Part 3 of a series, much of this I talked about with @scottwildcat on the Boscoe's Boys that was posted Tuesday morning.
I won’t repeat too much from the pace discussion yesterday, but I do want to talk about defensive possession length a little bit. Generally long possessions for the opponent’s offense means the defense is making them work to score it. Baylor ranked #238 over the last 15 seasons in average defensive possession length with only 2 seasons inside the top 200. The average at K-State the last 13 seasons was #266.
Defensive improvement and evolution
The Baylor defense was a bit behind the offense as the program became relevant, but the Bears have established themselves as a defensive juggernaut the last several years. Moving to the no middle man to man defense elevated the program, and the Bears have been top 25 in defensive efficiency each of the last 3 years with a high of #2 in 2020. Even with a variety of zone defenses before that Baylor was pretty good, with an average finished efficiency rank of #42 since 2010. 8 of those years the Bears were top 50 and 6 of the last 8 they were in the top 25. When Baylor has had a top 50 defense, the Bears have made the NCAA tournament 7 times in 8 seasons with three 1 seeds and four 3 seeds. In the one season they failed to make the NCAA and ended up in the NIT with a top 50 defense, they had one of their worst offenses ranking #62.
Forcing turnovers
A turnover rate bump came with the move to man defense and the Bears have been top 25 in forcing TOs the last 3 seasons. Before that they had 2 top 100 TO rate defenses in the previous 14 seasons. TO rate was a staple of both Bruce and Frank defenses finishing in the top 35 in eight of the previous 15 seasons with an average rank of #53 nationally.
There is also a major jump in steals rate the last 3 seasons, finishing in the top 15 nationally each season. Before the last 3 years, Baylor had a pair of top 20 seasons in 2015 and 2016, but most of the time they were outside the top 100 and several times finished outside the top 200.
Protecting the rim and defending the paint
On average Baylor has finished in the top 65 in block rate and top 100 in 2PT% allowed over the last 15 seasons. In 4 of the last 6 seasons they finished top 50 in block rate and in 3 of the last 6 the Bears finished in the top 50 in 2PT% allowed. The last 2 seasons they were outside the top 100 in 2PT% allowed and outside the top 80 in block rate so they weren’t quite as dominant protecting the rim. Bruce’s defenses were never in the top 100 in block rate and averaged only #229. 2PT rate allowed was #171 with a pair of top 100 2PT% defenses in 2017 and 2014. Frank’s teams were top 70 in 2PT% allowed every year and top 50 in block rate his final 3 seasons.
Defending the 3 point line
3PT% allowed is a bit of a lottery when it comes to defense, but in the last 3 years Baylor was pretty good, ranking #70. The average rank for 3PT% allowed during the last 15 seasons has been #129. The more important stat according to most experts is 3PT rate allowed, where Baylor ranked #102 the last 3 years and #149 the last 15, which just above average. The Cats have been all over in 3PT% allowed the last 15 seasons, but averaged #144 the last 15 years. 3PT rate allowed was #260 or worse the last 6 seasons, which is definitely playing the 3 point lottery.
Defensive rebounding
While the Bears are dominant on the offensive glass, Baylor has never been a really good defensive rebounding team, ranking in the top 100 only once in the last 15 years. The average rank the last 15 has been #193 with an average of #214 the last decade. K-State’s average the last 10 years has been similar at #225.
Opponent’s free throw rate
K-State has been bad at letting teams get to the FT line the last 15 years with an average of #242, only twice finishing the top 150. Baylor’s rank for FT rate allowed has been #133 and pretty consistent under Drew.
Not defense, but what about playing with 2 fouls?
K-State fans will be glad to know that a change could likely be coming under Tang. Drew has been more prone than most to let players play through 2 fouls in the first half, ranking in the top 70 over the last 15 years. Bruce and Frank both were averse to it, Bruce ranking #274 and Frank #225 while at K-State.
I won’t repeat too much from the pace discussion yesterday, but I do want to talk about defensive possession length a little bit. Generally long possessions for the opponent’s offense means the defense is making them work to score it. Baylor ranked #238 over the last 15 seasons in average defensive possession length with only 2 seasons inside the top 200. The average at K-State the last 13 seasons was #266.
Defensive improvement and evolution
The Baylor defense was a bit behind the offense as the program became relevant, but the Bears have established themselves as a defensive juggernaut the last several years. Moving to the no middle man to man defense elevated the program, and the Bears have been top 25 in defensive efficiency each of the last 3 years with a high of #2 in 2020. Even with a variety of zone defenses before that Baylor was pretty good, with an average finished efficiency rank of #42 since 2010. 8 of those years the Bears were top 50 and 6 of the last 8 they were in the top 25. When Baylor has had a top 50 defense, the Bears have made the NCAA tournament 7 times in 8 seasons with three 1 seeds and four 3 seeds. In the one season they failed to make the NCAA and ended up in the NIT with a top 50 defense, they had one of their worst offenses ranking #62.
Forcing turnovers
A turnover rate bump came with the move to man defense and the Bears have been top 25 in forcing TOs the last 3 seasons. Before that they had 2 top 100 TO rate defenses in the previous 14 seasons. TO rate was a staple of both Bruce and Frank defenses finishing in the top 35 in eight of the previous 15 seasons with an average rank of #53 nationally.
There is also a major jump in steals rate the last 3 seasons, finishing in the top 15 nationally each season. Before the last 3 years, Baylor had a pair of top 20 seasons in 2015 and 2016, but most of the time they were outside the top 100 and several times finished outside the top 200.
Protecting the rim and defending the paint
On average Baylor has finished in the top 65 in block rate and top 100 in 2PT% allowed over the last 15 seasons. In 4 of the last 6 seasons they finished top 50 in block rate and in 3 of the last 6 the Bears finished in the top 50 in 2PT% allowed. The last 2 seasons they were outside the top 100 in 2PT% allowed and outside the top 80 in block rate so they weren’t quite as dominant protecting the rim. Bruce’s defenses were never in the top 100 in block rate and averaged only #229. 2PT rate allowed was #171 with a pair of top 100 2PT% defenses in 2017 and 2014. Frank’s teams were top 70 in 2PT% allowed every year and top 50 in block rate his final 3 seasons.
Defending the 3 point line
3PT% allowed is a bit of a lottery when it comes to defense, but in the last 3 years Baylor was pretty good, ranking #70. The average rank for 3PT% allowed during the last 15 seasons has been #129. The more important stat according to most experts is 3PT rate allowed, where Baylor ranked #102 the last 3 years and #149 the last 15, which just above average. The Cats have been all over in 3PT% allowed the last 15 seasons, but averaged #144 the last 15 years. 3PT rate allowed was #260 or worse the last 6 seasons, which is definitely playing the 3 point lottery.
Defensive rebounding
While the Bears are dominant on the offensive glass, Baylor has never been a really good defensive rebounding team, ranking in the top 100 only once in the last 15 years. The average rank the last 15 has been #193 with an average of #214 the last decade. K-State’s average the last 10 years has been similar at #225.
Opponent’s free throw rate
K-State has been bad at letting teams get to the FT line the last 15 years with an average of #242, only twice finishing the top 150. Baylor’s rank for FT rate allowed has been #133 and pretty consistent under Drew.
Not defense, but what about playing with 2 fouls?
K-State fans will be glad to know that a change could likely be coming under Tang. Drew has been more prone than most to let players play through 2 fouls in the first half, ranking in the top 70 over the last 15 years. Bruce and Frank both were averse to it, Bruce ranking #274 and Frank #225 while at K-State.
