Watching some of the first half of Gonzaga and Texas A&M, some thoughts:
- A&M isn't good at basketball, but they have length and several mobile bigs. They are sticking around, but have zero offense. Looks like a Groce machine.
- Guard play for both teams is sub-par to average. #3 is too high of a ranking for a team without strong guard play, IMO
- Zags are long and huge, mobile, and a plus passing team. Their bigs hedge well and close decently, but they are very susceptible to the dribble drive as a team. They are being allowed to clobber A&M in this game so it's hard to tell how good the rim defense is, but they challenge hard.
- Zags will destroy us down low. Destroy. Hachimura and Clarke can put the ball on the floor some with space, and can get up good shots. They have moderately skilled subs that have crazy length.
- Without being fast, Zags are well coached and get out in transition well. Need to keep sloppiness to a minimum and get back for charges.
- They are very physical and we are going to get shredded if the refs let them play. Then again we'll have a lot of steals.
What do we do? My takes based on this game:
- Only chance is to penetrate and shoot well from three and space them. They are long, which makes getting shots off more difficult, but penetration and kicking out will get plenty of open looks as they help hard.
- Finish strong at the rim and draw fouls. They won't have home reffing in Maui. We're used to not having it anywhere.
- Perkins (how long has he been there?) is really their only guard, and he completely paces and balances their team. Get him in foul trouble early in any way possible. They will give up some turnovers if he's out, and maybe some while he's in. Not fast at all, but a bull guard and uses his body and experience well.
- Mid-range game show-offs, but we need good decision-making and a balanced aggressiveness on O. Defense, well, we'd better shoot well.
- When they don't get post action they just dive the guards and then kick to the corners.
- Classic small and quick v Big and well, more talented. Long, long climb uphill in this one, so it would be great to see us compete and keep it close, maybe shoot well enough to hang around and get a shot. If we get Perkins out they will struggle with our pressure a bit.
- A&M isn't good at basketball, but they have length and several mobile bigs. They are sticking around, but have zero offense. Looks like a Groce machine.
- Guard play for both teams is sub-par to average. #3 is too high of a ranking for a team without strong guard play, IMO
- Zags are long and huge, mobile, and a plus passing team. Their bigs hedge well and close decently, but they are very susceptible to the dribble drive as a team. They are being allowed to clobber A&M in this game so it's hard to tell how good the rim defense is, but they challenge hard.
- Zags will destroy us down low. Destroy. Hachimura and Clarke can put the ball on the floor some with space, and can get up good shots. They have moderately skilled subs that have crazy length.
- Without being fast, Zags are well coached and get out in transition well. Need to keep sloppiness to a minimum and get back for charges.
- They are very physical and we are going to get shredded if the refs let them play. Then again we'll have a lot of steals.
What do we do? My takes based on this game:
- Only chance is to penetrate and shoot well from three and space them. They are long, which makes getting shots off more difficult, but penetration and kicking out will get plenty of open looks as they help hard.
- Finish strong at the rim and draw fouls. They won't have home reffing in Maui. We're used to not having it anywhere.
- Perkins (how long has he been there?) is really their only guard, and he completely paces and balances their team. Get him in foul trouble early in any way possible. They will give up some turnovers if he's out, and maybe some while he's in. Not fast at all, but a bull guard and uses his body and experience well.
- Mid-range game show-offs, but we need good decision-making and a balanced aggressiveness on O. Defense, well, we'd better shoot well.
- When they don't get post action they just dive the guards and then kick to the corners.
- Classic small and quick v Big and well, more talented. Long, long climb uphill in this one, so it would be great to see us compete and keep it close, maybe shoot well enough to hang around and get a shot. If we get Perkins out they will struggle with our pressure a bit.
