Intro to Basketball Analytics

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to basketball analytics, focusing on the application of data and statistical analysis to improve player performance evaluation, team strategies, and game tactics. Students will learn the basics of basketball statistics, the development of advanced metrics, and the tools used by analysts to gain competitive insights in the sport. This course is designed for beginners, with no prior knowledge of basketball analytics required.

Through engaging lectures, hands-on exercises, and case studies, students will gain a strong foundation in basketball analytics. By the end of the course, students will be able to analyze player data, interpret key metrics, and apply analytic methods to real-world basketball situations.

What You’ll Learn?

• Foundations of Basketball Statistics: Understand metrics such as PER (Player Efficiency Rating), TS% (True Shooting Percentage), and Win Shares.
• Introduction to Basketball Analytics: Explore how analytics has transformed scouting, player development, and game strategy in basketball.
• Data Collection and Analysis Tools: Gain practical experience with tools like R and Tableau to collect, clean, and visualize basketball data.
• Player Evaluation Techniques: Learn to evaluate offensive and defensive contributions using both traditional and advanced statistics.
• Game Strategy Analysis: Analyze how data influences coaching decisions, player rotations, and in-game adjustments.
• Predictive Modeling in Basketball: Get an introduction to predictive modeling techniques for forecasting player performance and team success.
• Ethical Considerations in Basketball Analytics: Discuss the ethical implications of using data in basketball, including issues of privacy, bias, and fairness.