OrangeBlood
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I don't think that I have watched a team all year besides Syracuse closer than IU. I have probably watched roughly 8-10 of their games. To compound that my boss at work is an IU grad and a die hard Hoosier fan. He talks (almost annoyingly) at length about IU hoops. I have a pretty good knowledge of this years IU team.
They are not unbeatable, but it will take an effort like vs. Louisville or vs. G'Town in MSG. Pretty much we have to play one of our best games of the year. Todays game, actually made me more concerned for Thursday. Yes, Temple almost beat them but it probably woke IU up. It seems every championship team has one game where they get a huge scare like IU did today.
Keys to our game:
-We will have to make at least 6-8 3s to have a chance.
-Brandon will have to score 15-20
- No foul trouble
-Baye/Rak have to be able to be tough inside
-Have to be under 8 turnovers/make free throws
- CJ will have to be CJ
-GET ZELLER IN FOUL TROUBLE--- this is HUGE, could be the difference. Only real post presence.
How we match up (Offensively):
I think we have a good chance to be able to score on them.
Man-to-Man:
Oladipo is a shut down defender.The biggest question is who he will guard. I would bet that they play him on Triche to shut him down. This will be the match-up to watch. It could get ugly for Brandon if he struggles early. BUT it will leave MCW/CJ with mismatches. I could also see them playing him on CJ as the offense has run through him. If that happens, MCW/Brandon will both have a massive size advantages over Ferell or Hulls. They should be able to drive and create.
If Oladipo plays on Brandon, I don't think there is anyone that can guard CJ. I think Watford is too slow/soft to guard him. To match up with our size, Sheehey will have to play a lot and will probably guard Southerland. I think that he will be able to get open off him. Rak/Baye will really struggle to score on Zeller.
They can not play their usual line up, they are just too small. Sheehey will have to play a lot more. If they do, we have to take advantage of the mismatches. A huge key to this game will be on the offensive glass. We have to hit the boards and get second chances. I think we can get a lot of second chance points. Temple dominated the glass today, we can do the same.
This is how I see them matching up in both situations:
MCW-Ferell/Hulls/Creek
Triche-Oladipo/Hulls/Creek
Fair-Watford/Oladipo/Sheehey/Holowell
Southerland-Watford/Sheehey/Holowell
Rak-Zeller/Holowell
I honestly think they will play zone. They're taking too big of a risk giving up size playing man. Attacking our zone they will need both their guards on offense so I think they will play zone to hide their size defensively. Their zone was been not very good this year. BUT our zone offense has been terrible. The key is obviously making shots, Southerland will be the key. One advantage we do have is our guards will be able to see over the top of their zone.
Whether they play, man or zone, we will have to make a lot of jump shots to win. They are not a great defensive team besides Oladipo, we should be able to score in the 60s. Like any game MCW has to be smart and run the offense. Get CJ the ball early and often.
How we matchup (Defensively):
I will lose sleep over them attacking our zone. We really have to hope they don't shoot well. Zeller on the free throw line/ Big East logo area will be the key. He can turn and face, hit the jump shot. He is a great passer and he can drive and probably draw a foul on of our bigs. I am afraid we will have no answer. We struggled with Parker and Soloman in recent games inside. Zeller is twice the player. However, I think he a tendency to look for the call and be soft, hopefully he plays that way Thursday. We really can't back up and take him away because Hulls/Watford are great shooters.
Ferell is also concerning because he maybe able to penetrate the zone with his quick feet and dish. He is fast and a great passer.
Hulls is a knockdown shooter. He hasn't been great lately but I am expecting him to be great on Thursday. I think his shoulder will be a non-factor. We will have to Key on him.
Watford will be dangerous both slashing the baseline and on the wing hitting 3s. I am terrified that we will not be able to find him and he will roam and find holes in the zone. Ferell and Zeller will be able to find him.
Oladipo is a decent shooter, but his slashing ability is what scares me. I have bad feeling we may see the baseline alley-oop early.
Sheehey/Creek/Holowell don't really scare me offensively.
Our defense has been undoubtedly great so far in the tournament. We have not seen an offensive team this good this year. Montana/Cal were jokes. They have the makeup to be able to kill us. We have to hope and pray that they do not shoot well.
We HAVE to keep them out of transition. They aren't nearly as good in the half court. If we can slow them down like Wisconsin did, we have a better chance.
Positively they struggled v. Northwestern when they played zone and that is nothing like ours. Unfortunately they have all week to prepare for us.
We are a great defensive team, they are a great offensive team. My hope is that we can slow them down and frustrate them with our zone. If we frustrate Zeller and get him off his game/in foul trouble I think we got a good chance. If he is able to do what he pleases inside we are in trouble.
As Marsh said, I think everything now is gravy. We are roughly a top 15 team so it would make sense that we lose in Sweet Sixteen. I don't think we're top 8 good but we can play as good as any team. I can't wait for Thursday!
**Sorry that I rambled in here, just tried to get all my thoughts out. Also, sorry for any grammar mistakes.
G'Orange!
They are not unbeatable, but it will take an effort like vs. Louisville or vs. G'Town in MSG. Pretty much we have to play one of our best games of the year. Todays game, actually made me more concerned for Thursday. Yes, Temple almost beat them but it probably woke IU up. It seems every championship team has one game where they get a huge scare like IU did today.
Keys to our game:
-We will have to make at least 6-8 3s to have a chance.
-Brandon will have to score 15-20
- No foul trouble
-Baye/Rak have to be able to be tough inside
-Have to be under 8 turnovers/make free throws
- CJ will have to be CJ
-GET ZELLER IN FOUL TROUBLE--- this is HUGE, could be the difference. Only real post presence.
How we match up (Offensively):
I think we have a good chance to be able to score on them.
Man-to-Man:
Oladipo is a shut down defender.The biggest question is who he will guard. I would bet that they play him on Triche to shut him down. This will be the match-up to watch. It could get ugly for Brandon if he struggles early. BUT it will leave MCW/CJ with mismatches. I could also see them playing him on CJ as the offense has run through him. If that happens, MCW/Brandon will both have a massive size advantages over Ferell or Hulls. They should be able to drive and create.
If Oladipo plays on Brandon, I don't think there is anyone that can guard CJ. I think Watford is too slow/soft to guard him. To match up with our size, Sheehey will have to play a lot and will probably guard Southerland. I think that he will be able to get open off him. Rak/Baye will really struggle to score on Zeller.
They can not play their usual line up, they are just too small. Sheehey will have to play a lot more. If they do, we have to take advantage of the mismatches. A huge key to this game will be on the offensive glass. We have to hit the boards and get second chances. I think we can get a lot of second chance points. Temple dominated the glass today, we can do the same.
This is how I see them matching up in both situations:
MCW-Ferell/Hulls/Creek
Triche-Oladipo/Hulls/Creek
Fair-Watford/Oladipo/Sheehey/Holowell
Southerland-Watford/Sheehey/Holowell
Rak-Zeller/Holowell
I honestly think they will play zone. They're taking too big of a risk giving up size playing man. Attacking our zone they will need both their guards on offense so I think they will play zone to hide their size defensively. Their zone was been not very good this year. BUT our zone offense has been terrible. The key is obviously making shots, Southerland will be the key. One advantage we do have is our guards will be able to see over the top of their zone.
Whether they play, man or zone, we will have to make a lot of jump shots to win. They are not a great defensive team besides Oladipo, we should be able to score in the 60s. Like any game MCW has to be smart and run the offense. Get CJ the ball early and often.
How we matchup (Defensively):
I will lose sleep over them attacking our zone. We really have to hope they don't shoot well. Zeller on the free throw line/ Big East logo area will be the key. He can turn and face, hit the jump shot. He is a great passer and he can drive and probably draw a foul on of our bigs. I am afraid we will have no answer. We struggled with Parker and Soloman in recent games inside. Zeller is twice the player. However, I think he a tendency to look for the call and be soft, hopefully he plays that way Thursday. We really can't back up and take him away because Hulls/Watford are great shooters.
Ferell is also concerning because he maybe able to penetrate the zone with his quick feet and dish. He is fast and a great passer.
Hulls is a knockdown shooter. He hasn't been great lately but I am expecting him to be great on Thursday. I think his shoulder will be a non-factor. We will have to Key on him.
Watford will be dangerous both slashing the baseline and on the wing hitting 3s. I am terrified that we will not be able to find him and he will roam and find holes in the zone. Ferell and Zeller will be able to find him.
Oladipo is a decent shooter, but his slashing ability is what scares me. I have bad feeling we may see the baseline alley-oop early.
Sheehey/Creek/Holowell don't really scare me offensively.
Our defense has been undoubtedly great so far in the tournament. We have not seen an offensive team this good this year. Montana/Cal were jokes. They have the makeup to be able to kill us. We have to hope and pray that they do not shoot well.
We HAVE to keep them out of transition. They aren't nearly as good in the half court. If we can slow them down like Wisconsin did, we have a better chance.
Positively they struggled v. Northwestern when they played zone and that is nothing like ours. Unfortunately they have all week to prepare for us.
We are a great defensive team, they are a great offensive team. My hope is that we can slow them down and frustrate them with our zone. If we frustrate Zeller and get him off his game/in foul trouble I think we got a good chance. If he is able to do what he pleases inside we are in trouble.
As Marsh said, I think everything now is gravy. We are roughly a top 15 team so it would make sense that we lose in Sweet Sixteen. I don't think we're top 8 good but we can play as good as any team. I can't wait for Thursday!
**Sorry that I rambled in here, just tried to get all my thoughts out. Also, sorry for any grammar mistakes.
G'Orange!