Sweet Sixteen Statistical Notes

In this article, I’ll point out some good and bad numbers posted thus far by teams in the Sweet Sixteen. The statistics are cumulative for each team through their first two games of the tourney. Let’s look first at the eight teams who play on Thursday.

Washington State - The Cougars have held their first two opponents to a combined 27.6 FG% (Winthrop 31.6%/Notre Dame 24.5%). That is the best thus far among the 16 teams remaining.

Washington State has 34 assists in the tourney as opposed to just 17 turnovers for a solid 2-to-1 ratio.

Only 48 free throws have been shot in both WSU games combined (Wazzou 18/27/66.7% - Opponents 14/21/66.7%). 

North Carolina - The Tarheels lead the Sweet 16 field with an astounding shooting percentage of 64% through their first two games (46.9% from three-point range).

UNC has also recorded the best assist to turnover ratio at 3.3-to-1 which is almost unheard of in college basketball.

North Carolina’s first and second round blowout victories have kept their legs fresh as only Tyler Hansbrough has played over 30 minutes in a game (31 vs. Arkansas ).

Louisville - Surprisingly, Louisville is the Sweet Sixteen’s No. 1 shooting team from beyond the arc having hit 51.2%. The 21 three pointers made by the Cards (21 of 41) is second most among remaining teams.

Louisville’s defense has been solid allowing just 9-of-35 triples for 25.7% and they are tied with Tennessee for the lead in steals with 17.

Amidst all the talk of Memphis’ free throw woes, it should be noted that Louisville has been absolutely miserable from the stripe thus far connecting on just 14-of-33 for 42.4% which by the way, is far worse than Memphis.

Tennessee - Known for their offense, Tennessee has played stellar defense to this point by holding both American U. mid major power Butler to 36% shooting from the field.

The Vols have been teriffic forcing 18 turnovers per game but they’ve negated that by committing 17 per game of their own.

Sharpshooter Chris Lofton has been a no show in the tournament thus far averaging just 7 points per game and shooting a horrendous 4-of-18 from the field (22%). Included in Lofton’s inaccuracy is his 3 for12 from beyond the arc.

West Virginia - While HC Bob Huggins team has been sensational from the free throw line hitting 87.1%, they’re also a Sweet 16 worst -22 in attempts (31-53). A continuation of that differential could very well hurt them in this round against a solid foul shooting opponent like Xavier.

WVA has gotten plenty of extra scoring opportunities in their first two games recording double-digit advantages in field goal attempts against Arizona and Duke.

Coincidentally, each of West Virginia’s NCAA Tournament games have totaled 140 points.

Xavier - The Musketeers have registered a tourney leading 32 point scoring advantage over their opponents from the free throw line. Xavier has shot the most free throws (66) of any team left in the field and their 80.3% accuracy has led to a 53-21 edge on the scoreboard.

Unlike their opponent in this round West Virginia, Xavier has yielded an average of 13 more field goal attempts per game to their opponent. A portion of that is due to the fact that the Musketeers shot well (54%) in their game vs. Purdue, but part of it is also because they are one of only two teams left in this field that has been out-rebounded in both of their games.

Lost in the shadows of Drew Lavender, Stanley Burrell and Josh Duncan is 6-8 sophomore starting forward Derrick Brown who has continued his shooting prowess (60.2% for the season) by hitting 73% of his attempts in the tournament (11 of 15).

Western Kentucky - The 36 turnovers committed in this tournament by the Hilltoppers are the most by any team remaining

Western Kentucky has attempted 26 less free throws than their first two opponents (40-66) resulting in a -19 on the scoreboard.

WKU’s starting guard trio of Courtney Lee, Tyrone Brazelton and Ty Rogers has scored 108 of the teams 173 points in the tourney (62.4%).

UCLA - The Bruins have been the most statistically dominant defensive team in the tournament thus far allowing just 29.9% field goal shooting thus far including a miniscule 12.5% from three point range.

UCLA also ranks No. 1 among the Sweet 16 teams with a whopping 24 blocked shots in their pair of games.

Mississippi Valley State (6) and Texas A&M (7) combined to shoot only 13 free throws against the Bruins.

For more college basketball betting analysis by Rob Veno, go to www.sportsmemo.com.