Is Basketball Better Today?

#3 posting 2.8.2006

Tonight we look at the question: Is basketball better today than in the past? Our measuring stick will be the ppg of the teams involved in the state tournament for AAAA in the years 1997, the first year, 2000, 2005, and 2006.
1997 is considered the golden year of MN girls basketball with Rochester Mayo winning the state tournament with the Miller twins. The talent pool was the deepest as many players had success at colleges throughout the country.
2000 is the silver age with Lindsey Whalen and Susan King being names that would be recognizable. There were eight D1 all conference players from this year and eight starters.
2001 had one D1 AC player, and only 2 starters.
2005 is just starting their first year in college and it is too early to get a feel for how successful they will be.

Year, points per game, points per minute
1997, 63.04, 1.97
2000, 55.25, 1.73
2005, 53.91, 1.68
2006, 62.81, 1.74 (55.68)

Now you have to understand that in 97, 2000, and 05 games were 32 minutes long. Today games are 36 minutes. So the ppg in 2006 might look like a return to the golden age, but when it is pro-rated out the number drops to the 2000 level, but it is higher than last year.

I picked points per game because that showcases offensive skills. I, for one, do not believe that defenses are any better now than in the past. I believe that offensive skills have declined slightly in regards to shooting, and to some extent, passing and ball handling.

I took the 2006 numbers from the top teams in each section. Perhaps not all these teams will make the State tournament. Final numbers will be available in March.

It also should be noted this was an eight team sample. For the purposes of this article it was quicker to get a sample. It is instructive even if it is a small sample.

The cure? I don't know if kids work as much on individual skills in the off season. I know they are playing games, but how many pick up the ball and work on skills when there is no adult directing them?

Next up early tomorrow