Numbers say Kansas solid at both ends of floor
photo by: Nick Krug
Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) elevates to the bucket against Purdue forward Vince Edwards, right, and Purdue forward Caleb Swanigan (50) during the first half, Thursday, March 23, 2017 at Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo.
Visiting kenpom.com is a nice way to get a feel for how the numbers for your favorite college basketball team stack up nationally.
The adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency rankings are particularly interesting. Purdue is the nation’s only squad to rank in the top 10 in both categories.
Adding the schools’ offensive ranking to its defensive ranking offers a little insight as to what teams play well enough at both ends to create problems for the opposition.
A look at the top 10 schools, blending Kenpom.com’s offensive and defensive efficiency rankings:
| School (AP rank) | AdjO | AdjD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Purdue (3) | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 2 – Michigan State (9) | 8 | 14 | 22 |
| 3 (tie)- North Carolina (15) | 16 | 12 | 28 |
| 3 (tie) – Villanova (1) | 1 | 27 | 28 |
| 5 (tie) – Gonzaga (13) | 7 | 23 | 30 |
| 5 (tie) – Virginia (2) | 1 | 29 | 30 |
| 7 (tie) – Kansas (10) | 10 | 30 | 40 |
| 7 (tie) – Ohio State (22) | 24 | 16 | 40 |
| 9 – Tennessee (21) | 25 | 17 | 42 |
| 10 – Texas Tech (8) | 3 | 40 | 43 |
Three of last season’s Final Four participants — Gonazaga (18), North Carolina (20) and Oregon (34) — finished with a top 10 blended total. South Carolina (94) was the exception, but the Gamecocks were exceptional at one end of the floor, ranking third nationally.
Duke, second-most efficient offensive team, and West Virginia, the nation’s ninth-most efficient defensive squad, lurk as potential Final Four participants who are decidely better at one end of the floor than the other.
The nation’s top 10 offensive teams, according to Kenpom.com.
| School | AdjO | AdjD | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Villanova | 1 | 27 | 28 |
| 2 – Duke | 2 | 78 | 80 |
| 3 – Saint Mary’s | 3 | 123 | 126 |
| 4 – TCU | 4 | 131 | 135 |
| 5 – Arizona State | 5 | 127 | 132 |
| 6 – Purdue | 6 | 5 | 11 |
| 7 – Gonzaga | 7 | 23 | 30 |
| 8 – Xavier | 8 | 75 | 83 |
| 9 – Marquette | 9 | 145 | 154 |
| 10 – Kansas | 10 | 30 | 40 |
The 2016 Final Four featured three schools with top-10 blended rankings (Villanova, North Carolina and Oklahoma), plus Syracuse, which ranked 50th in adjusted offensive efficiency and 18th defensively, thanks to its stingy 2-3 zone defense. A look at this season’s top 10 in adjusted defensive efficiency rankings, per kenpom.com:
| School | AdjD | AdjO | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Virigina | 1 | 29 | 30 |
| 2 – Cincinnati | 2 | 57 | 59 |
| 3 – Texas Tech | 3 | 40 | 43 |
| 4 – UCF | 4 | 295 | 299 |
| 5 – Purdue | 5 | 6 | 11 |
| 6 – Texas | 6 | 120 | 126 |
| 7 – Miami (Fla.) | 7 | 107 | 114 |
| 8 -Michigan State | 8 | 14 | 22 |
| 9 – West Virginia | 9 | 41 | 50 |
| 10 – Texas A&M | 10 | 80 | 90 |