This is going to truly be the classic unstoppable force vs immovable object story. Guess we'll find out if the ACC is actually as good on offense as it feels and if the Big 12 really is just dominant defensively.

The Big 12 is known for defense, and the numbers agree. Only 4 of 10 teams are inside the top 33 in offensive efficiency but 8 are defensively.

There are zero ACC teams in the top 33 defensively but 7 are in the top 33 offensively.

No Big 12 teams are in the top 75 from three and only two are in the top 50 for eFG%. 6 ACC teams are in the top 75 from outside and 5 are in the top 30 for eFG%. 8 ACC teams are in the top 50 for protecting the ball and thus most teams are outside the top 250 for steals, Big 12 is the opposite most are in the 300s in ball security but rank top 50 in forcing turnovers.

The Big 12 loves to crash the offensive boads and because of that has bed defensive rebounding stats (could be because no one can shoot). The ACC has awful ORb% but for the most part very good defensive rebounding.

Interesting note, Texas plays at the 343rd fastest tempo / VT plays at the 344th fastest tempo. Other stats of note for UT, they give up the 315th most free throws. The play very strong defense inside the arc but are a little worse outside of it.

They are quite bad in what T-rank views as "quality games" where their defensive efficiency is close to 100 (it's 13th overall) which is actually lower than VT's in the same stat. On the other hand their offense is a little higher than Tech's.

Without Tre Mitchell their tallest contributor is 6'7 but their shortest is 6'2 so they can switch everything I would expect. They play 8 guys but really more like 7. DNG and Mutts should be very effective defensively with their length in this one. Aluma if he's heady can absolutely go to work on the block. Murphy is going to have to be real savvy, they press hard all the time and go for steals more than Miami does.


[Post edited by soflahokie at 03/14/2022 11:20AM]