Time to beat Kansas
The fact that I am a huge Tar Heel fan didn't help today as Kansas ran all over Carolina in the second half. So if you hadn't already made the connection, we will play Kansas on Friday evening in the Sweet 16. Kansas is a very tough team that definitely can be beaten but will definitely be quite a challenge. They are a team full of veteran athletes that on good nights can play very effectively on the boards and can knock down jump shots as well. So here are a couple of my keys to the game based on my observation from today:
1. Limit them in the paint- Probably the most obvious of them all and the one I'm most afraid of. When given space Withey and Young are very dangerous on the interior. The key will be to limit offensive rebounds and suffocate them on defense while staying out of foul trouble. With the way McGary played on Saturday, I'm starting to become a little more confident in our play on the inside.
2. Control the pace and win the turnover battle- In the first half today, Kansas looked flat mainly due to the fact that Carolina was able to run at their own pace and force Kansas to double digit turnovers. Kansas ended up making adjustments and eventually slowed UNC down. If we can maintain a steady transition game, force turnovers, and slow Kansas down offensively, Kansas will look just as flat as they did today in the first half.
3. NO MORE HERO BALL- Kansas is more like a Big Ten opponent, and we have no room for Burke to take 25 shots and make 6. Instead, we need Burke to have something more like a 20 and 10 game with many assists. Burke needs to be a leader and create opportunities. We are best when we operate with all players contributing, for example our last two tourney games.
That was just my analysis/preview. Feel free to leave more comments, opinions, and keys to the game. I'm tired of Kansas, so let's beat the crap out of them Friday. GO BLUE!
March 25th, 2013 at 12:08 AM ^
I believe you meant "butthurt" and not butthole. And I assume you refer to yourself in the 2nd person.
Nope, Butthole. A loose one. Sh**ty, inane remarks deserve at least that characterization.
and he always seems to throw up slop around the rim that rarely goes in. I'm more concerned with Withey.
We played two teams that are unlike anything we saw during Big Ten play. The Jackrabbits were small and unathletic, and we were able to use our speed to pressure them on every screen. Against VCU, our best defense was good offense. VCU's half court offense is atrocious, and we barely ever turned the ball ever (many of our 12 turnovers were dead balls so they didn't give VCU a chance to run in transition).
So I do think we've stepped up the intensity on defense, but I think we've also not faced a team so far like the ones that gave us so much trouble during the big ten season. Kansas, on the other hand, is a return to the Big Ten template of large interior presence and experienced guard scorers. They don't have an elite offense, but it is a more straightforward one.
In conclusion, I think that our defense is improved, and as ready as it will ever be to face Kansas. I like our chances, and hope we bring the pain. Go Blue. Also, FGCU is my favorite tourney team in a long time. Such exciting bball.
Nice three-paragraph essay. Your fourth-grade teacher would be proud.
1st half KU we win going away, 2nd half KU and we'll have our hands full.
Hate to say this, but KU reminds me of Michigan State. Great defense, rangy athletes, and murder on the boards. Also tuen it over a lot. Going to be a war.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:42 PM ^
I think part of the reason we're doing so well is getting away from the refs that call big ten games. If it was the usual big ten crew they would have let VCU mug the shit out of us, but the refs called it fouls when they reached in as they should.
If Kansas plays against your lot like they did in the second half against Carolina, you're finished. I'd say that about all but maybe 1 or 2 teams left in the tourney.
Since when is stating an opinion 'Trolling'? Whatever. I'm well aware they won't be playing Carolina. But Kansas straight exploded on both ends of the court in that second half and them playing with confidence is a scary thing.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:06 PM ^
We better have tons of fans in Arlington next weekend.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:13 PM ^
Happy that we have 4 full days to prepare for this team, but this is going to be rough. KU seems to finally be hitting its stride after tonight.
March 25th, 2013 at 12:30 AM ^
I really think KU always plays well and extra hard against Roy Williams-UNC. I can totally see Bill Self give the "He didn't think Kansas was good enough" speech in the locker room before the game. And they were at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, where they have already played 8 TIMES (!!!) this season, having just played their past 5 games there. It was basically their home away from home. Cowboys Stadium will definitely be filled with Jayhawks, but not like Kansas City. They did look good today, but I think if you take those two things above in consideration, we definitely will be able to hang with them.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
March 24th, 2013 at 10:38 PM ^
McLemore is better than Gary Harris doing pretty much everything. He's had a few off games, but even with 4-5 games of crappy shooting he's still over 50% shooting while making as many three pointers as Gary Harris while shooting fewer of them.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:56 PM ^
March 24th, 2013 at 10:24 PM ^
has a game time been set for friday's game ?
March 25th, 2013 at 12:38 AM ^
On TBS!
March 24th, 2013 at 10:31 PM ^
You guys are worrying too much about Withey's blocking. Most of our points in the paint come from transition layups/dunks where Withey's blocking is not going to be a factor. Sure, he's going to get a few, but if both teams play average games our turnover differential is going to make up for the blocks.
What concerns me the most is their three point shooting and rebounding. They usually play with 4 guys on the floor that can hit 3s and most of the games we've lost we've gotten outrebounded and/or outshot from 3. The only team that beat us straight up w/o a massive difference in rebounding/3pt shooting was probably Ohio State if I recall correctly.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
My roomate is a DIE HARD Kansas fan, so I've watched almost all of their games...
Kansas is a very streaky team, and when they are off, they are horrible... Like Michigan @ MSU horrible.
Travis Releford is usually a good indicator of how they are playing...
He is an outstanding defender and will make life tough for Tim Hardaway
March 24th, 2013 at 11:39 PM ^
March 24th, 2013 at 11:41 PM ^
but we sound surprisingly confident up in here. Kansas is a 1 seed for a reason, we're probably going to need that secondary scoring we've been getting from GRIII and Mitch to win this one I think
Or just do whatever Baylor did and not whatever KState has been trying
March 25th, 2013 at 12:15 AM ^
March 25th, 2013 at 12:18 AM ^
They got SIZE. I expect Morgan, Horford and even Biefeldt to play if needed. Burke will be the smallest player on the court and I don't know how effective getting in the lane and dropping a floater will be for him with Jeff Withey being a giant and all. In the games KU lost, Elijah Johnson struggled. EJ is 6-4, so maybe Hardaway and Burke split that assignment. Just got to make shots and box out like crazy. I hope all the players have Ice Cube and Juvenille in their music librares.
This is going to be a road game, KU is going to own that place. John Beilein is 0-2 vs. Kansas while at Michigan, losing once at home in OT and once on the road. Maybe the third time (with waaaaaaaay more talent) is a charm? The last time I went to Cowboys Stadium to watch Michigan play, I don't remember leaving but remember not feeling very good the next day. Let's hope that this visit and experience leaves us with they joy we were denied last time.
March 25th, 2013 at 12:31 AM ^
It is only an 8 hour drive for KU fans to attend the game. I expect 80 percent of the crowd to be KU fans.
I think McGary can box out Withey. But I would like to see our other two bigs in the game as well.
March 25th, 2013 at 12:33 AM ^
Big East put 3 (Villanova, St. Johns, and Georgetown) in the 1985 final four. Hasnt been done before or since.
As an aside, Memphis State (Memphis) had to vacate thier position in the Final Four that year. So Big East had 3 in the final three.
Thanks Wikipedia.
March 25th, 2013 at 10:37 AM ^
We would probably have to start Jordan Morgan because he may be the only one with the defensive skills to cover Withey. Hopefully McGary will play and maybe he will do the job against Withey, plus he is a much better scorer than Morgan/Horford and we all love to watch him screen.
March 25th, 2013 at 10:42 AM ^
is not hurt, he will be needed for this game. Whithey (spelling?) is a load and we will need to rotate the bigs on him. This might be where Morgan shows is stuff on the defensive side.
I have this game a L for Michigan in my bracket, I thought we would squeek by VCU and have trouble with Kansas. After seeing that murdering Saturday, we are really good, we can beat Kansas at their game and we can go to the elite 8.
Cabbage patch