College Basketball Statistical Analyses: January 30 - February 28
This report consolidates statistical analyses for a selection of college basketball games played between January 30 and February 28. The analyses, originally compiled by handicapper Greg Peterson, detail various team metrics and matchup-specific statistics, including offensive and defensive efficiency, shooting percentages, rebounding rates, and turnover metrics. This compilation presents these statistics factually, without including any predictive outcomes or evaluative language.
Analyses for Friday, January 30
Princeton Tigers vs. Cornell Big Red
Cornell ranked 16th nationally in possessions and 40th in points per possession on offense. Defensively, Cornell ranked 351st in points per possession allowed. Princeton's defense on the road ranked 266th in points per possession allowed.
Cornell was 12th nationally in three-point shooting (39.1%) but struggled significantly on three-point defense, ranking 361st.
Princeton's road shot attempts from three-point range constituted 49.3% of their total shots.
IU Indianapolis Jaguars vs. Youngstown State Penguins
IU Indianapolis ranked 11th in possessions per game. Their defense struggled considerably, ranking 342nd against two-point shooting and 362nd against three-point shooting.
Youngstown State ranked 98th in offensive rebounding, facing an IU Indianapolis team that ranked 360th in defensive rebounding.
Northern Kentucky Norse vs. Detroit Titans
Both teams played at a moderately fast pace. Northern Kentucky ranked 14th in limiting turnovers in road games. Detroit ranked 202nd in points per possession but was strong in offensive rebounding, ranking 52nd.
Detroit also ranked 9th nationally in home free-throw shooting, converting 82.1% of their attempts.
Rider Broncos vs. Manhattan Jaspers
Manhattan's defense ranked 340th in points per possession allowed, while Rider's defense ranked 327th in points per possession allowed. Rider's offense was notably inefficient, ranking 357th in points per possession and last in three-point shooting (26.7%). Manhattan's offense ranked 247th in points per possession.
Dartmouth Big Green vs. Yale Bulldogs
Yale led the nation in three-point shooting (41.4%) and ranked third in offensive points per possession. Dartmouth's road defense was formidable against the three-pointer, ranking 21st in opponent three-point shooting (29.3%). Offensively, Dartmouth ranked 3rd nationally in road three-point shooting (42%).
Yale's home defense, however, ranked 325th in points per possession allowed.
Siena Saints vs. Niagara Purple Eagles
Both Siena (361st) and Niagara (362nd) ranked among the slowest teams in possessions. Both teams exhibited improved three-point shooting in conference play (Siena 37.1%, Niagara 37.1% at home). Niagara's defense ranked 294th in points per possession allowed and 304th in opponent three-point percentage.
Providence Friars vs. Villanova Wildcats
Providence played at a fast tempo, ranking 5th in possessions, while Villanova played at a slower pace (312th). Villanova allowed a home opponent three-point shooting percentage of 38.3% (328th), and Providence allowed 37.7% (343rd). Offensively, Villanova shot 39.2% from three at home (35th).
Georgia Southern Eagles vs. UL Monroe Warhawks
Both teams favored a fast pace, with Georgia Southern ranking 20th and UL Monroe 68th in possessions. UL Monroe's defense struggled significantly, ranking 344th in points per possession allowed, 285th in opponent three-point percentage, and 349th in opponent two-point percentage.
Mount St. Mary’s Mountaineers vs. St. Peter’s Peacocks
Mount St. Mary's led the country in turnovers per possession on road offense. St. Peter's ranked 20th nationally in generating turnovers and 29th in offensive rebounding. St. Peter's ranked 5th in committing fouls, while Mount St. Mary's ranked 328th in free-throw shooting (67.4%).
Boise State Broncos vs. Grand Canyon Antelopes
Both teams ranked highly in defensive rebounding (Boise State 8th, Grand Canyon 56th). Grand Canyon's interior defense ranked 44th in opponent two-point shooting percentage. Boise State's three-point shooting on the road (30.7%) was lower than at home (37%).
UNLV Runnin’ Rebels vs. Nevada Wolf Pack
Nevada ranked 17th in three-point shooting (38.6%) and 17th in fewest turnovers per possession. UNLV played at a fast pace (49th in possessions) but ranked 340th in defensive rebounding on the road.
Analyses for Monday, February 16
Coppin State Eagles vs. South Carolina State Bulldogs
South Carolina State ranked 348th and Coppin State ranked 358th nationally in points per possession allowed. Coppin State ranked 362nd in points per possession and did not have a player averaging over 10 points per game. South Carolina State shot 36.7% from three-point range at home.
Colgate Raiders vs. Boston University Terriers
Boston University played at a slow pace (320th in possessions per game) and ranked 342nd in points per possession allowed at home. Their offense ranked 12th in three-point shooting at 38.4%.
Colgate's defense restricted opponents to 30.8% from three-point range on the road (40th nationally). Offensively, Colgate ranked 84th in two-point shooting percentage away from home, against a Boston University defense that ranked 301st in opponent two-point shooting at home.
Grambling Tigers vs. Prairie View A&M Panthers
Grambling ranked 9th in turnovers generated per possession away from home, and Prairie View ranked 36th overall in turnover generation. Prairie View ranked 146th in turnovers per possession offensively compared to Grambling's 357th. Prairie View shot 75.4% from the free-throw line (74th), while Grambling shot 72.5% (172nd).
Norfolk State Spartans vs. Maryland-Eastern Shore Hawks
Maryland-Eastern Shore played at a slow pace (330th). Norfolk State ranked 313th and Maryland-Eastern Shore 359th in points per possession offensively.
Maryland-Eastern Shore ranked 6th nationally in turnovers generated per possession at home defensively, but 365th in turnovers per possession offensively.
Morgan State Bears vs. North Carolina Central Eagles
North Carolina Central ranked 12th in turnovers generated per possession at home but 332nd in points per possession allowed. Morgan State was second in MEAC conference play for fewest turnovers per game and ranked 89th in opponent three-point shooting percentage (32.3%). North Carolina Central ranked 345th in two-point shooting percentage.
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. Alabama State Hornets
Mississippi Valley State ranked 364th offensively, 361st defensively in points per possession, and 359th in offensive turnovers per possession. Alabama State ranked 23rd overall and 8th at home in generating turnovers. Alabama State's offensive three-point shooting percentage was 33.7% away from home and 27.5% at home.
Wagner Seahawks vs. Long Island Sharks
Long Island ranked 31st nationally in offensive rebounding but 254th defensively. Wagner shot 39.5% from three-point range on the road, and Long Island shot 37.7% from three at home. Wagner's defense ranked 275th in points per possession allowed.
Bethune-Cookman Wildcats vs. Jackson State Tigers
Bethune-Cookman ranked 64th and Jackson State 56th in possessions per game. Jackson State ranked 355th in points per possession allowed defensively, led the SWAC in conference scoring at 78.5 points per game, and ranked 150th in points per possession at home.
South Alabama Jaguars vs. Marshall Thundering Herd
South Alabama's defense forced opponents to take 64.2% of their shots from three-point range, which was the highest nationally. Marshall ranked 17th in home three-point shooting at 40.1% and played at a fast tempo. Marshall's interior defense ranked 78th in opponent two-point shooting and 23rd in blocked shot percentage.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions vs. Alabama A&M Bulldogs
Alabama A&M ranked 326th in two-point shooting and 292nd in offensive rebounding. Arkansas-Pine Bluff ranked 325th in turnovers per possession offensively but shot 34.1% from three-point range and 75.8% from the free-throw line (62nd nationally). Alabama A&M ranked 278th in free-throw attempts allowed per opponent field goal attempt.
Drexel Dragons vs. Stony Brook Seawolves
Stony Brook (256th) and Drexel (335th) did not play at a fast pace. Drexel ranked 265th and Stony Brook 296th in two-point shooting. Stony Brook shot 71% from the free-throw line compared to Drexel's 65.6% and recorded fewer turnovers. Drexel ranked 272nd in overall points per possession.
Abilene Christian Wildcats vs. Tarleton State Texans
Tarleton State led the country in turnovers generated, and Abilene Christian ranked third. Both teams also had high offensive turnover rates. Tarleton State played at a fast tempo (47th) and led the nation in the percentage of field goal attempts that were two-point shots. Abilene Christian's defense ranked 287th in opponent two-point shooting and last in opponent three-point shooting (39.3%).
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks vs. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islanders
Stephen F. Austin ranked 9th in points per possession allowed on the road. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi ranked 64th defensively and 24th in generating turnovers. Both teams played at a slower pace. Texas A&M-Corpus Christi shot 66.9% from the free-throw line, and Stephen F. Austin shot 67.5%.
Florida A&M Rattlers vs. Alcorn State Braves
Both teams maintained a solid pace. Alcorn State's defense ranked 354th in points per possession allowed. Offensively, Alcorn State shot 35.4% from three-point range (97th nationally).
Analyses for Saturday, February 28
Virginia Cavaliers vs. Duke Blue Devils
Virginia ranked 5th in opponent two-point shooting percentage and 2nd in shot block percentage, while also demonstrating proficiency in offensive rebounding. Duke ranked highly in defensive points per possession allowed.
Seton Hall Pirates vs. Connecticut Huskies
Seton Hall exhibited low two-point and three-point shooting percentages but strong offensive rebounding and robust defensive points per possession allowed on the road. Connecticut's free throw shooting percentage was noted for consideration.
St. Joseph’s Hawks vs. Rhode Island Rams
Rhode Island was effective at generating defensive turnovers, with its opponent three-point shooting percentage higher, showing improvement at home. St. Joseph’s had a low three-point shooting percentage. Both teams displayed significant home/road disparities in free throw performance.
St. Francis PA Red Flashes vs. Central Connecticut Blue Devils
Central Connecticut played at a slow pace and had a moderate points per possession allowed. St. Francis PA had a low points per possession offensively and was effective at generating turnovers away from home.
New Mexico State Aggies vs. Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders
Middle Tennessee's offensive and defensive points per possession were moderate. New Mexico State played at a slower pace and demonstrated improved defensive performance away from home. Middle Tennessee had a low free throw shooting percentage.
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs. Stetson Hatters
Florida Gulf Coast had a higher points per possession allowed defensively compared to Stetson. Stetson exhibited a significantly higher three-point shooting percentage at home. Turnover rates for both teams were noted.
Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Cincinnati Bearcats
Cincinnati recorded strong defensive points per possession allowed but lower offensive efficiency. Oklahoma State played at a fast pace, limited turnovers away from home, and had a moderate points per possession offensively. Cincinnati's free throw shooting percentage was low.
San Diego State Aztecs vs. New Mexico Lobos
Both New Mexico and San Diego State were effective at generating turnovers. New Mexico excelled in limiting opponent three-point shooting. San Diego State had a strong defensive points per possession allowed.
Kansas Jayhawks vs. Arizona Wildcats
Arizona played at a fast pace and had a strong offensive points per possession. Kansas had a moderate offensive points per possession. Both teams were expected to maintain clean possessions due to low turnover forcing rates from their opponents.
Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils vs. Arkansas Pine Bluff Golden Lions
Mississippi Valley State ranked among the lowest nationally in rebound percentage, offensive points per possession, and defensive points per possession. Arkansas Pine Bluff demonstrated strong offensive points per possession at home and a high three-point shooting percentage at home.
Oral Roberts Golden Eagles vs. Kansas City Kangaroos
Kansas City ranked low in both offensive and defensive points per possession. Oral Roberts also had a high defensive points per possession allowed and a low turnover generation rate.
Virginia Tech Hokies vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
North Carolina had a strong defensive rebound percentage, while Virginia Tech allowed a high rate of offensive rebounds. North Carolina committed few turnovers. Virginia Tech's opponent two-point shooting percentage and away-from-home three-point percentage were noted as higher than at home.
Arkansas Razorbacks vs. Florida Gators
Florida led nationally in home rebound percentage. Arkansas ranked highly in points per possession and three-point shooting percentage, and recorded the fewest turnovers per possession nationally. Florida's home three-point shooting percentage was low, and its turnover rate was moderate.
Grand Canyon Antelopes vs. Utah State Aggies
Grand Canyon ranked highly in defensive points per possession allowed and opponent two-point shooting percentage, particularly away from home. Utah State was strong in two-point shooting percentage offensively, turnover generation, and defensive points per possession allowed. Both teams played at a moderate pace.