Here’s the video, courtesy of the IU Athletics channel on YouTube:
The four factors and efficiency: Indiana vs. Pittsburgh
by Alex Bozich in Commentary | December 5th, 2009
If you caught Ryan’s post a little over a week ago, one thing we’re hoping to do this season is look more at on the court numbers rather than expectations. In doing so, one of the best tools available is to look at the four factors to winning, established by Dean Oliver. The four factors are building blocks for Ken Pomeroy’s efficiency formula.
The below chart shows how the Hoosiers rank nationally in comparison with Tuesday’s opponent, Pittsburgh, in the four factors — effective field goal percentage/effective field goal percentage defense, turnover percentage/opponent turnover percentage, offensive rebounding percentage/defensive rebounding percentage and free throw rate/opponent free throw rate.
The final number, which Ryan used in his piece last week, is adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency, defined by Pomeroy as:
Raw offensive efficiency is points scored per 100 offensive possessions. The adjusted version adjusts for the quality of opposing defenses, the site of each game, and when each game was played (recent games get more weight). Defensive efficiency is points allowed per 100 defensive possessions, adjusted for the same things.
One thing that immediately jumps out is that Pittsburgh is superior in essentially every category and in a few, they’re considerably better.
Hoosiers will face Pittsburgh in Jimmy V Classic
by Alex Bozich in Schedule | July 1st, 2009
As speculated a couple of weeks ago, Indiana will face Pittsburgh at Madison Square Garden in December. The game will be part of a doubleheader in the Jimmy V Classic. Here’s the official release from IU:
The Indiana University men’s basketball team will face Pittsburgh in the second game of the 2009 Jimmy V Classic scheduled for 9 p.m., Tuesday December 8 in New York’s Madison Square Garden. Butler will face Georgetown in the opening contest at 7 p.m., with both games set to air on ESPN. This is the 15th Annual Classic, with Indiana making its second appearance in the event (1999).
“My wife and I are contributors to the V Foundation and it is an honor for us to participate in the Jimmy V Classic,” said IU Head Coach Tom Crean. “This is annually one of the premiere events in college basketball and it is always exciting to take a team to Madison Square Garden. We have great respect for the Pittsburgh program.”
The two early-season college basketball events showcasing top programs on ESPN and ESPN2 will conclude the third annual Jimmy V Week, a week-long initiative across multiple ESPN platforms and programs featuring special content to help raise funds for cancer research December 2-8.
Maybe I’m a bit optimistic, but I’ve got a good feeling this could be a win for our Hoosiers. The top three players for Pitt, Dejuan Blair, Sam Young and Levance Fields, are gone. And IU will no longer have to rely on Daniel Moore or Michael Santa to run the point. Is it time for Hoosier Hysteria yet? Hey, it was worth a shot.
