After getting put in the bracket with Murray State I went and watched the Murray State - Auburn game that was played right before Christmas. A couple observations (albeit just a one game sample):
As good in transition as they are, they don't necessarily push the ball up court on offense. They were pretty deliberate and walked the ball up the court more often than not. Morant has a great first step and uses his quickness to try and drive. If he doesn't get the basket he usually picks up the foul. Morant is really good and will most likely get Theo and Ed into foul trouble. Might need to play Heldt a little bit to relieve them and put up another big body in the lane.
They do leave the 3 point shooter open like your article suggested. Lots of wide open 3's for Auburn, and even on some of the contested ones they were late getting out to the shooter. Auburn was 11-25 from the 3 and made Murray State pay.
Cowart does remind me a little bit of Devante Gardner, but he does not have quite his touch around the net, and he definitely gets winded pretty quick. Maybe he is in better shape now in March.
Murray State did not press at all and rarely trapped the ball handler. Their intensity on defense paled in comparison to what MU has seen against the likes of Nova, Seton Hall, Creighton and St. John's games to end the season. If they play D against us like they did against Auburn I like our chances.
