Friday Notes

-- Today's most important item: Theodis Tarver has been reinstated. Now the Jackets have at least a little something to work with on the bench. Tarver, who is the team's best shot-blocker, could replace Ra'Sean Dickey in the starting lineup.

-- More truthiness! See this Language Log post for video and a transcript of Stephen Colbert's phone conversation with NCSU prof Michael Adams. The story made today's edition of The Technician, and one student took this whole thing way too seriously.

-- Ken Pomeroy has made individual stats available for each team in DI-A, which is totally freakin' awesome. Have a look at Georgia Tech's scouting report.

-- I have made an effort to consolidate the various statistical primers that are scattered around the internets. You can find these links in the sidebar ( <---- ) on a permanent basis, and I've also stuck them in this post. If ever you need clarification on a statistic used here (or some justification for why you should care about a particular statistic), the answers can be found in these resources. (If anyone finds a bad link, please let me know.)

APBRmetrics Central: Links and Glossary
B-R.com Stats Glossary
Big Ten Wonk: Intro to Tempo-Free Stats
Big Ten Wonk: What's PPWS?
CTN: What Can Stats Do For You? (pt. I)
CTN: What Can Stats Do For You? (pt. II)
CTN: What Can Stats Do For You? (pt. III)
CTN: What Can Stats Do For You? (pt. IV)
Hawkeye Hoops: Stats Primer
Journal of Basketball Studies
KenPom.com: Individual Stats Primer
KenPom.com: National Efficiency
KenPom.com: Possession Stats 101
SuperSonics.com: Oliver's Four Factors
SuperSonics.com: Oliver's Individual Ratings
SuperSonics.com: Stats Primer
WashingtonWizards.com: The Four Factors of Basketball