Big 12 Mid Term grades: 2014 oscar Hoops edition

[AndrewVonLintel]

Looking at Big 12 Conference stats midway through K-State's season. My opinions of their roster quality and how they are being coached.  http://www.big12sports.com/ViewContent.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10410&CONTENT_ID=855748

Baylor  Roster grade (B+)   Coaching Grade (F)

    Last in free throw attempts and free throw %.
    9th in FG %.
    9th in Turnover Margin

They are 2nd in rebounding margin because of their height but they are not using their 7 footer inside to score high % shots and draw free throws.  No tournament for the Bears. Bill Self would be hunting for a 3 or 4 seed with that team.

Iowa State   Roster Grade (B-)  Coaching Grade (B)

    +3.25 Turnover Margin,
    1st in Assists
    1st in steals
    2nd in 3pt attempts but  only 8th in 3pt %
    4th in FG %

Undersized team but gets steals and takes care of the ball. Shoots lots of threes but isn't making that many of them in conference play. Should make it to the tournament but shouldn't go to far.

Kansas   Roster Grade (A)  Coaching Grade (B+)

    1st in FG%
    3rd in FG% defense
    1st in rebounding margin with +7.5 per game.
    Only weakness is -3.5 in turnover margin

Kansas should probably make it to an elite eight but is actually vulnerable because of their turnover issues (which is why I dropped their coaching grade some). Hopefully someone takes  advantage of this. If you can hang with them on rebounding and take care of the ball, a team may have a shot.


Kansas State Roster Grade (B-)  Coaching Grade (B-)

    -1.67 in Turnover Margin
    10th in Steals
    5th in Rebounding margin
    2nd in Field Goal % defense
    2nd (tie) in Field Goal %
    9th in free throw % 5th in attempts

Kansas State is a good team as shown by Field Goal % and FG % Defense. This is not a complete team as shown by turnover margin, steals, blocks, free throw %. I expect to go to the tournament and lose early. Iowa State and Kansas State are pretty much Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.


OSU  Roster Grade (B+)  Coaching Grade (B-)

They are pretty average in everything. Best stat is probably +3.12 in turnover margin. They lost a key guy in Cobbins and Ford can't keep Smart in line. They will probably go to the tournament and lose early.

OU    Roster Grade (B-)    Coaching Grade (B-)

Average team that is too dependent on the three ball.  Steve Henson has them shooting the highest free throw % in the conference (77.5%).  They will probably go to the tournament and lose early.

Texas  Roster grade (B+)  Coaching Grade (B+)

    1st in Blocked shots
     3rd in Rebounding margin,
    1st in FG % defense
    2nd (tie) in FG% offense
    8th in free throw % and 4th in attempts

I expect Texas to go to the Sweet Sixteen and possibly further if Felix continues to get better. They ignore the three ball and can pound it inside on a lot of teams. They should be highly seeded and they are trying to take advantage of their strengths. Didn't see this one coming.


Texas Tech   Dont Care

TCU              Don't Care

West Virginia  Roster (C+)    Coaching (C+)

Not a great year for Huggins but it does appear to be getting better. He really needs a 7 footer but his guards are pretty good. The schedule gets tougher for the Eers and I don't think he will get to the tournament.

[Powercat Posse]

No way I would give Ford a B minus.   That team has talent even with no Cobbins.   They played great at KU, but if they did not sneak out of WV with a 1 pt win, they would be 3-5 right now.   Back to back poor showings at home vs WV and Baylor

And I think Lonnie deserves a B+ or A minus.    They lost close games in Manhattan and Ames. Won at Texas and Baylor. Beat ranked Isu and Osu at home.    Impressive 6-3 start

[kim carnes]

good stuff, andrew

[nicname]

Agree w/ PPosse. 

I would put drop KU's roster grade A-, and bump the coaching grade to and A- or an A.

Their only real problem, turnovers, if from not having a real PG. They're as legit a F4 candidate as there is out there.

I would also put Barnes' coaching job up there w/ Kruger in the A- range. Really, both of these guys could be higher. They've both won at home and on the road and exceeded expectations thus far. I haven't seen a Texas team play with this much effort for a long time.

[nicname]

Also, what about Tech and TCU?

[AndrewVonLintel]

oh don't really care about those two schools and their fans don't really care either.

Tubby has Tech playing better than last year which isn't saying much. 
TCU is a good old fashioned dumpster fire.