HSAC is a student-run organization at Harvard University dedicated to the quantitative analysis of sports strategy and management. This blog features the original contributions of Harvard undergraduates, graduates, faculty, and affiliates. HSAC does research for several sports-related publications and companies. Please contact us at harvardsportsanalysis@gmail.com if you have any questions or want more information.
Deflategate and Fumbling Rates
By John Acton Some of the most controversial analysis of Deflategate has focused on the Patriots’ fumble rate since 2007 (the year that the current rules about football handling were implemented, after Tom Brady circulated a letter to other quarterbacks to petition the NFL to make the change). In particular, Warren Sharp has put forward …Read More
Evaluating the Best Coach-Quarterback Combos
By Harrison Chase For all of the 21st century, the New England Patriots have been a dominant force in the NFL. Since Coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady first joined forces in 2001, the duo has seen 12 playoff appearances, 12 AFC East championships, 6 conference championships, and now, in their thirteenth year together, …Read More
Breaking Down Peyton Manning’s Playoff Woes
By Barrett Hansen Super Bowl XLIX is being billed as a matchup between two of the best postseason quarterbacks in the business: the prolific Tom Brady and the cool Russell Wilson. But, just as the two Super Bowl starters are placed on a pedestal of playoff greatness, another name enters the discussion as an example …Read More
Exactly How Unlikely Was Klay Thompson’s Third Quarter?
By William Ezekowitz Klay Thompson’s third quarter was stuff of video game-esque proportions, the likes of which we have never really seen in real life. The man scored 29 points in 6 minutes. In the whole third quarter he was 13 for 13 from the field (9 for 9 from 3) for a total of …Read More
Premier League: Do Derbies Feature More Aggression?
By Brendan Kent The Premier League has seen an influx of foreign talent in recent years. Some would argue that as a result, derby matches don’t have the passion and aggression that they used to. These detractors of modern derbies harken back to a day when local boys played for their local clubs and grew …Read More
A Statistical Ranking of the Biggest Partiers in the NBA
By Harrison Chase When J.R. Smith got traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers a few weeks ago in a multi-team deal, many great articles were written commemorating his time in New York. Rather than rehash these glorious moments, I will direct you to this great article by Jason Concepcion at Grantland that does a phenomenal job of celebrating J.R.’s accomplishments …Read More
4th Down Strategy: Punt, Go for It, or Try the Hard Count?
By Barrett Hansen As we saw in the Baltimore Ravens vs. New England Patriots game last weekend, facing a fourth down in opponent territory but outside the 35-yard line can make for quite the coaching quandary. You can run out the kicker for a long and improbable field goal attempt that, if missed, would leave …Read More
Seattle deserves an NBA franchise…and so does San Diego
By Austin Tymins When the Seattle SuperSonics moved to Oklahoma City in 2008, one of the best media markets in the country was left without an NBA franchise. This was a surprising move, because of both the controversy surrounding the negotiations and the long history of the SuperSonics in Seattle. Is Seattle really the most deserving market …Read More
Can Kentucky Be Perfect?
By Julian Ryan Calipari’s Kentucky Wildcats are primed for a run at greatness this season. With a deluge of McDonald’s All-Americans on the roster, Coach Cal has been dominating with his platoon system, and even the loss of likely first rounder Alex Poythress cannot slow them down. After surviving their likely toughest regular season test …Read More
What if the Ivy League had a Conference Tournament?
By Will Ezekowitz and Harrison Chase Play in the most unique college basketball conference, the Ivy League, is about to start up again this Saturday. The Ivy League is the only conference in the country that doesn’t have a tournament to decide whom to grant its automatic NCAA tournament bid to, but rather relies upon …Read More