Stat of the Week

123

Offensive efficiency usually isn't considered a base statistic, but considering its overall usefulness, maybe it should be. Albany's 80-69 defeat of Maine today at SEFCU Arena is notable not because of the result, but because of how the Great Danes obtained it. In 65 possessions, Albany managed 80 points; for efficiency purposes, that's a rate of 123 points per 100 possessions.

Normally highly efficient offense requires at least reasonably proficient shooting; the Great Danes' relatively poor performance from the field over the course suggests an offensive outburst would be unlikely. Indeed, today Albany's effective field goal percentage was below 50 percent -- the Danes managed a still-reasonable 49.1 percent. Where Albany made up for its low eFG% was, well, everywhere else.

Although the Great Danes missed 31 of their 57 shots, the Danes grabbed 13 of those misses. Albany's aggressive play on offense also yielded dividends in the free throw department, producing 31 attempts from the charity stripe. The Danes converted on 24 of those attempts. If the Danes' shot totals seem rather high for a 65-possession game, look at the rest of the box score: just six turnovers for the home team.

Albany's current roster isn't loaded with shot-makers, but today provided a blueprint for the Danes come tournament time -- if Will Brown can get his team to repeat this performance a couple of weeks from now, Albany will be a tough out.