2019 Kenpom Ranking

[DukeRev]

Kenpom has been keeping what many people believe some of the most accurate ratings of basketball teams since 2002. Its algorithm factors in offense and defensive efficiency, pace of play, even luck of teams and opponents. Each of these stats are recorded and ranked. The algorithm develops and overall ranking known as adjem (adjusted efficiency margin).

After last night's win this Duke team has an adjem of 36.36. This currently ranks as the second best team in college basketball since 2002 ( the highest adjem is 36.91 Kentucky 2015)

To put this in perspective only 6 teams have ever finished the season with an adjem over 33 (including 02 and 10 Duke)

We truly are witnessing one of the greatest college basketball teams of the 21st century

 

[SwatX1]

As long as our season doesn't end like 2015 ky.......oh wait, ky's 2015 season ended with Duke winning it all.....yeah, I'll take that!!!

 

[HonkeyT]

The only thing I fear is our youth will show up in crunch time but time and again they prove me wrong. God I love this team. I do my damndest to enjoy every second.

 

[df64]

Every second is a joy. I will not let myself fall into the trap of: it isn't a great year if we dont win it all. I did that in 15. I was so worried about us having a great team and a great year but not winning it all that I didn't enjoy "the journey" half as much as I should have. If we dont win it all, that just means that some other team got a little bit lucky. No more, no less. Then again, luck is always a big part of the equation no matter how good any team is. Nope, this year I am just going to enjoy one game at a time. And, I am really enjoying the show! Love this team.

 

[Hurley22]

Every second is a joy. I will not let myself fall into the trap of: it isn't a great year if we dont win it all. I did that in 15. I was so worried about us having a great team and a great year but not winning it all that I didn't enjoy "the journey" half as much as I should have. If we dont win it all, that just means that some other team got a little bit lucky. No more, no less. Then again, luck is always a big part of the equation no matter how good any team is. Nope, this year I am just going to enjoy one game at a time. And, I am really enjoying the show! Love this team.

Good post.

 

[df64]

Thanks. I think the trend in all of sports has been to focus too much on the last game of the season.

 

[LouisiAaron]

Sounds about right. This is one of the most talented teams we’ve had and they’re tough as hell

 

[chov1125]

We'll worry about March in March. For now, enjoy the ride.

The most noticeable part of having a sound defense is we have yet to see that road game where we get into a second half and the home team goes on a 20-2 run and blows the top off the roof. The reason we haven't won the ACC regular season in a while is due to those 2-3 games each year. Our offense has always been there, but when you are on the road and the home team gets going late in the game, can you get the needed stop(s) to pull out the victory? Most years it has been no, this year I believe yes.

 

[chov1125]

And to be honest we haven't played too many close games either. Another attribute of this year's team, we handle road games like business trips. We get out early and put it away shortly thereafter. If we could only handle our Saturday home noon games with a similar mindset....But I'm guessing no one will feel sorry for us if the only thing we have to worry about is how we play in the first half of games where we end up winning by 13 and 30.

 

[LouisiAaron]

And to be honest we haven't played too many close games either. Another attribute of this year's team, we handle road games like business trips. We get out early and put it away shortly thereafter. If we could only handle our Saturday home noon games with a similar mindset....But I'm guessing no one will feel sorry for us if the only thing we have to worry about is how we play in the first half of games where we end up winning by 13 and 30.

It’s definitely the killer instinct of this team that’s impressive. When they smell blood they go for the kill. Previous teams let of the gas and let the other team get close

 

[chov1125]

It’s definitely the killer instinct of this team that’s impressive. When they smell blood they go for the kill. Previous teams let of the gas and let the other team get close

And once their foot was off the gas they didn’t have the defensive chops to stop the bleeding. Watching a lead fall apart and being in the middle of a dogfight late with a confident inferior opponent on their home court is a script we have seen far too often with recent teams.

 

[dukiejay]

And once their foot was off the gas they didn’t have the defensive chops to stop the bleeding. Watching a lead fall apart and being in the middle of a dogfight late with a confident inferior opponent on their home court is a script we have seen far too often with recent teams.

Remember playing UVA in the 2014 ACCT final? They scored something like 10 or 11 straight possessions. We needed one stop the last four minutes and we're the ACC champions. ONE! And UVA, of all teams, scored 10 or 11 straight possessions. As good as that team was scoring the basketball, they couldn't outscore you because they couldn't stop anyone.

 

[chov1125]

Remember playing UVA in the 2014 ACCT final? They scored something like 10 or 11 straight possessions. We needed one stop the last four minutes and we're the ACC champions. ONE! And UVA, of all teams, scored 10 or 11 straight possessions. As good as that team was scoring the basketball, they couldn't outscore you because they couldn't stop anyone.

Yes, the most frustrating finish to a season I can recall.

As great as the 1 and done era has been, getting to root for the best rising basketball talent in the world on a yearly basis, the defense is what has kept us from already having number 6 and possibly even more. Teaching freshman how to play “real” defense is the hardest part of K’s job. Roll a ball out and the kids will score 20 ppg starting day 1. Getting a group of kids to buy in, communicate and learn a new aspect of the game that frankly most have never cared about up until that point, is hard if not impossible. The group this year is more special than they’ll ever get credit for. Really hoping for a special ending.