An Empirical Examination of the Factors Affecting the Success of NCAA Division I College Basketball Teams

Abstract

The Cobb-Douglas production function, regression analyses, and discriminant analyses are used to examine the factors affecting the success of Division I men\u27s basketball teams in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). Data were obtained for 229 teams. The results indicate that important factors in success are 2-point field-goal percentage, rebounds, steals, 3-point field-goal percentage, turnovers, and personal fouls. Variables that distinguish winning teams from losing teams are 2-point field-goal percentage, turnovers, prior years\u27 winning percentage of the head coach, free-throw percentage, steals, and rebounds. The results also indicate that the production function of the teams exhibit increasing returns to scale