As another college basketball season gets started, one person you’ll probably hear a lot about isn’t a coach or a player. Ken Pomeroy was an unknown meteorologist in the Midwest 15 years ago. Today, he’s one of the top sports statisticians in the country. His website, kenpom.com, is a bible for hoops fans. On it, he ranks each of the 353 men’s basketball teams in a variety of categories using advanced metrics. He also writes for The Athletic.
It may all sound a little esoteric, but the fact is college coaches and the booming sports gambling market alike have come to rely on Kenpom and its founder’s rankings and predictions.