Impressive statistics for a bubble team

**JackCyclone** · 02-20-2013, 11:09 AM

I don't know if anyone goes to Iowa State's home basketball page on ESPN as much as I do, but this has troubled me for a while now. Right above their schedule on that page they show overall rankings in PPG, RPG, APG, and FG%. In three of the four categories we have consistently been top 20 in the country and in PPG we have cracked the top 10 a few times. Yet we are still a bubble team with "work left to do"

Iowa State Men's College Basketball - Cyclones News, Scores, Videos - College Basketball - ESPN

**mtowncyclone13** · 02-20-2013, 11:14 AM

stats don't matter if you can't win close games.

A 100-25 blowout and a 60-50 loss average out to 75 ppg but your record is only 1-1. Until we close out the last two minutes of games it doesn't matter what the stats say.

**DistrictCyclone** · 02-20-2013, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by JackCyclone

I don't know if anyone goes to Iowa State's home basketball page on ESPN as much as I do, but this has troubled me for a while now. Right above their schedule on that page they show overall rankings in PPG, RPG, APG, and FG%. In three of the four categories we have consistently been top 20 in the country and in PPG we have cracked the top 10 a few times. Yet we are still a bubble team with "work left to do"

Iowa State Men's College Basketball - Cyclones News, Scores, Videos - College Basketball - ESPN

Our style of play is what gives us such good stats. We shoot a lot, meaning we score a lot and get a lot of rebound opportunities. A team with a contrasting style of play (say, Wisconsin), will likely never be among the leaders in these categories, but they're still a very good basketball team.

The stats are impressive, but they're just a reflection of the way we play the game and I'm not sure they should be a deciding factor in NCAA tournament selection. RPI is the biggie.

**JackCyclone** · 02-20-2013, 11:21 AM

I'm not saying it should be a deciding factor, it is just confusing to see such good statistics from team that hasn't even locked up a tournament spot yet.

**bawbie** · 02-20-2013, 11:23 AM

Those are all offensive stats. According to Ken Pomeroy's algorithms we have the 15th best offense in the country, but the 95th best defense. So it makes sense that we have pretty offensive numbers, but are a bubble team.

**JackCyclone** · 02-20-2013, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

Those are all offensive stats. According to Ken Pomeroy's algorithms we have the 15th best offense in the country, but the 95th best defense. So it makes sense that we have pretty offensive numbers, but are a bubble team.

Touche. Well played.

**Triggermv** · 02-20-2013, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by bawbie

Those are all offensive stats. According to Ken Pomeroy's algorithms we have the 15th best offense in the country, but the 95th best defense. So it makes sense that we have pretty offensive numbers, but are a bubble team.

I agree, those stats are pretty much all offense and no defense. With that, I legitimately feel that we are a top 20 team offensively in the country, if not higher. However, saying we are a good defensive team would be quite a stretch. Pomeroy's ranking of 95th defensively sounds about right to me. In some ways, I compare our basketball team to Baylor's football team the past few years..... fast and exciting on offense, but fairly rough on defense. However, I would say our defense in basketball is a step above Baylor's defense in football.

**WhatMeWorry** · 02-20-2013, 11:41 AM

I think our X-Factor stat that nobody really talks about is our home win streak. If we can just get thru the season undefeated at home, that will look nice and shiny to the selection committee even with a less then stellar road record.

**peteypie** · 02-20-2013, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by WhatMeWorry

I think our X-Factor stat that nobody really talks about is our home win streak. If we can just get thru the season undefeated at home, that will look nice and shiny to the selection committee even with a less then stellar road record.

It sucks, but the committee looks more at road record for bubble teams. I think it is stupid, but can see why they do it. Nobody plays at home for the tournament. So they want to see road wins. If we switched our home and away record, 2-8 at home, but 15-0 on the road or nuetral, I bet we wouldn't be on the bubble. To me a win is a win is a win, but that's not how the committee sees it.

**WhatMeWorry** · 02-20-2013, 12:04 PM

Originally Posted by peteypie

It sucks, but the committee looks more at road record for bubble teams. I think it is stupid, but can see why they do it. Nobody plays at home for the tournament. So they want to see road wins. If we switched our home and away record, 2-8 at home, but 15-0 on the road or nuetral, I bet we wouldn't be on the bubble. To me a win is a win is a win, but that's not how the committee sees it.

I agree, but I don't think it's a hard and fast rule. I think when you compare us against other bubble team, it puts us over the edge. That being said, winning all three at home are going to be a battle, so my point might be moot.

**isufan** · 02-20-2013, 12:28 PM

Originally Posted by WhatMeWorry

I agree, but I don't think it's a hard and fast rule. I think when you compare us against other bubble team, it puts us over the edge. That being said, winning all three at home are going to be a battle, so my point might be moot.

Yeah, If we win all three at home, that will include wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State, much improving our RPI.

**DistrictCyclone** · 02-20-2013, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by peteypie

It sucks, but the committee looks more at road record for bubble teams. I think it is stupid, but can see why they do it. Nobody plays at home for the tournament. So they want to see road wins. If we switched our home and away record, 2-8 at home, but 15-0 on the road or nuetral, I bet we wouldn't be on the bubble. To me a win is a win is a win, but that's not how the committee sees it.

Road wins are usually better for the RPI, too (they're weighted as 1.4 games, as opposed to .6 games at home).

**Cyrok** · 02-20-2013, 12:35 PM

On home winning streaks, ISU is currently at 21 which puts us at #5 in the nation behind:

Syracuse (37) (Upcoming home games: Georgetown, Louisville)
South Dakota St. (30) (No more home games this year)
Colorado St. (27) (Plays New Mexico at home Sat.)
Marquette (23) (Syracuse Monday, Notre Dame following Sat.)

So if we win out at home we could move as high as number 2 in the nation. That's pretty cool, but unfortunately it means nothing beyond the W-L column to the selection committee. In fact, between 2 teams with equal RPI's and equal records, they would favor the team with the better road/neutral record.

**NATEizKING** · 02-20-2013, 12:39 PM

Originally Posted by peteypie

It sucks, but the committee looks more at road record for bubble teams. I think it is stupid, but can see why they do it. Nobody plays at home for the tournament. So they want to see road wins. If we switched our home and away record, 2-8 at home, but 15-0 on the road or nuetral, I bet we wouldn't be on the bubble. To me a win is a win is a win, but that's not how the committee sees it.

We don't play road games in the tourney either, guess they have the Cinci and Drake games to go off of.