Comments on: Catching Up

By: Kansas-Related Thoughts of a Preliminary and Contradictory Nature | Spartans Weblog

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:12:08 +0000

[...] We beat them earlier this year. [...]

By: Patrick Hayes

Patrick Hayes — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 20:13:46 +0000

That Draymond jumper was a flashback to his high school days. I know 3 points/2 boards is nothing to get excited about, but if he displays anywhere near the range/post game he did at Saginaw, he will become a very tough matchup in the Big 10.

By: Ben

Ben — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 17:17:30 +0000

Totally agree with Mark. Walton’s non-foul aside, the award of three shots was, in all seriousness, probably the most patently ridiculous call I’ve ever seen in college basketball. So many bad calls are just that — judgment calls. Even if the call is completely wrong, the game happens quickly, people make mistakes, etc. (The underlying foul call is a good example.) But there was no possible way to look at the video of that call and believe that it was anything but a 2-point shot. No possible way. To fly in the face of absolutely indisputable evidence on _replay_ just boggles my mind. Good thing it didn’t make a difference; anyway, I’d rather release our bad refereeing karma in a more-or-less already-decided game like Saturday’s before heading to State College. Hopefully PSU will get fewer than 300 FTs this year.

Speaking of Walton, I wish there was a thumbs-up emoticon I could use here. He was fantastic.

By: Mark in Chicago

Mark in Chicago — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 01:46:20 +0000

You mentioned Ed Hightower. My goodness is he an atrocious official. It’s a good thing the ridiculous “foul” call against Walton on Collins’ “3-point” attempt wasn’t a factor. Referees miss calls, I get that. But there’s no excuse for incompetence.

I’m sure Ed will make his presence felt at some point during B10 play.

By: kj

kj — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 22:09:06 +0000

Dylan at UMHoops.com is doing plus/minus stats for all of Michigan's games. It will be interesting to see how much that method improves statistical analysis of individual defense.

By: Mark in DC

Mark in DC — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:41:14 +0000

As far as defensive statistics, we had a discussion earlier this year about calculating a plus-minus ratio for players or looking at the scoring dropoff in the guy they were pricipally responsible for to get a handle on individual defensive efficiency. The conclusion was that because subbing is more random in basketball than in hockey (entire lines sub together in hockey vs individual players in basketball so the player combinations are more random and varied in basketball) a plus minus calculation really isn’t possible.

Substitutions and switches (which are common) also make it difficult to judge a player’s defensive impact on the player he is principally guarding unless you track the team while watching them on tape in real time, which is very labor intensive. Generally you’re not going to get sufficient information from the box score to generate good individual stats by which you can judge a player’s defensive ability.

By: DP99

DP99 — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:38:40 +0000

Well, we’ll see about the Lucas assists. Seemed to me he found himself pretty open on his jumpshots. The scouting report on him may still say better to keep him in front of you and let him shoot than to get closer and risked getting burned on a drive to the rim or a drive and dish. If he keeps shooting well, that should eventually change.

Loved seeing Lucious get serious PT. Wished there was more Lucas-Summers-Allen on the floor at the same time by this point of the season. I don’t think this team reaches full potential until all three can be on the floor at once consistently being able to play the D Izzo requires to free up for fast-paced high-flying break opportunities, which more people should REALLY realize is what Izzo prefers.

By: donaldo

donaldo — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:28:45 +0000

As a stat guy, I wonder if you have a way of measuring a player’s effectiveness from a defensive perspective. How many points is his defense worth or not worth? I felt that Ibok’s presence was worth 8-10 points through blocks and shot alterations, perhaps even more. How many points was Walton’s first half defense on Collins worth – from points created off turnovers to missed shots. We so often look at the points players are contributing offensively, but the defensive “points” are equally as valuable, or even more so as they have a demoralizing effect on the other team.

By: Mark in DC

Mark in DC — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:45:16 +0000

Also, I never thought I’d see a stat line in which Ibok has twice as many assists and Lucas. Talk about the world being upside down. I was impressed with Ibok Saturday and could see him getting significant minutes against teams that would otherwise have a height advantage against us as long as he continues to play excellent D. He might be the key to keeping Mullens in check when we play OSU again.

I have no problem with Lucas taking shots rather than dishing assists as long as he keeps averaging 2 points per shot – when a guy is that hot you want him shooting. If Allen finds his stroke again this will be one heck of a scoring machine from the perimeter.

By: Mark in DC

Mark in DC — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 14:35:35 +0000

I would just like to note that the above Mark is not me. I’m still living in the 20th century also (well sort of – I have a Blue Ray player, which is certainly 21st century – but no DVR. Unless my new player doubles as a DVR, but if it does I haven’t gotten that far into the user’s manual). I have no room to criticize anyone else’s lack of technological adoption.