How pace of play relates to team quality — explore the relationship between tempo and adjusted efficiency margin across all D1 teams.
Adjusted tempo (possessions per 40 minutes) vs adjusted efficiency margin — filter by conference or view the top 50 teams.
A complete reference to the efficiency ratings, Four Factors, and advanced metrics used to evaluate NCAA Division I basketball teams. Every stat on this page is calculated from play-by-play box score data, adjusted for opponent quality and schedule strength, and updated throughout the season. Select a category below to explore how each metric is calculated and what the benchmark values mean.
Points scored per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent quality
AdjOE measures how many points a team scores per 100 possessions after adjusting for the defensive strength of every opponent faced. Games against elite defenses are weighted more heavily than games against weak ones, and recent games carry more weight than early-season results. A D1 average is roughly 100 — elite offenses reach 115+, while the best in the country push past 120.
Points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent quality
AdjDE captures how many points a team surrenders per 100 possessions after factoring in the offensive quality of its opponents. Lower is better — a team allowing 95 points per 100 possessions against a strong schedule is far more impressive than one allowing 95 against a weak schedule. The adjustment uses opponent NET rankings as a quality proxy with recency-weighted decay so the rating reflects current form.
AdjOE minus AdjDE
The single most predictive measure of team quality in college basketball. AdjEM combines offensive and defensive efficiency into one number — a team with an AdjOE of 115 and AdjDE of 95 has an AdjEM of +20, meaning it outscores opponents by 20 points per 100 possessions on a schedule-adjusted basis. Teams above +15 are typically national title contenders; teams near zero are bubble teams.
Possessions per 40 minutes of play
Tempo measures how fast a team plays by estimating the number of possessions it uses per game, normalized to 40 minutes. Possessions are calculated from field goal attempts, offensive rebounds, turnovers, and free throw attempts (FGA - OREB + TO + 0.475 * FTA). A team averaging 72+ possessions plays an up-tempo style; below 64 indicates a deliberate, half-court-oriented approach. Tempo is critical context for interpreting raw scoring — a team scoring 80 PPG in 75 possessions is less efficient than one scoring 72 PPG in 62 possessions.