One of my favorite stats of the season is that West Virginia, not surprisingly, led the nation in “extra scoring chances per game.” You add up your offensive rebounds and the turnovers you create and subtract from that total your turnovers and the other team’s offensive rebounds. The Mountaineers led the nation in offensive rebounds and turnovers created per game, so, yeah, they led the nation in extra scoring chances per game … but it wasn’t even close.

The problem with all of that? WVU wasn’t a very efficient operation. The shooting percentage was the school’s worst since the 1969 season, and how many times did the Mountaineers go through a lengthy and sometimes lethal scoring drought? WVU ranked No. 46 in offensive efficiency, meaning 45 teams averaged more points per 100 possessions. It’s a good number, but it’s not good enough today. Offense is important and offensive efficiency rules. WVU is doubling down on defense to create extra possessions, but now the Mountaineers have to find ways to do more with those possessions, or else.

Getting possessions is one thing, and for WVU, it’s a major thing because it can account for shortcomings. Quantity must be accompanied by quality, and that’s where WVU went wrong this season and must get right next season.

Of the final four teams still standing, Wisconsin (No. 1), Duke (No. 3) and Kentucky (No. 5) lead stat wizard Ken Pomeroy’s offensive efficiency ratings. Michigan State is the bum of the group all the way down at No. 13. Six of the Elite Eight teams were in the top seven, and Michigan State beat the Louisville team that finished the season at No. 66.

The eight Sweet Sixteen teams that lost were Nos. 10, 16, 20, 21, 23, 41, 45 and 46. Pretty good, but not good enough.

Offensive efficiency is the number of points a team scores across 100 possessions, and it’s the one way to take an even look at the uneven way teams play. It discounts pace, considers strengths like shooting percentages, 3-point marksmanship and getting to the foul line and accounts for sloppy possessions wasted by turnovers, shot selection and other detractors.

The Mountaineers like to pile up possessions. Wisconsin is more methodical. They’re completely different teams, but they’re treated the same when you can hold in your hands what they produce over 100 possessions, and the Badgers give you a handful in the form of 17.6 extra points.