2 questions:

[BioShock]

thanks everyone for the input, exactly what I was looking for

[Slalomshocker]

I echo wufan on this one. If you watch a couple of the players come off the floor when being subbed out they almost never acknowledge the guy taking their place, they seem to pout about being taken out(in a way). The guys just don't look like they enjoy playing together like some of the teams in the past. I don't know whether its because of some rifs over leadership in the locker room or what, but they just don't seem to be very cohesive.

[JaminShock]

I'm fairly inexpert at this image insertion thing, but here's KenPom's comparison:

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One interesting thing about the '06 team- we were close to the bottom in D-1 in blocks, steals, and opponent turnover %- this year's team is better in those categories, meaning that they're more aggressive defensively, without sacrificing on the defensive boards (14th in the nation in def reb. % vs 7th in '06).

[Aargh]

I disagree with the above statement. Perhaps it's hind-site, but I remember LOVING the way the 06 team played as a TEAM. This year I LOVE our talent, but feel that Chemistry is lacking. This team might be riding Stutz like the horse he is, but I don't think they want to. I think Murry and Ragland are competing against Stutz to be that guy. Also, neither Ragland nor Murry know how to make an entry pass to a post that has position. They continually either don't make the pass or make a horrible pass that results in a TO. Combine the "passing" with the fact that the seven footer continually has to get up off the floor by himself and I don't see leadership or selflessness from two of our top three players.

I feel tht is both factual and well-stated.

I watch for entry pass opportunities. I'm disappointed with the number of times I see Stutz absolutely open with no one between the perimeter player and Stutz and the entry pass isn't made. Too many times the perimeter player just holds the ball and stares at Stutz until a defender gets in position to deny the entry pass. Then the perimeter player either dribbles to the top of the key or signals Stutz to set a screen at the elbow to open up a permieter player for a shot.

I think part of that is due to the fact that a perimeter player can signal for a screen and the inside player has to go set it. I haven't seen that much good come off of those screens. I've seen it take inside players out of scoring or rebounding position.

Ragland is effective, but he still plays like he's on a JuCo team. There seems to be more thought to playing as an individual instead of part of a team.

[Kung Wu]

Actualy, the team this year is "luckier"

WSU 2012: +.031 (96th in the country)
WSU 2006: +.022 (86th in the country)

So in terms of relative to everyone else, yes they were ten spots luckier in 2006, but the "over-/under-performance" that luck measures in the winning percentage vs. predicted is higher in this team, but only slightly.

Interesting. I don't know what those numbers represent, but I'll just agree with your final analysis. If we kick some booty from here on out, will it still be considered over-performing?

[Shocker85]

I feel tht is both factual and well-stated.
I watch for entry pass opportunities. I'm disappointed with the number of times I see Stutz absolutely open with no one between the perimeter player and Stutz and the entry pass isn't made. Too many times the perimeter player just holds the ball and stares at Stutz until a defender gets in position to deny the entry pass. Then the perimeter player either dribbles to the top of the key or signals Stutz to set a screen at the elbow to open up a permieter player for a shot.

I think part of that is due to the fact that a perimeter player can signal for a screen and the inside player has to go set it. I haven't seen that much good come off of those screens. I've seen it take inside players out of scoring or rebounding position.

Ragland is effective, but he still plays like he's on a JuCo team. There seems to be more thought to playing as an individual instead of part of a team.

The success of the '06 team went beyond the on-court leadership, too. Cameron Ledford and Nick Rogers were the spiritual glue that held the '06 team together. That team, for the most part, liked being together away from the gym and had great chemistry. Even though Ledford and Rogers didn't add much statistically, they were strong leaders for that team.

--'85.

[SubGod22]

I want to see Stutz do what he did last year. Post his man up, yell at Toure' to give him the damn ball and go to town. He verbally waved off a screen last year and demanded the ball. He's our best option and I'd love to see him do that again!

[shock-it-to-me]

06 team had better pure shooters, and therefor was less likely to go into an offensive slump like this team has at times. This years team seems to be more athletic.

[Shocktoberfest]

I don't agree that '06 had more pure shooters. Really, Ogirri and Wilson were the only consistent shooters that year. We have certainly been cold of late, but we now have at times 5 guys on the court that can knock down a 3. I always thought Miller should have looked for a 3. I have no problem with Stutz launching wide open looks. But I am shocked at how poorly we have been shooting lately. And yet, here we are at 20-4. If our outside game gets going soon, we will be one tough out in any tournament.

[wufan]

Look at some of the games where we've shot well from 3 this year. Without pulling up the boxscores, I'm willing to bet that SIU at home, both games against Bradley, and UNLV we're all above 40% from three.

[JohannSebastianShock]

From KenPom's explanation:

Luck, which is the deviation in winning percentage between a team’s actual record and their expected record using the correlated gaussian method. The luck factor has nothing to do with the rating calculation, but a team that is very lucky (positive numbers) will tend to be rated lower by my system than their record would suggest.

Very wonky, but it takes into account the number of points scored and allowed. and determines how many wins a given team should have. What's unclear to me is if KenPom uses the tempo-adjusted efficiencies or if he uses raw points scored/allowed numbers.

[Kung Wu]

From KenPom's explanation:

Very wonky, but it takes into account the number of points scored and allowed. and determines how many wins a given team should have. What's unclear to me is if KenPom uses the tempo-adjusted efficiencies or if he uses raw points scored/allowed numbers.

AAhhh KenPom. I should have known!

Right so the question is, does the expectation fluctuate with prior results. If so, then the better we do, the lower our luck factor when compiling those wins (or meeting the expectation of points). Pretty cool! We may not be showing nearly as lucky at the end of this season as we are right now (not that it's high to begin with).

[Shoxfan11]

This years team is deeper with more talent sitting on the bench. This year has better leadership and is also very selfless. The '06 team had an awesome inside-outside game with our starting 5. This year is better inside, but weaker outside, which is a shame considering the potential we have with Kyles, Smith and Ragland but something is seriously wrong right now with our shooting.

In '06 we got really lucky to get that draw in the NCAA's. Getting in is the hard part, after that it's a matter of matchups.

This year has better leadership? Don't underestimate the leaders we had in Rogers / Ledford at practice. Also, I'd say that the 06 team was much more selfless as well whereas this team has certain players that try to do it all on their own sometimes.

[Kung Wu]

I dunno about all this subjective selflessness talk. Kemba Walker won a national championship last year.

[shockmonster]

I disagree with the above statement. Perhaps it's hind-site, but I remember LOVING the way the 06 team played as a TEAM. This year I LOVE our talent, but feel that Chemistry is lacking. This team might be riding Stutz like the horse he is, but I don't think they want to. I think Murry and Ragland are competing against Stutz to be that guy. Also, neither Ragland nor Murry know how to make an entry pass to a post that has position. They continually either don't make the pass or make a horrible pass that results in a TO. Combine the "passing" with the fact that the seven footer continually has to get up off the floor by himself and I don't see leadership or selflessness from two of our top three players.

I don't see this at all. They are constantly trying to get the ball inside first and buy into it. I don't see the chemistry problems and haven't heard about any team problems. Kennedy was asked the chemistry question the other day and he said that he's seen none of it. There are no team cliques. Everybody jokes and hangs around with everyone on trips.