![Photo of Marshall Smith and Taylor Spooner](https://bpb-us-e2.wpmucdn.com/sites.up.edu/dist/0/134/files/2017/09/Marshall-and-Taylor-300x213.jpg)
Business analytics and basketball, go together like eggs and bacon!
In today’s world of sports, analytics have become more important as organizations use predictive analytical models and information systems to gain a competitive advantage on the field. The NBA for the second year in a row, will host the NBA Hackathon on September 23 – 24, 2017 in New York City.
Two UP friends decided to form a team to participate in the competition. They competed for a place in the hackathon by solving some qualifying problems and were chosen.
Marshall Smith, an Economics Senior, has a passion for data analytics and basketball, and Taylor Spooner, a 2016 UP math graduate, also has a passion for solving problems and basketball. Having a creative problem solving mindset as well as a common sense approach have proven to be the winning combination for placement in the NBA Hackathon.
Currently, you can find Marshall Smith on campus, providing Terry Porter and the men’s basketball staff in-depth analytical scouting reports on all opponents. He also uses data and statistical modeling for talent identification in the recruiting process. He is probably one of the hardest working students on campus with three jobs and a full time schedule.
Taylor Spooner is currently in the graduate statistics program at the University of Michigan. His creative problem solving mindset has led him to take on roles in all kinds of data analytics projects. From data detective, who explores and validates data to a data storyteller, who creates understandable solutions to people in various disciplines, Taylor’s ambition knows no bounds.
We want to wish both Marshall and Taylor the very best! We hope they win the hackathon in New York!
Go Pilots!