Rankings are a means of summarizing a large amount of data. By the end of the season there will be over 4000 games for each gender for high schools in Washington state. It would be difficult for even the most devoted fan to see more than a hundred games.
I present several data-driven ranking methods. One is based based on a statistical linear model of points scored in games, another on RPI. Both have strengths and weaknesses. Consultation of various rankings and WATCHING GAMES is recommended to make ones own determination of which teams are best. I also show Colley ratings and the statistical linear model using just win-loss data (collapsing points to a 1-0 score).
In general, the statistical linear model using points kicks butt.
Various Rankings compared for 2022 State Tournaments
Various Rankings compared for 2020 State Tournaments
Various Rankings compared for 2019 State Tournaments
Various Rankings compared for 2018 State Tournaments
Various Rankings compared for 2017 State Tournaments
Various Rankings compared for 2016 State Tournaments
How did the ratings do in 2014-2015?
Note that rankings are subject to change as more games are added. For recent years data is fairly complete.
2020-2021 Girls' Rankings |
2020-2021 Boys' Rankings |
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For 2020-2021 season (entirely played in 2021), calculating
rankings is problematical. The teams split into several subsets with
no games against teams in other subsets. While it is possible to
calculate some of the ratings in such a situation, it is not possible
to make comparisons between ratings from the various subsets. It
would be similar to throwing in the NBA, NHL, NFL, WNBA, and St.
Alphonso's sixth-grade intramural badminton league, all into one
calculation. For girls there were ten subsets, and for boys there
were seven. For both boys and girls, one of the subsets had most of
the teams: 287 for girls, and 302 for boys. Restricting calculations
to those sets makes a valid presentation for those teams. Maybe I'll
post that sometime.