Sweet 16 game thread

[muskieman]

pre game players press conference https://youtu.be/tJixavfy9Tw

[Anti-Homer]

Watching the Zags-UCLA game. This is a similar matchup on paper as X-TX. UCLA is a very efficient scoring team but doesn’t wow you, and they win their games with their D, ball security, and mid-range shooting. Same as TX. They avg only 10 T.O.s a game (TX 11), largely due to a Drew Lavendar-type PG in Campbell. UCLA is in complete command of the game, up 13 at the half. They are shooting comparably to the Zags, but UCLA is getting into the lane-hoop at will and has 3 guys with 12,12,13 respectively: very balanced scoring.

Three stats stand out: UCLA has seven steals and the Zags, one. UCLA has scored on virtually every T.O. as well. Zags only avg. 11 T.O.s a game. The Zags are a one-dimensional offense tonight in half-court, as Timme has 19 of the 33 points. They have scored a fair amount off the break. The Zags also average 8 made threes, and only have 2, but took only five.

Texas is very similar to UCLA statistically and in personnel. They both primarily play 3 guards, a 6’6” four, and a good-sized center. Texas scores from the post, however, whereas UCLA doesn’t unless it’s a stick back. One Matzo Ball-sized mistake by Few in staying in man. UCLA tries to get Jacquez in isolation against Timme by running off a pick, and…..Jacquez has 12 at the half. I don’t know why Few didn’t try a 1-3-1. Again, UCLA has virtually no low post-scoring presence and shoots 34% from the field. I would make them beat me a different way because they cannot stay in front of Campbell or Bailey in space, and they get into the lane at will.

I hope X does the H-L a lot tomorrow, forcing Texas to help. Hunter is 6’8,” and plays bigger than that. Timmy Allen is 6’6” and will guard him I assume. I also don’t think any of Texas’s starting guards can match up with Jones. If X limits turnovers – fast breaks, compresses the D, forces TX (34% from 3) to shoot from the outside, hold their own on the boards, and shoot 72% or better from the line, they win. X 75-73.

[X-lucidity]

nice analysis AH and I do hope you are spot on. I spent this afternoon at work straying from actual work and watched a few TX highlights, especially their last reg season tilt vs Kansas. Really looked like men against boys as they controlled the gm from opening tip and won by about 15. TX 3-guard attack is formidable. I realize Colby can guard one and at time Des will cover another. But we will always have AK or Souley on the other if not two at a time. These match-ups will be brutal as all three can shoot, drive and flat out get buckets. TX thrives in transition but can also break you down on dribble drive. Would think SM has to have a zone concept avail in his back pocket to roll out here and there. Hey, we ain't chop liver, so what the hell. But good golly this is going to take our A game to hang. Enough talking, time to ball out.

[Anti-Homer]

X-Luc,

I saw on Twitter that in Tx's losses, the other team shot better from 3 7 out of 8 times. That's optimistic since X is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country. TX also apparently aggressively guards perimeter players very aggressively, so Boum, Kunkel, and Jones need to be strong with the ball and employ shot fakes to draw fouls and drives to get them in the air.

Also, I love Claude's contribution since BE play and the Tourney, other than his performance ag Kenn. St. Especially as it relates to his defense, and drives to the hole. However, his shaky ball security issues are rearing their ugly head ahead. He too needs to play more under control(often drives into traffic and gets stripped, a la Marshall). Also, despite his improved 3-point shooting in BE play, it is taking a hiatus in the Tourney. He needs to put that shot in his pocket as well, unless he is absolutely wide open and can step into his shot. or the clock is winding down. Definitely not off the dribble.

Lastly, I want the ball in Boum, Kunkel, or Hunter's hands at the end of the game, because of the erratic free throw shooting of the others. Regarding Boum, he needs to pull up from 10 feet, instead of forcing three-on-one drives, or challenging a 6'10" defender.

[Anti-Homer]

It appears that TX starts a 6'8" at the four, but he plays the 8th most minutes on the team. He plays 18 minutes a game, avg. 4.5 pts and 4 rebounds. Their sixth man, Rice, is a guard, who avg.s 13 pts a game and 25 minutes. TX is nine deep, so foul trouble potential and fatigue is a concern. Due to that, the fact that TX has several guards who can beat Boum and Kunkel off the dribble, is an avg shooting team, and below avg from 3 at 33%, I really hope to see zone mixed in at various times.

I think TX will press, following MQuette's template, so X has to make them pay for it by not just breaking it, but scoring. They will face pressure all game otherwise, and Boum hasn't been great under pressure quite frankly. I'd love to see Hunter come up, as he is a very good dribbling four-man. BE should lead all other leagues in credits for this tourney. Tonight will go a long way in ensuring that.

[connecticut72]

For the most part I agree with AH analysis & others. I would just like to add that it is simple for me. I am Assuming we shoot the ball like we normally do and if we do not shoot it well than forget about it we lose. We need to protect the ball because Texas scores a lot of their points on loose ball turnovers and steals. If we can force them to play half court offense and if we rebound the ball both offensively and defensively we could win. It will not be a cake walk but then again do we ever do anything easily? I wish it was an earlier game but I am glad we are here no matter the time. GO X!!!

[XU_2011]

Seems like Texas' gameplan is to beat the crap out of our guys.

[Kevin Reilly]

Need to relax . Especially Nunge. Keep driving . Their fouling

[Kevin Reilly]

Silly foul by Jones. Damn.

[Kevin Reilly]

The pace of the game and the Texas defense is killing us., Boum is having a lot of trouble on both ends. Need to reverse the ball and drive to the whole strongly. Claude is really having trouble too. Need to play strong ang go right at them. Need a couple stops to get back in the game.