Dance Lessons: Depth charge?

ESPN finding more ways to write off Tennessee. Kind of. They are dispelling myths about successful tournament teams. This episode explains why a deep bench doesn't necessarily translate to a deep tournament run. Actually, they suggest the opposite may be true. Their research suggests that teams with a core group are more successful than teams using a 10 man rotation.

Tennessee is #1 in bench minutes used of all the teams entering the tournament. But Tennessee still has 3 starters averaging more than 25 min/game (Chism, Hopson, and Maze. Also, Brian Williams is averaging just under 25 since becoming a starter against Florida)

I think Tennessee's numbers are inflated due to the numerous lineups and different rotations that Bruce has tried this season - and a full utilization of the bench during the suspension of 4 players. Now that we have a reliable rotation, this article suggests that we need consistent production from that core group if we want to make a deep tournament run. Kind of a no-brainer, right?

almost 2 years ago golfballs03 9 comments 0 recs |

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My theory:

To win, you must outplay your opponent.

…

Oh, and scoring more points than them would help, too.

by David Hooper on Mar 17, 2010 11:06 AM EDT reply actions

you should become a writer for ESPN Insider!

people would pay for this stuff!

by golfballs03 on Mar 17, 2010 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Heh.

I don’t mind articles that try to figure out what gives a team an edge, but there is an underlying theme that anything you do well is to your advantage – no matter what it is.

The hard part is figuring out how much of a difference things make. For example: having a good 10-man rotation is a plus. So is having a rock-solid starting 5 that can log in lots of time as a unit. If you have to have one or the other, which tends to be more beneficial, and by how much? And what would make the other more useful?

And if you come up with an argument that one approach is something like 22-19 versus the other approach, don’t even bother calling it ‘better’. (Somedays I regret having learned statistics.)

by David Hooper on Mar 17, 2010 12:35 PM EDT up reply actions

the actual article was pretty weak

they were just suggesting that it might be the case

by golfballs03 on Mar 17, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions

honestly though

I had questions about how deep Ohio State or Georgetown could go in the tournament because they are so thin. ESPN is essentially saying that lack of depth is not a limiting factor

by golfballs03 on Mar 17, 2010 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions

I would think that a lack of depth could be a problem on the second game of a weekend.

It’s one thing to get ready when you have 5 days, but that short turnaround with limited ability to adjust your lineup to best exploit your next opponent is a difficult thing.

And when you’re thin, all you need is for your main guy to get in foul trouble on one night and you’re in a really bad spot.

by David Hooper on Mar 17, 2010 12:31 PM EDT up reply actions

interesting that the two of the thinnest teams in the country

OSU and Georgetown, both made it to their conference championship game. Yet strangely, people up here in Columbus are very negative about their team right now. Many feel like they are going to fall early… maybe 2nd round. They often play uninspired and let teams hand around… it takes Evan Turner to take control of the game and win it. I like the schemes that Bruce draws up in order to key on one guy, so I’d like to make it that far and have a chance to play them

by golfballs03 on Mar 17, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions