It’s time to have some fun with numbers.
In my possession are the statistics from each women’s basketball player from the 1980-81 season through the 2007-08 season. Unfortunately, minutes were not tracked by the KU Athletic department until the 1992-93 season, so my study will be using all player data from the 92-93 season through the 2007-08 campaign.
What I did was determine the most efficient players on a per-minute basis at several statistical categories. I removed any player who played less than 100 minutes in a particular season. The reason for this is to avoid a player making the list who, for example, played one minute in 1998 and had a steal, which would put that player at the top of the list.
Each category will have a player’s name followed by the notable season, which will be followed by the per-minute production. (eg. A ‘.104’ in the assist category means that player notched ‘.104’ assists per minute that season)
Points:
1. Janelle Needham 94-95: 1.209
2. Keri Suydam 99-00: .537
3. Robin Avery 94-95: .530
4. Hillary Worley 00-01: .526
5. Danielle Warntz 00-01: .515
Comment: Needham was second on the 94-95 team in scoring despite playing about a quarter of the minutes of the starters.
Three point baskets:
1. Danielle Warntz 00-01: .129
2. Danielle Warntz 01-02: .100
3. Amanda Zinobile 01-02: .080
4. Kelly Barger 92-93: .080
5. Danielle Warntz 03-04: .073
Comment: You can probably guess who is sixth on this list. Warntz loved to shoot from beyond the arc and is KU’s all time leader in three pointers made.
Free throws made:
1. Janelle Needham 94-95: .242
2. Jennifer Coss 95-96: .160
3. Brianne Homyak 98-99: .138
4. Becky Savage 01-02: .134
5. Trish Dudeck 04-05: .132
Comment: How did Needham score so much in so little time, you ask? Check the free throw line for the answer. Homyak is second all time in made free throws.
Rebounding:
1. Monique Boykins 05-06: .403
2. Monique Boykins 03-04: .364
3. Monique Boykins 02-03: .359
4. Keri Suydam 98-99: .342
5. Monique Boykins 04-05: .338
Comment: This one isn’t too exciting. “Mo” was a monster on the boards and one of KU’s all-time leading rebounders. Career KU rebound leader Mercedes Van Wagner’s four seasons rank eighth, tenth, seventh, and eleventh, respectively.
Personal Fouls (ability to avoid fouls):
1. Courtney Robinson 00-01: .014
2. Amanda Zinobile 02-03: .034
3. Patti Kline 98-99: .036
4. Janelle Needham 96-97: .037
5. Janelle Needham 95-96: .038
Comment: It’s much easier to score when you’re not sitting on the bench in foul trouble. Zinobile and Needham both played over 900 minutes during the 02-03 and 96-97 seasons, respectively.
Assists:
1. Janelle Needham 94-95: .256
2. Angie Holland 99-00: .168
3. Megan Bainbridge 05-06: .161
4. Jessica Pieczynski 02-03: .161
5. Amy Wahl 98-99: .151
Comment: Needham sure did it all her sophomore season, eh? Bainbridge was on pace to break Wahl’s career assist record, but only played for three seasons.
Turnovers (ability to protect the ball):
1. Lisi Reyna 07-08: .050
2. Molly Brown 06-07: .053
3. Katie Harlor 05-06: .054
4. Casey Reath 00-01: .054
5. Janelle Needham 96-97: .056
Comment: Lisi Reyna must seem pretty random, but it is no fluke. She protected the ball well in her time at KU.
Blocks:
1. Sophia Vucetaj 01-02: .105
2. Monique Boykins 03-04: .096
3. Mercedes Van Wagner 07-08: .095
4. Mercedes Van Wagner 05-06: .078
5. Becky Savage 02-03: .072
Comment: Like in the rebounding department, Van Wagner and Boykins are the dominant parties here. Savage’s 02-03 season mark of 68 blocks is a KU single-season record.
Steals:
1. Janelle Needham 94-95: .137
2. Amy Wahl 95-96: .106
3. Jen Wabby 95-96: .103
4. Amy Wahl 96-97: .099
5. Amy Wahl 97-98: .085
Comment: Wahl is KU’s career leader in steals.
In closing, was Needham’s 94-95 campaign the best season in KU history that nobody knows about? It sure seems like it. Simply looking at the stats from each season would do her no justice, but checking up on each player’s per-minute production really shows who makes the most of their time on the floor.
This seems like more than enough for one post, but if you’re wondering about a particular player, season, or category, let me know and I’ll do what I can for you.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Lady Bears Production Rankings
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
4 comments:
Nice reseach but how many are in the KU athletic Hall of Fame or have be nominated???
Of the women's basketball players who played for KU from 1992 on, the following are in the KU Hall of Fame:
Robin Avery (93-97)
Amy Wahl (95-99)
Question about the rebounding category. How is Mercedes the all time leading rebounder when "Mo" had so many each of her four years and Mercedes is not even in the top 5???? Am I missing something?
Yes, you are, in fact, missing something. Note the following chart, which will display the player's career rebounds followed by career minutes.
Note that Boykins only played half of her senior season due to academic ineligibility.
Boykins - 657 - 1,832
Van Wagner - 839 - 2,727
Plug those numbers into your handy calculator and here is the result: Boykins averaged 0.359 rebounds/minute. Van Wagner averaged 0.308 reb/min.
At the pace Boykins was on, she would've snagged 978 rebounds in 2,727 minutes of action, which would've blown away Van Wagner's record of 839.
So, now you're probably asking yourself, is this fool claiming that Van Wagner is undeserving of the record? No, I'm not. There is more to being a premiere rebounder than just hauling in rebounds (as dumb as that sounds). Van Wagner showed a ton of endurance for a center, while Boykins had a hard time staying on the court for an extended period of time.
While Boykins was obviously the more efficient rebounder, Van Wagner certainly earned her title as KU's all-time leading rebounder.
Post a Comment