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.