The one chink in UK's armor...

[A Clockwork Orange]

They become much less dynamic against a 2-3 zone. If we play them on Monday night, and they only have two days to prepare I think SU has a really good chance of beating them.

Anthony Davis is a man. Wow, he's one of the best shot blockers I've ever seen. What a game changer, and would completely choke off our ability to penetrate.

Would be a really interesting game.

 

[OrlandoCuse]

They become much less dynamic against a 2-3 zone. If we play them on Monday night, and they only have two days to prepare I think SU has a really good chance of beating them.

Anthony Davis is a man. Wow, he's one of the best shot blockers I've ever seen. What a game changer, and would completely choke off our ability to penetrate.

Would be a really interesting game.

I'd love to see a Fab Melo/Anthony Davis match up. Fab has won pretty much every match up vs the other big guys he's gone up against this year. I don't think Davis would be able to do much vs. Fab because he doesn't have the sheer strength to push around somebody with Melo's size/weight.

On offense, Melo would constantly be putting a body on Davis, clearing out the lane and neutralizing his shot blocking ability.

 

[rstone7727]

Would be a great game and could go either way. We'd have to make shots all game long to beat them, but yeah, I think our zone would give them trouble.
Kentucky is more than athletes though, they play pretty good together as a team.

 

[jdubs30]

This might be a stretch; but if Fab can hit that mid-range J 2-3 times a game consistently, that'd give him the chance to drag Davis away from the basket and open the lane.

TJones/Gilchrist would also have to respect KJ/CJ's shot and driving ability.

We could really spread the floor if need be

 

[STEVEHOLT]

for a second i thought the title to this post was going to be a racist jeremy lin comment

 

[mantonio]

First of all, A LOT has to happen before this matchup can become a reality. My hunch is, Kentucky won't even get that far.

The year Syracuse won their Championship, Kentucky had won something like 16 games in a row going into the NCAA Tourney. They were the odds on favorite to win it all.

Secondly, they might be the most talented team in the field, but they are negligibly so against this Syracuse team, & Young talent does not necessarily mean more effective talent. In fact, it is the RULE that freshman talent will not beat out talent plus development & experience.

Syracuse is close enough in talent & has more overall depth, which could make a difference. Then, you have to consider the physical development advantage of the CUSE. They have more upperclassmen who will manhandle the Kentucky players.

Many of you might mock my assertions, accusing me of a warped sense of bias, but sitting back & looking objectively, you cannot ignore these time tested concepts that ring true...

 

[LennX6]

First of all, A LOT has to happen before this matchup can become a reality. My hunch is, Kentucky won't even get that far.

The year Syracuse won their Championship, Kentucky had won something like 16 games in a row going into the NCAA Tourney. They were the odds on favorite to win it all.

Secondly, they might be the most talented team in the field, but they are negligibly so against this Syracuse team, & Young talent does not necessarily mean more effective talent. In fact, it is the RULE that freshman talent will not beat out talent plus development & experience.

Syracuse is close enough in talent & has more overall depth, which could make a difference. Then, you have to consider the physical development advantage of the CUSE. They have more upperclassmen who will manhandle the Kentucky players.

Many of you might mock my assertions, accusing me of a warped sense of bias, but sitting back & looking objectively, you cannot ignore these time tested concepts that ring true...

In fact 2003 Syracuse was one of the rare teams that bucked the theory of the 2 indispensible things one needs for a NC. 1. Great Guards 2.Upperclass Guards. Syracuse has both. UK does not.
I still think the jury is out when you basically have Classes at UK do line changes. Waves of one-and-dones flashing through, though talent laden, has to be hard to coach. One particular year you may catch lightning in a bottle, but the rapid class turnover I believe will leave UK wanting at the end.

 

[nyucuse]

for a second i thought the title to this post was going to be a racist jeremy lin comment

Well played sir...

 

[jb-reaf]

uk defensively i thought looked horribly sloppy they fall for every pump fake. i cant believe vany didnt try to take advantage of that by getting them racked up with fouls.

 

[sufandu]

I'd love to see a Fab Melo/Anthony Davis match up. Fab has won pretty much every match up vs the other big guys he's gone up against this year. I don't think Davis would be able to do much vs. Fab because he doesn't have the sheer strength to push around somebody with Melo's size/weight.

On offense, Melo would constantly be putting a body on Davis, clearing out the lane and neutralizing his shot blocking ability.

I was thinking this too. Drummond was having his way with Fab in the second half until he got hurt, but Davis isn't as physical as Drummond. I don't think we'd shut down Davis but Fab could play him pretty even.

 

[Bornorange]

I was thinking this too. Drummond was having his way with Fab in the second half until he got hurt, but Davis isn't as physical as Drummond. I don't think we'd shut down Davis but Fab could play him pretty even.

When Higgins was under the basket the calls went Melo's way.