Best Team

[Gotothehole]

Can we beat UNC, O State, and Kentucky? How do match up with these teams? Your thoughts

 

[jordoo]

I think we have the obvious coaching advantage against UNC, JB has been money head to head with him. That would be a crazy up and down game that would be fun to watch. We would absolutely have to bust our ass to get back and make them score against the 2-3 in the half court. I don'tknow that UNC would fair well against us for 40min on the defensive end. They seem to lose focus and play soft on that end quite often. They look sacary on paper and reading the names but it really hasn't translated that much against good competition even when they have won.

Kentucky won't get tested too much and they will be a 1 seed so chances are slim we would see them before the FF and they have not faired that well in the tourney. They would have major issues turning it over against us from what I have seen and young guards usually struggle against our 2-3 the first couple of times they play it. They will get better but I havn't been terribly impressed with thme yet although Davis is some kind of skilled big man and Lamb has really improved. Jones has looked worse this year to me and Teague is not Wall or even Knight IMO.

OSU to me seems like a team that we can really take its strengths away from using our 2-3. Sullinger doesn't score over the top of guys but he does have good range. Kraft really isn't a shooter. I think our D naturally limits these two or at least makes them play in ways they usually do not. Thomas has the potential to really hurt us from the middle of the zone. They are not nearly as deep as us.

 

[Dcuse]

Can we beat UNC, O State, and Kentucky? How do match up with these teams? Your thoughts

We kill them all. ALL!

 

[OttoinGrotto]

You're asking the wrong question. The question is, how do those other teams match up with us?

 

[Rocco]

I think OSU would be the hardest matchup for us. A healthy Sully would likely beat up on Fab, and they can shoot it.

Still think SU is the best team in the land. Paint me Orange damnit.

 

[IthacaMatt]

I think we have the obvious coaching advantage against UNC, JB has been money head to head with him. That would be a crazy up and down game that would be fun to watch. We would absolutely have to bust our ass to get back and make them score against the 2-3 in the half court. I don'tknow that UNC would fair well against us for 40min on the defensive end. They seem to lose focus and play soft on that end quite often. They look sacary on paper and reading the names but it really hasn't translated that much against good competition even when they have won.

Kentucky won't get tested too much and they will be a 1 seed so chances are slim we would see them before the FF and they have not faired that well in the tourney. They would have major issues turning it over against us from what I have seen and young guards usually struggle against our 2-3 the first couple of times they play it. They will get better but I havn't been terribly impressed with thme yet although Davis is some kind of skilled big man and Lamb has really improved. Jones has looked worse this year to me and Teague is not Wall or even Knight IMO.

OSU to me seems like a team that we can really take its strengths away from using our 2-3. Sullinger doesn't score over the top of guys but he does have good range. Kraft really isn't a shooter. I think our D naturally limits these two or at least makes them play in ways they usually do not. Thomas has the potential to really hurt us from the middle of the zone. They are not nearly as deep as us.

I think that UNC has perhaps the best PG in the country in Kendall Marshall, and he feeds the low post really well. They can equal our quality depth up front, but they lack the killer 3 point shooters that they've had in the past. I also agree that they seem to lose focus a bit, and seem a little soft defensively. For all the accolades he's received, I see Harrison Barnes as a kind of Wes Johnson player (i.e., could be more assertive, and seems to blend into the team more than dominate it), but Barnes is not as good a shooter from 3, and not quite as athletic. Wes was highly underrated as a weak side shot blocker, and I don't think Barnes is quite as good defensively as Wes was for us.

With Ohio State, double teaming Sullinger in the low post will be a challenge. He has exceptional footwork around the rim and he passes well out of the double team. Ohio State's other players are very solid. Buford and Thomas are very good wing players who can hit the open 3 and rebound fairly well. That's their major weakness, is lack of rebounding after Sullinger. They are fundamentally sound, pass the ball well and shoot a very high percentage from the floor. They also are not as deep as us. I think pressing them would unsettle them, and we might need to switch to man if their shooter get hot, or they are just moving the ball faster than our rotations in the zone.

Kentucky, the other major challenger for the title, has the best front court in the country. Gilchrist is a winner, and is going to be a very good pro. I said that since I saw him in high school - his will to win is Jordan-esque. The kid just makes plays that win games. Anthony Davis gets all the hype because of his growth spurt, but Gilchrist is the best player on that team, and he is going to win them a couple games in the tournament all by himself.

The wild card with Kentucky is Terrence Jones. I get the sense that he could self-destruct and destroy their chemistry. He feels like he is the guy who came back and should have been the leader of this team, and it hasn't turned out that way. He's got some Demarcus Cousins in him, I think. He is a key player for them, because he provides a physical presence to compliment Davis. Davis is a really good shot blocker and is rebounding very well, but needs a bodyguard on the boards to keep him from being overpowered. Jones is that guy, like Maurice Lucas used to be for Bill Walton, back in Portland 100 years ago.

Kentucky is an amazing collection of one-on-one players. They've got 6 guys averaging in double figures, but they only really play 7, with Kyle Wiltjer filling out the rotation. I'm surprised how good Doron Lamb has gotten for him. He's almost a forgotten guy in terms of press coverage, but is leading the team in scoring. Teague is OK as a point guard, but doesn't measure up to his predecessors. Their weakness is they don't share the ball that well. I could see them having trouble with the zone. I also see them wanting to run with us, which would be a joy to watch. If they were missing outside shots, we could run them out of the building.

I think any of these match ups are Final Four worthy, and I could see us beating any of these teams if we brought our "A" game. Foul trouble isn't really a worry for this team anymore, because of our depth and the use of the zone. Not many other teams in the country can play the game that way. This has the potential to turn into a very special team.

 

[Marsh01]

The good thing is that we dont play any of these teams and may never see these teams. I think Carolina would pose a bigger threat than most think. Kendall Marshall is a stud and I would worry about his play and his ability to distribute. They cant shoot it well and is their one weakness.

Kentucky would be a fun matchup. Loaded with athletes and their ability to defend. I think we could really hurt them if they didnt shoot it well given our ability to run. We would really need to rebound well against any of these teams. OSU would be a tough matchup and I would worry about Craft. Sullinger will get his numbers. They lost a couple of really good players last yeae in Diebler and Lighty and those guys would have caused fits for us had they been on this team.

 

[armory]

We kill them all. ALL!

We have to get your sisters back first... then we will kill them all!

 

[Cuseman78]

We can certainly win a national title with the squad we have this year but I think there are 5 or 6 teams who can say the same thing. I actually think the top of CBB this year is very, very good (unlike the last couple of years). Right now, I think the most talented team in the country is Kentucky, Ohio State probably has the best starting 5, and we have the deepest team.

Obvoiusly, it all comes down to match-ups in March but there is no question we can win it all. Are we the best team in the country? I can't say that for sure but we are certainly in that group of teams that can cut the nets down.

 

[Oakland]

Can we beat UNC, O State, and Kentucky? How do match up with these teams? Your thoughts

The responses above are an excellent take on the question, except for Dcuse's immature and silly homeristic comment (despite being 100% true). I'd just add that the other 3 seem to have little in the way of backup guards which could be a decisive Cuse advantage. I think Kentucky would have been stronger if Knight had stayed instead of Jones. However, SU is vulnerable at the center spot. Fab has been playing great but mostly against lesser lights, I think he may still be prone to foul trouble against multiple quality bigs like Kentucky and UNC have, maybe even OSt. Keita is a decent backup but has not progressed this season. Rak is not ready. This is where we may miss D Riley. Right now I think a game between any of the big 4 is a coin flip.

 

[moqui]

SU won't face any of those teams until at least the Elite 8, probably the Final Four. Given our history - and the obvious limitations of the current team (relatively weak half court offense) - I am far more worried about the kind of teams Syracuse would face in the rounds of 32 and 16.

 

[mark79]

You're asking the wrong question. The question is, how do those other teams match up with us?

Otto, I think this is absolutely right on. For us, the question is always can the teams we are matched up against in the tournament do a good job against our zone. Doing so requires unselfish guards who are willing to feed the ball into the foul line for the dump down, as well as a good foul line passer and someone who can convert on the baseline. That team will also need at least one, preferably two decent outside shooters to keep our zone honest, and very good, seasoned ball-handlers that don't turn the ball over. If a team does not have all of those things, our zone will be strong and create turnovers and we all know how good this team is at scoring off of turnovers. That's not to say if someone gets crazy hot they can beat us, but no one can predict that. I suppose we are also somewhat vulnerable to a team that can foul Fab out,
but that works both ways.

 

[NineOneSeven]

Michael Kidd Gilchrist may end up being one of the best players in the country at seasons end. If you watched the Louisville game, the kid can ball.

I wouldn't want to play Osu, Kentucky, or UNC, but these three teams are probably saying the same about us.

 

[arbitragegls]

...not sure we lose to any of them...
Duke is predominately a 3 pt shooting team and our zone will kill that...also we are too athletic for them
North Carolina has one terrific guard but rest of team is not focussed...and they are not good 3 pt shooters...
OSU has an interesting team but I think by the time we play them in the NC, Melo will be more than ready for Sully...

Its KY i worry about...but I believe 'Cuse defense and their poor foul shooting and TOs lead to victory for us

 

[OrangeCrush22]

We can go toe to toe with UNC and Kentucky. We'd crush OSU, they're a one man show.

 

[realorange]

By the end of the year, Kentucky may be the team that will be the toughest for us. Davis and Kidd-Gilcrist will test Melo and others more than they have ever been. Interesting that a couple of posters have been surprised about Doron Lamb. Calipari was quoted before the season started that Lamb was his best player. As Ithaca Matt said, their wildcard is Jones. If he plays like he's capable we would have all we could handle and then some.

 

[reedny]

I think we have the obvious coaching advantage against UNC, JB has been money head to head with him. That would be a crazy up and down game that would be fun to watch. We would absolutely have to bust our ass to get back and make them score against the 2-3 in the half court. I don'tknow that UNC would fair well against us for 40min on the defensive end. They seem to lose focus and play soft on that end quite often. They look sacary on paper and reading the names but it really hasn't translated that much against good competition even when they have won.

Kentucky won't get tested too much and they will be a 1 seed so chances are slim we would see them before the FF and they have not faired that well in the tourney. They would have major issues turning it over against us from what I have seen and young guards usually struggle against our 2-3 the first couple of times they play it. They will get better but I havn't been terribly impressed with thme yet although Davis is some kind of skilled big man and Lamb has really improved. Jones has looked worse this year to me and Teague is not Wall or even Knight IMO.

OSU to me seems like a team that we can really take its strengths away from using our 2-3. Sullinger doesn't score over the top of guys but he does have good range. Kraft really isn't a shooter. I think our D naturally limits these two or at least makes them play in ways they usually do not. Thomas has the potential to really hurt us from the middle of the zone. They are not nearly as deep as us.

All three elite teams (Ky, UNC and OSU) are loaded with offensive firepower and inside balance. Two other teams to watch are Duke -- and Indiana, which are among the nation's best 3 point shooting teams. For us as a zone team, I think Duke is a worse matchup for us than OSU or Ky. It's pick your poison... Duke from the outside or Ky from the inside.

As to OSU, so many weapons. Kraft may not be a deadly 3 point shooter, but he can hit an open shot if given an opportunity. Bufford can definately shoot it. I think Fab could guard Sullinger, but if he gets in foul trouble, we have no one else who can check him (until next year, that is). Also, OSU had no trouble stopping Duke's shooting when they played at OSU. The Duke shooters couldnt blow their noses with OSU's defense.

Against Ky, I don't know if we have anyone that can keep Davis and Gilchrist from going off. Those two might represent the toughest frontline in college ball. I think Davis leads the nation in blocks. He's got great offensive moves and is a load to score against. I always question team chemistry with Ky, since they're an amalgum of top egos/one and doners that don't always play the best team ball. But on paper, wow.

I also like UConvict. Drummond gives them instant credibility inside. And they have Napier and Lamb back from the title team. I'm not sure they have 'it', yet, but they might by March. We'll be one of the first to know on February 11th.

 

[NineOneSeven]

We can go toe to toe with UNC and Kentucky. We'd crush OSU, they're a one man show.

One man show? Not sure how much basketball you've watched but OSU is much more than just Sullinger. Is he an all-american? Yes.

But Buford is a great, great player, and Craft is the type of player who you absolutely can't stand to play against but would love to have on your team.

Oh, and the game Sullinger went down with an injury Thomas dropped 30 points on a ridiculous 80% shooting day.

They have lost on the road against two top 15 teams. I struggle to understand how you can state with such confidence that we would crush them.

 

[orangefan13]

We have more mismatches then any team in the country by 2-3 players.

 

[realorange]

We have more mismatches then any team in the country by 2-3 players.

I guess you are serious. Kentucky alone would at least match us if not be greater at some positions. Teams like UNC and Ohio St. are not going to have 2-3 mismatches either.

The one mismatch we do have against almost anyone is our depth.

 

[bszbsz]

I want to say that first off, we need to GET to one of these teams. My biggest fear is, as always, a team going bananas from 3 and taking us down early in the tournament. Getting to any of these teams requires the elite 8 (at worst) and we haven't been there since '03 and before that since 1996 (it really is depressing)...

Now that I have given my fair warning and total downer, I think that everything said prior has been true. The key is which team brings their "A" game. Also, in a close one, who scores at the end for us?

Kentucky can get really cold from deep. That is how they lost to West Va. two years ago and they really stunk it up against UConn last year in the final 4. This team has those same issues. Kidd-Gilchrist has a funky release and Teague is just a bad shooter. They really do penetrate well tho, so they may get into the zone. I actually like this matchup most of the 3.

UNC can actually really shoot it, but their big men are more finesse guys and do not like getting hit. The zone can cause Zeller/Henson problems because so many guys can swarm them and get into their space. Still, Kendall Marshall is such a good passer that he may sling the ball around our zone. I know they havent played against our zone, but he has been good when teams have gone 2-3 against them this season and last.

OSU is a wild card. Sullinger has struggled against HUGE big men like Melo, because he is so skilled. Even tho Melo is MUCH improved, his bball IQ is relatively low. They do have some streaky scorers in Thomas and Buford. I think that Craft is very overrated offensively and will really struggle if we can sneak in passing lanes.

Overall, can we beat these teams? Yes. Can they beat us? Yes. It really comes down to how prepared are they for the zone. When coaches know it is coming (aka the NCAA tournament) and focus solely on it, we have struggled. We seem to go down in round 1 and sweet 16 because teams have a WEEK to prepare (Marquette is different since they see us every year). So here is to hoping we play them in the elite 8 and final 4. Being a 2 seed may not be horrible for us if we get matched up against one of these teams in the elite 8 rather than the final 4.

 

[Orangezoo]

I think the primary threat is OSU. UK's young backcourt and lack of ball movement will cause them trouble. Fab will give Davis fits and our frontcourt is so big and versatile the depth will hurt UK. UNC gets lazy on defense and really relies on getting post position right outside the little circle. The zone will prevent a lot of this We could let Barnes jack 12 triples on the wing even if making six and get them in the transition game. UNC IMO would be a game like the Florida game where our tenacity on D and overall quality 1-10 would win.

OSU- the problem will not be Sully. Fab actually has a pretty good Bball IQ. He moves his feet well, times his blocks well and does a good job not blocking into the player but taking angles. On top of that his footwork lets him get position to take the charge and Sully loves to lean his shoulder in to put up a shot. Thomas and Buford are what scares me from OSU. Buford reminds me of rip Hamilton - and honestly I think will have a better career in the NBA. Sully will be ok but Buford has great lift and form on his J and already has a nice turnaround J. His ability to find the seems is what scares me. On defense- Duke is a poor comparison to say how good the buckeyes D is. Rivers was all they had because he can penetrate. We have that ability as well as strong guards so while im sure Kraft would pick some pockets.. Dion and company are going to get to the rim.. which brings up another topic in that OSU's leading shot blocker is Sully with less than a block a game. With Kris, CJ etc we should not have to worry about getting shots rejected. Our very tall and athletic front line would give them heaps of trouble. Not trying to sound arrogant but we are our only enemy this season. If the guys can continue to get out of their own way playing tough defense, sharing the basketball and not turning into a bunch of chuckers we are the most complete team in the nation. We have three SF/PF combos with range two of which can put it on the floor, 4 quality guards including at least one who is NBA caliber.. and three with NBA size. A dominant starting Center who is growing offensively, a backup C with great length and size who runs like a gazelle and a frosh prospect 4/5 who is slowly growing into his role but he will get there. Seriously... its scary how hard it is to pick out major problems with this team. Even Free Throw shooting which is not great... still isnt all that bad. Melo is better than last year and def better than Arinze was.. Keita is a decent FT shooter as well. Brandon is pretty much automatic and CJ is a good 75%.. much like Kris.. hard not to gloat..