Sunday marked exactly one month of the way into this college basketball season. That means we're already 20 percent done. Yes, it moves along at an alarming pace. But since we're essentially a quarter of the way -- even a little more than that, technically -- through the regular season, I wanted to check the numbers and see who's trending in which direction.
Which teams are faring best on offense and defense? Which schedules have been quirky, so much so that one team has played four times as many games as another? Can you name the leading scorer in college basketball right now? I bet you can't, but you will be able to after seeing this post.
I dug through most of the data here on Monday morning, but thanks to Ken Pomeroy for the help with the home and road numbers you see below. All data below is as of games played through Dec. 8. The way some teams are playing obviously is influenced by the strength of schedule. But in other ways, there are some undeniably impressive numbers here. For example, how about this: Louisville is No. 1 in turnovers forced and No. 1 in fewest turnovers allowed. That's never been done before, so far as I can tell. Will be tough for Louisville to keep that up on both ends.
TEAMS
Undefeated teams remaining (those in italics have yet to be ranked this season)
- Wisconsin (10-0)
- Arizona (9-0)
- Connecticut (9-0)
- Missouri (9-0)
- Pittsburgh (9-0)
- Syracuse (9-0)
- Villanova (9-0)
- Wichita State (9-0)
- Boise State (8-0)
- Massachusetts (8-0)
- Ohio State (8-0)
- Oregon (8-0)
- Toledo (8-0)
- Iowa State (7-0)
- Saint Mary's (7-0)
Winless teams remaining:
- Cornell (0-10)
- Tennessee State (0-10)
- Marist (0-9)
- Grambling (0-3)
Only team to 10 wins: Wisconsin (10-0)
Only unbeaten team that's won all games by 10 points or more: Ohio State (20.1 margin of victory)
Most games played: Florida International (12)
Fewest games played: Grambling (3), Akron (4)
Highest offensive rating: Gonzaga (120.4)
Most points per game scored: Charleston Southern (92.1)
Highest defensive rating: Ohio State (87.3)
Fewest points per game allowed: Clemson (53.6)
Fastest team in the country: Northwestern State (79.5 possessions per game)
Slowest team in the country: Delaware State (59.6)
Most turnovers forced: Louisville (28.1 percent of opponents' possessions)
Fewest turnovers committed: Louisville (12.9 percent)
Best 2-point shooting team: Utah (63.2 percent)
Best 2-point defense: SMU (37.4)
Best 3-point shooting team: Colgate (47 percent)
Best 3-point defense: Fordham (21.9 percent)
Best free-throw shooting team: Incarnate Word (84.2 percent)
Worst free-throw shooting team: Central Florida (52.1)
Highest scoring margin: Utah (26.8)
Top 25 teams that have still not played a road game: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Michigan State, Gonzaga, Missouri, Syracuse, Connecticut, Baylor, Iowa.
All other teams still yet to play a road game: Green Bay, Oklahoma, Kansas State, Pittsburgh, Arkansas, Wake Forest, Purdue, Saint Mary's, Georgetown, St. John's, Georgia, Texas A&M.
Most road games: 7 (15 teams; Morehead State, at 7-4, has the best record of all)
Teams yet to play a home game: Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Grambling, UNC Asheville.
Most home games: 8 (Rutgers, Colorado State, Kent State)
PLAYERS
Leading scorer: Niagara's Antoine Mason (29.4)
Most points per 100 possessions, adjusted: Boise State's Jeff Elorrigia (181.1)
Highest percentage of shots taken on a team: Santa Barbara's Alan Williams (43.3 percent)
Leading rebounder: UNLV's Roscoe Smith (14.7)
Best offensive rebounder: Boise State's Ryan Watkins (23.7 offensive rebounding percentage)
Best defensive rebounder: Darmouth's Gabas Maldunas (36.5 percent)
Leading assister: LIU-Brooklyn's Jason Brickman (10.1 APG and tops with 60.9 percent assist rate)
Leading block-shot man: St. John's Chris Obekpa (5.50, blocking nation's-best 22.9 percent of shots when he's on the floor)
Leading stealer: VCU's Briante Weber (3.90)
Best from 3: Arkansas State's Melvin Johnson III (64.3)
Best from the foul line: Stony Brook's Anthony Jackson (100; 26 for 26)
Most minutes per game: Drexel's Frantz Massenat (38.4)
If you're wondering about how the offense is working and if scoring is up this season compared to recent years thanks to the new rules for officials, check in tomorrow. We'll have a full report.
