Why UNC is the PERFECT match up for MU

[JD]

Me too!  Why I'm even convinced that MU belongs in this tourney now!  How about you, JDuquaine?

Yeah, yeah I really think so now...we'll maybe one more win!

[El Duderino]

As trivial as this may seem - UNC serves as the perfect opponent for this MU team and Buzz.  There may not be a better coach out there who can put a chip on his guy's shoulder's than Buzz.  All weekend long in Cleveland Buzz talked about the "burger game" players -aka -McDonald's All Americans - and how his guys have had to ride in 15 passenger vans, order meals with a "number," - as in I'll have the Number 2 combo meal.  Our kids are happy with a free T-shirt, even if it isn't "Dri-Fit."  The JUCO route.

We know JP Tokoto has been around the MU program and players a lot...we know he just shot MU down for UNC.  UNC is the privileged, the McDonald's All Americans - MU is the have nots, just as Buzz himself isn't a product of the right athletic background or family roots to get him in the college basketball coaching game.

I'm convinced this will be played up to the 1,000th%

It is time for our Junkyard Dogs to take their Pugnacity to the UNC pretty boys...and I'm pretty sure we will give them a true WARRIOR PERFORMANCE.

Playing hard is fine and dandy, but to beat a team like North Carolina, playing hard won't be enough.

1. We absolutely have to cut down on the turnovers. Xavier and Syracuse both possessed some ability to get out in transition, but nothing like Carolina can. They excel at getting out on the break and if MU turns it over as much as they have the first two games, they'll be toast as NC goes on the type of runs that Marquette won't be able to recover from.

2. Don't get crushed on the boards. Carolina likely will out-rebound MU, but we can't allow them a bevy of offensive boards.

3. Dictate tempo. Marquette generally prefers to play up tempo as does Carolina, but if the game ends up in the 80's, odds are that we'll lose. I think a game played in the high 60's or low 70's gives us the best chance to win. So definitely take some transition offense when it's there, but don't overly force it. Don't be afraid to at times use 25-30 seconds of the shot clock. Just don't allow the game to turn into an up and down the court track meet because we'll like lose in that scenario.

[boyonthedock]

ohio state is not in the UNC Kentucky Duke Notre dame area of hatred. not really close, at least for college basketball

[brewcity77]

Playing hard is fine and dandy, but to beat a team like North Carolina, playing hard won't be enough.

1. We absolutely have to cut down on the turnovers. Xavier and Syracuse both possessed some ability to get out in transition, but nothing like Carolina can. They excel at getting out on the break and if MU turns it over as much as they have the first two games, they'll be toast as NC goes on the type of runs that Marquette won't be able to recover from.

2. Don't get crushed on the boards. Carolina likely will out-rebound MU, but we can't allow them a bevy of offensive boards.

3. Dictate tempo. Marquette generally prefers to play up tempo as does Carolina, but if the game ends up in the 80's, odds are that we'll lose. I think a game played in the high 60's or low 70's gives us the best chance to win. So definitely take some transition offense when it's there, but don't overly force it. Don't be afraid to at times use 25-30 seconds of the shot clock. Just don't allow the game to turn into an up and down the court track meet because we'll like lose in that scenario.

Definitely agree with this. Buzz talked about their break on PTI, and for some reason everyone is underestimating the length of UNC, despite them having three guys at 7'0", 6'10", and 6'9" up front in Zellar, Henson, and Barnes. Scoring-wise, everyone who has beaten Carolina this year has done so with a score in the 70s. Play too fast and they'll outrun you. Play too slow and they'll clamp down with their top-10 in the country defense. Figuring out the speed of the game will be one of the most important keys to beating UNC.

One thing I notice about UNC in their lower-scoring wins, it seems they have a great knack for "figuring teams out" defensively. A number of games they won, such as BC, Clemson, Virginia, their opponent usually has a lead then goes through a massive drought in the last 5-7 minutes while the Heels claim the victory. Might be worth it for Buzz to have a few new wrinkles up his sleeve for that time, or maybe hold off with the full-court press until then just to ensure UNC doesn't have a big comeback in store at the end.

[TJ]

I worry that if we get into an extended scoring drought, as we've done in many games this year, we won't be able to catch back up.  UNC has been scoring lots of points in the tourney so far and it'll be real tough to score 90 if we have a 5+ minute drought on Friday.

They've also been giving up a lot of points though, so I'm hoping we can put up enough to get the win.