The defensive efficiency gaps you're highlighting for Northern Colorado and UC Santa Barbara are telling. When a team ranks in the high 300s in opponent steal and turnover percentages, its basically handing posessions back without forcing any friction. I always find it intresting how offense-first mid-major teams can ride hot shooting early, but once conference play starts the variance evens out and defense becomes the real separator.
Spot on! It's a trend of the times right now because if we look at the schedule with Northern Colorado and UCSB from the non-conference slate, their dominating wins were over significantly lesser teams. Northern Colorado's only win over 230 in KenPom was Colorado, while UCSB's was Seattle at 112, but otherwise it was San Jose State at 196th.
Once they start playing their peers, it starts to even out and we see their true colors.
The defensive efficiency gaps you're highlighting for Northern Colorado and UC Santa Barbara are telling. When a team ranks in the high 300s in opponent steal and turnover percentages, its basically handing posessions back without forcing any friction. I always find it intresting how offense-first mid-major teams can ride hot shooting early, but once conference play starts the variance evens out and defense becomes the real separator.
Spot on! It's a trend of the times right now because if we look at the schedule with Northern Colorado and UCSB from the non-conference slate, their dominating wins were over significantly lesser teams. Northern Colorado's only win over 230 in KenPom was Colorado, while UCSB's was Seattle at 112, but otherwise it was San Jose State at 196th.
Once they start playing their peers, it starts to even out and we see their true colors.
Thanks for the shout - glad you found it interesting!