NC State

[MuggsyB]

Someone on here, tamu maybe, mentioned that if lampkin scored 20 it's probably a good thing for Marquette.
Maybe it's the same for Burns.

I know we shouldn't discount anyone's skills, especially a big dude when covering him with a bunch of skinny dudes, but it's hard for me to get worked up about a polished davante with this team we've got.

Hope I'm not wrong

You're not wrong.  Although there are days where I do wonder how dominant I would have been at that size with my skill-set and zoomability. 

[avid1010]

It's fascinating to me that we are talking about Burns.  I think his weight just draws attention...  i get he has been scoring recently, but 13 pts, 4 boards and 3 assists doesn't mean much to me.  Clinghan is a problem for us...guys like Burns and his 4 rebounds and .5 blocks per game is a break for MU.

MU will send a hard double just as they've done all year long..especially in that short corner.

Horne going off is a concern...Stevie should have his number...and while I haven't watched many NC State games I don't see him being dangerous in the pick and roll the way MU guards it (switch everything). 

-6.5 means about a 70-75% chance of victory.  In a 7 game series this is an afterthought.  In the NCAA, anything can happen, but this sets up nicely for MU.  Colorado is certainly better than NC State...

[rocket surgeon]

i'm dying to see oso or whoever ends up mismatched with burns, pull the chair out from him...btw, they have him listed at 275!?! can't be the same guys

[MuggsyB]

i'm dying to see oso or whoever ends up mismatched with burns, pull the chair out from him...btw, they have him listed at 275!?! can't be the same guys

🚀,

There's a 0.0% chance he's 275. 

[Uncle Rico]

Oh, I dunno.  People believe some wild things when it comes to height and weight

[MU82]

People believe some wild things when it comes to height and weight

"Mr. Burns, I can state unequivocally, will be the healthiest individual ever to play center against Marquette." - NC State physician Harold Bornstein

[CountryRoads]

🚀,

There's a 0.0% chance he's 275. 

Awkward interview:

https://x.com/barstoolsports/status/1772790141590900882?s=46

[Jay Bee]

Jim McIlvaine had a strong tweet last week - asked why mbb weights are listed and often talked about, but not so for wbb?

Need the equity folks to correct this, please

[avid1010]

Jim McIlvaine had a strong tweet last week - asked why mbb weights are listed and often talked about, but not so for wbb?

Need the equity folks to correct this, please

hahahaha

[YaBlueIt]

Jop will need to have another good rebounding night. While Burns doesn't grab boards, Diarra is an athletic big with some range and will definitely be crashing the glass from the weak side off of Burns' shot attempts. Have to keep a body on him and box out when the shot goes up.

[cheebs09]

I've seen some posts on their board that Diarra is fasting for Ramadan. Based on the timing of the game, he will not be able to eat and drink that day until late.

[MUCam]

The 2024 NCAA South regional is the convergence of my historical NCAA BB fandom.

In 1977 I enjoyed being an MU student, Al McGuire and an NCAA championship. Best moment of my fandom life, to this day.

I graduate MU and I move on to UH for law school. UH rewards me with 1983 Phi Slamma Jama, Olajuwon, Drexler, Guy V., et al.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqMHID2iDRE

We (UH) win the semifinal game vs Louisville and clearly, I am on the verge of attending 2 universities as they become NCAA champs. Wow what a cool thing

Oh sure, there is  NC State who got hot in the ACC Tourney and kept eaking out wins in the opposite bracket. But this was not David Thompson's 74 NC State...this was just an upstart. No problem.

See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxN9_SZhHns

Super confident, I went from my fan life pinnacle of 77 to the depth of the 83 last second loss to NC State. A lifetime hurt. ESPN does two 30 for 30s on this one tourney (see above). Epic

Only the '95 NBA Rockets amazing champ run with Olajuwon and Drexler provides any solace here. Guy V Lewis was a longtime friend and client. We coped with the 1983 loss by simply never speaking of it.

MU, UH, NC State....and well Duke (the team I have loved to hate throughout this period).

The South regional brings this all back to my memory.

A fun read. Thanks. Deserving of acknowledgement.

[swoopem]

I've seen some posts on their board that Diarra is fasting for Ramadan. Based on the timing of the game, he will not be able to eat and drink that day until late.

I wonder if he's practicing all week. I can't imagine going through a college practice without water

[HowardsWorld]

I think the key will be how the defense plays Burns. Imo we cannot double because of Burns passing ability. Do we play Oso or Jop on burns? I would say Oso but he cannot get in foul trouble of this shifts our defensive drastically.

On offense Osos floating is going to be key. Ball screens will eat Burns alive and allow Kolek to drive with his left for easy uncontested layups. Burns will more than likely be playing a drop defense as well.

[wadesworld]

I have only watched NC State against Oakland this year.  Oakland was sending 3 to Burns and was letting him catch the ball pretty deep.  And Oakland wasn't exactly the most physical defenders being thrown to him, and they didn't seem to be super aggressive.

For anyone who has seen more of NC State, how good is Burns when the double comes early and aggressively, and with a bit more length than Oakland has?  I think we'll be prepared.  He'll create a few open opportunities for his teammates, but I think hard doubles early on the catch and rotating will be better than leaving Oso on an island.

Pick and roll him to death on the other end and force NC State to make a decision on whether to leave him in the game or not.

[Dr. Blackheart]

I think the key will be how the defense plays Burns. Imo we cannot double because of Burns passing ability. Do we play Oso or Jop on burns? I would say Oso but he cannot get in foul trouble of this shifts our defensive drastically.

On offense Osos floating is going to be key. Ball screens will eat Burns alive and allow Kolek to drive with his left for easy uncontested layups. Burns will more than likely be playing a drop defense as well.

MU has doubled down all year in the post.  While Shaka will mix up looks, I don't see any deviation from that.

[MUbiz]

67 seconds of UNC absolutely roasting DJ Burns in ball-screens: https://twitter.com/AndrewKurzeja/status/1745285934948470955

I want to see a healthy does of Oso TK pick n rolls.

[tower912]

Barbecue chicken.

[The Sultan]

67 seconds of UNC absolutely roasting DJ Burns in ball-screens: https://twitter.com/AndrewKurzeja/status/1745285934948470955

I want to see a healthy does of Oso TK pick n rolls.

Exactly. And a big reason NC State beat UNC in the ACC final is largely because UNC couldn't hit their shots. RJ Davis had a ton of open looks that game that he just missed.

[GoldenEagles03]

DJ Horne is a good player, who hits about 40% of his 3s. But if he's a "high-powered guard," what is Kam? No other guard on their roster is even close to Horne.

And obviously, they have nobody in the same stratosphere as Kolek. O'Connell, their leading assist guy (3.2), averages under 6 ppg. Nor do they have a defensive dawg like Stevie.

By pretty much any metric, we have a HUGE advantage at guard.

Taylor was a solid player for Butler and has familiarity with us.

Morsell is just a solid overall player and O'Connell is on fire since getting an expanded role. Scoring double figures 6 of the last 7 games.

Obviously I think our guards are better, but NC State can hang.

[NickelDimer]

67 seconds of UNC absolutely roasting DJ Burns in ball-screens: https://twitter.com/AndrewKurzeja/status/1745285934948470955

I want to see a healthy does of Oso TK pick n rolls.

I'm sure they'll play a lot more drop with Oso's limited shooting range but we should still have plenty of success. Kolek should feast with that space.

[Big Papi]

I just hope he doesn't fall on one of our guys........splat.  In all seriousness, Oso should have at least 5 dunks in this game with the dimes Kolek and Kam can provide off of drives.  Have to stay out of foul trouble.

[MU82]

Taylor was a solid player for Butler and has familiarity with us.

Morsell is just a solid overall player and O'Connell is on fire since getting an expanded role. Scoring double figures 6 of the last 7 games.

Obviously I think our guards are better, but NC State can hang.

Thank you for acknowledging that none really is a "high-powered guard."

Doesn't mean I think they stink, nor did I even imply that. We're just not facing a Curry or Jordan or even a guard as "high-powered" as Kam Jones.

As you said, our guards are simply better. Which isn't surprising, as they're better than most.

[MUMountin]

67 seconds of UNC absolutely roasting DJ Burns in ball-screens: https://twitter.com/AndrewKurzeja/status/1745285934948470955

I want to see a healthy does of Oso TK pick n rolls.

Just one note that this was from earlier this season, before they had a come-to-Jesus meeting with Burns about his weight and conditioning, as outlined in this piece in the Atlantic: https://theathletic.com/5369796/2024/03/27/dj-burns-nc-state-sweet-16-march-madness/?source=user_shared_article.

That said, clearly MU should still try to exploit him in PNR, but just be aware that this video may have been around the nadir of his performance this season, so take it with a grain of salt. 

[Sturgeon General Warrior]

I've been told by reliable sources that in Tokyo, Osaka, and the major Japanese cities, the restaurant owners are always greatly concerned when a Sumo contingent walks through the door.  I think they changed the buffet model there because they were losing a boatload of coin. 

Tyoko and Osoka are gonna put on an all-you-can-eat BBQ chicken pick-and-roll buffet