Reply to thread

Message: [QUOTE="IthacaMatt, post: 138167, member: 405"] 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. [/QUOTE]

Verification: What is a Syracuse fan's favorite color?