Coach's Intuition and Analytics

• Activity Number: 573
• Type: Contributed
• Date/Time: Wednesday, August 6, 2014 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistics in Sports
• Author(s): Jack Follis*+ and Henry Foust and Todd Smith and Lukas Simon
• Companies: University of St. Thomas and University of St. Thomas and University of St. Thomas and Baylor College of Medicine
• Keywords: Basketball ; Coach's Objectives ; NAIA

Abstract

The head basketball coach at the University of St. Thomas, Houston, TX, an NAIA member, has six objectives for his team each game: less than 10 offensive rebounds for the opponents, draw at least 3 charges, keep the opposition under 65 points, shoot at least 45%, have at least 16 assists, and have less than 12 turnovers. The coach believes that meeting at least three of these objectives is associated with a higher chance of winning a game. This study analyzes data from NAIA box scores for the 2009-2010 through 2013-2014 seasons to see the proportion of games won when at least three of the objectives are met for the particular team (charges will not be included). This study will also examine if these objectives apply across all NAIA Division I men's basketball games from the 2009-2010 through the 2013-2014 seasons (adjusting for pace).