NCAA Basketball: Power ranking top 10 team defenses of 2022-23 season
By Mark Remsa
6. Houston Cougars
Kelvin Sampson’s Houston Cougars possess one of the most efficient defenses in the country. For the last several seasons, Sampson’s Cougars have finished in the college basketball’s top 10 for defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.
This season the Cougars lead the nation in scoring defense as they are holding opponents to 55.4 points per game. Houston also ranks 2nd nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.5% per game) and 3rd nationally in 3-point percentage defense (26.7% per game). Houston is effective at stealing the ball as they average at least 8 per game. The Cougars are also the American Athletic Conference’s best rebounding team at 38.92 rebounds per game.
5. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Chris Jans has Mississippi State locked in on defense and this is only his first season at the helm. The Bulldogs rank nearly at the top in almost every defensive category in the SEC.
Mississippi State is holding opponents to 59.2 points per game (5th nationally), forcing opponents to shoot 39% from the field per game (10th nationally), and playing clean on the defensive while committing only 14.8 fouls per game (32nd nationally).
Mississippi State’s Shakeel Moore is generating close to 2 steals per game (57th nationally) and has collected 47 steals on the year (74th nationally).