Sunday, December 15, 2024

3rd All-Time Elite 8 and Updated All-Time Rankings

We've had 43,231 points scored in our first 297 Value Add Basketball Games, and with only 10 of our 234 All-Time great men's teams still undefeated, we prepare for our third tournament Elite 8.

We just updated our all- time rankings in the google sheet tracker, and summarize below. The toughest path to remain alive will be the game between the 2023 champs from UConn, who are 3-0 but have slipped slightly from our preseason #8 team to #11 based on those results. To stay undefeated and make our Final 4, they will need to beat our current 2nd best team in the tournament, the 2008 UCLA team that has surged from 42nd of 240 great teams all the way to 15th to almost catch UConn. UCLA features the 46th greatest player of all time in Russell Westbrook. SPREAD - Based on Cards UConn by 7, based on games so far UConn by 1. Update UConn wins 74-68.

On the flip side, the easiest Elite 8 game features the lowest two ranked teams, with #49 Kansas 2002 playing #56 Colorado in a Big 12 battle for the Final 4. We may have underestimated the 2022 Jayhawks in their preseason #72 ranking before they started 3-0 to move up to 49th. However, one of the two biggest surprises in our entire game is the 5-0 Colorado team, which has barely won every game to get to 5-0 despite only averaging winning 81.0 to 76.4. SPREAD - Based on Cards Kansas by 7, based on games played so far Kansas by 1 - yes ironically same as first game. Update Kansas wins 77-73.

The most exciting Elite 8 game appears to be #25 against Duke 2015 against #33 Georgetown 1989, which was upset by the Duke team their season. SPREAD - Based on Cards or on games so far, Duke by 1.

Picking a favorite in the last Elite 8 game is tricky. When we started the season we would have picked Michigan's Fab 5 which we ranked 18th against the 1966 Western Kentucky team featuring Clem Haskins which we ranked 99th. However, Western Kentucky is an impressive 5-0 despite playing the toughest opponents (+1.2 Strength of Schedule) to move all the way up to 24th while Michigan has looked a bit more mediocre than expected in a 3-0 start against the weakest opponents of any Elite 8 team with a -6.3 Strength of Schedule. SPREAD - Based on Cards Michigan by 9, based on games so far Western Kentucky by 2.

UCLA 1972. The only other undefeated teams are the two tournament champs. Bill Walton's UCLA 1972 faced a tougher schedule than any team in this tournament (+3.8, means the average team they faced in starting 6-0 was almost 4 points better than the average great team in the game). We made most of the greatest teams first, but only allowed each school to have one team each century.

Kansas 1997 went 5-0 to win the tournament of my next batch of teams created, and their SOS is exactly 0.0.

We then list the best teams by our 11 conferences and by the Mid-Major teams not in one of those conferences.  The Kansas 2008 team is the 2nd best team overall in our rankings so far after going 5-0 in Big 12 play after a tournament loss to claim the top Big 12 spot, however they started only 51st. The Duke 2001 team is the best ACC team to date at 6th overall and was 4th in our preseason based on teh cards.  Jacksonville's "Mid-ASun" indicates they are the top team of all Mid-Major teams not in one of the 11 conferences we list - and they are in the ASun but this means their 63rd overall ranking is better than any other Mid-Major.

After that we list the rest of the 234 teams that are not in the Elite 8 or already champions, or leading their conference.

 
3rd Elite 8                    Year RnkPreSWLScoreAllowSOSStar
Connecticut 20231183079.063.7-4.0Adama Sanogo - vs. #15 UCLA 2008
UCLA 200815423081.063.0-3.0Russell Westbrook #46 vs. #11 Uconn
W. Kentucky 196624995078.668.41.2Clem Haskins - vs. #35 Michigan
Duke 201525434078.569.8-2.8Justise Winslow - vs #33 Gtown
Georgetown 198933543076.066.7-0.3Alonzo Mourning #69 - vs. #25 Duke
Michigan 199335183069.357.3-6.3Chris Webber #65 - vs. #24 WKU
Kansas 202249723083.776.3-1.8Ochai Agbaji - vs. #56 Colorado
Colorado 2021561825081.076.40.2McKinley Wright - vs. #49 KS 2002
          
Past 2 ChampsYearRnkPreSWLScoreAllowSOSStar
UCLA (1st champ) 1972116072.062.03.8Bill Walton #64
Kansas (2nd champ)19973175076.862.40.0Paul Pierce #50
          
Best by ConferenceYearRnkPreSWLScoreAllowSOSStar
Kansas (B12)20082515174.756.00.3Mario Chalmers
Duke (ACC) 2001643178.372.54.5Shane Battier
Villanova (BE)201810227279.470.32.0Mikal Bridges
Kentucky (SEC)19961252172.069.33.7Antoine Walker
San Francisco (WCC)195614233173.063.51.5Bill Russell #4
UNLV (P12/MWC)199143111272.776.33.3Larry Johnson
Memphis (Amer)200845454268.765.81.2Derrick Rose
Jacksonville (Mid-ASun) 197063561178.075.0-1.0Artis Gilmore
Loyola-Chicago (A10) 196375390162.068.0-1.0Jerry Harkness
Indiana St. (MVC)197999481279.781.0-3.0Larry Bird #7
          
The Rest in OrderYearRnkPreSWLScoreAllowSOSStar
Ohio St.1960462184.076.36.0Jerry Lucas #72, John Havlicek #29
Indiana1976573171.359.80.3Scott May
Houston19687143173.063.85.3Elvin Hayes #41
North Carolina19828125168.865.07.2Michael Jordan #1, James Worthy #59
North Carolina20059153272.264.44.8Sean May
Baylor202113522286.078.57.0Jared Butler
Connecticut200416535274.766.01.6Ben Gordon
Virginia201917304172.665.45.0Kyle Guy
Kentucky20121824272.265.7-2.5Anthony Davis #53
Gonzaga201719243369.863.03.7Nigel Williams-Goss
Cincinnati19602091272.378.011.7Oscar Robertson #12
Louisville201321312174.066.32.3Russ Smith
Auburn201922988171.065.32.9Chuma Okeke
Duke199223101273.770.32.3Christian Laettner
Houston198326252170.765.02.3Hakeem Olajuwon #11, Clyde Drexler #43
Arkansas199427261275.370.35.7Corliss Williamson
Michigan St.197928272170.362.70.0Magic Johnson #5
DePaul1980291243176.868.86.3Mark Aguirre
Duke201030325274.066.71.0Jon Scheyer
North Carolina St.197431162172.072.75.0David Thompson
Michigan196532442185.779.00.7Cazzie Russell
UCLA19673432183.087.01.7Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #3
Purdue201836644171.268.84.6Carsen Edwards
Connecticut199637211185.076.5-3.5Ray Allen #52
Michigan St.200038334180.476.40.8Mateen Cleaves
Oregon201739704371.969.94.9Dillon Brooks
Houston202140711186.062.0-5.5Quentin Grimes
New Mexico St.197041842179.067.7-2.0Jimmy Collins
Illinois200542343272.069.61.8Deron Williams
Georgetown198444352167.365.30.7Patrick Ewing #37
Purdue202446282171.059.3-10.7Zack Edey
Wake Forest1996471002166.064.76.7Tim Duncan #9
Wisconsin201548462265.063.32.3Frank Kaminsky
Charlotte1977501251184.571.50.5Cedric "Cornbread" Maxwell
Loyola Marymount19905110112112.3108.34.0Bo Kimble
UTEP (Texas Western)1966521022163.766.09.7Bobby Joe Hill
Texas202353853185.882.81.8Marcus Carr
Syracuse200354862176.074.04.0Carmelo Anthony #63
USC202155732173.770.7-0.7Evan Mobley
Indiana198157472172.772.31.0Isiah Thomas #26
Michigan St.2009581036371.371.94.1Draymond Green
Michigan198959190270.578.56.5Glen Rice
Oklahoma1985601043175.373.83.0Wayman Tisdale
Syracuse198761872172.368.71.0Rony Seikaly
Arizona201562553175.370.5-3.8Stanley Johnson
North Carolina199864202180.783.7-0.3Vince Carter
North Carolina197265361176.572.0-6.5Bob McAdoo #54
Seton Hall198966741178.078.04.0John Morton
Florida200667135374.472.0-4.1Joakim Noah
Cincinnati200268372272.871.5-1.8Jason Maxiell
Illinois198969382187.084.0-4.3Nick Anderson
Providence198770881166.064.52.5Billy Donovan
Arizona199771572168.771.01.3Mike Bibby
Tulsa200072752175.070.7-3.3David Shelton
Duke2022731262180.376.0-0.7Wendell Moore
Tennessee202374762169.368.70.0Santiago Vescovi
Michigan201376651270.369.70.7Trey Burke
Texas Tech201977773265.667.22.2Jarrett Culver
Duke1986785801106.0108.00.0Johnny Dawkins
Iowa2021791511179.570.5-2.5Luka Garza
Marquette197780891166.061.5-2.0Butch Lee
Rutgers1976811053184.877.5-6.5Phil Sellers
LSU199282901182.581.00.5Shaquille O'Neal #8
Alabama202383590178.079.0-2.0Brandon Miller
Kansas195784293267.871.40.6Wilt Chamberlain #6
Ohio St.200785662370.271.41.8Greg Oden
Pittsburgh200986671360.062.33.3DeJuan Blair
Marquette2023871272185.783.0-0.7Tyler Kolek
Kentucky194888401171.081.54.0Alex Groza
Georgetown200789911276.775.30.3Roy Hibbert
North Carolina2022901832175.768.0-2.3Armando Bacot
Marquette200391922273.374.00.8Dwyane Wade #28
Maryland1984921501169.568.53.5Len Bias
Massachusetts199693603177.877.3-4.3Marcus Camby
Georgia Tech200494782362.667.44.4Jarrett Jack
Holy Cross195095931188.089.50.5Bob Cousy #39
Minnesota197796611169.568.5-2.5Kevin McHale #49
Vanderbilt199397941172.574.51.0Bill McCaffrey
Missouri1982981062173.773.30.0Steve Stipanovich
California1959100790169.071.0-1.0Jack Grout
Connecticut1999101410260.573.05.5Richard Hamilton
Creighton20231021281186.086.00.5Ryan Kalkbrenner
Georgetown1995103620169.073.0-6.0Allen Iverson #40
South Carolina20171041291265.365.71.3Sindarius Thornwell
Oregon St.1982105631171.573.0-6.0A.C. Green
SMU20171061071172.571.5-2.5Semi Ojeleye
Drake19691071081174.574.5-2.0Willie McCarter
Gonzaga20231081091181.580.5-3.0Drew Timme
St. John's19851091100175.076.01.0Chris Mullin
Oklahoma St.2004110801368.871.00.3John Lucas
Seattle19581111110162.064.01.0Elgin Baylor #23
Kansas St.20231121521181.074.0-5.5Markquis Nowell
Temple1958113811166.068.5-3.5Guy Rodgers
LSU20061141301266.375.08.0Glen Davis
Xavier20231151532172.069.3-3.3Jack Nunge
San Diego St.20111161312269.371.80.8Kawhi Leonard #34
Kansas St.20081171541175.075.51.5Michael Beasley
Purdue19691181120186.087.0-1.0Rick Mount
Virginia1981119680161.072.00.0Ralph Sampson
South Carolina19731201420166.072.09.0Alex English #71
Marquette19711211551270.072.73.0Jim Chones
Stanford20081221562179.779.0-3.0Brook Lopez
Indiana2002123951367.372.82.3Jared Jeffries
Maryland2002124491367.076.33.0Juan Dixon
Davidson20081251841466.470.25.4Stephen Curry #15
UNLV1987126500164.082.0-2.0Armen Gilliam
Dayton20201271321181.580.5-3.0Obi Toppin
Alabama19771281330170.071.0-2.0Reggie King
St. Bonaventure1970129690164.074.0-5.0Bob Lanier
Iowa St.20141301131173.075.5-4.0DeAndre Kane
La Salle19541311230167.076.0-1.0Tom Gola
Florida St.19931321140176.078.0-6.0Charlie Ward
West Virginia19591331150168.069.0-7.0Jerry West #14
Tennessee19771341341176.083.01.0Bernard King
UCLA19871351851178.072.5-5.5Reggie Miller #47
West Virginia20101361161370.376.01.5Kevin Jones
UCLA20061371352366.072.42.2Jordan Farmar
St. Joe's2004138821268.375.7-0.3Jameer Nelson
DePaul19451391650151.055.06.0George Mikan #35
North Carolina1957140960176.089.00.0Lennie Rosenbluth
Notre Dame19811411570168.074.05.0Orlando Woolridge
St. Mary's20231421431183.084.0-4.5Logan Johnson
Washington20061431360198.099.0-6.0Brandon Roy
Oklahoma2016144971360.367.31.3Buddy Hield
Mississippi20011451440156.067.06.0Justin Reed
Buffalo20191461580182.084.0-1.0CJ Massinburg
Auburn19841471941171.577.04.5Charles Barkley #22
Miami20131481450167.075.01.0Shane Larkin
Iowa20011491951271.075.32.7Reggie Evans
Texas20031501171268.776.30.0T.J. Ford
Miami196515118601104.0108.05.0Rick Barry #27
Arizona St.20091521661168.073.0-0.5James Harden #33
Brigham Young19811531460167.077.01.0Danny Ainge
Colorado St.20241541590181.082.0-5.0Isaiah Stevens
Nevada20041551670182.084.0-1.0Nick Fazekas
Georgia Tech19901561180164.082.02.0Dennis Scott
Seton Hall20201571680178.080.0-2.0Myles Powell
Utah19981581470169.079.00.0Andre Miller
Wichita St.20131591691264.371.32.0Fred VanVleet
Arkansas19781601190158.079.04.0Sidney Moncrief
Navy19861611700161.077.011.0David Robinson #20
Texas A&M20071621200160.077.00.0Acie Law
Oregon St.19901631711175.075.5-6.5Gary Payton #48
LSU19531641872173.774.3-6.0Bob Pettit #31
Arizona St.19801651600164.079.06.0Byron Scott
Central Florida20191661960170.074.04.0Joey Graham
TCU20231671720177.079.0-4.0JaKobe Coles
VCU19851681610176.085.00.0Calvin Duncan
Marquette20111691730182.087.0-2.0Jimmy Butler
Georgia19821702051170.078.05.5Dominique Wilkins #51
Boston College20061711880172.076.0-1.0Jared Dudley
Louisville19681721742168.073.7-3.3Wes Unseld #60
Mississippi St.19961732060169.071.06.0Lawrence Roberts
UCLA20211741620181.090.0-2.0Jaime Jaquez
Villanova19851751970165.072.05.0Ed Pinckney
UTEP19701762191173.070.5-1.0Tiny Archibald #67
Kansas19881771630158.067.0-3.0Danny Manning
Florida St.19681782091162.063.0-1.0Dave Cowens #57
Miami20231791892180.388.3-0.7Norchad Omier
Providence19601802011174.577.5-3.0Lenny Wilkens #75
Oklahoma St.19461811750180.082.0-9.0Bob Kurland
Penn St.20181821760182.090.0-3.0Tony Carr
Virginia Tech19861831980181.087.01.0Dell Curry
Wyoming19431841770160.073.02.0Ken Sailors
Notre Dame19701851481267.381.33.3Austin Carr
NC St.20241861901169.572.0-7.0DJ Burns
Clemson19871871370177.097.0-1.0Horace Grant
Marquette19941881381170.080.5-5.5Jim McIlvaine
Arkansas20211891490168.083.0-4.0JD Notae
Duquesne20241902211178.574.0-3.0Jimmy Clark
Dayton19671911390169.088.0-4.0Don May
Louisville19801921210152.082.04.0Darrell Griffith
Nebraska20141932100172.075.04.0Terran Petteway
George Mason20061941990359.367.01.3Jai Lewis
San Diego St.20231952020178.084.00.0Jaedon LeDee
Creighton20141961220366.380.00.7Doug McDermott
Kentucky197019714001116.0138.0-3.0Dan Issel
Marquette19551981910174.086.0-1.0Terry Rand
Bradley19541992000160.072.01.0Bob Carney
Florida Atlantic20232001920164.077.0-1.0Johnell Davis
Princeton19652011780162.079.00.0Bill Bradley
Wake Forest2005202830364.385.35.0Chris Paul #30
Louisiana Tech19852032031176.586.0-1.5Karl Malone #16
Northwestern20172041790170.085.0-4.0Vic Law
Stephen f austin20162052140194.095.04.0Thomas Walkup
New Mexico19742061410168.095.0-2.0Bernard Hardin
VCU20112072150360.371.34.3Bradford Burgess
California19932081800165.075.0-14.0Jason Kidd #36
Creighton20202091640172.0106.06.0Ty-Shon Alexander
LSU19702102220166.067.03.0Pete Maravich #73
Gonzaga19812112271173.076.0-1.5John Stockton #25
Liberty20232122230178.080.03.0Darius McGhee
Santa Clara19962132110182.085.0-8.0Steve Nash #38
James Madison20242142160168.081.03.0Terrence Edwards
Centenary (LA)19762152120164.069.0-10.0Robert Parish #74
Murray St.20192162200178.085.0-2.0Ja Morant
Marshall19562172170171.076.0-8.0Hal Greer #70
Butler20102181810354.776.34.7Gordon Hayward
Loyola-Chicago20182192070359.375.02.0Cameron Krutwig
Texas20072201930162.082.0-12.0Kevin Durant #13
Utah St.20242212080167.073.0-17.0Great Osobor
Niagara19702222240168.084.07.0Calvin Murphy
Washington St.20082232040164.092.01.0Kyle Weaver
Grand Canyon20242242180179.084.0-15.0Tyon Grant-Foster
Richmond20112252130154.077.00.0Justin Harper
Southern Illinois19672262280173.075.0-6.0Walt Frazier #45
Massachusetts19712272301157.568.0-1.5Julius Erving #19
Yale20242282250173.084.0-5.0Danny Wolf
North Carolina19652292260165.080.0-6.0Billy Cunningham #66
Oakland20242302340172.075.0-5.0Jack Gohlke
NYU19482312320153.074.06.0Dolph Schayes #61
Weber St.20102322310160.072.0-6.0Damian Lillard #68
St. Peter's20222332330139.077.011.0Doug Edert
Princeton20232342290150.0102.01.0Tosan Evbuomwan

No comments:

Post a Comment