Hey, I know these guys.

Let's take a look at the Pack's performance in conference play this season and see how it compares to 2007.

 Off_Eff Def_Eff Margin ExpW-L
2007 101.1 111.4 -10.3 4-12
2008 101.3 112.0 -10.7 2-7

Guys, please. One 2007 was enough.

Taking a deeper look at the offense:

 eFG% TO% OR% FTR 2FG% 3FG% ShotDiff Pts/ePoss Chemistry
2007 53.1 22.5 26.2 25.6 51.9 37.0 -9.8 1.30 14
2008 51.7 23.2 30.3 30.2 46.1 42.8 -6.2 1.32 -1

[ShotDiff = shot attempt differential. The difference, per game, in shot attempts by the Pack and the Pack's opponents, with free throws factored in. The negative number means opponents are getting more attempts at the hoop.

Pts/ePoss = Points per turnover-less possession. The term "effective possessions" (ePoss) is credited to John Gasaway.

Chemistry = I might have made this up.]

We're a little better at offensive rebounding and getting to the line, but that's been canceled out by more turnovers and decreased shooting accuracy. Two-pointers have been much harder to come by:

 2FG%
. 2007 2008
Grant 53.7 44.3
Fells 37.3 56.4
Hickson n/a 46.5
Costner 47.0 33.3
McCauley 55.6 42.6

And a higher proportion of our attempts this season are twos, which obviously hasn't helped.

The defense:

 eFG% TO% OR% FTR 2FG% 3FG%
2007 51.2 17.1 39.3 30.1 49.4 37.5
2008 53.0 18.1 37.2 27.6 50.7 40.0

Right this way to the basket, sir.