A New Blog: Throw Your V's Up

A new blog devoted to quantitative analysis of Villanova basketball, Throw Your V's UP, posted for the first time today (Friday January 14). Blogger Raul Chavez's first post took an in depth look at how Villanova's offensive and defensive efficiencies have trended over the past five games. Raul suggests part of the upward trend in defense (not a good direction for the defense...giving up more points per possession)  may at least be tied to the decreasing effectiveness of the 1-2-2 zone press the 'Cats employ to slow opposing offenses. While putting on the press after scoring can be effective against a turnover prone team with less than effective ball handlers and passers, the Wildcats last five opponents -- Temple (Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore), Rutgers (Coburn with Dane Miller passing), South Florida, Cincinnati (Wright, Dixon with Gates and Bishop passing) and Louisville (Siva, Smith and Knowles) -- did not (as a group) struggle to advance the ball or break the press. In fact several (Rutgers and Louisville for example) seemed to take advantage of the presses tendency to over defend certain spots on the floor.

Chavez's second post provides some background on Dean Oliver's possession-based metrics, the increasingly employed "Four Factors", as tools for a quantitative analysis of any team's offense and defense. A very good start, Raul. I will put Throw Your V's UP alongside the other Villanova Blogs and check back often to see what Raul can develop.

Welcome to the Villanova Blogosphere Throw Your V's UP!

A New Blog: Secondary Break

Chris DiSano over at College ChalkTalk has spun out a less structured version of his basketball gazette called Secondary Break. The blog has a handful (about 15 actually) of ongoing contributors, including frequent vbtn contributor Ray Floriani. Ray posted the second in his series about possession-based stats -- points per possession with both an explanation on how to calculate the stat and why that is more reliable than a per capita stat like average points per game, for identifying potent offenses.

As the name suggests, Secondary Break specializes in quick takes on "just behind the news cycle" topics ranging from player spotlights to team backgrounds, from stats and analysis to below-the-surface looks at recent news. A link for Secondary Break will go into the "Notable Blogs..." list at the left, and I intend to check in regularly with those guys.

A New Blog: Nova Basketball Report

Sporting a eye-catching layout and promising to be a "...one stop source for all of the latest news and analysis..." about Villanova basketball, the Nova Basketball Report opened for business on 9/8/2010 with a post on the projected starting line-up and rotation for the 2011 season. A countdown clock reminds the visitor of how much longer the off season will last. Authored by a Villanova sophomore, the blog will join the three other student-operated blogs on the top left sidebar. I look forward to more content and will be sure to visit often to check on the progress.

Welcomed to the Villanova blogosphere Nova Basketball Report!

A New Blog -- On the Banks of the Raritan

Rutgers basketball has a new blogger, as Shawn Layton has decided to chronicle the progress of the men's basketball team in his On the Banks of the Raritan Blog. Shawn also writes for the Edison-Metuchen Sentinel. His first posts provided readers with some background on the team, Rutgers' last Big East conference game and a preview of the Scarlet Knight's upcoming game with South Florida. Best of luck Shawn and welcome to the Big East blogosphere!

A New Blog: A10 By the Numbers

Hmmm, That Sounds Familiar
The bloggers over at College Chalk Talk decided to "go national" with their site (though they have assured readers they will maintain an A10 "perspective"), which seems to have created a niche for the NIT-ology blogger (apologies ahead of time Mike if I have your last name wrong...), Mike Scullin to start up a side project -- A10 by the Numbers. The blogger promises "statistical analysis of atlantic 10 conference basketball", a topic I have also had a growing interest in this season. Mike has put up 4 posts this month, 2 on the post season odds for A10 teams and 2 on team-specific issues (Duquesne and Saint Joseph's) that are particularly good.

If your interests run to the A10 and stats, A10 by the Numbers is worth a long look.

A New Blog -- Cutting Down the Nets

From a Georgetown fan and sports management major, Cutting Down the Nets debuted last month with posts on covers Big East basketball (previews of teams and players), player updates, Georgetown news and coaching ranks. alleninxis (the blogger) supplies an interesting mix of information and opinion.

A New Blog: Celevision

Former Villanova point guard John Celestand has started a blog...actually John started the blog in May, I am just a bit slow on the uptake. Celevision covers pro sports (mostly NBA basketball) and whatever else John wants to write about. Welcome to the blogosphere Celevision!

A New Blog: The Big Beast

While looking over some recent posts at Jerry Carino's Hoops Heaven Blog I saw a reference to a new member of the blogging fraternity -- The Big Beast Blog. The bloggers, three current and former Rutgers students, collaborate to provide coverage and commentary on New Jersey and metropolitan New York City sports. Best of luck guys!

A New Blog: Big Ten Geeks

Villanova by the Numbers guest poster Ray Floriani dropped me a note Monday (Bonnies fans be sure to check out Ray's post, "Statistical Analysis: St. Bonaventure" over at the College Chalktalk Blog) about a new Big Ten Conference basketball blog, Big Ten Geeks.

Back in 2005 blogger John Gasaway cranked up the Big Ten Wonk Blog with the promise to produce a (nearly) daily report (during the season of course) on the state of the Big Ten basketball conference. Alternating straight reporting with analysis powered by Dean Oliver's possession-based statistics and occasionally adapting John Holloway's NBA stats to the NCAA, filtered with a perspective that many admire but few can emulate, Gasaway kept the party going for three seasons. The Wonk shuttered his blog officially on April 3, 2007 as he moved on to a series of collaborations with Ken Pomeroy over at The Basketball Prospectus. Josh & Mike picked up the torch last month and have rekindled the BT Wonk's mission to provide statistical insight on the teams of the Big Ten. They may not have Gasaway's flare (who does?), but they definitely have the numbers. I have been reading Josh's team-by-team previews and come away impressed with his grasp of the details and his ability to work with the stats to provide insight. Those Wildcat (Villanova here, not Northwestern...) fans who are interested in a good heads-up on the Nits, a possible opponent in The Philly Classic next November might want to check out The Geek's take at "2008-09 Preview: Penn State".

I have added these guys to my "Notable Blogs" sidebar, and I wish them the best of luck!