen wings are really going to have be reliable in their first season.
I can haz more PT? The one name on the roster that has really impressed me efficiency-wise is Delvon Roe. Of course Draymond Green leads the conference and should get more PT, but Roe had a great conference season after an auspicious start. And his ability to hold down the middle was another key to MSU's postseason success. Next season, Delvon Roe may finally be the dominant post player he was projected to be when he first arrived at MSU.

Minnesota
Jaw-droppingly good! Damian Johnson did a really great job of being effective without scoring a lot of points, and Ralph Sampson is blossoming at center. I'm not sure he's NBA-worthy just yet, but he's getting there.
I'm concerned... Actually, the numbers here are all really solid. Only the departed Justin Cobbs was below average. Bryant Allen probably shouldn't get picked on for his garbage time performance, but still, registering zeros ain't good.
I can haz more PT? Al Nolen needs to get eligible. Rodney Williams also has sterling per-possession stats, and more minutes would remove all doubts about his abilities. He'll get those minutes next season, there's not much depth on the wing otherwise.

Northwestern
Jaw-droppingly good! John Shurna had a great year, and if he continues to improve, NU has a great shot at the NCAA's for the first time ever. Luka Mirkovic is shockingly in the thick of it for the Big Ten's best center. Also, Jeremy Nash had a very strong final season after a rough start in conference play.
I'm concerned... Michael "Juice" Thompson was formerly an also-ran in the Big Ten's best point-guard discussion, but he seems to be fading with more minutes. Also, Alex Marcotullio seems like a natural fit for the starting off-guard spot next season, given his steal and shooting numbers, but his other numbers really detract from his overall efficiency. I'm not sure if he hack it.
I can haz more PT? I've been a Mike Capocci fan for a while, so it'd be great to see him get some more minutes. Other than that, though, I think Carmody's going to give the should-have-been-freshman-of-the-year Drew Crawford as many minutes as he can shoulder next season. There are good things to look forward to next season despite the apparent abrupt loss of Kevin Coble. Reserve center-forward David Curletti improved throughout the year and senior Jeff Ryan finally returns after finding a niche as a highly effective reserve.

Ohio State
Jaw-droppingly good! Only one player really fits this description, truly, and it is Evan Turner. However, William Buford also had a nice year, getting a lot of usage and delivering. Buford will be the star next year, unless one of the freshman *cough*Sullinger*cough* supplants him.
I'm concerned... Jon Diebler got a ton of minutes while not doing anything other hitting threes, which is valuable, I'll admit, but he really didn't contribute anything else.
I can haz more PT? The only returning bench player, Nikola Kecman, saw very few minutes, but has decent enough numbers that I'd still like to see what he could contribute, if given a chance.

Penn State
Jaw-droppingly good! Talor Battle is, of course, very good, and actually seemed to get a lot more effective as the year wore on. The player that really surprised me, tho, was Jeff Brooks. How was he so efficient that he looks like the top returning small forward next season?
I'm concerned... Andrews Jones and Ott were not great. Post play looms as a possible weakness again next season.
I can haz more PT? Tim Frazier had a pretty good year for a freshman point guard. He and Jeff Brooks will probably see more minutes next year. Otherwise, Battle and David Jackson will rely on the freshmen to help turn this club around.

Purdue
Jaw-droppingly good! Robbie Hummel. He's definitely my pick for 2011 Big 10 Player of the Year. E'Twuann Moore and JaJuan Johnson are also quite good, which is great news for Coach Painter's 2010-2011 year.
I'm concerned... The freshmen class was disappointing overall. Patrick Bade didn't contribute anything, and DJ Byrd was truly terrible during the conference season. Kelsey Barlow's rating was pretty low, but rebounded to a point where he might be a starter next season.
I can haz more PT? Lewis Jackson's return really helped the depth of this club, and he'll probably see starter's minutes next year. However, the incoming freshmen are going to have to be relied upon- Hummel, Johnson, and Moore can't do it all for the entire season.

Wisconsin
Jaw-droppingly good! Jordan Taylor's growth was an integral part of an excellent three-guard lineup. His ability to play defense and point guard will be essential to the Badger's success next season.
I'm concerned... There wasn't a lot of quality depth here last season, and I'm not sure who replaces Trevon Hughes and Jason Bohannon's contributions on the wings. Ryan Evans and Rob Wilson are both decent players, but neither are shooters, which might gum up the flex offense.
I can haz more PT? Mike Bruesewitz is the obvious choice to get some more minutes, except that they would come at the expense of Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, who are both more effective than he is. I would posit that it is Leuer's health, really, and the corresponding minutes that he's able to play, that is the key to next season's success.

All Big Ten Players
F- Green, Draymond (40.7) 23.7 / .5821
F- Hummel, Robbie (51.9) 27.3 / .5262
C- Leuer, Jon (38.2) 18.2 / .4765
PG- McCamey, Demetri (58.2) 26.2 /.4502
SG- Turner, Evan (56.5) 34.9 / .5484

PF- Shurna, John (57.9) 25.1 / .4335
SF- Morgan, Raymar (43.9) 19.3 / .4385
C- Mirkovic, Luka (42.5) 19.6 / .4596
SG- Buford, William (55.6) 23.2 / .4169
PG- Battle, Talor (58.2) 24.1 / .4145

PF-Johnson, Damian (40.5) 17.3 / .4268
SF- Harris, Manny (53.5) 21.3 / .3974
C-Sampson, Ralph (41.9) 18.9 / .4521
SG- Bohannon, Jason (54.4) 19.0 / .3496
PG- Hughes, Trevon (47.7) 19.8 / .4161

Freshmen Fifteen
PF- Watford, Christian (48.1) 11.1 / .2317
SF- Williams, Rodney (16.7) 5.9 / .3551
C- Griffey, Tyler (13.1) 4.8 / .3676
SG- Crawford, Drew (44.3) 13.8 / .3109
PG- Frazier, Tim (23.6) 6.3 / .2673

PF- Elston, Derek (21.9) 7.3 / .3301
SF- Evans, Ryan (15.9) 5.1 / .3166
C- Capobianco, Bobby (21.7) 6.9 / .3162
SG- Vogrich, Matt (6.8) 1.9 / .2886
PG- Morris, Darius (38.5) 10.3 / .2667

PF- Cougill, Brennan (21.5) 4.4 / .2184
SF- May, Eric (51.9) 12.4 / .2386
C- Nix, Derrick (11.1) 3.5 / .3133
SG- Barlow, Kelsey (24.2) 6.8 / .2815
PG- Cobbs, Justin (16.6) 4.4 / .2661

Actual FOY- Richardson, DJ (50.8) 10.5 / .2071

Final efficiency Stats for 2010

The final version of my per-possession rating system is done (regular season conference games only). The usual mea culpas are in order for the lateness. However, looking back over the numbers from the first four or so conference games, my very early version turned out to be a pretty decent predictor of the final results.
As usual, the wherefores and the whys can be found here. The numbers are listed in this order:

Last Name, First Name (individual possessions per game) effective production per game / effective production per possession

Illinois (10-8)
McCamey, Demetri (58.2) 26.2 /.4502
Tisdale, Mike (50.0) 19.3 / .3859
Davis, Mike (49.6) 14.6 / .2941
Richardson, DJ (50.8) 10.5 / .2071
Paul, Brandon (24.8) 5.9 / .2386
Cole, Bill (40.3) 12.3 / .3006
Jordan, Jeff (18.9) 3.9 / .2077
Keller, Dominique (14.3) 3.0 / .2111
Griffey, Tyler (13.1) 4.8 / .3676

Indiana (4-14)
Jones, Verdell (54.8) 17.6 / .3219
Rivers, Jeremiah (54.7) 16.0 / .2923
Watford, Christian (48.1) 11.1 / .2317
Hulls, Jordan (47.6) 7.9 / .1668
Pritchard, Tom (32.8) 7.2 / .2201
Dumes, Devan (30.6) 6.2 / .2037
Elston, Derek (21.9) 7.3 / .3301
Capobianco, Bobby (21.7) 6.9 / .3162
Moore, Daniel (13.8) 2.8 /.2023
Muniru, Bawa (4.3) 0.9 /.2199
Jobe, Tijan (4.8) 0.3 / .0619

Iowa (4-14)
Fuller, Aaron (46.0) 17.2 / .3851
Gatens, Matt (55.6) 12.1 / .2167
Payne, Cully (50.6) 8.4 / .1667
Cole, Jarryd (36.2) 12.9 / .3572
May, Eric (51.9) 12.4 / .2386
Lickliter, John (13.4) 2.1 / .1575
Bawinkel, Devan (21.5) 3.9 / .1731
Brommer, Andrew (12.6) 4.1 / .3248
Cougill, Brennan (21.5) 4.4 / .2184

Michigan (7-11)
Harris, Manny (53.5) 21.3 / .3974
Sims, DeShawn (49.5) 22.9 / .4642
Novak, Zach (50.6) 12.9 / .2539
Douglass, Stu (50.1) 9.5 / .1892
Laval-Perry, Lucas (28.7) 6.3 / .2184
Morris, Darius (38.5) 10.3 / .2667
Vogrich, Matt (6.8) 1.9 / .2886
Gibson, Zack (12.6) 5.7 / .4519
Wright, Anthony (12.4) 0.9 / .0716

Michigan State (14-4)
Green, Draymond (40.7) 23.7 / .5821
Morgan, Raymar (43.9) 19.3 / .4385
Lucas, Kalin (50.6) 16.7 / .3299
Allen, Chris (45.5) 11.9 / .2623
Roe, Delvon (29.7) 11.6 / .3898
Summers, Durrell (42.3) 12.9 / .3061
Nix, Derrick (11.1) 3.5 / .3133
Lucious, Korie (34.2) 7.9 / .2301
Sherman, Garrick (10.2) 1.7 / .1666
Thornton, Austin (7.4) 0.9 / .1214
Dahlmann, Isaiah (4.4) 1.2 / .2708
Kebler, Mike (10.6) 0.9 / .0869
Herzog, Tom (3.4) 1.0 / .2949

Minnesota (9-9)

Johnson, Damian (40.5) 17.3 / .4268
Nolen, Al (41.3) 14.1 / .3407
Sampson, Ralph (41.9) 18.9 / .4521
Hoffarber, Blake (46.8) 15.4 / .3299
Westbrook, Lawrence (43.3) 13.6 / .3149
Carter, Paul (22.7) 7.4 / .3283
Williams, Rodney (16.7) 5.9 / .3551
Iverson, Colton (24.2) 7.1 / .2925
Joseph, Devoe (40.6) 13.1 / .3232
Bostick, Devron (13.2) 4.6 / .3474
Cobbs, Justin (16.6) 4.4 / .2661
Allen, Bryant (4.4) 0 / 0

Northwestern (7-11)
Shurna, John (57.9) 25.1 / .4335
Mirkovic, Luka (42.5) 19.6 / .4596
Thompson, Michael (58.1) 17.3 / .2983
Crawford, Drew (44.3) 13.8 / .3109
Nash, Jeremy (53.9) 17.9 / .3329
Marcotullio, Alex (18.6) 3.5 /.1867
Rowley, Kyle (11.3) 2.9 / .2636
Curletti, Davide (10.5) 3.1 / .2932
Peljusic, Ivan (7.1) 1.9 / .2656
Capocci, Mike (11.7) 4.0 / .3447
Fruendt, Nick (4.8) 1.3 / .2648

Ohio State (14-4)
Turner, Evan (56.5) 34.9 / .5484
Buford, William (55.6) 23.2 / .4169
Lighty, David (55.6) 14.1 / .3027
Diebler, Jon (60.3) 12.5 / .2073
Lauderdale, Dallas (42.0) 13.4 / .3193
Hill, PJ (15.2) 4.6 / .3008
Simmons, Jeremie (16.8) 1.8 / .1053
Madsen, Kyle (19.9) 3.4 / .1698
Sarikopoulis, Zizis (3.8) 0.5 / .1301
Kecman, Nikola (3.8) 1.1 / .2827

Penn State (3-15)
Battle, Talor (58.2) 24.1 / .4145
Jackson, David (49.4) 15.2 / .3072
Babb, Chris (51.2) 14.9 / .2901
Brooks, Jeff (34.4) 12.4 /.3601
Jones, Andrew (38.2) 7.6 /.1992
Edwards, Bill (22.9) 4.7 / .2059
Frazier, Tim (23.6) 6.3 / .2673
Woodyard, Cameron (11.2) 1.9 / .1716
Ott, Andrew (17.0) 4.0 / .2508
Highberger, Adam (6.1) 0 / 0
Borovnjak, Sasa (8.5) 1.2 / .1422

Purdue (14-4)
Hummel, Robbie (51.9) 27.3 / .5262
Moore, E'Twuann (52.9) 20.6 / .3891
Johnson, JaJuan (54.9) 20.6 / .3742
Kramer, Chris (47.8) 13.6 / .2846
Grant, Keaton (36.4) 10.2 / .2805
Barlow, Kelsey (24.2) 6.8 / .2815
Smith, Ryne (13.9) 0.2 / .0615
Wohlford, Mark (6.1) 1.4 / .2221
Byrd, DJ (7.3) 0 / 0
Bade, Patrick (7.6) 1.3 / .1708
Hart, John (21.7) 4.5 / .2059
Jackson, Lewis (28.7) 9.8 / .3426

Wisconsin (13-5)
Bohannon, Jason (54.4) 19.0 / .3496
Hughes, Trevon (47.7) 19.8 / .4161
Taylor, Jordan (46.2) 18.6 / .4026
Leuer, Jon (38.2) 18.2 / .4765
Nankivil, Keaton (39.5) 15.9 / .4045
Jarmusz, Tim (32.3) 5.8 / .1795
Evans, Ryan (15.9) 5.1 / .3166
Wilson, Rob (20.3) 5.4 / .2687
Bruesewitz, Mike (10.3) 3.3 / .3256
Berggren, Jared (3.1) 0.6 / .1918

Overall-
Mean HPPS
.2816
Median HPPS
.2886
Mean HPPG
9.65
Median HPPG
7.4

Friday, January 22, 2010

School notes & Top Tens

A little bit of breaking down of the individual player rating stats I crunched, and what it all might mean. I'll list my school-by-school notes, and then the top tens.

Illinois
Jaw-droppingly good! Demetri McCamey is playing very well despite a position switch, and seemingly out of nowhere Bill Cole is contributing good minutes.
I'm concerned... The freshmen wings have pretty low per-possession ratings, but that's pretty standard. What worries me is Dominique Keller's sudden decline in effectiveness and in minutes.
I can haz more PT? Tyler Griffey is posting some very efficient numbers in his limited PT so far. Look to hear his name more and more.

Indiana
Jaw-droppingly good! Verdell Jones maintaining his effective performance despite increased usage bears mention here. Otherwise, it's Bobby Capobianco's surprisingly effective play off the bench that's the biggest positive.
I'm concerned... Despite Jordan Hulls' low rating, I'm not concerned about him. He's effectively replacing Matt Roth's contributions, who would be playing those minutes instead of Creek should they not both be injured. No, I'm concerned about Tom Pritchard, who has spiralled ever lower since the beginning of Big Ten play a year ago. He looks good out there sometimes, just not statistically.
I can haz more PT? Really, Capobianco & Derek Elston, even with their just average performances, are better per-possession than Pritchard & Watford.

Iowa
Jaw-droppingly good! Aaron Fuller is off to a hot start, certainly, but Andrew Brommer is showing a rare streak of effectiveness heretofore unseen.
I'm concerned... Matt Gatens appears to be getting overwhelmed. I don't fault him, But Jarryd Cole, Eric May, and Cully Payne aren't helping anything. And Brennan Cougill has taken a real nosedive, too.
I can haz more PT? Um, besides Brommer and Fuller, John Lickliter (Lil' Lick) and Devan Bawinkel have played okay so far, which better than the rest of the team.

Michigan
Jaw-droppingly good! Darius Morris. I watched him in two of these games, and I was not impressed. But he's putting up the numbers.
I'm concerned... Stu Douglass is playing a lot of minutes, and despite a nice game at Indiana, has not been playing well.
I can haz more PT? Morris for Douglass. Prtetty straightforward. Everyone else is playing as expected, but frehsman shooter Matt Vogrich and (of course) Zack Gibson deserve a few more possessions each game, surely.

Michigan State
Jaw-droppingly good! Draymond Green. I've been suggesting for a while that Green should get more minutes, but I didn't foresee Dancing Bear becoming the cream of the crop so fast. Also, Raymar Morgan is playing pretty well, and deserves some recognition for it.
I'm concerned... Kalin Lucas has turned in a merely average start, but hey, he had a great pre-season and MSU is still 5-0. The real concern here is Delvon Roe has regressed at a time when he should be moving forward.
I can haz more PT? There's not much to go onat this point, but it keeps looking to me like Tom Herzog adds more than Derrick Nix or Garrick Sherman. MSU watchers- does this correlate with what you've seen?

Minnesota

Jaw-droppingly good! Damian Johnson is putting together another great year, but what really flipped me was how well Devron Bostick is doing right out of the gate. This kid can play, and I find it hard to believe Tubby can only find 17 possessions a game for Bostick when this team is struggling.
I'm concerned... The really poor performance here is being turned in by reserve center Colton Iverson, who was looking last season like he might challenge Ralph Sampson for the starting spot. But another, perhaps bigger, concern is that Lawrence Westbrook hasn't been playing very well, and has regressed slightly from last season.
I can haz more PT? Bostick, Sampson, and Paul Carter all need to get more minutes, and Tubby needs some more quality wins if the Gophers are going to make into the NCAAs again.

Northwestern

Jaw-droppingly good! Luka Mirkovic has quietly put together a stellar performance, currently ranking as the conference's most efficiently productive center. I thought he'd be good, but after a mediocre pre-season, he's taken off.
I'm concerned... Jeremy Nash has really crash-landed, and outside of reserve Davide Curletti's pure incompetence, has the lowest rating on the team.
I can haz more PT? Mmm, not too much to do here. If Nash continues to struggle, than maybe Carmody should try to develop frosh Alex Marcotullio a little more.

Ohio State
Jaw-droppingly good! William Buford probably fits this description, getting a lot of usage and delivering. Evan Turner's been better than expected at this point (on the court and playing well), but not at the amazing level he was playing at before he got hurt.
I'm concerned... Outside of those two, and PJ Hill, there's very few players with any kind of efficiency on this team. I also expected more of Zisis Sarikoupolis, who has done literally nothing with his minutes so far.
I can haz more PT? Uh, PJ Hill could see a few more minutes, and while his sample size is very small, Nikola Kecman seems like he could contribute more, if given a chance.

Penn State
Jaw-droppingly good! Tim Frazier actually has been pretty decent for a freshman point guard, but overall, I'm pretty surprised how good the ratings are for most of the players on this awful team. How are they playing decently and yet still are 0-6?
I'm concerned... Well, one answer is the interior play has been dreadful. Noone down low can manufacture any offense (altho' Ott might be showing signs of life), and freshman Bill Edwards has been getting a fair amount of usage while not being very good. But the real standout for poor achievement has been Andrew Jones. His NIT championship-game performance seems years away now, as he is probably the worst starting center in the conference.
I can haz more PT? Ott and Frazier certainly could use a few more minutes, and it would look like Cameron Woodyard should be getting some minutes on the wing, too, as long as his shooting is not still ice-cold.

Purdue
Jaw-droppingly good! Robbie Hummel. Dang, this kid is good. E'Twuann Moore is also looking more like the player he was as a freshman rather than mediocre version that showed up last season.
I'm concerned... The freshmen have been pretty awful, as Byrd & Bade aren't contributing anything, and Barlow's rating is pretty low. But honestly I'm even more concerned about JaJuan Johnson's drop from the Big Ten's best center to merely middle-of-the-pack. Can he and Hummel not both be excellent in the same season?
I can haz more PT? Squeeze those starters until they pop, coach Painter- you ain't got noone else. (Although Painter did break out reserve guard John Hart against Illinois, so maybe he'll have some sort of bench after all)

Wisconsin
Jaw-droppingly good! Jason Bohannon, for a pure shooter, is turning a great performance so far. Really commendable. Also, Jordan Taylor, who didn't show much last season, is part of a three-guard lineup that is prospering.
I'm concerned... Tim Jarmusz is really not stepping up, at a time when his outside shooting and height could be a real asset. Also, Keaton Nankivil's performance seems to be dipping at a time when the Badgers need him the most.
I can haz more PT? Mike Bruesewitz, in just 9 possessions a game, is posting the 12th-best average in the conference. I'd say to find some minutes for this guy, especially if Leuer isn't coming back soon. But Bo knows best, I suppose.

Top Ten Players
F- Green, Draymond (43.1) 28.3 / .6576
F- Hummel, Robbie (58.4) 32.3 / .5529
C- Mirkovic, Luka (42.4) 22.9 / .5396
PG- McCamey, Demetri (56.8) 28.3 /.4981
SG- Harris, Manny (55.7) 25.7 / .4617

PF- Johnson, Damian (42.9) 22.5 /.5235
SF- Morgan, Raymar (42.4) 20.2 / .4767
C- Sims, DeShawn (56.9) 26.7 / .4691
SG- Bohannon, Jason (55.5) 20.6 / .3711
PG- Turner, Evan (49.8) 23.1 / .4648

Freshmen Fifteen
PF- Watford, Christian (50.2) 12.5 / .2691
SF- Crawford, Drew (48.3) 17.5 / .3622
C- Capobianco, Bobby (20.2) 5.9 / .2921
SG- Richardson, DJ (51.4) 11.5 / .2239
PG- Morris, Darius (36.2) 15.8 / .4369

F- Bruesewitz, Mike (9.1) 4.1 / .4529
F- Evans, Ryan (20.4) 6.0 / .2935
C- Griffey, Tyler (11.5) 5.0 / .4323
G- Frazier, Tim (27.7) 8.5 / .3069
PG- Lickliter, John (20.7) 6.0 / .2902

PF- Elston, Derek (19.6) 5.5 / .2813
SF- Williams, Rodney (15.9) 3.6 / .2868
C- Nix, Derrick (14.5) 3.2 / .2214
SG- Vogrich, Matt (7.5) 3.3 / .4372
PG- Cobb, Justin (21.8) 5.7 / .2604

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Early Per-Possession Player Ratings

A very early version of my per-possession rating system is out. This is for the conference games only, and even though its just a third of the way through the conference season, I thought it'd be fun to crunch some numbers. As usual, the where and the why can be found here. The numbers are listed in this order:

Last Name, First Name (individual possessions per game) effective production per game / effective production per possession

Illinois (4-1)
McCamey, Demetri (56.8) 28.3 /.4981
Tisdale, Mike (51.4) 22.5 / .4381
Davis, Mike (49.4) 13.6 / .3439
Richardson, DJ (51.4) 11.5 / .2239
Paul, Brandon (21.8) 4.1 / .1878
Cole, Bill (38.8) 11.2 / .2884
Jordan, Jeff (28.2) 6.7 / .2372
Keller, Dominique (18.9) 4.2 / .2218
Griffey, Tyler (11.5) 5.0 / .4323
Semrau, Richard (7.3) 2.5 / .3419

Indiana (2-3)
Jones, Verdell (56.1) 19.1 / .3408
Rivers, Jeremiah (54.7) 16.0 / .2923
Watford, Christian (50.2) 12.5 / .2691
Hulls, Jordan (53.1) 10.2 / .1921
Pritchard, Tom (35.8) 4.4 / .1228
Dumes, Devan (28.7) 7.2 / .2511
Elston, Derek (19.6) 5.5 / .2813
Capobianco, Bobby (20.2) 5.9 / .2921
Moore, Daniel (12.4) 3.0 /.2423

Iowa (1-4)
Fuller, Aaron (46.8) 17.4 / .3715
Gatens, Matt (58.1) 10.4 / .1789
Payne, Cully (48.1) 5.4 / .1122
Cole, Jarryd (36.5) 7.5 / .2055
May, Eric (58.1) 10.7 / .2012
Lickliter, John (20.7) 6.0 / .2902
Bawinkel, Devan (21.9) 6.7 / .3051
Brommer, Andrew (16.6) 7.3 / .4379
Cougill, Brennan (18.4) 1.2 / .0978

Michigan (3-2)
Harris, Manny (55.7) 25.7 / .4617
Sims, DeShawn (56.9) 26.7 / .4691
Novak, Zach (54.1) 13.4 / .2477
Douglass, Stu (50.9) 10.1 / .1982
Laval-Perry, Lucas (37.4) 9.4 / .2511
Morris, Darius (36.2) 15.8 / .4369
Vogrich, Matt (7.5) 3.3 / .4372
Gibson, Zack (6.3) 2.8 / .4452
Wright, Anthony (11.4) 0 / 0

Michigan State (5-0)
Green, Draymond (43.1) 28.3 / .6576
Morgan, Raymar (42.4) 20.2 / .4767
Lucas, Kalin (52.9) 14.9 / .2817
Allen, Chris (45.9) 14.6 / .3175
Roe, Delvon (33.5) 8.4 / .2509
Summers, Durrell (40.7) 11.5 / .2823
Nix, Derrick (14.5) 3.2 / .2214
Lucious, Korie (34.8) 10.6 / .3044
Sherman, Gerrick (7.9) 1.0 / .1268
Thornton, Austin (7.4) 0 /0

Minnesota (3-3)
Johnson, Damian (42.9) 22.5 /.5235
Nolen, Al (44.4) 16.7 / .3551
Sampson, Ralph (35.6) 17.0 / .4781
Hoffarber, Blake (47.1) 16.5 / .3502
Westbrook, Lawrence (44.1) 11.7 / .2647
Carter, Paul (23.4) 8.8 / .3772
Williams, Rodney (15.9) 3.6 / .2868
Iverson, Colton (28.7) 5.5 / .1919
Joseph, Devoe (28.1) 9.0 / .3321
Bostick, Devron (16.8) 9.4 / .5589
Cobb, Justin (21.8) 5.7 / .2604

Northwestern (2-3)
Shurna, John (61.1) 23.5 / .3851
Mirkovic, Luka (42.4) 22.9 / .5396
Thompson, Michael (62.6) 18.3 / .2925
Crawford, Drew (48.3) 17.5 / .3622
Nash, Jeremy (55.1) 10.3 / .1868
Marcotullio, Alex (24.5) 4.8 /.1962
Rowley, Kyle (15.8) 3.4 / .2152
Curletti, Davide (7.5) 0 / 0

Ohio State (3-3)
Turner, Evan (49.8) 23.1 / .4648
Buford, William (58.9) 20.8 / .3541
Lighty, David (55.6) 14.1 / .2546
Diebler, Jon (58.9) 13.0 / .2209
Lauderdale, Dallas (41.7) 8.6 / .2057
Hill, PJ (25.1) 8.7 / .3479
Simmons, Jeremie (21.1) 3.1 / .1459
Madsen, Kyle (19.8) 2.1 / .1052
Sarikopoulis, Zizis (7.2) 0 / 0
Kecman, Nikola (5.4) 1.6 / .3115

Penn State (0-5)
Battle, Talor (58.1) 19.9 / .3408
Jackson, David (46.4) 13.5 / .2912
Babb, Chris (44.5) 12.7 / .2851
Brooks, Jeff (33.4) 10.1 /.3023
Jones, Andrew (34.9) 3.9 /.1117
Edwards, Bill (25.9) 5.6 / .2163
Frazier, Tim (27.7) 8.5 / .3069
Woodyard, Cameron (16.1) 5.5 / .3426
Ott, Andrew (18.9) 5.0 / .2637
Highberger, Adam (6.0) 0 / 0

Purdue (2-3)
Hummel, Robbie (58.4) 32.3 / .5529
Moore, E'Twuann (55.4) 22.6 / .4076
Johnson, JaJuan (50.2) 17.1 / .3409
Kramer, Chris (48.2) 13.9 / .2885
Grant, Keaton (36.3) 7.6 / .2094
Barlow, Kelsey (24.8) 4.5 / .1818
Smith, Ryne (27.7) 2.0 / .0722
Wohlford, Mark (8.3) 1.9 / .2273
Byrd, DJ (12.9) 0 / 0
Bade, Patrick (9.6) 1.6 / .1672

Wisconsin (4-2)
Bohannon, Jason (55.5) 20.6 / .3711
Hughes, Trevon (49.6) 18.1 / .3643
Taylor, Jordan (43.6) 15.5 / .3559
Leuer, Jon (38.7) 12.5 / .3231
Nankivil, Keaton (38.8) 9.6 / .2468
Jarmusz, Tim (39.9) 6.1 / .1524
Evans, Ryan (20.4) 6.0 / .2935
Wilson, Rob (13.9) 3.9 / .2824
Bruesewitz, Mike (9.1) 4.1 / .4529

Overall-
Mean HPPS
.2846
Median HPPS
.2868
Mean HPPG
10.4
Median HPPG
9.0

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Big Ten '09-'10 Non-Conference Efficiency Report

Quick update on how the Big Ten players are faring in terms of per-game and per-possession efficiency. The what and why can be found here. Frankly, it's a good year overall for the conference.
All the numbers should be taken with a grain of salt -or rather, a shaker- there's no strength of schedule consideration here. The in-conference efficiency numbers are always much more reliable. However, there's some interesting stuff here. The overall pre-conference mean and median per-possession averages are the highest they've been in the three years I've been tracking them, and Evan Turner & Manny Harris are turning in off-the-charts amazing performances. Mike Conley .5859 (per-possession)/48.1 (possessions per game)/28.1 (effective production per game) was the previous record-holder for pre-conference performance, and Harris & Turner have him beat by a mile. And the insane thing is that Turner is at another level entirely above Harris, at least before he got hurt. Wow.

The full report is here, but here's the top tens.

Top Ten Per-Possession Performers
1. Evan Turner, OSU, .7219/54.6/39.4
2. Manny Harris, Mich., .6414/57.3/36.5
3. Draymond Green, MSU, .5727/43.1/24.7
4. Jon Leuer, Wis., .5576/43.8/24.4
5. Damian Johnson, Minn., .5314/46.1/24.5

6. Zack Gibson, Mich., .5236/19.7/10.3
7. Johnson, JaJuan, Pur., .5087/44.1/22.4
8. Delvon Roe, MSU, .5059/39.2/19.9
9. Mike Tisdale, UIUC, .5038/40.9/20.6
10. Devron Bostick, Minn., .4985/12.7/6.3

Top 10 Per-Game
1. Evan Turner
2. Manny Harris
3. Draymond Green
4. Damian Johnson
5. Jon Leuer

6. Robbie Hummel, Pur., .4843/48.6/23.5
7. Maurice Creek, Ind., .4702/48.4/22.7
8. Jeremy Nash, NU, .4038/56.2/22.7
9. JaJuan Johnson
10. Kalin Lucas, MSU, ..4296/52.1/22.4

Top 10 freshmen
1. Tyler Griffey, UIUC, .4925/15.2/7.5
2. Derrick Nix, MSU, .4726/15/7.1
3. Maurice Creek, Ind., .4702/48.4/22.7
4. Drew Crawford, NU, .4614/36.7/16.9
5. Alex Marcotullio, NU, .4561/25.4/11.6

6. Rodney Williams, Minn., .4493/25.1/11.3
7. Derek Elston, Ind., .3937/31.6/12.4
8. Brennan Cougill, Iowa, .3628/32.4/11.8
9. Christian Watford, Ind., .3474/43/14.9
10. Kelsey Barlow, Pur., .3447/28/9.6

Overall-
Mean HPPS
.3474
Median HPPS
.3294
Mean HPPG
11.3
Median HPPG
11.3