Uconn V ISU Thoughts
- Thread starter awmuconn
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This game was selected as one of the top 5 games to watch in the 1st round.
South Region: Iowa State (8) vs. Connecticut (9). Thursday, 9:20 ET, TBS. Oh, don't tell me you've fallen prey to it, too. You've already put UConn into the Round of 32? Have you forgotten how bad the Huskies have looked this season? Here's the story: UConn doesn't have anyone who can guard Iowa State's Royce White, the dynamic point forward with a passing game that puts anyone on UConn's roster to shame.
It's ISU's first NCAA trip since 2005. Fred Hoiberg's ability to bring in discarded transfers and make an NCAA tournament should get more attention than it's going to this week. You'll hear about it more if the Cyclones win this game, which they absolutely can.
The other story line here: If UConn loses, is it Jim Calhoun's final game? If he wins, yeah, he faces John Calipari and Kentucky. The two had a falling out when Cal was at UMass. That's the sexy story line for the weekend. But we've seen those potential meetings fall short before.
South Region: Iowa State (8) vs. Connecticut (9). Thursday, 9:20 ET, TBS. Oh, don't tell me you've fallen prey to it, too. You've already put UConn into the Round of 32? Have you forgotten how bad the Huskies have looked this season? Here's the story: UConn doesn't have anyone who can guard Iowa State's Royce White, the dynamic point forward with a passing game that puts anyone on UConn's roster to shame.
It's ISU's first NCAA trip since 2005. Fred Hoiberg's ability to bring in discarded transfers and make an NCAA tournament should get more attention than it's going to this week. You'll hear about it more if the Cyclones win this game, which they absolutely can.
The other story line here: If UConn loses, is it Jim Calhoun's final game? If he wins, yeah, he faces John Calipari and Kentucky. The two had a falling out when Cal was at UMass. That's the sexy story line for the weekend. But we've seen those potential meetings fall short before.
Now you are starting to get it. He isn't Blake Griffin but he he can get to the hole against bigger guys.
I don't deny that Drummond has the physical tools to do it, but it's not easy for any big to go from guarding the likes of Kilicli, Yancy Gates, Fabricio Del Melo, and Cooley, to guarding a big that plays on the perimeter.
Don't listen to Digger. You won't have a problem handling Royce posting up inside like he seems to think. He'll be hard to handle driving the ball to the hoop.
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Agree. Easier to go 1-1 with White than double him and try to figure out which shooter you can leave open.
Plus, Royce just doesn't have it in him to take over a game and go off for 30 points. At least we haven't seen it yet.
I am very pleased to hear this. If this is the case and he is matched up against Royce your defensive monster will be playing outside the paint frequently guarding Royce which should open up the inside very nicely for our other post players. Unless Uconn's guards sag towards the inside to get in passing lanes Royce should pick them apart and if they do sag in then our shooters will be getting open looks all night long. This is why Royce presents such a difficult matchup. Give him too much space and he will explode to the basket and if you get up too tight on him it will open up passing lanes and Royce is the best passer I have seen at the college level in a long time.
Best question is how well do you defend the 3 pt shot and the perimeter? It doesn't look all that good from a statistical standpoint but sometimes that is misleading
Unfortunately, Drummond appears disinterested at times and his only offense is putbacks and dunks.
I actually think Babb will start on Roscoe Smith, assuming he starts at the 3. When UCONN goes to 3 guards, then Babb will switch over to Lamb.
Here's how I think the starters matchup:
Napier - Scotty
Lamb - Allen
Smith - Babb
Oriakhi - Ejim
Drummand - White
Here's how I think the starters matchup:
Napier - Scotty
Lamb - Allen
Smith - Babb
Oriakhi - Ejim
Drummand - White
I've watched UCONN a few times and Drummond is an athletic monster. It will be very tough for Royce White to score one-on-one against him.
That said, I think Royce has the potential to be a very crafty player, and if he starts using shot fakes, quick turns and pulls out some reverse layups like we've seen, then things will get interesting.
I bet UCONN will elect to guard Royce one-on-one with Drummond and then it will be up to Royce to score. If he can score against Drummond, it will force the double-team to come, and as we know, Royce is sensational at finding the open shooter or slasher and we will really click on offense if they have to double-team Royce. Most team's have avoided doubling Royce recently, and it has worked some of the time. If Royce can force the double-team to come, watch out, we'll be rolling on offense.
Agreed.
It seems like a lot of the time, if they are trying to go one on one with Royce, we see him taking the ball up the court and trying to take his man off the dribble. This either leads to a breakdown or if help comes, a dish.
Gazelle huh? Plays perfectly into feeding time in the land of lions.
Anyway. You're point about 30-50ft from the basket is a good one. It's not the bringing it up the court that is an issue. That just helps us break the press. It's bringing the guy out to the three point line to defend Royce, because he'll do some dribble handoffs to set up the three point shooter, and if you don't come out for that he'll find a way to make you pay.
By being the 'Point Forward' it isn't so much the outside shot threat so much as the ability to set some screens by the arc and have the court vision and ball handling to execute the offense from there. It will be interesting to see what UConn does. I don't think anyone will have anything but speculation on how that matchup will go until it happens. If I'm Coach JC I'm not worried about Royce going off. I'm hugging the 3 ballers as has been pointed out.
i apologize if this has been posted somewhere but i couldn't find it. ESPNU had a show called 'the experts' and these six dudes broke down each game. i thought it was interesting they were split down the middle, 3-3, and thought those who don't get ESPNU might like to hear this analysis:
dino gaudio- picked isu. loves the transfers. royce white 'will be the difference in the game.'
adrian branch- picked uconn. drummond will be tough match up for isu.
miles simon- picked isu. thinks royce will be tough for uconn to guard a point forward. loves isu being one of two schools (florida) with 4 guys hitting 50+ 3's. babb defense will be great matchup for lamb. isu has found themselves, uconn hasn't.
bob valvano- picked isu. likes that we only give up 29% from three. perimeter defense is key.
tim welsh- picked uconn. likes the mayor but calhoun will put size on white and says hall of fame coach knows how/when to hit the right buttons for uconn.
laphonso ellis- picked uconn. thinks napier 'figures it out' to be play maker and scorer, will free up lamb.
dino gaudio- picked isu. loves the transfers. royce white 'will be the difference in the game.'
adrian branch- picked uconn. drummond will be tough match up for isu.
miles simon- picked isu. thinks royce will be tough for uconn to guard a point forward. loves isu being one of two schools (florida) with 4 guys hitting 50+ 3's. babb defense will be great matchup for lamb. isu has found themselves, uconn hasn't.
bob valvano- picked isu. likes that we only give up 29% from three. perimeter defense is key.
tim welsh- picked uconn. likes the mayor but calhoun will put size on white and says hall of fame coach knows how/when to hit the right buttons for uconn.
laphonso ellis- picked uconn. thinks napier 'figures it out' to be play maker and scorer, will free up lamb.
If I were you, I'd be extremely concerned about defending our guards. Against our base line up of SN, JL, RS, AO, AD it seems like you will have the following match ups:
Bazz 6'1 170 vs Scotty 6'3 195
Lamb 6'5 180 vs Allen 6'3 205
Smith 6'8 205 vs Babb 6'5 225
I love those match ups as I think Bazz will be able to penetrate against Scotty and Lamb should be able to shoot over Allen.
When we go small and move Smith to a 4 and bring in Boatright I imagine Babb moves over to cover Lamb which many of you suggest but than who tries to contain Boatright? He is 6'0 160 lightening quick with yo yo handle. The guy can flat out ball and reminds me of a younger Kemba. He regularly penetrates at will against premier Big East defenders.
Without a shot blocking force, I'm hoping for dunks and lay ups all day.
Bazz 6'1 170 vs Scotty 6'3 195
Lamb 6'5 180 vs Allen 6'3 205
Smith 6'8 205 vs Babb 6'5 225
I love those match ups as I think Bazz will be able to penetrate against Scotty and Lamb should be able to shoot over Allen.
When we go small and move Smith to a 4 and bring in Boatright I imagine Babb moves over to cover Lamb which many of you suggest but than who tries to contain Boatright? He is 6'0 160 lightening quick with yo yo handle. The guy can flat out ball and reminds me of a younger Kemba. He regularly penetrates at will against premier Big East defenders.
Without a shot blocking force, I'm hoping for dunks and lay ups all day.