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!
Beat KU!
Cheers to that
get by kansas and we're in the final 4. Florida is struggling with Minnesota right now. We would beat them.
only goes 2 or 3 deep off the bench also. If they get in foul trouble, they are screwed.
2 or 3 deep is how deep most teams go in the tournament. How many effective subs do we have playing against a half-court offense? No more than three. Just because we play more than that off the bench doesn't mean they're doing much more than giving the starters a rest.
*Florida Gulf Coast
Can't wait to beat them in the Elite 8!
They won by 14. They were up by double digits most of the game.
I never really got the hero ball thing. Our offense is one of the best in the nation. We had like 2/3 bad offenive games on the whole season at ohio, at MSU, and Wisconsin in the BTT. Our defense was brutal for the rest but it's better now and is the reason why we're playing better.
The only times I've seen Trey go "one on five" is when the other four players for Michigan are stinking up the joint and he basically HAS TO.
Indiana game for instance was one where the team was playing exceptionally well, except on defense, and Trey decided to take over the game. While he ended with 25, he only shot 8 or 9 for 25 from the field if I recall correctly, and if I remember correctly his shot selection was atrocious. The 6 for 26 reference was an exaggeration, but it's something we definitely do not need.
I liked the matchup vs UNC better, They're going to need Morgan to snap out of it, because Withey won't be an easy matchup for McGary.
It seems a bit extreme that he has only played one minute over the past two games. They played McLimans and Bielfeldt at the end of the VCU game but Morgan never budged from the bench. It seems to me like there is something there that no one is talking about.
good analysis... but "huge" Tarheels fan? I don't get it being a UM fan.
a huge Tar Heel fan as well as Michigan fan so he kind of got me going with it. Michigan is still my number one team though. Was already planning on going for Michigan had the two ended up playing next week.
Sorry, but I get very irritated when people tell me they're a different basketball school fan than football school fan.
different at all. I still love all aspects of the University of Michigan. Like I said before my dad kind of introduced me into Carolina athletics and I have liked them since. Michigan is still my go to school.
Alright that's at least acceptable. I know two people that are Michigan football fans and one openly roots against Michigan in basketball and roots for Duke. The other Kentucky. Also an osu football fan and duke basketball fan. Ridiculous.
How does one openly root against Michigan basketball and call themselves a Michigan football fan? That's disgusting!
Then you go to graduate school at Duke for two years, being just a bit young to remember when Michigan basketball was any good. And you get season student tickets at Cameron.
I've just described my sister. She comes by it honestly, and I'll defend her right to root for Duke even as I remind her about all of their failings.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:19 PM ^
That's funny as my brother went to undergrad at Kentucky which he loves, and then went to law school at Ohio. He's reasonble in rooting for KY in basketball and Ohio for football. Although he freely admits that UK is his #1 and would never root against them no regardless of whom they played. He also will root for Michigan (where I went) and State (where our other brother went) depending on whether or not they're playing his schools. It's a tricky sports family but my father roots for Michigan regardless of their opponent. Go Blue!
helps that we get 4 days to prepare for them.
Maybe the difference in our rest times will make a night and day difference.
Kansas had 22 turnovers, 11 of them by their starting bigs. I have a feeling Trey and co. will be able to do UNC one better in that department.
the 'hero ball' thing either. burke is our first player of the year since cassy, and some of you are idiots to even go there. be cool. without burke, we would have finished a few notch lower in the B1G and would not be talking about next weekend.
we need to play better D and rebound, and we'll be good.
GO BLUE!
you consider it, the fact of the matter is that we don't need Trey to go 6-28 from the field. We need his shot selection and overall play to be smarter down the stretch. Probably should have reworded it in the original post.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:58 PM ^
He went 6-14 against VCU and added four free throws. Hardly "hero ball".
March 25th, 2013 at 12:04 AM ^
But did you see how he kept hogging the ball and running the offense!? Who does he think he is? Our point guard and best player?
Exactly why we looked so good. That's the OP's point. When other players get more involved, this team is hard to compete with.
However, I don't think there is anything wrong in saying some hope he has more balanced game getting everyone else more involved. This team is most dangerous when Burke gets everyone involved. Burke is responsibile for most of it by finding open guys created by driving and kicking (most of the time). There is nothing wrong with saying we hope he is not taking 30 shots because in the end, when he doesn't and is finding everyone on the court, our team is a legit national title contender.
I personally don't believe the hero ball comment is a knock on Burke, it is just a way of saying we hope the team has a more balanced attack because that is when they are the most dangerous.
March 25th, 2013 at 12:05 AM ^
Except he specifically critized Burke. He has one of the best AST/TO ratios in the country. You don't get that without plenty of assists no matter how well you handle the ball.
Is this matchup in JerryWorld? Let's hope it goes better than that Alabama contest (sorry to bring that up)
I understand why you have, : -142.
I understand why you have, : -142.
BOO THIS MAN!
March 24th, 2013 at 10:03 PM ^
It won't really be a "home game" for Kansas like today was.
Even though we won't be at home, we won't be on the road, Big Ten-style, either.
March 24th, 2013 at 10:15 PM ^
It won't be as bad as a Big Ten road game, but I expect KU fans to easily outnumber us and it could get pretty loud. Dallas is within driving distance of Kansas. They'll bring a lot of fans. We may get the Florida/FGCU fans on our side, but I don't know how many of them will be there, either.
I'm upvoting a bunch of stuff because someone is downvoting just about everything! Especially in the UM Women's Tourny Game open Thread! Hey Mods! What's the deal?!?! Anyways, Withey is going to make it impossible to get into the lane. If KU plays man to man, bringing McGary away from the basket and making Withey play extended defense should be the gameplan. As someone mentioned earlier, KU turns the ball over A LOT. And they still play a fast paced game. i think we'll be fine.
My hunch is that it's Ghost of Yost. He negged the OP here and over in the Women's BB thread, but didn't favor us with an actual comment.
Is it just me (without researching yet, obviously) or has Michigan not played Kansas in a really, really long time?!
of 2011. Lost in OT... Time for redemption
Oh God I suck. Thanks. Forgot about that game, I thought it'd been quite a while.
(I don't think it was an overtime game though..?!)
It was. Better luck guessing next time.