With the offseason in full force, I figured this might be an opportune time for some "summer reading". So for our hoops readers on the board, we're doing a series diving into all the analytics used on Kenpom.com that are so frequently referenced in many of my stories.
For those that already know what all the "advanced" stats are, this should be a good refresher. For those new to the idea, enjoy, and any questions are welcome!
Part 1: Kenpom Basics (link)
Part 2: Effective Field Goal Percentage
What is effective field goal percentage (eFG%)? In one sentence, eFG% is just a more accurate version of FG%.
This is a pretty basic one. eFG% takes into account that three-pointers are worth more than two-pointers (obviously).
Since three's are worth more than two's, it's only fair to give players proper credit for shooting a (probably) lower overall percentage from deep to earn extra points.
For example:
Player A makes 33-of-100 shots (33 percent) from three-point range = 99 points.
Player B makes 50-of-100 shots (50 percent) from two-point range = 100 points.
It wouldn't be fair to say "well Player A is much less efficient than Player B, he's shooting 33 percent from the field and Player B is shooting 50 percent."
Player A has to be given credit for making three's over two's.
Also, it's easy to underestimate just how quickly three's can rack up points.
Player A makes 38-of-100 shots from three = 114 points
Player B makes 57-of-100 shots from two = 114 points
So even a guy like Matt Ryan, who has a beautiful shot but it was said didn't fall for him much this year, shot 37 percent from long range. That's like shooting 55.5 percent from two's, almost the clip that Auguste made his FG's at this year.
An NBA example I found online: HoF center Bob Lanier finished his career with a 51.4 FG%. Reggie Miller's was just 47.1%.
But Reggie Miller's eFG% was 54.4 percent, because he made so many three's at a high rate. Lanier's eFG% stays at 51.4%, because he didn't shoot from outside.
How can I calculate eFG%? (FGM + 0.5*3PM)/FGA
Where did Notre Dame rank this year? Since we've talked about how shooting three's well can boost this, it should be no surprise that V.J. Beachem led the Irish this year with a 60.8% eFG%.
Beachem made 71-of-136 two's (52.2 percent) this year, but nailed 88-of-198 three's (44.4 percent). Shooting at that clip from long range is the equivalent of making around 66 percent (!!) of your two's.
Ryan was second with 57.6 eFG%, and Auguste third with 56.0 eFG%.
As a team, Notre Dame with a 54.0 eFG% this year, which ranked 29th in the country. They made 52.9 percent of their two's (29th nationally), and 37.4 percent of their three's (46th nationally). That ranked third in the ACC behind Virginia and Miami.
What is good and bad? Here's a tier to go by.
2016 eFG% rankings:
No. 1 nationally: Indiana, 58.7%.
No. 25: Ohio, 54.2%.
No. 100: Florida Gulf Coast, 51.5%
No. 234: Wisconsin, 48.5%
No. 351 (Worst in D1): Illinois Chicago, 41.5%
Three takeaways:
For those that already know what all the "advanced" stats are, this should be a good refresher. For those new to the idea, enjoy, and any questions are welcome!
Part 1: Kenpom Basics (link)
Part 2: Effective Field Goal Percentage
What is effective field goal percentage (eFG%)? In one sentence, eFG% is just a more accurate version of FG%.
This is a pretty basic one. eFG% takes into account that three-pointers are worth more than two-pointers (obviously).
Since three's are worth more than two's, it's only fair to give players proper credit for shooting a (probably) lower overall percentage from deep to earn extra points.
For example:
Player A makes 33-of-100 shots (33 percent) from three-point range = 99 points.
Player B makes 50-of-100 shots (50 percent) from two-point range = 100 points.
It wouldn't be fair to say "well Player A is much less efficient than Player B, he's shooting 33 percent from the field and Player B is shooting 50 percent."
Player A has to be given credit for making three's over two's.
Also, it's easy to underestimate just how quickly three's can rack up points.
Player A makes 38-of-100 shots from three = 114 points
Player B makes 57-of-100 shots from two = 114 points
So even a guy like Matt Ryan, who has a beautiful shot but it was said didn't fall for him much this year, shot 37 percent from long range. That's like shooting 55.5 percent from two's, almost the clip that Auguste made his FG's at this year.
An NBA example I found online: HoF center Bob Lanier finished his career with a 51.4 FG%. Reggie Miller's was just 47.1%.
But Reggie Miller's eFG% was 54.4 percent, because he made so many three's at a high rate. Lanier's eFG% stays at 51.4%, because he didn't shoot from outside.
How can I calculate eFG%? (FGM + 0.5*3PM)/FGA
Where did Notre Dame rank this year? Since we've talked about how shooting three's well can boost this, it should be no surprise that V.J. Beachem led the Irish this year with a 60.8% eFG%.
Beachem made 71-of-136 two's (52.2 percent) this year, but nailed 88-of-198 three's (44.4 percent). Shooting at that clip from long range is the equivalent of making around 66 percent (!!) of your two's.
Ryan was second with 57.6 eFG%, and Auguste third with 56.0 eFG%.
As a team, Notre Dame with a 54.0 eFG% this year, which ranked 29th in the country. They made 52.9 percent of their two's (29th nationally), and 37.4 percent of their three's (46th nationally). That ranked third in the ACC behind Virginia and Miami.
What is good and bad? Here's a tier to go by.
2016 eFG% rankings:
No. 1 nationally: Indiana, 58.7%.
No. 25: Ohio, 54.2%.
No. 100: Florida Gulf Coast, 51.5%
No. 234: Wisconsin, 48.5%
No. 351 (Worst in D1): Illinois Chicago, 41.5%
Three takeaways:
- eFG% is a more accurate version of FG%, which is unfair to those who shoot a lot of three's.
- Shooting three's at even just an okay clip is more efficient scoring than most people realize.
- Notre Dame recruits shooters so they generally do really well in this area, one of the keys to their usually efficient offense.
