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KenPom ratings identify most similar team to each Final Four squad
By Andrew Olson
Published:
The Final Four is almost here!
Ahead of Saturday’s action, popular X account NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners took a look at the 4 squads heading to San Antonio and found the 4 teams they most closely compare to by KenPom ratings, the go-to reference stats for college hoops fans.
The most Similar past Kenpom team to each of teams in this year's Final Four. (Since 2001)
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) April 2, 2025
This Final Four field is STACKED. pic.twitter.com/cvXmwt6Db0
The account stressed that the methodology was to match ratings, not make picks based on observation.
To emphasize I did not pick these, no human compared them. They are very similar STATISTICALLY.
— NCAA Buzzer Beaters & Game Winners (@NCAABuzzerBters) April 3, 2025
For Example:
2025 Florida 2018 Villanova
ORtg- 129.1 127.8
DRtg- 93.0 94.0
Tempo- 69.8…
No. 1 overall seed Auburn is similar to the Baylor squad from 2020-21. The Bears won the NCAA Tournament, defeating Gonzaga 86-70 for the national title in 2021.
Florida, the 1-seed out of the West, rates closely to 2017-18 Villanova. The Wildcats won the national championship by taking down Michigan 79-62 in the final game of the NCAA Tournament.
Duke, the 1-seed out of the East and favorite to win it all at DraftKings Sportsbook, lands 2023-24 UConn as its KenPom comp. The Huskies made it back-to-back national titles last year.
Midwest Regional champion and 1-seed Houston profiles similarly to 2018-19 Virginia. Like the other 3 KenPom comps, the Cavaliers also won the national championship.
When the Final Four was set, it was pointed out that this is a historically loaded group. It should make for some highly entertaining college basketball.
Here are the 10 best KenPom teams ever (ratings date back to '96-97). Four of them are playing Saturday in San Antonio. Maybe the most loaded Final Four ever? This is downright ridiculous. A combined 135-16. pic.twitter.com/920CSBQCiY
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) March 30, 2025
Andrew writes about sports to fund his love of live music and collection of concert posters. He strongly endorses the Hall of Fame campaigns of Fred Taylor and Andruw Jones.
