Sunday, February 25, 2018

Value Add 2018 All-American Team

Attention Sports Writers and Athletic Departments:

This year the top three players in the country based on our www.valueaddbasketball.com calculations and those of Sports Reference's Win Shares are identical. Jock Landale is first in both (11.48 points above replacement Value Add and 7.5 Win Shares) followed by Deandre Ayton (Arizona, 11.07 and 6.1) and Gary Clark (Cincinnati 11.05, 6.1). Also see CBS Sports 247 site story here.
Here are the notes on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd team All-American units based on the Value Add ratings and positions identified at www.kenpom.com for 4,000-plus players, and any updates will be added to www.pudnersports.com.

1st team All-Americans

PG - Trae Young (Oklahoma, top left)  - led Value Add for most of the year and still the best of three incredible Big 12 guards, While the Seth Curry shooting comparisons all year were justified for his insane long three-pointers, the most incredible stat is that he assists on 49.9 percent of all baskets scored by his teammates on the court and that he is so hard to guard he draws 7.6 fouls per 40 minutes on the court.

SG - Jonathan Stark (Murray St. , top second left) is fourth in Win Shares at 6.1 and ranks as a 1st team All-American as the best Value Add of any shooting guard at 8.44. Despite playing more than 92 percent of all minutes, Stark doesn't seem to tire as an excellent passer (assists on 23.4 percent of teammates field goals), while hitting 90 percent of his free throws, and 42 percent of his three-pointers to lead Murray State to a 24-5 mark.

SF - Mikal Bridges (Villanova, top center) is the perfect swing player at the three spot with Dwyane Wade-like ability to block 3.5% of all opponents shots and steal the ball 2.8% of all opponents trips, but also step out to the arc often to his 70 three-pointers at a blistering 42 percent pace.

PF - Gary Clark (Cincinnati, top 2nd from right) defensive rating of -4.49 means he single-handedly takes away 4.49 points from the opponent per 100 trips down the court, the third best in the country behind Mohamed Bamba (Texas) and Isaiah Wilkins (Virginia). And when he does have the ball, www.kenpom.com rates him as the 11th most effective offensive player in the country.

C (and Player of the Year, top right) - Jock Landale (Saint Mary's) is not only the best player in the country based on his 11.48 points above replacement player at www.valueaddbasketball.com, but also easily the best in the country based on his 7.5 Sports Reference's Win Shares (second place is 6.1). His 260 made two-pointers is 49 more than the second best - Ethan Happ of Wisconsin at 221, and he hits them at a 65 percent clip.

2nd team All-Americans

PG - Jevon Carter (West Virginia, left photo on bottom) leads a ferocious defense that turns over the opponent 23.8 percent of their trips down the court, second only to Stephen F. Austin as a team and Carter is 11th in steals at 4.7 percent of opponents trips down the court. Third in Value Add at 11.05 points per game above replacement.

SG - Allonzo Trier (Arizona, second left photo on bottom) faces heavy defensive focus to hit 43 percent of his three-pointers, 65 percent of his two-pointers and 85 percent of his foul shots. A nearly unstoppable force, and if he and Ayton are on the court for the tournament Arizona is very tough. However, they are not deep, so if either is missing it will be hard to make a run.

SF - Trevon Bluiett (Xavier, center bottom photo) make Xavier one of the few teams to get great numbers from the "3," or small forward spot this year. While most teams rely on point guards and big men - the two extremes - Bluitt is apple to step back and hit 43.4 percent of his threes and get to the rim from the toughest position on the court and then convert when fouled (126 of 150 free throws for 84 percent) to give Xavier the balance for the seventh best offense in the country according to www.kenpom.com.

PF - Yante Maten (Georgia, second photo from right on bottom) was on course for a 1st or 2nd team All-American pick last year until a late-season injury, and this year he is one of only five players worth more than 10 points per game above a replacement (10.44) and only slips to the second team because Clark also plays power forward.

C - Deandre Ayton (Arizona, bottom right photo) blitzed Oregon on the road Saturday for 11 of 14 shooting, 28 points, 18 rebounds and five blocked shots to move all the way into second place at 11.07 points above a replacement player at www.valueaddbasketball.com. Unfortunately for him, the first place guy is also a center, so he is on the second team.

3rd Team All-American

PG - Devonte' Graham (Kansas) went into #6 Texas Tech Saturday and dominated to give Kansas a ridiculous 14 straight Big 12 titles. He might be the Big 12 player of the year, but unfortunately, the two other players vying for that title are Young and Carter. The only thing we can say for sure is that the best point guard in the country is from the Big 12, but right now the other two have a slightly higher Value Add to nudge Graham down to the third team - but they could go in any order.

SG - Jerome Robinson (Boston College) is one of the few dominant shooting guards in a game now dominated by point guards, centers, and to some degree power forwards - the 1,4 and 5 spot. Robinson hits 45 percent of this three-pointers, 55 percent of his two-pointers and has hit 84 percent of his free throws while getting to the line a lot for the "2" position (140 of 253). He played all 40 minutes (or more in overtime) in 9 of 16 ACC games and left it all on the court in Miami this weekend with his epic 12 of 17 shooting performance that fell one point short.

SF/PF (tie) - John Konchar (Fort Wayne) and SF/PF (tie) - Dylan Windler (Belmont) - Pomeroy listed two players who split time between Small Forward and Power Forward, and they were so close in Value Add (8.36 and 8.11) that we rated them a tie for the last spot. Windler is the latest in great Belmont shooters (43 percent from behind the arc and 67 percent from inside), while Konchar has unique talents as a player who can play power forward but also assists on one in four baskets made by his teammates and is one of only 21 players in the nation to steal the ball four percent of opponents' trips down the court.

PF - Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio St.) did not sit a minute in the two-point overtime win at Indiana this weekend in which he scored 24 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, added four blocked shots, four steals, and even two assists to improve his Value Add to 9.97 points above replacement, the seventh best in the nation. I know Miles Bridges and Ethan Happ came in as likely Big Ten Players of the Year, but it has really been Bates-Diop who deserves it in leading Ohio State to a surprise 15-3 mark to tie Purdue for second in the conference.

C - Dean Wade (Kansas St.) gives the Big 12 a center with the sixth best Value Add rating in the country at 9.98 points per game above a replacement player to go along with the three best point guards in the country. At 6-foot-10 Wade is a match-up nightmare because he drops behind the arc three times a game and hits 42.4 percent (36 of 85). He also steals the ball more than three times as often as the first and second team All-American centers above (incredible 2.8 percent of opponents trips down the court) and also blocks 3.2 percent of opponents shots.

Feel free to call John Pudner at 404.606.3163 or email pudnerjohn@gmail.com with any questions. For anyone getting this email who did not receive this email for the past five Value Add All-American basketball teams, feel free to repost this information. The Value Add Basketball season lauded by many national sports outlets for pinpointing player values. (See past All-American teams by clicking here - 2017201620152014 and 2013). 

It may be you opt for subjective observation for players like Miles Bridges, whose Value Add was held down by not needing to score a lot of points while facing a very weak December schedule of teams ranked and still only being MVP in one of those first 15 games according to www.kenpom.com. Likewise Shamorie Ponds, who put up fairly week numbers until he destroyed Duke and Villanova in back-to-back games. Both of these players have played at an All-American level down the stretch and might be they are "better" than others on our list - we can only tell you they were not as "valuable" over the course of the season.

Here is a list of near misses. In some cases, the players below could have been listed above except they missed games - especially Notre Dame's Bonzie Colson who has a chance at National Player of the Year until he was injured in the 13th game. In other cases, a player was in the top 15 at www.valueaddbasketball.com but had three players at his position ahead of him.

Honorable Mention (alphabetical)HtYrSchool
Marvin Bagley #356'11"FrDuke
Mohamed Bamba #46'11"FrTexas
Miles Bridges #226'7"SoMichigan St.
Jalen Brunson #16'2"JrVillanova
Bonzie Colson #356'6"SrNotre Dame
Carsen Edwards #36'1"SoPurdue
Jacob Evans #16'6"JrCincinnati
Keenan Evans #126'3"SrTexas Tech
Donte Grantham #326'8"SrClemson
Devon Hall #06'5"SrVirginia
Ethan Happ #226'10"JrWisconsin
Chandler Hutchison #156'7"SrBoise St.
Luke Maye #326'8"JrNorth Carolina
Juwan Morgan #136'7"JrIndiana
Michael Oguine #06'2"JrMontana
Josh Okogie #56'4"SoGeorgia Tech
Shamorie Ponds #26'1"SoSt. John's
James Thompson #26'10"JrEastern Michigan


Sunday, February 18, 2018

3 Weeks before March Madness picks w/ injures to Auburn, Marquette and Texas Tech

Three weeks from today you will be filling out March Madness brackets, and here is the outlook given recent injuries and possible returning players.

ESPN’s Strength of Record (Resume Tab) gives the best statistical projection of who deserves which seed - from No. 1 Virginia to No. 48 Marquette, while www.kenpom.com measures how many points separate each team, and www.valueaddbasketball.com breaks down how many points each player is worth. Put them together with injury reports from DonBest, and the following is the breakdown of which teams could surge or fall based on injuries or returns for big-time players.

Click on the four great sources that covered Value Add Basketball last week (photos below); nationally the 24th ranked news site, this 247 site from CBS Sports (the home of March Madness), the video interview on the Value Add projections nailing Auburn’s breakout season site, and my Pudner sports.

Strength of Record Rank, followed by team, conference, record through Saturday, and how a key injury or returning player impacts how far each of these teams should go in your bracket:
8, Texas Tech, B12, 22-5, Texas Tech has not announced how serious the injury to Keenan Evans is, but his 8.93 Value Add is just a notch below All-American and they may need his return in order to make an Elite 8 run, IMPACT – with Evans 3 wins in NCAA, without him just 1 win.

10, Clemson, ACC, 20-5, Clemson looked loaded for a big run, but losing Donte Grantham after 19 games, who was almost on an All-American pace for a 9.40 Value Add, could make a second-round game tough. IMPACT – looked likely to get 3 wins, and can still get one win with Grantham out.

12, Auburn, SEC, 23-4, the loss of Anfernee McLemore (5.38) after the last game could cost Auburn a deep run, though they still are 8 deep and if they did get a last-minute NCAA clearance for Danjel Purifoy, who has been practicing all year, he basically makes up the difference (projected Value Add of 5.41). IMPACT – at least 3 wins likely with McLemore, and still possible if Purifoy were to be cleared, but could be just one win with neither.

27, Nevada, MWC, 23-5, Nevada is a dangerous team in the tournament and looked like a potential Sweet 16 team, but the loss of Lindsey Drew, with a 4.91 Value Add, after 27 games, will make it much tougher for them to win opening round. IMPACT – Two wins that would have been likely with Drew, likely close opening round loss with him gone.

30, Texas A&M, SEC, 17-10, Texas A&M fought through early-season injuries that took them from elite to a likely middle seed, but the late loss of former Marquette guard Duane Wilson could cost them those couple of key points in a close opening round game. IMPACT – one tournament win was likely until Wilson went down, but a likely opening round loss.

33, Creighton, BE, 19-8, while Creighton is in good shape for a middle seed in the tournament, the loss of Martin Krampelj, on pace for a 6.93 Value Add, after 19 games could be the difference in the Blue Jays winning and losing their opening round game. IMPACT – likely to win an opening round with Krampeli, but likely first-round loser without him.

38, Texas, B12, 16-11, never underestimate former VCU coach Shaka Smart, who has Texas set up for the tournament, but the loss of Andrew Jones, who was on pace for a 6.06 Value Add, after 10 games could be the difference in an opening round game if the Longhorns fall a few points short. IMPACT – win at least 1 game with Jones, but likely first-round loss with him now gone.

42, Missouri, SEC, 18-9, Missouri is good enough to get in the tournament and possibly win a game, but the potential No. 1 NBA draftee Michael Porter Jr. says he is still trying to make it back for the end of the season, and if he were to come back they could win 3 games to go Sweet 16. IMPACT – they likely lose opening round without Porter, though they have a chance to win the opening round, if Porter were to find his way back they’d be picked to win three games to go Elite 8.

48, Marquette, BE, 15-11, Marquette's rally from 16 down to upset Creighton on the road shot them up to the last bid based on SOR, at 48th, but an injury to their leading scorer Markus Howard (with a 6.41 Value Add) could take them from barely in the tournament to out unless they can prove they can win without him or it turns out he can return. IMPACT – borderline bid to no bid if Howard does not return.

59, Notre Dame, ACC, 16-11, National Player of the year candidate Bonzie Colson was on pace for a 10.83 Value add and All-American status through 13 games, but with his loss, the drop to 59th in SOR to 59th puts them 11 spots behind the projected last at-large bid, Marquette at 48th. However, if they get in and Colson returns they can win the games. IMPACT – Colson made Notre Dame good enough for at least two wins in the NCAA, the problem now is can they even get a bid to give them a chance at those wins if he returns.

66, USC, P12, 19-9, the loss of Bennie Boatwright, who was on pace for a Value Add of 3.89 through 23 games, could end the end take USC just off the bubble and into the NIT. IMPACT – likely could have snuck out a bid with Boatwright, but probably NIT without him.

68, Indiana, B10, 16-12, if De'Ron Davis were still playing. He was on pace for a Value Add of 4.88 in his 15 games played and that would have at least given the Hoosiers a shot at a bid. IMPACT –bid was possible with Davis, but not without him.

Click on these for last week's coverage of Value Add, in order from top to bottom of the Auburn interview, to the Value Add rankings of all 4069 players with notes by anyone injured, the CBS Sports 247 site, 24th most popular news site and the explanation on my blog.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Top 100 Value Add Basketball Players Going into February 5, 2018 Games - Trae Young Detroned

For all information on all 4,085 players go to http://www.valueaddbasketball.com/.

1, Jock Landale #34, Saint Mary's, 12.29
2, Trae Young #11, Oklahoma, 11.91
3, Jalen Brunson #1, Villanova, 10.88
4, Deandre Ayton #13, Arizona, 10.73
5, Gary Clark #11, Cincinnati, 10.7
6, Keita Bates-Diop #33, Ohio St., 10.63
7, Jevon Carter #2, West Virginia, 10.52
8, Yante Maten #1, Georgia, 10.06
9, Marvin Bagley #35, Duke, 10
10, Mikal Bridges #25, Villanova, 9.97
11, Mohamed Bamba #4, Texas, 9.91
12, Luke Maye #32, North Carolina, 9.87
13, Keenan Evans #12, Texas Tech, 9.76
14, Devon Hall #0, Virginia, 9.59
15, Dean Wade #32, Kansas St., 9.49
16, Devonte' Graham #4, Kansas, 9.35
17, Zach Lofton #23, New Mexico St., 9.06
18, Juwan Morgan #13, Indiana, 8.87
19, Allonzo Trier #35, Arizona, 8.76
20, Jeff Roberson #11, Vanderbilt, 8.64
21, Wendell Carter #34, Duke, 8.58
22, Chris Cokley #3, UAB, 8.41
23, Vincent Edwards #12, Purdue, 8.4
24, Tookie Brown #4, Georgia Southern, 8.32
25, Marcquise Reed #2, Clemson, 8.29
26, Caleb Martin #10, Nevada, 8.29
27, Dylan Windler #3, Belmont, 8.15
28, Jeremiah Martin #3, Memphis, 8.13
29, Elijah Bryant #3, BYU, 8.12
30, Nick King #5, Middle Tennessee, 8.07
31, Anthony Cowan #1, Maryland, 8
32, Jacob Evans #1, Cincinnati, 7.99
33, James Thompson #2, Eastern Michigan, 7.98
34, Jonathan Stark #2, Murray St., 7.97
35, Mike Watkins #24, Penn St., 7.95
36, Kenrich Williams #34, TCU, 7.94
37, Jared Terrell #32, Rhode Island, 7.94
38, Shake Milton #1, SMU, 7.91
39, CJ Massinburg #5, Buffalo, 7.9
40, Dakota Mathias #31, Purdue, 7.84
41, Chris Silva #30, South Carolina, 7.82
42, Matt Rafferty #32, Furman, 7.79
43, Ethan Happ #20, Wisconsin, 7.76
44, Josh Cunningham #0, Dayton, 7.73
45, Michael Oguine #0, Montana, 7.71
46, Justin Tillman #4, VCU, 7.65
47, Chris Chiozza #11, Florida, 7.64
48, Mike Daum #24, South Dakota St., 7.58
49, Miles Bridges #22, Michigan St., 7.57
50, Donte Grantham #32, Clemson, 7.55
51, Reid Travis #22, Stanford, 7.54
52, John Konchar #55, Fort Wayne, 7.48
53, Kevin Huerter #4, Maryland, 7.47
54, Donta Hall #0, Alabama, 7.42
55, Kelan Martin #30, Butler, 7.4
56, Isaiah Wilkins #21, Virginia, 7.38
57, Sam Merrill #3, Utah St., 7.38
58, Trevon Bluiett #5, Xavier, 7.38
59, Rob Gray #32, Houston, 7.37
60, Cassius Winston #5, Michigan St., 7.31
61, Sam Hauser #10, Marquette, 7.3
62, Dewan Huell #20, Miami FL, 7.27
63, Kyle Alexander #11, Tennessee, 7.21
64, Jordan Barnett #21, Missouri, 7.18
65, Donte DiVincenzo #10, Villanova, 7.15
66, Tra Holder #0, Arizona St., 7.12
67, Terance Mann #14, Florida St., 7.11
68, Justinian Jessup #3, Boise St., 7.09
69, Terry Taylor #21, Austin Peay, 7.06
70, Zach Thomas #23, Bucknell, 7.04
71, Desi Rodriguez #20, Seton Hall, 7.02
72, Isaac Haas #44, Purdue, 7
73, Carsen Edwards #3, Purdue, 6.98
74, Ajdin Penava #11, Marshall, 6.97
75, Jordan McLaughlin #11, USC, 6.97
76, Jordan Murphy #3, Minnesota, 6.96
77, Devin Cannady #3, Princeton, 6.96
78, Jordan Barnes #2, Indiana St., 6.96
79, Daryl Macon #4, Arkansas, 6.93
80, Anthony Lawrence #3, Miami FL, 6.93
81, Landry Shamet #11, Wichita St., 6.92
82, Quinndary Weatherspoon #11, Mississippi St., 6.91
83, Justin Bibbins #1, Utah, 6.91
84, Udoka Azubuike #35, Kansas, 6.9
85, Tyler Davis #34, Texas A&M, 6.89
86, Zhaire Smith #2, Texas Tech, 6.85
87, Ed Polite #24, Radford, 6.85
88, Ray Spalding #13, Louisville, 6.84
89, Darius Thompson #15, Western Kentucky, 6.84
90, Desonta Bradford #1, East Tennessee St., 6.82
91, Max Heidegger #21, UC Santa Barbara, 6.81
92, Cody Martin #11, Nevada, 6.79
93, Admiral Schofield #5, Tennessee, 6.78
94, Joe Cremo #24, Albany, 6.77
95, Jon Axel Gudmundsson #3, Davidson, 6.75
96, Jaren Jackson #2, Michigan St., 6.75
97, Tres Tinkle #3, Oregon St., 6.74
98, Thomas Welsh #40, UCLA, 6.74
99, Shannon Evans #11, Arizona St., 6.72
100, Kaleb Wesson #34, Ohio St., 6.72