Best posts made by mdm7eb

I guess I am a lurker? I am a KU fan – grew up in Kansas watching KU basketball. But I have two degrees from UVA. Since UVA is a better team this year…

It’s nice to have a “good guy” to cheer for in the ACC. Nothing is likable about UNC and Duke.

Clearly, UVa is still learning how to be on top – including its fans. this board is still the premier place to track college basketball (particularly if you are a fan of Kansas basketball).

When you grow up on Kansas basketball the habit dies hard (if it ever does) even if you alma mater is good.

I track college basketball in the following order:

Tied for 1st: KU / UVA 2nd: my wife’s teams – IU, VCU (actually – I generally cheer against them)

The IU affiliation is more out of martial responsibility and allows me to dig at my brother who is at gradate school at Purdue.

Anyways… back to free loading.

I would like to remind everyone that correlation does not equal causation. The question about ethnicity and athleticism can not be answered without an experiment (ideally randomized control trails – although a properly constructed natural experiment or instrument variable might also do the trick). Good luck with that. In sum, we can’t statically support a causal claim.

With regards to the recruit in question, as a native Kansasan (and a big Jayhawk basketball fan) – sure signing him up. But as a double alum of UVA I would be very happy if Coach Bennett landed him instead.

@jaybate-1.0 said:

Carson Cunningham

I bet he studied under Randy Roberts? Purdue history department has a strong sports history focus. My brother is there now writing his dissertation on OU’s Bud Wilkinson’s “steak.”

Bud actually got into republican politics after his coaching days at OU and one might be able to make the argument played a role in the rise of conservative politics in the sunbelt. Likewise, one might also be able to make the claim he helped foster the development of Oklahoma’s aviation industry.

It’s funny how illuminating works of cultural historians can be. My brother and I have talked at length about how someone needs to tell the story of the triumph of capitalism through a sports perspective.

Somewhat related – check out the book Sneaker Wars if you have not already. It tells the story about Puma and Adidas.

@jaybate-1.0

Let’s look at all the talent UVA has gotten compared to the great dearth of talent Coach Self and KU have gotten. If you discount Cliff, KU’s average rankings of players drops all the way, gasp, to 47! Compared to UVA’s average player ranking of 92.

Now lets take a look at front court rankings. As you will see, KU leads over UVA in this category too, 86 vs 110.

Okay. UVA’s strength of schedule sourced from Ken Pom last year was 27 vs KU’s 2nd ranked schedule. UVA did win 5 additional games – all accounted for by difference in strength in schedule?

When we compare each Coach’s performance in the tournament last year (where it really matters) its a wash.

Your exuberance for Coach Self’s performance is understandable but overstated. I am not claiming Tony Bennett is in the same league of Self (we need to see 10+ years of continued performances).

Narrative is fun but much more substantial with data and facts.

I don’t have the time to parse the differences between the ACC and the Big12. Or the Big12’s overall poor performance in the NCAA tournament. I also did not account for Siva being a top talent (all though unranked) who KU was able to land over UVA.

When UVA lands a top 25 player let me know – compared to the six (6) KU has landed the past four years and the two (2) top 25 players they landed this year. Talent drought? Sure, compared to Duke or Kentucky but not UVA.

Draft choices?

UVA had one 1st round pick (and not a lottery pick at that) the last 4 years. And KU?

Next.

@jaybate-1.0

That’s the best you can do?

“Bill Self had more talent because I said so. Bill Self is the best coach ever because you know duh?!”

The nice thing with stats and I will admit averages have problems. But my argument still stands if you looked at median, max or even standard deviation.

Like I said, narrative is fun. It is easy to argue (and in your own mind win) when you get to make up the facts.

Data is pesky like that, it does not really let you pick and chose you either have it or you don’t.

I am actually sympathetic to your argument and you are maybe right (on the talent argument at the end of the season) – but it is just a wild assertion.

But isn’t that characteristic of most of the content you post on this site?