Dance of the Digital Decade 2002-2011

Click on team for details. All columns listed are sortable from 1 (best) to 68 (worse)

Note: These 68 represent the best teams out of 3400+ (Grades are relative to Field of 68)
Proposed Simulation tourney(s) will include important end-of-year metrics this study omits

RPI Paint Shooting Offense Poise Defense Ballcontrol Dominance Resilience MPI10
# TeamConferenceYear Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Rank+/- Dance Result
1 Fighting Illini
Illinois
Big Ten
Big Ten
2004/05 1 A+ 62 D+ 12 A- 3 A+ 7 44 C+ 1 A+ 2 A+ 1 A+ 1 A+
2005
Last 2
2 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2009/10 2 A+ 6 32 B- 20 B+ 24 5 32 B- 1 A+ 5 2 A+
2010
Round of 32
3 Buckeyes
Ohio State
Big Ten
Big Ten
2010/11 11 A- 59 C- 25 14 B+ 27 57 C- 2 A+ 6 3 A+ 3 A+
2011
Round of 16
4 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2009/10 12 A- 40 C+ 34 B- 22 3 A+ 35 B- 33 B- 8 2 A+ 4 A+
2010
Nat’l Champ
5 Tar Heels
N. Carolina
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2008/09 3 A+ 9 A- 8 9 A- 1 A+ 51 19 B+ 3 A+ 9 A- 5
2009
Nat’l Champ
6 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2007/08 24 7 26 33 B- 33 B- 2 A+ 22 9 A- 6 6
2008
Nat’l Champ
7 Terrapins, Terps
Maryland
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2001/02 13 B+ 25 20 B+ 32 B- 10 A- 21 13 B+ 7 8 7
2002
Nat’l Champ
8 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2010/11 25 49 14 B+ 6 8 19 B+ 35 B- 10 A- 11 A- 8
2011
Round of 16
9 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2003/04 4 A+ 37 C+ 21 17 B+ 6 7 63 D+ 4 A+ 19 B+ 9 A-
2004
Round of 4
10 Sooners
Oklahoma
Big 12
Big 12
2001/02 18 B+ 42 C+ 53 C- 45 5 14 B+ 36 B- 19 B+ 4 A+ 10 A-
2002
Round of 4
11 Buckeyes
Ohio State
Big Ten
Big Ten
2006/07 5 35 B- 58 C- 46 23 15 B+ 21 14 B+ 13 B+ 11 A-
2007
Last 2
12 Gators
Florida
Southeastern
Southeastern
2005/06 32 B- 32 B- 6 7 14 B+ 10 A- 48 15 B+ 14 B+ 12 A-
2006
Nat’l Champ
13 Wildcats
Kentucky
Southeastern
Southeastern
2002/03 6 16 B+ 50 55 C- 22 17 B+ 40 C+ 20 B+ 10 A- 13 B+
2003
Round of 8
14 Gators
Florida
Southeastern
Southeastern
2006/07 19 B+ 14 B+ 37 C+ 25 44 C+ 23 52 12 A- 24 14 B+
2007
Nat’l Champ
15 Panthers
Pittsburgh
Big East
American Athletic
2008/09 15 B+ 31 B- 63 D+ 56 C- 54 C- 43 C+ 11 A- 21 15 B+ 15 B+
2009
Round of 8
16 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2010/11 7 34 B- 46 36 B- 53 C- 16 B+ 46 5 33 B- 16 B+
2011
Round of 8
17 Cowboys
Oklahoma St.
Big 12
Big 12
2003/04 33 B- 44 C+ 29 B- 48 47 24 27 23 16 B+ 17 B+
2004
Round of 4
18 Tigers
Memphis
Conference USA
Conference USA
2007/08 14 B+ 11 A- 68 D 65 D+ 64 D+ 4 A+ 10 A- 16 B+ 26 18 B+
2008
Last 2
19 Cowboys
Oklahoma St.
Big 12
Big 12
2004/05 34 B- 64 D+ 1 A+ 1 A+ 9 A- 68 D 30 B- 37 C+ 7 19 B+
2005
Round of 16
20 Tar Heels
N. Carolina
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2006/07 26 17 B+ 44 C+ 49 26 34 B- 28 32 B- 22 20 B+
2007
Round of 8
21 Cougars
BYU
West Coast
Mountain West
2010/11 43 C+ 53 C- 40 C+ 18 B+ 17 B+ 49 18 B+ 27 28 21
2011
Round of 16
22 Bruins
UCLA
Pacific 12
Pacific 12
2007/08 35 B- 24 48 63 D+ 18 B+ 18 B+ 39 C+ 43 C+ 12 A- 22
2008
Round of 4
23 Cardinals
Louisville
Big East
Conference USA
2004/05 50 41 C+ 19 B+ 4 A+ 35 B- 12 A- 51 24 32 B- 23
2005
Round of 4
24 Longhorns
Texas
Big 12
Big 12
2005/06 49 12 A- 36 B- 31 B- 38 C+ 6 53 C- 26 29 B- 24
2006
Round of 8
25 Aztecs
San Diego St.
Mountain West
Mountain West
2010/11 20 B+ 20 B+ 64 D+ 64 D+ 42 C+ 20 B+ 38 C+ 40 C+ 21 25
2011
Round of 16
26 Musketeers
Xavier
Atlantic Ten
Atlantic Ten
2007/08 46 54 C- 10 A- 15 B+ 21 60 C- 31 B- 39 C+ 23 26
2008
Round of 8
27 Huskies, UConn
Connecticut
Big East
American Athletic
2008/09 36 B- 3 A+ 45 60 C- 57 C- 31 B- 17 B+ 38 C+ 25 27
2009
Round of 4
28 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2008/09 21 46 51 39 C+ 15 B+ 52 50 35 B- 30 B- 28
2009
Round of 16
29 Bearcats
Cincinnati
Big East
Conference USA
2001/02 37 C+ 28 41 C+ 47 25 50 57 C- 48 18 B+ 29 B-
2002
Round of 32
30 Golden Eagles
Marquette
Big East
Conference USA
2002/03 42 C+ 52 3 A+ 21 13 B+ 67 D 23 47 20 B+ 30 B-
2003
Round of 4
31 Huskies, UConn
Connecticut
Big East
American Athletic
2003/04 16 B+ 1 A+ 62 D+ 53 C- 65 D+ 33 B- 24 22 48 31 B-
2004
Nat’l Champ
32 Tar Heels
N. Carolina
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2007/08 8 19 B+ 16 B+ 40 C+ 4 A+ 59 C- 60 C- 36 B- 36 B- 32 B-
2008
Round of 4
33 Fighting Irish
Notre Dame
Big East
American Athletic
2010/11 51 50 30 B- 16 B+ 45 66 D 3 A+ 45 27 33 B-
2011
Round of 32
34 Hawks
St. Joseph's
Atlantic Ten
Atlantic Ten
2003/04 27 68 D 27 10 A- 30 B- 11 A- 6 17 B+ 57 C- 34 B-
2004
Round of 8
35 Tar Heels
N. Carolina
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2004/05 17 B+ 38 C+ 9 A- 5 11 A- 41 C+ 68 D 11 A- 64 D+ 35 B-
2005
Nat’l Champ
36 Wildcats
Kentucky
Southeastern
Southeastern
2010/11 38 C+ 26 38 C+ 29 B- 43 C+ 36 B- 55 C- 31 B- 45 36 B-
2011
Round of 4
37 Tigers
Memphis
Conference USA
Conference USA
2008/09 47 10 A- 66 D 68 D 55 C- 1 A+ 37 C+ 42 C+ 37 C+ 37 C+
2009
Round of 16
38 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2001/02 9 A- 4 A+ 11 A- 23 12 A- 30 B- 65 D+ 13 B+ 67 D 38 C+
2002
Round of 4
39 Wildcats
Arizona
Pacific 12
Pacific 12
2002/03 39 C+ 29 B- 59 C- 41 C+ 34 B- 37 C+ 44 C+ 29 B- 52 39 C+
2003
Round of 8
40 Bears
Baylor
Big 12
Big 12
2009/10 44 C+ 8 13 B+ 13 B+ 29 B- 25 67 D 28 54 C- 40 C+
2010
Round of 8
41 Huskies, UConn
Connecticut
Big East
American Athletic
2005/06 28 2 A+ 42 C+ 51 31 B- 38 C+ 54 C- 44 C+ 38 C+ 41 C+
2006
Round of 8
42 Bearcats
Cincinnati
Big East
Conference USA
2003/04 52 23 61 D+ 42 C+ 66 D 13 B+ 12 A- 33 B- 51 42 C+
2004
Round of 32
43 Mountaineers
West Virginia
Big East
American Athletic
2009/10 31 B- 39 C+ 67 D 66 D 37 C+ 61 D+ 14 B+ 68 D 17 B+ 43 C+
2010
Round of 4
44 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2005/06 10 A- 65 D+ 5 2 A+ 2 A+ 32 B- 56 C- 18 B+ 68 D 44 C+
2006
Round of 16
45 Fighting Illini
Illinois
Big Ten
Big Ten
2001/02 54 C- 45 22 24 39 C+ 53 C- 42 C+ 46 43 C+ 45
2002
Round of 16
46 Aggies
Texas A&M
Big 12
Big 12
2006/07 63 D+ 55 C- 15 B+ 34 B- 58 C- 39 C+ 7 51 40 C+ 46
2007
Round of 16
47 Wildcats
Kentucky
Southeastern
Southeastern
2003/04 22 51 54 C- 52 40 C+ 26 59 C- 41 C+ 49 47
2004
Round of 32
48 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2002/03 29 B- 13 B+ 56 C- 62 D+ 63 D+ 8 47 25 65 D+ 48
2003
Last 2
49 Spartans
Michigan St
Big Ten
Big Ten
2004/05 61 D+ 61 D+ 24 28 36 B- 64 D+ 26 61 D+ 35 B- 49
2005
Round of 4
50 Blue Devils
Duke
Atlantic Coast
Atlantic Coast
2001/02 30 B- 66 D 49 26 46 56 C- 29 B- 30 B- 66 D 50
2002
Round of 16
51 Bulldogs
Drake
Missouri Valley
Missouri Valley
2007/08 57 C- 67 D 47 35 B- 28 62 D+ 25 62 D+ 34 B- 51
2008
Field of 64
52 Fighting Illini
Illinois
Big Ten
Big Ten
2002/03 64 D+ 63 D+ 33 B- 30 B- 56 C- 46 9 A- 53 C- 44 C+ 52
2003
Round of 32
53 Cardinal
Stanford
Pacific 12
Pacific 12
2003/04 60 C- 21 18 B+ 43 C+ 32 B- 29 B- 43 C+ 58 C- 39 C+ 53 C-
2004
Round of 32
54 Huskies, UConn
Connecticut
Big East
American Athletic
2010/11 41 C+ 18 B+ 65 D+ 67 D 16 B+ 22 58 C- 67 D 31 B- 54 C-
2011
Nat’l Champ
55 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2006/07 53 C- 5 57 C- 57 C- 68 D 3 A+ 45 34 B- 63 D+ 55 C-
2007
Round of 8
56 Bulldogs; Zags
Gonzaga
West Coast
West Coast
2003/04 65 D+ 36 B- 2 A+ 12 A- 49 58 C- 16 B+ 54 C- 46 56 C-
2004
Round of 32
57 Eagles
Boston College
Atlantic Coast
American Athletic
2004/05 55 C- 43 C+ 31 B- 61 D+ 52 45 20 B+ 64 D+ 41 C+ 57 C-
2005
Round of 32
58 Wildcats
Villanova
Big East
American Athletic
2008/09 45 57 C- 35 B- 38 C+ 20 B+ 54 C- 61 D+ 50 55 C- 58 C-
2009
Round of 4
59 Panthers
Pittsburgh
Big East
American Athletic
2010/11 58 C- 56 C- 52 54 C- 67 D 63 D+ 8 65 D+ 42 C+ 59 C-
2011
Round of 32
60 Sooners
Oklahoma
Big 12
Big 12
2002/03 23 48 60 C- 59 C- 50 42 C+ 41 C+ 52 58 C- 60 C-
2003
Round of 8
61 Jayhawks
Kansas
Big 12
Big 12
2008/09 56 C- 22 23 37 C+ 48 28 66 D 49 61 D+ 61 D+
2009
Round of 16
62 Hoyas
Georgetown
Big East
American Athletic
2006/07 40 C+ 15 B+ 39 C+ 58 C- 41 C+ 40 C+ 49 56 C- 56 C- 62 D+
2007
Round of 4
63 Wildcats
Davidson
Southern
Southern
2007/08 67 D 60 C- 43 C+ 27 60 C- 47 5 59 C- 53 C- 63 D+
2008
Round of 8
64 Spartans
Michigan St
Big Ten
Big Ten
2007/08 59 C- 30 B- 7 50 51 55 C- 34 B- 66 D 47 64 D+
2008
Round of 16
65 Boilermakers
Purdue
Big Ten
Big Ten
2010/11 62 D+ 58 C- 55 C- 44 C+ 59 C- 48 4 A+ 63 D+ 50 65 D+
2011
Round of 32
66 Wildcats
Arizona
Pacific 12
Pacific 12
2004/05 48 47 4 A+ 8 19 B+ 65 D+ 64 D+ 55 C- 60 C- 66 D
2005
Round of 8
67 Bulldogs; Zags
Gonzaga
West Coast
West Coast
2008/09 68 D 33 B- 17 B+ 11 A- 62 D+ 9 A- 15 B+ 60 C- 59 C- 67 D
2009
Round of 16
68 Gators
Florida
Southeastern
Southeastern
2004/05 66 D 27 28 19 B+ 61 D+ 27 62 D+ 57 C- 62 D+ 68 D
2005
Round of 32

WAIT…HOLD ON …IT APPEARS THE COMMITTEE IS ADDING ‘CUSE 02/03 to the digital dance!

It appears that National Champions must receive an automatic bid to the decade dance. Its pretty clear that if Melo and company played the way they did in the first half of the title game against runner-up Kansas, they would spank most every top team on this list outta of the decade dance! Unlike some Selection Sunday Shows of the not-to-distant past, it looks like ‘The Orange‘ will not get hosed out of this tourney.

Sign up for Marchpool.com‘s Twitter and Facebook sites to receive information about the upcoming Decade Simulation tourney. And yes, we will include important ‘end of the year‘ momentum stats data along with the 14 point MPI-10 metric as part of the tourney algorithm. Maybe we‘ll end up with that elusive Duke-Carolina Final game, who knows?

NEXT MARCHPOOL DIGITAL DECADE DANCE will include the 2012 team class (UK) and the 2013 class (Louisville), available in March 2015. We hope you will PLAY MARCHPOOL 2014 and keep in touch throughout the tourney via our Monday blogs – this March and into the future as well. Good luck to your team in this March - Cheers!

Disclosure: This ranking system is/was strictly about ‘body of work‘ across an entire season. It does not claim to represent ‘the best overall team‘. A well thought out decade tournament simulation just might be capable of settling that argument – stay tuned!

Marchpool announces:
“Dance of the Digital Decade 2002-2011”

By Bob Barton, March 13, 2014

It‘s been 13 years since the NCAA first began publicizing men‘s college basketball statistics on the internet. We at Marchpool have been crunching the data for the 340+ Division 1 teams over the first 10 years of data (2002 thru 2011). We compared the 14 key basketball team metrics that are reported/stored for each D1 game on the NCAA‘s website. We offer up this compilation of the 1st decade of CBB stats for you to feast on!

NUMBERS TELL A STORY

Sometimes data can be incomplete in nature, sometimes it can mislead analysts to false conclusions. With courage in our instincts and mouse in hand, we delved deeply into these numbers. We recombined NCAA stats into larger categories like dominance/resilience. Like all good CBB junkies, we searched for hidden patterns that might help us demystify dance results from previous 64+ team tournaments.

The NCAA tourney, the entropy filled March classic with its last shot daggers, bad calls, comebacks, injuries, biases and (gasp!) conspiracy theories– is the gold standard for deciding which is the best CBB team for any given season. Our analysis set out to answer another far less dramatic question; ‘What CBB team most exemplified basketball excellence on a consistent basis across an ENTIRE season?‘ In other words, if a round ball novice – say, an alien - wanted to observe superior CBB play, which men‘s college team(s) would have been best to watch perform– ideally from a midcourt seat?

The Marchpool Index (MPI-10) ‘invitation‘ list for 2002-2011 digital dance

With our MPI-10 metric sorting out 3440+ bodies of work, we‘re inviting 68 teams to our stats dance. We‘ve even listed a ‘first out‘ 69th team just for cruel fun! Note: Only nine of ten NCAA champions made the grade. Hey, what‘s a Selection show without one outrageous omission?!? We suspect a #16 would knock out a #1 seed during this digital dance, or a future one. Talk about parity! We‘re looking forward to simulating this tourney next fall.

LASTLY - If you don‘t like our MPI-10 invitation list for the first digital decade, don‘t feel alone! We encourage you to add facts/opinions on each of the 69 teams under its associated commentary section. Last by not least, a special thanks goes out to Jim Sukup of RPIratings.com for his contributions. As far as the rest of the CBB stats, the 3440+ teams own them; every 3 pointer, every turnover. We at Marchpool are simply reporting THEIR results. We invite you to PLAY MARCHPOOL.COM with us (sign-up now!), and encourage you to follow us through our blog/twitter.

LET THE DANCE BEGIN :-)

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