MBB: This Year’s Team vs. Last Year’s Team

With a new culture and revamped roster, W&M is off to an undefeated start. [photo via tribeathletics.com]

And just like that, your William & Mary Tribe is 3-0! Given the offseason that W&M experienced, with a coach let go, several players transferring, and much change across the roster — one would be forgiven to think that this season might get off to a rough start.

But through the first three games of the year, all on the road might we add, new Head Coach Dane Fischer’s team has found a way to win.

And although it’s early in the season, we couldn’t help but compare this team’s stats so far to the team’s total stats from last season.

Yes it’s early, but interesting nuggets jump out.

Team Totals: Key Stats

2018-19 Season (31 games)

Points Scored/game: 74.9
Rebounds/game: 34.2
Blocks/game: 4.7
Field Goal Percentage: 47.4%
Free Throw Percentage: 66.8%
3-Point Percentage: 34.6%
Points Against/game: 76.9 ppg

2019-20 Season (3 games)

Points Scored/game: 76.3 (+1.4 compared to last season)
Rebounds/game: 35.3 (+1.1)
Blocks/game: 4.0 (-.7)
Field Goal Percentage: 49.1% (+1.7%)
Free Throw Percentage: 76.5% (+9.7%)
3-Point Percentage: 38.1% (+3.5%)
Points Against/game: 68.3 ppg (-8.6 ppg)

Analysis & Takeaways

Yes, it’s still incredibly early in the season…

and yes, we’re comparing a sample size of 31 games to just 3 games so far this season. But even with that being said, the early returns are looking very good for this Green and Gold team.

And despite the large discrepancy in overall sample size, we argue that, aside from two played games against ACC opponents last season (UVA & Notre Dame), William & Mary entirely played against teams of comparable caliber to the Tribe.

This season so far, it’s been the same, as the Green and Gold has faced off against three schools that it can, for the most part, count among its athletic peers in High Point, American, and Wofford.

This is all to say that, while the sample sizes are completely different — yes, on that point there is no doubt — the type of teams in both samples are relatively similar. So the comparison may not be that off in reality.

But the boys have come out firing.

ESPECIALLY from the free throw line, where the Tribe currently sits +9.7% compared to last season. Again, it’s a bit of an apples to oranges data comparison here as the numbers begin to normalize — but if this trends holds true, the Tribe could be the benefactor of some clutch free throw shooting down the stretch this season.

In addition to the notable bump in FT%, the Tribe has also performed very well on the defensive side of the court; relative to last season, the Tribe is currently giving up nearly 9 points less per game. That’s a game-changing stat.

Suffice to say, W&M teams under former Head Coach Tony Shaver were not known for their defense; and we could never quite figure out why — we knew Shaver was a great offensive coach, but for some reason, the Green and Gold tended to struggle on the defensive side of the court for him.

But this is one trend we’re really hoping holds true the rest of the way.

And can we just watch this one more time?

Let’s all take a moment of silence for the Wofford Terriers. Because prior to W&M’s Bryce Barnes hitting the game-winning shot last night, Wofford had won 17 home games in a row. Not. Any. More.

And with that, we’ll leave you with the incredible, game-winning video, which will live on in Tribe lore for years to come.

LET’S GO TRIBE.

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HERE’S THE SHOT THAT MADE W&M 3-0

A post shared by William & Mary Sports Blog (@wmsportsblog) on Nov 12, 2019 at 5:55pm PST