You tell me: The most important stat in your sport
Aug. 18, 2008 @ 1:40 p.m. by Joannaby joanna
I love stats. I love keeping them, whether it’s keeping score at Cubs game or keeping rebounds in a basketball game. I do not feel as connected to what’s going on in a game if I’m not keeping score. I imagine myself in the future — if my kids keep on the sports track — keeping stats during games so I’m not one of those annoyingly loud-mouthed parents.
And it doesn’t matter how you keep the stats. I can never remember if a strikeout looking is a front or backward K. I don’t care. I do a K with a circle around it for a swinging strike out. It’s my shorthand. And I love coloring in the diamond when a run scores. Because it’s pretty? No, because it’s a part of keeping stats right.
But every sport has a different key stat. In football I’m partial to the gaudy stats put up by running backs and quarterbacks, but I love the sack — and pancakes! Not such a fan of a hurry, although I know it’s important.
In volleyball, I’m all about kills and stuff blocks. Gotta love both. Such huge momentum builders. In baseball, I love the save and strikeouts. In basketball, I’m all about rebounds and steals.
So what stats do you think are key? Key because you think they’re cool or key to proving a player’s ability. Let me know.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:49 pm
In football it’s yards on first down. Get at least 4 yards on first down, you have two (maybe three) plays to make up six. Gives you some breathing room.
In basketball, free throws, free throws, free throws. The number you make, the number you shoot.
In baseball, on base percentages, duh!
In volleyball, serving percentage. Can’t serve, can’t win.
In wrestling… that’s a hard one. Perhaps the escape. It might show how a wrestler gets out of a jam.
In swimming… the split score, not easily identified in high school because such stats aren’t taken. But just watch the olympics and it will show its validity.
In hockey, don’t know, don’t care.
In soccer, the number of shots on goal. The more you shoot the more chances you score.
In auto racing, the number of pit stops and when you stop there.
In bowling, that one pin you always tend to miss.
In concession stands, the number of items you have on the menu that is not a hot dog, snickers bar or nachos. Concession stands with cheeseburgers get brownie points. Also, concessions with brownies get brownie points.
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August 18th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Jerry- you couldn’t be more right on 1st downs…that’s the reason why most the good teams in Kansas are running teams still. 2nd down and 5 and 3rd and short are much more manageable situations for an offense and the guy who’s calling the plays.
Obviously the other key football stat is turnovers.
Basketball…points per posession both offensively and defensively. Good defensive teams like KU in 2008 win championships. Bad defensive teams like North Carolina get embarassed on national TV.
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August 18th, 2008 at 3:10 pm
“scoreboard” is what i would say is the Most important stat !
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August 18th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Jerry, Wow, that was great. Where have you been on these other topics.
By the way, did you guys see that the softball/Mark Griggs/kids specializing/Mustangs vs. Renegades topic is still going on? Lord.
Fballfan, that wasn’t what I was looking for, yet it was. You have the most important stat.
Another important stat — when does The Office return for a new season?
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August 18th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
“The Office?”
When does “Dexter” return? He almost makes killing a sport.
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August 18th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
RikRok, not an Office fan? I’m a new convert, and a huge convert. I love it.
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August 18th, 2008 at 9:32 pm
Obviously “scoreboard” is the stat that counts the most. But since I know that is not what you are looking for, I would say:
Basketball - shooting pct (both FG and FT) and Rebound margin.
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August 18th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
in basketball - defensive ppg and defensive fg%. Another is assist to turnover ratio. With a coach like Bill self who is defensive minded he really probably looks mainly at the defensive stats whereas Roy only cares about offensive ppg or shots pg.
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August 19th, 2008 at 12:11 am
- The Office Season 5 premieres on Thursday September 25th.
- Season 4 comes out on DVD Tuesday September 2nd.
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August 19th, 2008 at 8:53 am
All of these football stats given so far are crucial to a team winning. A big tale tale sign of how well a team controlled the game is the number of plays for vs number of plays against.
This stat is especially vital for a ball control type offense. Of course, once in a while, there’s always that team or two who can run 5-10 less plays per game than their opponent, and still win the game.
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August 19th, 2008 at 9:13 am
“Bill self who is defensive minded” “defensive ppg and defensive fg%”
Those type stats are only important once you get there. If you aren’t scoring 20pts, or rebounding 15, College coaches aren’t really interested. Have you ever read those stats on a HS team? Asst./T.O? No, usually just PPG and rarely a FG%. But only if they shoot above 50. Usually get something like, Billy Bob scored 25 pts with 5 assists, leads Wendell High to VICTORY!! Not Billy Bob was 10 of 38 with 8 turnovers, but Wendell High managed to eek out a win. only because two other players, who we won’t mention here, were 4 of 4 and 3 of 3, when they weren’t fighting for a rebound off billys 18 missed shots. Coach Smith said after the game, “Yeah, it was tight, but I new if Billy kept shootin’ we had a chance”……..
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August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 am
In High School & College…GPA.
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August 19th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Smart guy I am talking about his team’s stats during his season. Not the stats he is looking at when recruiting. Those are some stats that coaches care about for their team. Once a kid gets to college his coach will tell him that their teams defensive ppg is important. Ask a guy like steve eck what he thinks is important and he will point towards the defensive stats.
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August 20th, 2008 at 10:08 am
You know what I think is great about stats…..is that you keep them at all and the best thing about them is that they DON’T LIE. I have a hard time with coaches who do not keep stats…..so they can play their “little favorites”(you know the kids that aren’t very good but work hard in practice). Anyway….I think if our coaches would take a class in how to read stats and keep stats they would be a lot more successful. Plus it sends the message…..those who produce while on the field, court, or whatever will likely get the most playing time….which has to shut the screaming parents up.
While I’m on the subject….what a great thing to teach team managers how to take stats…. Kids need to learn skills like stats….why not teach them in high school. DUH…did you know there is scholarship money available to kids who take good stats and want to be team managers in college?
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August 20th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
Joanna — Was in Scranton, PA recently, and oddly enough, they don’t do a lot of promotional stuff with The Office connection. My son got me hooked on the show, so I was disappointed there wasn’t any Dunder Mifflin T-shirt to bring home to him.
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August 21st, 2008 at 10:05 am
ictaero, That is disappointing. I would play it up. What a great marketing tool.
I love that show. It took me awhile to get on the bandwagon because I felt there were too many shows that I was watching, now I don’t care about any of the other ones.
It’s a weird addiction. But I have to tell you, no show has ever made me laugh more out loud than this show.
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September 22nd, 2008 at 7:29 am
I am always looking for good relevant information and latest news about Love And Basketball . Just found your blog, thx for the info!
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