I have subscribed to kenpom.com, a respected advanced basketball stats website for three years, but you might not even know that because I try not to overuse numbers.
Sometimes, however, they do help in reaching conclusions.
For example, a look at where Kansas ranks in three key categories confirmed my suspicions that there is no hope for the Jayhawks to become a significantly better defensive team.
Per kenpom.com, they rank 39th in overall defensive efficiency (points per possession), 59th in block percentage and 93rd in steal percentage.
Given the size and depth limitations, which is easier to fix?
“We can’t change our standing height,” Bill Self said, “so I would say we’re probably better off at creating more havoc, but it’s hard to create havoc when Frank’s going one against two every possession playing 39 minutes, you can’t pressure. I mean, that’s the way it is, and Devonte’ cramped so obviously you can’t take Frank out of the game.
“When you say protect the rim I don’t know if you’re talking about blocking shots or opponents shooting short-in shots because ewe can certainly get better at not giving up layups. That doesn’t have much to do with size. That has more to do with want.”
As in play better help defense?
“Or just guard your damn man,” Self said. “There are some expressions in basketball that can get real technical, but hunker down and guard your man. That’s as much of it as anything else.”
So it is possible to play excellent defense without a shot-blocker or team that forces a lot of turnovers?
Yes. Self pointed to last year’s team as an example. Sure enough, kenpom.com supports that.
Kansas was ranked third in defensive efficiency, an identical 93rd in steals to this year’s figure and even worse in shot-blocking percentage at 100th. (This year’s team will trend toward that because out-for-the-season Udoka Azubuike’s impact on the numbers will fade with each game.)
Perry Ellis and Wayne Selden have been replaced in the starting lineup by Josh Jackson and Sivatoslav Mykhailiuk. Neither Ellis nor Selden was known as a particularly good on-ball defender, although their experience made them good help defenders by last season.
No point in crying over the loss of Azubuike, but his absence is felt even more than what most would have guessed.
