There has been a lot of talk about how this defense has the same problems as last year, so I wanted to look at some numbers:
From a very basic standpoint, we've allowed a lot less points so far this year with similar opponents (494 total last year vs 373 total this year). A lot of that probably has to do with our offensive pace slowing down.
So far this year through 5 games (the site I use doesn't have HBU yet, but.. who cares):
eFG% - 52% (2016) vs 44% (2017)
TOV%- 20% (2016) vs 20% (2017)
DRB%- 72% (2016) vs 81% (2017)
FT/FGA - .4 (2016) vs .24 (2017)
UNC messes this up quite a bit as that was a butt whipping, but if those numbers are removed -
eFG% - 49% (2016) vs 44% (2017)
TOV%- 20% (2016) vs 20% (2017)
DRB%- 80% (2016) vs 81% (2017)
FT/FGA - .4 (2016) vs .24 (2017)
Basically, like many posters have said, without the insistence on pushing the pace we have improved in eFG%, have had not change in turnovers, are rebounding about the same (although how we rebounded against aTm makes me think that could be a strength this year), and fouling seems to be way down as we are giving up a lot less free throws per field goal attempted.
From a very basic standpoint, we've allowed a lot less points so far this year with similar opponents (494 total last year vs 373 total this year). A lot of that probably has to do with our offensive pace slowing down.
So far this year through 5 games (the site I use doesn't have HBU yet, but.. who cares):
eFG% - 52% (2016) vs 44% (2017)
TOV%- 20% (2016) vs 20% (2017)
DRB%- 72% (2016) vs 81% (2017)
FT/FGA - .4 (2016) vs .24 (2017)
UNC messes this up quite a bit as that was a butt whipping, but if those numbers are removed -
eFG% - 49% (2016) vs 44% (2017)
TOV%- 20% (2016) vs 20% (2017)
DRB%- 80% (2016) vs 81% (2017)
FT/FGA - .4 (2016) vs .24 (2017)
Basically, like many posters have said, without the insistence on pushing the pace we have improved in eFG%, have had not change in turnovers, are rebounding about the same (although how we rebounded against aTm makes me think that could be a strength this year), and fouling seems to be way down as we are giving up a lot less free throws per field goal attempted.
