Michigan's Kim Barnes-Arico has the Wolverines exploring new heights

Michigan basketball under Kim Barnes-Arico has slowly gone from NCAA hopeful, to Final Four contender. In her 10th season, Barnes-Arico has already accomplished a WNIT championship, four trips to the NCAA tournament, four trips to the 2nd round, and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Michigan has been to three straight NCAA tournaments for the first time ever, and are reaching their highest Associated Press ranking of all time. Coming into this season, the highest Michigan has ever been ranked in the AP was 11th in the country. They just defeated #5 Indiana, while Michigan was ranked #6 in the country. Michigan and Kim Barnes-Arico are rewriting the school’s record books weekly. They are currently 19-2 overall, and 10-1 in the Big Ten standings. How are they doing this? I dug deep into their advanced analytics to find out.

Michigan Team Total Offense Advanced Analytics

Team Offensive Efficiency: Michigan scores 0.884 points per possession (PPP) in total offense, ranking 33rd in the country.

Michigan vs Man Defense: The Wolverines have faced man to man defense in 85.8% of their offensive possessions. They average 0.861 PPP against man defense, which ranks 30th in the country.

Michigan vs Zone Defense: When opposing teams choose to go zone against Michigan, they have gotten shredded. Michigan ranks 15th in the country against zone defense, scoring 1.019 PPP. The Wolverines rank 1st nationally among teams who have played at least 200 possessions against zone defense this season.

Offensive Rebounding Put-Backs: Michigan scores 1.344 PPP on offensive rebound put-backs, ranking 2nd in the country.

Michigan Team Total Defense Advanced Analytics

Team Defensive Efficiency: In total defense, the Wolverines give up 0.727 PPP which ranks 77th nationally.

Post Up Defense: Defending the post, Michigan allows 0.574 PPP in post up situations. This ranks 11th in the country.

Press Defense: Michigan only has 27 defensive possessions (1.9% of possessions) this season they have implemented a press or a press variation. They have allowed 0.407 PPP which ranks 17th in the country.

Isolation Defense: When Michigan is guarding on an island, they do a good job moving their feet and keeping their hands active without fouling. In isolation, they allow 0.482 PPP which ranks 34th in the country

Main Personnel Advanced Analytics

#0 Naz Hillmon – 6’2″ Forward: Hillmon is responsible for 22.3% of the overall offense. In total half court offense, she ranks 11th in the country (at least 250 possessions) with 1.04 PPP. When in the half court, 58% of her possessions come in the post. Hillmon is one of the most dominant players in the post up game. For players with at least 100 post up possessions, she scores 1.027 PPP, ranking 9th in the country. When the shot goes up, teams have to put a body on her. Hillmon ranks 27th in the country in offensive put-backs, scoring 1.543 PPP. When Hillmon is on the left block and she turns over her right shoulder, she is scoring 2.0 PPP, ranking 1st in the country. If Hillmon flashes to the middle of the paint, and turns over her left shoulder, she is scoring 1.556 PPP which also ranks 1st in the country. (Basic Stats: 20.2 ppg 8.8 rpg 2.2 apg 58.3% FG)

#32 Leigha Brown – 6’1″ Guard: Brown is responsible for 15.9% of the overall offense. She has gone against zone defense about 13% of her possessions, but Brown is scoring 1.444 PPP against it, ranking 39th in the country. Brown is good in the pick and roll game, accounting for 22.9% in her half court offense. She is scoring 1.079 PPP which ranks 57th in the country. When Brown shoots off the dribble, she scores 1.114 PPP, ranking 51st in the country. (Basic Stats: 14.8 ppg 3.3 rpg 4.3 apg 46.9% FG, 36.7% 3FG)

Secondary Personnel Advanced Analytics

#33 Emily Kiser – 6’3″ Forward: Kiser is responsible for 15.1% of the overall offense. When Kiser is in the post and a secondary defender helps on her, she does a great job finding the open player. The offense scores 1.786 PPP in these situations, rankings 1st in the country. Kiser posts up on the right block 46% of the time. She scores 1.2 PPP from that block, ranking 46th in the country. When Kiser decides to pass out of the right block, she only has seven possessions, but she generates an unreal 2.429 PPP. (Basic Stats: 10 ppg 8.5 rpg 1.8 apg 1.1 bpg 43.7% FG)

#3 Maddie Nolan – 5’11” Guard: Nolan is responsible for 9.8% of the overall offense. Her job is to stretch the floor and hit shots from the perimeter. She hits 3pt shots at a 45.5% clip. Nolan sees a zone 15.3% of her offensive possessions, and she is a zone buster. She scores 1.455 PPP which ranks 38th nationally. Coming out of timeouts, Nolan finds herself scoring 1.421 PPP which ranks 20th in the country. When Nolan is looking to score in the half court, she shoots a jump shot 83.1% of the time. On jump shots she is scoring 1.327 PPP, ranking 54th nationally. (Basic Stats: 9.2 ppg 4.2 rpg 1.9 apg 47.4% FG)

Supporting Personnel Advanced Analytics

#5 Laila Phelia – 6’0″ Guard: Phelia is responsible for 9.8% of the overall offense. In possessions after timeouts she does a nice job, scoring 1.176 PPP in those situations, which ranks 139th in the country. In her half court offense possessions, catch and shoot situations occur 20.2% of the time. Phelia scores 1.136 PPP in catch and shoot which ranks 469th in the country. To break it down further, it’s interesting she shoots better when guarded (1.167 PPP 244th nationally) than when she is unguarded (1.1 PPP 774th nationally). As a defender, Phelia allows 0.535 PPP in total defense which ranks 310th in the country. Phelia is best when guarding off the dribble jump shots (0.2 PPP 58th nationally) and when defending handoffs (0.154 PPP 16th nationally). (Basic Stats: 7.4 ppg 2.7 rpg)

#23 Danielle Rauch – 5’8″ Guard: Rauch is responsible for 9.4% of the overall offense. In overall transition which includes her shot attempts, fouls, and assists, she ranks 178th in the country while generating 1.552 PPP. She’s able to make the right decisions in a split second, making the correct passes to the right players, putting Michigan in positions to finish at a high rate. Rauch is a scrappy defender who works hard on the defensive end. When isolated this year, she has given up 0.182 PPP which ranks 14th in the country. Rauch does a great job at cutting off angles, not fouling, and forcing the offense to score over her. (Basic Stats: 5.3 ppg 4 rpg 2.4 apg)