Stat Review: Notre Dame (3/5/24)

[JimmyNaismith]

STAT	VALUE	PCTLE	HISTORICAL COMPARISON
Base Stats
FG%	45	41
3FG%	38	58
2FG%	50	45
FT%	60	19
fg%	31	95
3fg%	26	75
2fg%	33	93
ft%	63	66
PTS/POSS	1.01	72
pts/poss	0.65	93
TOTPOSS	162	34
POSDIF	4	61
%LOB	7	96
%lob	15	42
SmithIdx	0.2665	93
Interesting Stats
ast/poss	0.10	86
AST/TO	2.33	90
OR%	0.38	66
or%	0.29	27
%FROM3	40.8	90

Spoiler: "Table Key"

STAT = Statistic being reported
VALUE = Value of reported stat from the current game
PCTLE = Percentile When Compared to All UNC Games since 1996
Historical Comparison = Graphic Portrayal of PCTLE. Marks depict 20% quintiles, as well as 50%.

FG% = UNC Total Field Goal Percentage (47.0% avg since 1996)
3FG% = UNC 3-point Field Goal Percentage (35.6%)
2FG% = UNC 2-point Field Goal Percentage (51.4%)
FT% = UNC Free Throw Percentage (70.0%)
fg% = Opponent Total Field Goal Percentage (41.6%)
3fg% = Opponent 3-point Field Goal Percentage (33.8%)
2fg% = Opponent 2-point Field Goal Percentage (45.9%)
ft% = Opponent Free Throw Percentage (68.2%)
PTS/POSS = UNC Points Per Possession (Smith Method, 0.934)
pts/poss = Opponent Points Per Possession (Smith Method, 0.846))
POSS = UNC Total Possessions (Smith Method, 85.6)
POSDIF = UNC Advantage in Total Possessions (Smith Method, 2.03)
%LOB = UNC Percentage Loss of Ball (TO/POSS, 15.9)
%lob = Opponent Percentage Loss of Ball (to/poss, 16.4)

MOV = Margin of Victory (9.43)
%FROM3 = UNC Percentage of FG Attempts Taken From 3 (35.6%)
AST/POSS = UNC Assists Per Possession (Smith Method, 0.20)
AST/FG = UNC Assists Per Field Goal (0.59)
AST/TO = UNC Assists Per Turnover (1.4)
OR% = UNC Percentage of Missed Shots that are Rebounded (0.344)
%from3 = Opponent Percentage of Shots Taken From 3 (33.8)
ast/poss = Opponent Assists Per Possession (Smith Method, 0.16)
ast/fg = Opponent Assists Per Field Goal (0.52)
ast/to = Opponent Assists Per Turnover (1.1)
or% = Opponent Percentage of Missed Shots that are Rebounded (0.241)
poss = Opponents Total Possessions (Smith Method) (83.6)
TOTPOSS = Total Possessions in the Game(Smith Method, 169.3)
SmithIdx = UNC Total of Pts/Poss minus Offensive Goal (0.95) + Defensive Goal (0.85) minus Opponent Pts/Poss (avg: -0.01)

Discussion
On Senior Night in Chapel Hill, UNC absolutely dominated a listless Notre Dame, beating them by half 41-25 and 43-26. The Heels scored 1.01 points per possession on 45% FG shooting. Outside of bad 60% FT shooting, it was an average night shooting the ball. One factor that kicked up the offensive efficiency was UNC's excellent control of the ball, just 7% Loss of Ball.

Offense isn't what did it, though. UNC's defense or ND's ineptitude was the story of the game. ND scored just 0.65 points per possession, the 3rd worst by an opponent this season (UVA was 0.62 and UC Riverside was 0.634). It was the 79th worst-performing opponent in the last 1021 games.

We saw a hungry UNC team that looks like it is ready for a March run! There are 4 players capable of scoring 20+ points, and the team is playing good defense. The big concerns are keeping both Cadeau and Bacot out of foul trouble.

Next up is a Duke team that seems to have found its Duke identity as of late. If this doesn't get your blood boiling, I don't know what will: