Note: This was obviously written last week. Since I had to return home this weekend, I didn't have a chance to post it. I felt it would be interesting to analyze my analysis, in italics, knowing how we won.
I feel like I am always the pessimist. I guess it is a security blanket so I can be excited when we win, but I can be right when we lose. Before today (last Tuesday), all I knew about UConn was that I thought Thabeet was overrated (he looked clueless about where to go defensively on many plays vs U-M), that Pitt OWNS them, and that you shouldn't ask Calhoun about his salary. I was surprised to discover that Thabeet may get the most press, but their other starters are what make them successful. Here's what scares me:
1. Unlike Louisville, they have been challenged. They have had to face good teams in the tournament with very different styles - and they've won each of them by greater than 7 points. I didn't realize the Big 10 style of play, when forced upon them, would stop Louisville. Although, they had previously lost to friggin Minnesota... at home! UConn, however, is 3-0 vs. the Big 10 with wins over U-M, Wisconsin, and Purdue.
While they had been challenged, our home town crowd propelled our team when they needed us most. I should have kept in mind that we proved we are different than U-M, Wisco, and Purdue by winning the Big 10 regular season by 4 friggin games!
2. Who can stop Adrien and Robinson?
I was very surprised to learn that Thabeet doesn't completely run this team. I think I am more concerned about their other forwards. Goran will have his hands full guarding Thabeet, so I am worried that will leave their other forwards open. Morgan hasn't been a factor lately, so I am worried we don't have anyone who can guard them.
Morgan stepped up and played to his full potential. Adrien and Robinson combined for 28 pts and 20 rebounds (almost half of their team total). However, I overlooked their lack of depth. Our bench played them fairly close with 33 pts and 14 rebounds.
3. We can't win the halfcourt game.
We beat Louisville with a strong inside presence and a halfcourt game. We outrebounded them and made them play at our pace, which ultimately frustrated them into submission. UConn's bigs are better, so I am worried they will have their way with us.
They really tested us in the beginning and kept working the ball inside with success. We ended up fouling them a ton and it made me worry. Ultimately our depth at forward, their foul shooting problems, and Izzo's strategy helped us win. Draymond (dancing bear???) Green had a great game. The aspect of our game that I enjoyed the most is that we won in a completely different fashion than against Louisville.
4. Assuming we do stop their forwards, can we stop their guards?
Their guards aren't quite as good as Louisville's, and they aren't as tall as USC's, but they can still be a threat if we focus on just their forwards.
Yes we can! Price did rack up 15 points, but it took 5/20 shooting to do it. Austrie and Walker only combined for 11 points. Their guards are decent, but they couldn't match up against our defense.
Looking Ahead...
I liked the Louisville game better, but we once again executed a sound strategy and played with passion against UConn. We had different guys take over the game (Green, Morgan, Lucious). I see North Carolina as having a strong half court game and a strong transition game, so it will be interesting to see what kind of gameplan Izzo creates. I think they need to come out early and take advantage of North Carolina's lapses in work ethic. I LOVE that everyone is still picking against us (just like they picked UConn, Louisville, and in many cases, Kansas). I think it is ignorant for analysts to be placing our success at Izzo's hands and overlooking the talent we have. North Carolina may be the best team in the tournament, but we have beaten two #1 seeds, three conference tournament champions, three regular season conference champions, and two teams that were ranked #1 for a total of 1/3 of the season. GO GREEN!
2 comments:
This was a fun post. I love the last paragraph.
UNC will be (another) tough matchup for us, but we have been playing so well lately that it just feels like we're the team of destiny.
C'mon basketball gods, MSU deserves it. Detroit needs it. The state of Michigan needs it. The country needs it. When you're deciding the fate of a free throw that's hanging on the lip of the basket, or which way the ball is going to bounce off a long rebound, think about how much fun it would be watch MSU win the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP in Detroit. And then think about how lame it would be if UNC won. C'mon basketball gods, the Spartans deserve it. Do the right thing.
That being said, this game is going to be decided between Walton and Lawson. If Walton can contain Lawson the way he contained Williams and Price, MSU wins this game.
Not only is everyone picking UNC to win, it's basically a foregone conclusion in their minds. MSU is treated as if this is as far as they can go, that they're a nice story, but now the party is going to end.
Except we've heard that before. Our run was supposed to end two weeks ago. I just wish people could see that this team is a genuine contender- the best contender we've had since I've been at State. Each one of them is playing at the highest level...just like UNC. It's going to be a battle Monday night; we have too much heart and pride not to go down without a fight.
Whatever the outcome tonight, this team has won me over for all-time. There's nothing I can say bad about this team. I will remember this run and season ten years from now, and I will look back on it with pride.
But just one more would be so sweet. We can go 0-30 next year, and I will still be happy. Just this one...just one more...please...
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