We all know our Cats play at a slow pace (frustratingly so at times, but whatevs), but this year the NCAA committee has decided to group KSU with all the other slowest teams in the country it seems. It starts at the top, with the best slow team of them all in Virginia. Is this good for KSU? Should our Cats look to push tempo, especially with a healthy Diarra and potentially no Wade?
Seed. Team Possessions (tempo rank)
1. Virginia 59.3 (353)
16. Gardner Webb 67.1 (196)
8. Ole Miss 68.3 (129)
9. Oklahoma 68.7 (112)
5. Wisconsin 63.6 (332)
12. Oregon 64.1 (328)
4. K-State 63 (342)
13. UC Irvine 65.1 (296)
6. Villanova 63.6 (333)
11. St. Mary's 62.6 (347)
3. Purdue 65.6 (276)
14. Old Dominion 64.3 (325)
7. Cincinnati 63.2 (338)
10. Iowa 69.4 (82)
2. Tennessee 67.7 (155)
15. Colgate 66.3 (236)
I mean half of the teams in the region are ranked 300 or lower in kenpom adjusted tempo, and that's not even counting UC Irvine at 296.
If KSU [63 (342)] wins and the bracket plays to chalk Cat opponents would be:
UC Irvine 65.1 (296)
Wisconsin 63.6 (332)
Virginia 59.3 (353)
Tenn 67.7 (155)
