Connecticut is the higher-ranked seed. Las Vegas favors the Huskies. They’ve been here more often. Their numbers are better.
Just about everything in the world points to UConn being the favorite in the Sweet 16 against Arkansas on Saturday. For our purposes, we’re going to take a look at that last part.
Numbers are what they are. They tell a story of what’s happened, but not necessarily what will happen. Things can still be gleaned from data, though, that suggest an outcome. It’s why managers select pinch-hatters or, more to the point of Hogs hoops, why Eric Musselman changes his rotations so significantly from game to game.
What the Arkansas coach has done in the last week has worked like a charm. Kamani Johnson up. Nick Smith down. The Razorbacks’ games played the way that would yield those as the best results.
But when tip comes Saturday, another set of decisions come with it. Here are some of the (admittedly more basic) numbers that go into such things. Let’s compare Arkansas and UConn this season.