MBB: Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association

[Flying Dutch Fan]

HCG - I just ran the same numbers, and basically have the teams in the same order, but my numbers are a bit different.  What formula are you using to calculate possessions?

I also ran numbers for conference only, and have the following:

Defense
1. Albion 0.924
2. Kalamazoo 0.952
3. Calvin 0.996
4. Adrian 1.033
5. Olivet 1.081
6. Trine 1.090
t7. Hope 1.153
t7. Alma 1.153

Offense
1. Hope 1.152
2. Adrian 1.135
3. Calvin 1.127
4. Albion 1.105
5. Olivet 0.993
6. Alma 0.971
7. Trine 0.955
8. Kalamazoo 0.944

[Happy Calvin Guy]

HCG - I just ran the same numbers, and basically have the teams in the same order, but my numbers are a bit different.  What formula are you using to calculate possessions?

I found this formula online:  Possessions = FGA - Oreb + 0.475*FTA + TO. 

I guess the theory is that approximately 47.5% of free throw attempts end a possession.  I'm not sure if there is an "industry standard" for how to estimate possessions--this was just the first one I found online.

[Dark Knight]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

[oldknight]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

My goodness; that's enormous. A difference of sea change magnitude, to spout the overused cliche' of the day. It pretty much comports with what regular Calvin observers thought was happening, i.e.;  after early season games where the Knights' defense was back-doored to death (Grace) or gave up easy shots from the arc (Wheaton), things seem to have stabilized. Nice number crunching by DK--and his computer.

[Dark Knight]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

My goodness; that's enormous. A difference of sea change magnitude, to spout the overused cliche' of the day. It pretty much comports with what regular Calvin observers thought was happening, i.e.;  after early season games where the Knights' defense was back-doored to death (Grace) or gave up easy shots from the arc (Wheaton), things seem to have stabilized. Nice number crunching by DK--and his computer.

Yes, it's practically a difference of day and knight.

And no computer for this sometime-technophobe.

[Flying Dutch Fan]

HCG - I just ran the same numbers, and basically have the teams in the same order, but my numbers are a bit different.  What formula are you using to calculate possessions?

I found this formula online:  Possessions = FGA - Oreb + 0.475*FTA + TO. 

I guess the theory is that approximately 47.5% of free throw attempts end a possession.  I'm not sure if there is an "industry standard" for how to estimate possessions--this was just the first one I found online.

Got it.  My calculation is basically the same (also found online several years back).  The only difference is that the formula I found has one more step, multiplying the result by  a 0.96 factor.  I know there was a logical explanation for why, but I can't for the life of me remember it or find it (but I bet sac knows).  Oh well, at least it explains the difference.

[Dark Knight]

HCG - I just ran the same numbers, and basically have the teams in the same order, but my numbers are a bit different.  What formula are you using to calculate possessions?

I found this formula online:  Possessions = FGA - Oreb + 0.475*FTA + TO.  

I guess the theory is that approximately 47.5% of free throw attempts end a possession.  I'm not sure if there is an "industry standard" for how to estimate possessions--this was just the first one I found online.

Got it.  My calculation is basically the same (also found online several years back).  The only difference is that the formula I found has one more step, multiplying the result by  a 0.96 factor.  I know there was a logical explanation for why, but I can't for the life of me remember it or find it (but I bet sac knows).  Oh well, at least it explains the difference.

The .96 is a fudge factor for team rebounds, which don't show up otherwise because they are not considered offensive rebounds. See the Wikipedia page on APBRmetrics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APBRmetrics), the Association of Professional Basketball Researchers or some such. Apparently there's a small industry of numerical analysis.

I didn't use the 0.96 factor in the knights' defensive efficiency computation above either, just to be consistent.

[oldknight]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

My goodness; that's enormous. A difference of sea change magnitude, to spout the overused cliche' of the day. It pretty much comports with what regular Calvin observers thought was happening, i.e.;  after early season games where the Knights' defense was back-doored to death (Grace) or gave up easy shots from the arc (Wheaton), things seem to have stabilized. Nice number crunching by DK--and his computer.

Yes, it's practically a difference of day and knight.

And no computer for this sometime-technophobe.

It will be a cold day or dark knight in January before you catch me using a pun that bad.

No computer? So what do you use? Pen and paper? A slide rule? An abacus?

[Flying Dutch Fan]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

My goodness; that's enormous. A difference of sea change magnitude, to spout the overused cliche' of the day. It pretty much comports with what regular Calvin observers thought was happening, i.e.;  after early season games where the Knights' defense was back-doored to death (Grace) or gave up easy shots from the arc (Wheaton), things seem to have stabilized. Nice number crunching by DK--and his computer.

Yes, it's practically a difference of day and knight.

And no computer for this sometime-technophobe.

It will be a cold day or dark knight in January before you catch me using a pun that bad.

No computer? So what do you use? Pen and paper? A slide rule? An abacus?

Bet he uses....   dark magic

[Dark Knight]

I think the best measure of defense is points allowed per possession.  This controls for the tempo that a team plays so that an up-tempo team doesn't get penalized for allowing more total points just because there are more possessions.  Here's the rankings for the MIAA teams thus far in points allowed per possession:

1.  Adrian 0.912
2.  Hope 0.993
3.  Trine 1.008
4.  Albion 1.012
5.  Olivet 1.013
6.  Kalamazoo 1.026
7.  Calvin 1.055
8.  Alma 1.058

I computed Calvin's defensive efficiency for the first seven games played and for the last seven: 1.14 vs. 0.974.

Pretty significant difference.

My goodness; that's enormous. A difference of sea change magnitude, to spout the overused cliche' of the day. It pretty much comports with what regular Calvin observers thought was happening, i.e.;  after early season games where the Knights' defense was back-doored to death (Grace) or gave up easy shots from the arc (Wheaton), things seem to have stabilized. Nice number crunching by DK--and his computer.

Yes, it's practically a difference of day and knight.

And no computer for this sometime-technophobe.

It will be a cold day or dark knight in January before you catch me using a pun that bad.

No computer? So what do you use? Pen and paper? A slide rule? An abacus?

OK, OK, I used a calculator, along with pencil and paper. Not technically a computer. My slide rule is tucked away in some box somewhere.

Regarding another dark knight, did you hear about Calvin student Jay Howard who was sitting next to the underpants bomber on Christmas? You can read about it here: http://www-stu.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=4491. Apparently they confiscated his clothes and gave him a different, strange outfit to wear on the next leg of his flight, including "bubble slippers in the golf shoe style." Somehow put me in mind of Dutch.

[sac]

We should do 'Formula Friday's' every week.

I'm off to watch my favorite 6-8 Sr. center, enjoy whatever games you'll be attending this weekend.

[oldknight]

Regarding another dark knight, did you hear about Calvin student Jay Howard who was sitting next to the underpants bomber on Christmas? You can read about it here: http://www-stu.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=4491. Apparently they confiscated his clothes and gave him a different, strange outfit to wear on the next leg of his flight, including "bubble slippers in the golf shoe style." Somehow put me in mind of Dutch.

NIce scoop for the student paper. I'm surprised the GR Press hasn't been on this.

[Knight In The Stan]

I think it would be sweet if there were some way that we can open a chat window(Instant Messenger Board) while watching the Calvin games online. I think it would be interesting to hear some of you guys' opinions while the game is in progress. Im not the Best Buy geek squad when it comes to computers so I wouldnt know where to start. Any ideas?

[sac]

Halftimes

Calvin leads Adrian by 17
Hope leads Kzoo by 19  (Venema started his 1st game at C)
...........both Hope and Calvin torched the net at around 60%

Trine leads Olivet 45-36 at the half

Albion/Alma is going to be a late start due to womens game in progress at  Alma.

[almcguirejr]

Brent Musberger looking live from Van Noord Arena

Calvin has looked very good in the first half.  Several good interior passes.  Adrian has not put up a lot of resistance.  Schuster has been excellent off the bench.  JM could have had a huge scoring half if he was shooting free throws better today. I'm encouraged by what I see today.