Reviewing UConn’s Team Stats Heading into Final Conference Games

This season has been a dream so far for the UConn program. The 25-3 Huskies have arguably been better than last year’s champions, and certainly a better regular season team. This was demonstrated by them clinching at least a share of the Big East regular season title yesterday, and their ability to win it outright with a win today over Seton Hall. Why I could write thousands of words about the strengths of the team and their performances in particular wins, and will do so the remainder of the season , I thought it would be more interesting to list a series of team stats and metrics that demonstrate UConn’s dominance right now. I will print a similar article on individual players after the Seton Hall game today.Can’t wait to hopefully see the Huskies clinch the outright Big East title today on Senior Day!

1. Five. That’s the number of players on UConn who are averaging double digits, aka the entire starting lineup. I believe they are the only team in the country whose entire starting lineup is scoring in double digits. Tristen Newton and Cam Spencer are each averaging 15.2 points, Alex Karaban 13.9 (even after a big shooting slump), Donovan Clinigan 12.3 points in just 21 minutes a game, and Stephon Castle 10.9. Hassan Diarra and Samson Johnson are also scoring more than 5 points a game in less than 20 minutes per game.
2. No matter which way you slice it, the Huskies metrics all point to them as one of the top three teams in the country alongside Purdue and Houston. On Ken Pomeroy’s website, UConn is scoring 125.4 points per 100 possessions (PPP), while allowing 95.6, which is 18^th in the country. In Big East play, the team’s PPP numbers are 120.3 and 99.8, which both rank first in the Big East. On Bartovik, they rank 4^th and 15^th on offense and defense for the full season, and first and fourth on those ends in conference play. On both Bartovik and KenPom, the Huskies are ranked third in the country, just beyond Purdue.
3. EvanMya.com is the one projection site that rates UConn as the No. 1 team in the country as of March 2^nd. The team’s relative ranking, which is based on how it would perform again similarly ranked teams, based on the team’s efficiency ratings and opponent and pace adjustment. UConn’s relative ranking of 28.5 is 0.3 ahead of Purdue. Their 17.7 offensive rate, which relies on PPP against similarly ranked teams, is third in the nation, while their 10.7 defensive rate is ninth.
4.  KenPom, which is the easiest metrics site to comprehend, has extensive stats for UConn’s play on both offense and defense. The team’s effective field goal percentage, which is a measurement of the 2 and 3-pointers it makes added up (one point is given for 2-pointers and 1.5 for 3-pointers)  and divided by the number of field goals attempted and multiplied by 100, is 56.9% for the season, eighth in the country. The Huskies shoot 58.9% on 2-pointers, also fourth in the country, and 36% on 3-pointers, which is 62^nd. UConn rebounds 37.2% of their missed shots, which ranks 10th, and assists on 61.5 % of their made field goals, ranking 11^th. The Huskies are also above average on offense in their turnover percentage, free throw percentage, and the percentage of shots they have blocked. In Big East play, UConn  leads the league in offensive rebounding percentage, 3-point percentage and assists/field goals made at 34.6, 37.5&, and 62.4%, respectively. The team is also to three in the league for effective field goal%, 2-point%, block%, and the percentage of free throw attempts they make compared to field goal attempts (32.9% ).
5. UConn’s defensive metrics on KenPom are also outstanding. They have held opponents to an effective field goal percentage of 45.1%   and 44% on 2-pointers, which ranks fifth and ninth in the country. Its block percentage of 142% is 17^th. It has held opponents to 31.6% on 3-pointers, which is 57^th. The Huskies are ranked in the top 100 in the percent of offensive rebounds allowed, assists on field goals, and the percentage of 3-pointers opponents take to their overall field goals attempted. In the Big East, they are first in effective field goal percentage (45% ) and the percent of 3-pointers made (31.6%). Dan Hurley’s team is in the top three in 2-point percentage allowed, offensive rebounding percentage, block percentage, assists to field goal percentage, and the percentage of free throw attempts opponents make compared to field goal attempts.
6. UConn has beaten 18 teams by double-digits and 13 by at least 20 points. At the same time, Dan Hurley has done a much better job of winning close games this season. The Huskies have won seven games by single digits, and three by five or fewer points.
7. UConn is undefeated in neutral site and home games and 7-3 in away or semi-away games.
8. The Huskies are 9-3 in Quad 1 games and undefeated in games played in the three lower quadrants. These nine Quad 1 wins are one of the highest numbers for any team in America. They will have two more chances to pick up Quad 1 wins against Marquette and Providence on the road to end the regular season.
9. UConn is the top-ranked team on Bartovik since February 1^st. Much of this is due to their improved defense since Donovan Clinigan re-entered the starting lineup after returning from injury.