I’ve had this idea for awhile and that was to rank the national champs of the KenPom era. I didn’t include 2020 because of covid. The criteria was this. I ranked national champs based on best Adjusted Efficiency Margin and then added each teams final spot in Adjusted Offense and Defense. I used that total to rank overall and have the difference from where they were in the initial Adjusted Efficiency Margin. Let’s dive in working from worst to best.
20. 2014 UConn - The ‘14 Huskies had a final AdjEM of 22.13 and finished KenPom 15th overall. They were 39th and 10th in AdjustedO and AdjustedD. They were the worst in this group and it’s not really close.
19. 2011 UConn - They finished 10th in KenPom overall and survived the grueling Big East tournament. Prior to March, though, this wasn’t the team anyone expected to win another title for the Big East.
18. 2003 Syracuse - This one surprised me a bit but if we remember, that Orange team was a 3-seed. They actually had the 2nd worse overall AdjEM of all the teams here. They didn’t have a top 10 offense or defense but did have Carmelo Anthony.
17. 2021 Baylor - This one is another surprise. If we remember correctly, Baylor had one of the best overall AdjustedEM of the KenPom era, 3rd best of all national champs but a 22nd overall defense is the worst defense of any of the campions listed.
16. 2022 Kansas - 17th best AdjEM and an offensive final at 6th and 17th on defense. Not close to one of Bull Self’s best teams but the one that got him a second title.
15. 2017 North Carolina - Do you remember much about this UNC team? They were 16 in AdjEM.
14. 2009 North Carolina - I admit, based on the eye test, I’d have this team higher. Based strictly on AdjEM, they’d still only be 11th. Best offensive team in the country but 18th on defense in 2009.
13. 2004 UConn - Not much to say here. They finished 2nd in KenPom in 2004 with top 10’s on offense and defense. Duke was one in KenPom this season but UConn knocked them out in the semi-finals.
T-11. 2015 Duke & 2007 Florida - Neither team finished the season 1st in KenPom but got what mattered, national championships. Kentucky and UNC were KenPom number 1’s that year.
10. 2018 Villanova - The Wildcats second title team actually had a better AdjEM than the ‘16 team based largely on one of the best offenses of the KenPom era.
9. 2002 Maryland The Terps were 3rd in KenPom this season, Duke was the best. The Terps did have the 4th best offense and defense.
8. 2006 Florida- This Gators team was 15th best overall in AdjustedEM but had top 10 offenses and defenses. ‘07 team had a better overall AdjustedEM but the defense was just outside the top-10
7. 2012 Kentucky - Speaking out eye test, I’d have a hard time finding a better team than this Kentucky team. They actually would be 8th if just based on AdjustedEM. Top-10 on offense and defense, this remains Cal’s best team.
T-5. 2013 Louisville & 2016 Villanova - Two of the more fun teams of the KenPom era. Louisville had one of the best defenses of the KenPom era and a top-10 offense. Nova was top-5 on both sides of the court.
T-3. 2005 North Carolina & 2019 Virginia - Remarkably, both had the 2nd best offenses and 5th best defenses each year. UVA’s 2019 team also had the 2nd best AdjEM overall of all national champs in this era.
2. 2010 Duke - I’ll admit, I wouldn’t have thought this. Duke finished the year atop KenPom with the best offense and 6th best defense. They had the 5th best overall AdjEM of this era but this was K’s 2nd best team of this era. His 2002 team was actually better.
1. 2008 Kansas - The 2008 season was probably one of the best of the century for high quality college basketball and the champs earned this. They the 2nd best offense and best overall defense. Their AdjustedEM of +35.21 was better than 2019 Virginia who finished at +34.22. They’re the best and it’s not remotely close
No comments:
Post a Comment