A couple of months ago I questioned the importance of NBA talent in building a team which can make it to the Sweet 16 but no one was able to quantify it's importance.
Since then, I have compiled the roster of every team which made the Sweet 16 from 2003 through 2010^. I stopped at 2010 as I wanted all players included in the data-set to have had the opportunity to play their full eligibility in college and have time to become a career NBA player**.
It is evident that having at least one NBA caliber player* on the roster is very important in making the Sweet 16 and having at least one NBA player on the roster is nearly required to achieve repeated success.
I did not evaluate the teams which did not make the Sweet 16 (or even the NCAA Tournament) but I am confident that having NBA caliber talent does not guarantee making the Sweet 16.
It is a chicken-egg situation, does NBA talent generate success or does success procure NBA talent?
Either way, I remain optimistic that VT can make the Sweet 16.
- There could be a Sweet 16 run next year for VT. There is talent on the roster right now that is still developing.
- The success over the past 3 years could help Buzz bring in more talented players to VT. Having Butler and Crowder at Marquette certainly resulted in Buzz's best years just a the data would suggest.
I have had season tickets since the 90s, I call it optimism but it may really be a combination of glutton for punishment and delusion. Either way, November will be here before I know it.
^ Only players who played at least 100 minutes during the season were included in the data-set.
* A NBA player is an individual with at least 1 year of NBA NBA service in this data-set.
** A career NBA player is an individual with 4 years of NBA service in this data-set. NBA players are vested for a pension after 3 years of service.
NCAA Roster & Record of Minutes Played from www.sports-reference.com
NBA Service information from Basketball.RealGM.com
I can add the data from any year upon request.
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