Half a Loaf Makes a Good Sandwich?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
FellowTraveler
Is it? Seems more like a contrivance; a 'junk stat' that is offered without any context whatsoever and, as such, tells us nothing. In order to draw conclusions from "record if you score the games by halves," we have to know how that 31-11 record compares to other teams. No such comparison has been provided, so it is not an illuminating "statistic."
Syracuse, which has been ranked #1 much of the season and has but a single loss, is 35-9-2 by halves. Wisconsin, #2 in KenPom's rankings, is 31-11-2 by halves (and has an additional overtime loss.) Marquette, currently 1 spot behind Duke in KenPom ratings and possessing a similar 18-4 real w/l record, is 32-12 by halves. Add in the fact that Duke has the third toughest schedule in the country, and a 31-11 "record if you score the games by halves" seems unremarkable.
FWIW the 1991-1992 team, which I remember as being incredibly sloppy with big leads, lost 14 halves over the course of the season. Was this Duke's best team ever? I think so.
sagegrouse
'I remember that team having a 30-point 2nd half lead over #7 St. John's but winning by only 10'