March Madness: 16 facts to know for watching the Sweet 16
Statistics are mostly thrown out the window by this point of March Madness but here are 16 numbers you should know to impress your friends.
The opening weekend of March Madness may be over but there is still plenty to root for. The best games are just getting started as the quest for the national championship is heating up. Even though your bracket may be busted, there is still plenty to talk about. Arguments over which teams are overrated, who got the easiest draws, whether the committee had an east coast bias or not will be had throughout the country.
In regards to the teams still alive for cutting down the nets in San Antonio, here are 16 facts on the Sweet 16 to give you a leg up in conversation. Bring out these bad boys and you will earn an extra ounce of respect from the group around you. That is, if they are basketball fans, of course. If they aren’t, then you might just get a quizzical look before conversation continues.
Now, without further ado, here are 16 notes heading into the second weekend.
Only 1 team is top-10 in adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency.
Ugh, here we go again. I hate to start this article off by praising Duke but it just is the way it is. Even though the Blue Devils have a poor reputation on the defensive end this season, the KenPom numbers do not back that up. With a newly integrated zone to go with their high-powered offense, Duke is as good of a Final Four pick as any. The eye test says one thing about Duke’s defense but just bring up their KenPom numbers and now you have a fun back-and-forth argument going.
Udoka Azubuike was the best shooter from 2-point range this season.
When healthy, Azubuike is the most efficient big man in the country. He finished the regular with the highest field goal percentage inside the 3-point arc, making good on 77.5% of those attempts. In addition, it is important to note that the big man attempts a fair number of shots per game as well (253 total attempts this season). As long as he stays healthy and out of foul trouble, teams will have trouble dealing with the Jayhawk.
Villanova ranked No. 3 in the country in total 3-point attempts this season.
The Wildcats are flat-out the best 3-point shooting team remaining in the field. Everybody on the team can step out and hit the open trifecta and the squad has two guys who can get their own shot, either inside the arc or outside, at any time in the form of Jalen Brunson and Mikal Bridges. As long as Villanova is hitting their threes, the championship is well within sight.
Gonzaga has reached the Sweet 16 in 4 consecutive seasons.
The narrative of Gonzaga for a long time was their inability to succeed in the Big Dance. They didn’t play anyone in the regular season, they weren’t athletic enough, and blah blah blah. With four consecutive Sweet 16 appearances (and a spot in the National Championship last year), that narrative can be put to bed. The Bulldogs are once again a Final Four threat and you can bring up this streak to anyone who says that Gonzaga is overrated.