A look at each Final Four team, through advanced stats

After a 2022 Remaining 4 that included Kansas, North Carolina, Duke and Villanova, this yr’s model has a pair surprises from Convention USA and the Mountain West — and never a single group seeded greater than fourth.

That stated, is there actually that huge a distinction between the previous two Remaining Fours?

In a single sense, probably not. Final yr’s foursome completed No. 3, 8, 10 and 16 in Ken Pomeroy’s rankings. This season’s quartet is ranked No. 1, 14, 17 and 22 getting into the semifinals. So it’s a bit worse within the combination, however not as a lot because the names may counsel.

Right here’s a deeper take a look at UConn, Miami, San Diego State and Florida Atlantic, utilizing superior stats:

UCONN (29-8)

Pomeroy Rank: 1

Strengths: UConn misplaced six of eight throughout a stoop that started Dec. 31 and lasted via a lot of January. Except for that, the Huskies are 27-2. They rank third within the nation in adjusted offensive effectivity and eleventh on protection. Whereas they’ve many strengths, they’re particularly robust on the glass, rating second within the nation in offensive rebounding proportion.

Weaknesses: The Huskies have principally two warts on an in any other case pristine statistical profile. They flip the ball over rather a lot (232nd nationally in turnover proportion) they usually aren’t superb at attending to the free throw line or maintaining opponents off it.

In This Event: Effectively, UConn’s weaknesses haven’t actually gone away. The Huskies are at minus-14 in turnover differential on this event and minus-12 in free throw makes an attempt. But it surely hasn’t made a lot distinction in any respect since they’ve been so dominant in different methods. It’s in all probability not an awesome signal for the opposite three groups that UConn reached the Remaining 4 so simply with out actually overperforming in these areas.

SAN DIEGO STATE (31-6)

Pomeroy Rank: 14

Strengths: The Aztecs are ranked fourth within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity. Just one group — Arizona again in November — has reached 80 factors in opposition to San Diego State. The Aztecs have held their final eight opponents underneath 65 and gone unbeaten throughout that stretch.

Weaknesses: San Diego State is seventy fifth in adjusted offensive effectivity. No different group within the Remaining 4 is decrease than twenty fourth. Not one of the different Elite Eight groups is decrease than thirty sixth. You get the image.

In This Event: The stat that jumps out in regards to the Aztecs’ final two victories: Alabama and Creighton shot a mixed 5 of 44 from 3-point vary. Over the course of the entire season, San Diego State opponents are capturing a horrendous 27.9% from past the arc. Even by that commonplace, 5 of 44 seems like an outlier — but when it continues, the Aztecs might very nicely win the entire thing.

FLORIDA ATLANTIC (35-3)

Pomeroy Rank: 17

Strengths: No, the ninth-seeded Owls aren’t the lowest-ranked Remaining 4 group, no less than per Pomeroy. In reality, FAU is an impressively balanced group, rating twenty fourth in adjusted offensive effectivity and thirtieth on protection. The Owls are robust contained in the arc defensively, holding opponents underneath 45% capturing from 2-point vary.

Weaknesses: FAU’s run to the Remaining 4 doesn’t fairly measure as much as what the opposite three groups have achieved. The Owls’ 4 wins have been by a mixed 19 factors. By comparability, every of UConn’s victories has been by no less than 15. And in contrast to San Diego State and Miami, FAU didn’t need to beat a No. 1 seed.

In This Event: Offensive rebounds have been plentiful in FAU video games thus far. The Owls have 59 of their 4 wins, however they’ve allowed 48.

MIAMI (29-7)

Pomeroy Rank: 22

Strengths: The Hurricanes have a number of environment friendly offensive choices in Isaiah Wong, Nijel Pack, Norchad Omier and Jordan Miller. As a group, they will rating in quite a lot of methods — they’re capturing 36.9% from past the arc, 54.5% inside it and 78.0% on free throws.

Weaknesses: That is form of the alternative of San Diego State — an awesome offensive group that’s fairly weak defensively. In reality, Miami is 104th within the nation in adjusted defensive effectivity.

In This Event: There have been some indicators of defensive enchancment for the Hurricanes. They held Drake to 56 factors within the first spherical after which restricted Indiana to 69. Houston scored 75 within the Candy 16 however shot simply 37.5% from the sphere. Within the Elite Eight, nevertheless, Miami wanted to be wonderful on offense to beat Texas 88-81. Which may be the kind of recreation the Hurricanes should win in the event that they’re going to prevail this weekend.

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Observe Noah Trister at https://twitter.com/noahtrister

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AP March Insanity protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25