BLUM: Scouting Ohio State

[jcyclonee]

Thanks for the quick info Blum!

Watching some OSU highlights/games with my amateur eye, it would seem there is a good opportunity to draw Wesson away from the rim with pick & roll/pop and really open things up. I have seen plenty of times where his teammates become weary when he has to guard the pick & roll and over-help off the wings, opening up shooters as well.

It seems he fouls the most when he over-hedges screens or has to help on rotation. Between ISU's style of offense and hopefully good dribble penetration, foul trouble might be a problem for him.

I will be interested to see the gameplan defensively against Wesson. I would compare him more to Tristan Clark, who we know ate Iowa State alive in January. Mike has been playing more physical lately. I would hope that Mike and Lard could hold their own just playing behind Wesson but we'll see.

JFC, I told myself after 2015 I would stop caring so much about who we play, but here I am spending the last two hours watching OSU games.

Is Wesson similar to the Purdue guy from a couple of years ago?

 

[jcyclonee]

Well, not with that attitude.

This is funny on so many different levels as an ISU fan this year.

 

[Cycsk]

Exactly. tOSU offers no reason to change.

Kinda like the Purdue game in Milwaukee two years ago in which we let their big men destroy us inside. If Wesson is being effective, then we have to make changes.

I hope we throw body-after-body at him until he gets too frustrated to play and/or fouls out. Once Jacobsen gets his first foul, send in Lard until he gets 3 fouls, then Jacobsen until he gets 2, then Conditt until he gets 3, then Jacobsen for the rest of the game as their big guy will be long gone.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I don’t think anything is going to change. Just like there are some disadvantages to us going 4 guards against a team with two bigs, there’s disadvantages to a team going 2 bigs against us with 4 guards.

Yep, if we're playing our game, other teams will be forced to adapt to us. If we're not playing our game, we'll need to start, because we haven't chosen to adapt to anyone yet.

 

[ForeverIowan]

Yep, if we're playing our game, other teams will be forced to adapt to us. If we're not playing our game, we'll need to start, because we haven't chosen to adapt to anyone yet.

Leading up to the KU game I was worried about KUs two interior guys and how we were going to defend that much size. I was shocked how quickly Bill Self went to the four guard lineup to match up with us. We defended the interior so well he had no choice. THT has become such a better post defender does not get enough credit for that as a freshman guard and allows us to play small and fast on the offensive end.

 

[jsb]

Kinda like the Purdue game in Milwaukee two years ago in which we let their big men destroy us inside. If Wesson is being effective, then we have to make changes.

I hope we throw body-after-body at him until he gets too frustrated to play and/or fouls out. Once Jacobsen gets his first foul, send in Lard until he gets 3 fouls, then Jacobsen until he gets 2, then Conditt until he gets 3, then Jacobsen for the rest of the game as their big guy will be long gone.

Is Wesson anywhere near as good as the Purdue guy?

Also, we’re not switching up the way we play.

 

[bozclone]

It will be interesting to see how OSU handles the high pick an roll with Wesson. Seems like he may have issues in space defending us.

 

[isutrevman]

Kinda like the Purdue game in Milwaukee two years ago in which we let their big men destroy us inside. If Wesson is being effective, then we have to make changes.

I hope we throw body-after-body at him until he gets too frustrated to play and/or fouls out. Once Jacobsen gets his first foul, send in Lard until he gets 3 fouls, then Jacobsen until he gets 2, then Conditt until he gets 3, then Jacobsen for the rest of the game as their big guy will be long gone.

The difference is Purdue had a 7'2" guy starting alongside Swanigan. OSU basically starts 4 guards/wings with Wessen. That left Burton, or another guard trying trying to defend Swanigan. That wont be the case against Wessen.

 

[bosco]

Outside of the top 8 seeds I feel that any team that runs out a 1 big 4 wing lineup we have a personal advantage.

 

[cyrocksmypants]

Leading up to the KU game I was worried about KUs two interior guys and how we were going to defend that much size. I was shocked how quickly Bill Self went to the four guard lineup to match up with us. We defended the interior so well he had no choice. THT has become such a better post defender does not get enough credit for that as a freshman guard and allows us to play small and fast on the offensive end.

It wasn’t even about us defending, it was about them defending. Self said later that Lawson was struggling to guard THT on the outside and was getting burned, so he had to pull their center (can’t remember his name) and move Lawson to the 5 so they could put in a guard or faster forward that could guard THT better.

 

[Frak]

The difference is Purdue had a 7'2" guy starting alongside Swanigan. OSU basically starts 4 guards/wings with Wessen. That left Burton, or another guard trying trying to defend Swanigan. That wont be the case against Wessen.

This. There are teams out there that can force us into a decision whether to play two bigs or not. tOSU isn’t one of them.

I agree that it would have to get pretty bad for Prohm to even consider it, but there are teams out there that can put us into that position.

 

[FinalFourCy]

It wasn’t even about us defending, it was about them defending. Self said later that Lawson was struggling to guard THT on the outside and was getting burned, so he had to pull their center (can’t remember his name) and move Lawson to the 5 so they could put in a guard or faster forward that could guard THT better.

Even before the game Self referenced McCormack and Lawson having a challenge on defense with our four guards. But had THT been getting abused by Lawson or our double teams poor, Self probably is more inclined to give two bigs a chance.

Imo we benefited from KU thinking they could better match us going small. It worked for them in Lawrence, but by going small our defense got better, and I’m not sure there’s did.

 

[hoosman]

Is Talley good to go? He gives us an opportunity add size but also maintain motion.

 

[ClanCy]

I love our draw with Ohio State. Think playing a P6 opponent will have the guys alert and ready to go. No sleep walking. I'd be more worried if we played literally any of the other 11's with the exception of maybe St. Mary's. They're an NIT team that Gonzaga mercifully allowed into the tournament.

 

[Cyinthenorth]

I love our draw with Ohio State. Think playing a P6 opponent will have the guys alert and ready to go. No sleep walking. I'd be more worried if we played literally any of the other 11's with the exception of maybe St. Mary's. They're an NIT team that Gonzaga mercifully allowed into the tournament.

Great 2nd post. I hate you.