Quick Guards.... No Thanks

[6Under20]

In another thread someone called VCU our kryptonite and that we would turn the ball over 30 times.  What other schools play a style we would want to avoid?  Louisville, Michigan....

Not saying we can't win, just that it makes it more challenging.

[BCHoopster]

Duke, we double the ball to much, Duke has to many shooters that can score.  Any team that shoots the ball well or a team that is very athletic, which we are not.  St. Johns showed
you what they can do on the boards if Gardner is in, does not know how to box out yet.

[tower912]

Probably every poster can make a list of ways that MU can win and they would all be correct.    MU has struggled against pressure defenses in both full and half court.    The idea of Juan trying to guard Kelly from Duke at the 4 makes me shudder.    Yogi Ferrell beating Cadougan off the dribble and pitching to Watford, Hulls, Sheehey as the defense collapses and tries to recover brings a bead of sweat to my brow.   I throw up a little bit in my mouth when I see Siva and Smith picking off another lazy pass.    I throw my hands up and swear when I recall the Florida game.   


Yup, there are many ways MU can lose.    But MU IS 23-7 (14-4), so they must be able to do something right.   

[robmufan]

MU has a deep bench and that will help in the tournament I think when they get past the first round.  The hope is to play a deep that only goes 7 or 8 deep.

[Lennys Tap]

Aren't there extra TV timeouts in the tournament that negate or at least neutralize the depth issue?

[GGGG]

A deep bench helps in a conference tournament when you play up to three games in three days, but it isn't that big of an asset in the NCAA tournament when you play two games over the course of three days.

[Niv Berkowitz]

MU has a deep bench and that will help in the tournament I think when they get past the first round.  The hope is to play a deep that only goes 7 or 8 deep.

MU has 50 fouls to give. I know that sounds ludicrous, but it's true. That depth could help ward off a lot of challenges.

That being said, I am very fearful of a VCU-like team. I think we hang w/Florida much better now that Otule and Ox are much more effective.

[MUMonster03]

Aren't there extra TV timeouts in the tournament that negate or at least neutralize the depth issue?

I think it just seems like more, especially in the 2nd half of a close game, TV TO's are still first deadball after 16 12, 8, and 4.

[robmufan]

I think it just seems like more, especially in the 2nd half of a close game, TV TO's are still first deadball after 16 12, 8, and 4.

and the first TO called in the second half which is extended to a full TV timeout...

[brewcity77]

In another thread someone called VCU our kryptonite and that we would turn the ball over 30 times.  What other schools play a style we would want to avoid?  Louisville, Michigan....

Not saying we can't win, just that it makes it more challenging.

According to a recent ESPN article, we would be Michigan's nightmare matchup.

[MU82]

I am fearful of every team. I was fearful of Green Bay (and said so back then).

We have enough flaws to lose to anybody in the tournament.

We also have enough strengths to beat anybody, especially if we have a better-than-typical game shooting from the perimeter and taking care of the ball.

[Big Papi]

MU has 50 fouls to give. I know that sounds ludicrous, but it's true. That depth could help ward off a lot of challenges.

That being said, I am very fearful of a VCU-like team. I think we hang w/Florida much better now that Otule and Ox are much more effective.

If VCU is making their shots, yes we all should be fearful.  At the same time, they looked very ordinary against Temple when they couldn't make a shot.  What made Louisville so effective was Dieng in the lane so no easy buckets when we crossed half court.  VCU would have an extremely difficult time with Gardner and Otule in the paint and our offensive rebounding. 

[oldwarrior81]

I think it just seems like more, especially in the 2nd half of a close game, TV TO's are still first deadball after 16 12, 8, and 4.

halftime during a tourney game is 20 minutes.
I think the full media timeouts are 2 minutes 30 seconds, then another 15-30 seconds to break up the huddles

in a non-televised regular season game the timeouts are 75 seconds.

[4th and State]

I'm more fearful of running into a team with a dominant center.  Our team is day and night when we can production out of Otule/Gardner.  Still cringe thinking of that Florida game.....

[JD]

I think we'd matchup decently with Michigan.

Other than pg differences, Michigan has no low or high post pressence.  (none that i saw against IU anyway)  Gardner would run a train on that team.  Blue, and mayo could guard their 3 point shooters, i think we would take the W 65% of the time on a neutral court.

[forgetful]

Last year didn't everyone fear Murray State for the same reason they are fearing quick guards now.  How did that work out for us again???

We'll be fine.  Bring on VCU, I think our physicality and refs that don't let everything go will mitigate their pressure.  I worry about Lousiville, and Florida.  Teams that outmatch us with both quickness and physicality.  There aren't many teams that beat us on both those statistics.