UNC Practicing Against Zone Tonight

[RF2044]

A wounded and cornered animal at that.

A wounded and cornered ILL TEMPERED animal?

 

[Orangezoo]

Uggh.. I hate this site sometimes. I had a response written and it completely deleted it.

I will summarize. All 3 of UNC's big wins were against teams who play a style of defense that allows UNC to thrive. UK and MSU play pressure MTM and Louisville presses to fall back to their zone. All of these let UNC play fast. That is one thing you should never let a Royboy team do. Add that to the fact that in addition to letting them play fast, UNC could then use their size inside to impact the game even more. Once UNC gets into a good offensive flow they play better in the half court as well.

From a matchup perspective the major concern outside of them getting down the court quickly is if they can get production from Mcadoo in the middle or have mcdonald and paige get hot from 3. I am sure we will see a few lobs to tokoto as well. Offensively they will have better success against us than they did miami. Defensively, as long as we don't completely stink it up shooting the ball I don't think they can stop us. It will take a massive game from their forwards and the best defensive effort they have given all year to beat us coupled with an offensive stinker from us. Stranger things have happened but I put much more stock in this than them winning this because of desperation. I don't think they can win a game where they have to value possessions.

 

[rrlbees]

BTW, we can dispense with the straw man argument about psychology playing "a role" in sports which nobody disputes.

Then why did you dispute it and disagree with a very simplistic statement?

 

[moqui]

Uggh.. I hate this site sometimes. I had a response written and it completely deleted it.

I will summarize. All 3 of UNC's big wins were against teams who play a style of defense that allows UNC to thrive. UK and MSU play pressure MTM and Louisville presses to fall back to their zone. All of these let UNC play fast. That is one thing you should never let a Royboy team do. Add that to the fact that in addition to letting them play fast, UNC could then use their size inside to impact the game even more. Once UNC gets into a good offensive flow they play better in the half court as well.

From a matchup perspective the major concern outside of them getting down the court quickly is if they can get production from Mcadoo in the middle or have mcdonald and paige get hot from 3. I am sure we will see a few lobs to tokoto as well. Offensively they will have better success against us than they did miami. Defensively, as long as we don't completely stink it up shooting the ball I don't think they can stop us. It will take a massive game from their forwards and the best defensive effort they have given all year to beat us coupled with an offensive stinker from us. Stranger things have happened but I put much more stock in this than them winning this because of desperation. I don't think they can win a game where they have to value possessions.

yes, all the data says that SU should win, and win easily. But we've all watched enough ball to know that any team with Division 1 athletes - let alone those of the caliber UNC will bring in - can get inspired, rise up and beat much better teams. UNC is going to be desperate, but will that enough to make them play inspired basketball? That's why we'll be watching.

 

[rrlbees]

are you . . . all in?

I actually agree with Bees here . . . UNC has proven that they can beat good teams, and they will come in Saturday desperate for a win. Now, I think SU wins - JB owns Roy Boy after all, but this game is like facing a wounded animal.

Thus why I simply preferred UNC not to lose tonight.

 

[Orangezoo]

yes, all the data says that SU should win, and win easily. But we've all watched enough ball to know that any team with Division 1 athletes - let alone those of the caliber UNC will bring in - can get inspired, rise up and beat much better teams. UNC is going to be desperate, but will that enough to make them play inspired basketball? That's why we'll be watching.

For UNC it will be all about playing smart basketball. They play inspired and show off their athleticism every game. Its the mental aspect they struggle at. In their 3 wins they didn't have to be so mentally focused because they played their style. If they come out mentally focused against the zone and play a smart, efficient game it will be the first one all year IMHO.

And I am by no means downplaying the possibility of them winning this game. We have shown to be a team who can make mistakes mentally as well. We also have come up big in games that looked like definite losses. I was not trying to guarantee anything as that would be foolish against a team with so much talent like UNC.

 

[AlaskaSU]

Who cares? Psychology is overrated in sports.

WHAT????? Blasphemy! Psychology is huge in sports. Mind set, determination, optimism, pride, intention - all psychology. I bet you can't name one thing in basketball that isn't psychological.

But - I have to go to bed now and can't respond until tomorrow.

Is the new Cooney a product of better legs or better head?

 

[thebigeast44]

I think Syracuse comes into this game with the mindset that this is the biggest game in the Dome all year save for the Duke game. Regardless of North Carolina's record this far. My main concern is the Noon starting time. It seems like no one is ever awake at the start of Noon games - the team or the crowd. Wish it was a 2pm start - much prefer that.

 

[thebigeast44]

Thus why I simply preferred UNC not to lose tonight.

Preferred NC had won?! Who's a bigger threat in the ACC for us - Miami or North Carolina? I definitely wanted NC to lose. Want to knock them out of contention for the title asap.

 

[Cusefan0307]

We are a terrible matchup for UNC. Paige shouldn't find many open looks. They are an ehhh defensive team. SU will be pumped because it's UNC. Next Saturday is the game I'm more worried about.

 

[CaptainJ]

Is the new Cooney a product of better legs or better head?

Probably both and more. I think it's hard to suggest that confidence hasn't played a huge role in his evolution as a player.

 

[CaptainJ]

Anyhow, this clash of the titans hasn't lived up to the billing I've given it. I ask for everyone's forgiveness. It seems like I started drinking for nothing(but I know in my heart that isn't likely the case).

 

[CaptainJ]

A wounded and cornered ILL TEMPERED animal?

Minus the goofy picture, that sounds more like me than UNC!

 

[obliterata]

I'm glad North Carolina lost, they're staring at a possible 0-3 start as I mentioned earlier. Although it's true they'll be in desperation mode come Saturday it's also true they'll be doubting themselves a little bit more - after all, they couldn't win a home game vs Miami like SU did. So, I see the positives and the negatives for them cancelling each other out.

The only problem I can see that NC's loss could cause is overconfidence on SU's part but I don't think that's going to happen.

 

[TerryM]

They should be worried. We are the better team. But as bad as UNC has been this year, they have played up, or down to their competition. They beat MSU, UK, and Louisville. Three teams better than anyone we have played. And psychology is underrated in sports. It's why many teams have team psychologists. I don't want a pissed and embarrassed UNC coming in here trying to atone for another needless loss.

Villanova is better than all 3 of this teams FYI and Baylor might be also

 

[rrlbees]

Villanova is better than all 3 of this teams FYI and Baylor might be also

And how do you know this FYI ?

 

[Marsh01]

Here is the deal.

It does matter but not as much as people want to believe it matters. How we play and how they play will dictate how the game will go. You can mentally prepare yourself for a game all you want but if the first 5 minutes goes the way of same old same old for UNC then they are in trouble no matter how mentally prepared they are for the game. Losing a game or two doesnt may make a team mentally prepare more but in the end what kind of team are you trotting out onto the floor?

I remember in GMAC's senior year a similar thing happened. We needed a big win or two down the stretch and we kept losing games. "This is the one" people kept saying and we would lose. Gtown, the debacle at DePaul. The "must" win in GMAC's senior game...all were mentally prepared probably but in the end talent reared its ugly head and we just didnt perform.

If Carolina wins Saturday its because they executed their game plan and we didnt. Not because they were more mentally prepared than we were.

 

[4evaOrange]

Good read on this thread...Very entertaining.

 

[edowd26]

Who cares? Psychology is overrated in sports.

WHAT????? Blasphemy! Psychology is huge in sports. Mind set, determination, optimism, pride, intention - all psychology. I bet you can't name one thing in basketball that isn't psychological.

But - I have to go to bed now and can't respond until tomorrow.

No question. Sports are 80 percent mental and 40 percent physical.

I've played a lot of sports and some people lack the mental aspect which hurts their performance. My little brother is like this. We are a hockey family and he had physical gifts but greatly lacked a killer instinct and proper motivation. This drove me mad. My older brother was the opposite end. He was a freaking headcase and that also hurt him. There is a fine line somewhere.

 

[cusetown1]

And how do you know this FYI ?

Same way you know that msu UL and uk are all better than the teams we played.

 

[edowd26]

And how do you know this FYI ?

 

[rrlbees]

Same way you know that msu UL and uk are all better than the teams we played.

The FYI threw me off .

 

[RF2044]

Then why did you dispute it and disagree with a very simplistic statement?

Because it isn't nearly as big of a factor as you are making it out to be. We are going to get every team's best shot from here on out, every single game, because of who we are and what we're ranked. Do you think that UNC would magically relax somehow and not play as hard on Saturday if they'd won tonight? Sure, they might be desperate for a win on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that they are going to play BETTER.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of "psychological" factors working in our favor, that more than offset the mojo some of you are pointing to as favoring UNC. We are playing at home. Despite their inconsistent record, this is still UNC and our players are likely to be sky high to play them. We are battle tested and have played in a lot of close games that we've managed to pull out at the end--so we won't get rattled if they hang around for awhile. We execute well at the end of games, whereas UNC does not.

So again, the simplistic statement I'm fine with, but you are misapplying what it means. The same way that you are overestimating how much UNC winning or losing will impact Saturday's game.

 

[rrlbees]

Because it isn't nearly as big of a factor as you are making it out to be. We are going to get every team's best shot from here on out, every single game, because of who we are and what we're ranked. Do you think that UNC would magically relax somehow and not play as hard on Saturday if they'd won tonight? Sure, they might be desperate for a win on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that they are going to play BETTER.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of "psychological" factors working in our favor, that more than offset the mojo some of you are pointing to as favoring UNC. We are playing at home. Despite their inconsistent record, this is still UNC and our players are likely to be sky high to play them. We are battle tested and have played in a lot of close games that we've managed to pull out at the end--so we won't get rattled if they hang around for awhile. We execute well at the end of games, whereas UNC does not.

So again, the simplistic statement I'm fine with, but you are misapplying what it means. The same way that you are overestimating how much UNC winning or losing will impact Saturday's game.

Here's what I said.

"Go UNC. A loss by them tonight makes our game more difficult Saturday."

Such an over the top post.

 

[edowd26]

Because it isn't nearly as big of a factor as you are making it out to be. We are going to get every team's best shot from here on out, every single game, because of who we are and what we're ranked. Do you think that UNC would magically relax somehow and not play as hard on Saturday if they'd won tonight? Sure, they might be desperate for a win on Saturday, but that doesn't mean that they are going to play BETTER.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of "psychological" factors working in our favor, that more than offset the mojo some of you are pointing to as favoring UNC. We are playing at home. Despite their inconsistent record, this is still UNC and our players are likely to be sky high to play them. We are battle tested and have played in a lot of close games that we've managed to pull out at the end--so we won't get rattled if they hang around for awhile. We execute well at the end of games, whereas UNC does not.

So again, the simplistic statement I'm fine with, but you are misapplying what it means. The same way that you are overestimating how much UNC winning or losing will impact Saturday's game.

Sometimes, people say stuff better than I can. And this is an example of that.