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NCAA Finals (and some baseball too)

April 3, 2006 by Kurt


It doesn’t get much better for a sports day in Los Angeles — Dodger opening day in the afternoon and UCLA in the NCAA title game at night. Great day to for me to be stuck in the office, swamped with work.

No deep thoughts here on the Dodgers ’I’ll leave that to those who know the team better, but I’ll talk a little about the NCAA title game (we’ll get back to the Lakers tomorrow).

Actually, I’ll crib from and point you to kenpom.com, where Ken Pomory (he sometimes of ESPN insider) uses all my favorite stats to track the NCAA. And what does his methodology predict for tonight? UCLA 63, Florida 63. Actually, it was 62.9 to 62.9, if you want to be picky. Which means after the blowouts Saturday this one should be close.

About UCLA:

UCLA has balance, with every player except the point guards sporting offensive ratings better than 100 (points per 100 possessions). Jordan Farmar’s shot selection has been maligned in this space before, and a prime example was given against LSU. He took a couple of ill-advised 3s, but they went in. When that’s happening and the Bruins manage to get over 40% of possible offensive rebounds (they got 44.1% against LSU), the opposing defense is in trouble.

About Florida:

Florida’s offense is very effective as well. I’d like to focus on Corey Brewer, who started the season 16 of 67 (23.9%) on 3s and has gone 24 of 50 (48.0%) since. Along with Lee Humphrey (45.8%) and Taurean Green (39.6%), Florida has three solid, nearly spectacular, long-ball threats to go with the two future-NBA big men. So double-team at your own peril, Ben Howland. We know Howland isn’t going to double with a guard, and he may still double Joakim Noah at selective times in the low post, leaving the somewhat more offensively challenged Al Horford.

Pace could be key in this one, a few easy baskets in transition (or, conversely, sloppy transition defense) could swing this game. The way LSU was overwhelmed with UCLA’s defensive intensity and speed, I think Florida will have a challenge adjusting as well. The Bruins will need some big nights defensively from their big men — Hollins and Mata in particular — but I say they get it and win by 5.


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Comments

  1. Goo says

    April 4, 2006 at 6:44 pm

    I’ve always tried to figure out which loss hurts more..the blowout where your team never had a chance or a last second buzzer beater?

  2. Red 5 says

    April 4, 2006 at 7:41 pm

    Define “hurt.”

    I kid.

    Seems a easy question on its face, but, no…

    and compound the equasion with the opponent–
    which is the greater ache, to be blown out
    by UConn or Chaminade?

  3. Goo says

    April 4, 2006 at 8:03 pm

    One thing i did forget to mention was the Moneyhoops movement…being an avid A’s/Moneyball/Billy Beane follower I still believe that statistical analysis at most can make up 60-75% of Baseball Scouting, and I’d be surprised if it could be anymore than 50/50 in nba scouting…too much is dependent on what 9 other players around you are doing..

  4. Kurt says

    April 4, 2006 at 8:08 pm

    Goo, I basically agree (55-60%, but we’re quibbling here). And if you read what the guy said in his first interview (try truehoops.com for an update) he says that. Now, does that mean he’s either going to do it or is capable of being a good GM? who knows.

  5. Gatinho says

    April 4, 2006 at 9:08 pm

    It seems that a guy with no traditional scouting or even real life basketball experience shouldn’t be the GM, maybe an assitant.

    The article I read stated that when he walks into the GM meetings, that nobody is going to know who this guy is. The other GM’s must be jumping all over each other to be the first to fleece that guy.

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