Invert Them

[Stuhoo]

I know that it's getting a little ahead of ourselves, but let's talk strategy versus Kentucky:

We did it against Purdue; Let's try to turn Kentucky inside out, but for a different reason. Kentucky seems to be one of the best perimeter defense teams in the country primarily because of the strength of their guards.

When we played Purdue we inverted them; kept our bigs on the perimeter and brought our guards inside. In doing so, we negated the value of Purdue's shot blockers.

With Kentucky we can force their subpar bigs to guard Max, Collin, and Thomas away from the basket, and more importantly we will negate the defensive strength of their guards.

Thoughts?

[HoosierCoop]

I think as long as the 3 ball is working for us, it could be worth a shot.

 

If we don't, it will be a very long game.

[biteoftheapple]

This, with an active Troy along the baseline.

[HoosierAloha]

I've given this a bit of thought, as well. First, puke is not a great defensive rebounding team and IU goes about offensive rebounding in a unique way. Offensive rebounding in a possible puke matchup is key. Thomas Bryant, OG, Morgan, and Williams are all going to be important to not only get offensive rebounds but punish puke for allowing Orebs through second chance points and more importantly fouls. Puke doesn't have a great front court and they've lost because they don't rebound enough and foul too much.

Second, defense and defensive rebounding. Obviously, Ulis and Murray are their main producers. Briscoe struggles to throw a ball in the ocean from the shore. I would play Williams on Briscoe and have him basically sit in the lane for help side defense. I might even possibly go triangle and 2 to stop the lobs and concentrate on Murray/Ulis. Willis is a threat from deep so I would have Hartman trail him. If Murray starts going crazy I would put OG on him to use his length. The lobs and Murray scare me. Pack it in and take a shot they won't beat you from deep. Finishing a defensive possession with a rebound and pushing the ball up is important. If we can play with tempo like we were doing for awhile we could possibly fatigue them going into the last 5ish minutes. We have to cutdown turnovers, especially live ball TOs. I think we actually have a pretty good shot if RoJo, Hartman, and Morgan are good to go.

[coonhounds]

I will post on this subject Thursday night lol. Can't even look ahead not even close lol

[Bowhunter]

I think this game comes down to toughness. Who wants it more. The roster is a wash imo.

[Dalton26]

Imagine how pissed the selection committee would be if both IU and UK get upset in the first round.

[drewheck]

Yogi will have to play the whole game, dont give the murry kid an open shot max will have to start to guard poythress hopefully rob is healthy to guard briscoe. We have to get up in to them and forve them to make mistakes

[Miller'sTheMan]

Yogi will have to play the whole game, dont give the murry kid an open shot max will have to start to guard poythress hopefully rob is healthy to guard briscoe. We have to get up in to them and forve them to make mistakes

Just start OG and have him on Poythress

[drewheck]

Just start OG and have him on Poythress

that would work but thats asking alot of og i think max would be able to body him away from what he wants to do and keep og on lee and labissiere because hes more athletic and could keep those two from getting lobs and easy putbacks

[WayneFleekHoosier]

This matchup is scary.

Yogi vs Ulis.

Rob vs Briscoe (Rob can't hold Murray- I think OG can suffocate him with length)

OG vs Murray

Troy vs Poythress (ugh- worry about physicality here)

TB vs Skal. (Good matchup here-should be interesting)

Hartman vs Willis

Max vs Lee.



I don't like our match ups. Not sure where we exploit them. Troy has speed advantage. Yogi has size advantage (lol).

[X-Hoosier]

Best backcourt in the nation for a reason. They'd be tough to handle. They definitely have way more talent on paper... would be in interesting game. It is unfortunate that the committee made this matchup for money only. I'd rather play another 4 seed. Like Iowa State.

[ALASKA HOOSIER]

I've given this a bit of thought, as well. First, puke is not a great defensive rebounding team and IU goes about offensive rebounding in a unique way. Offensive rebounding in a possible puke matchup is key. Thomas Bryant, OG, Morgan, and Williams are all going to be important to not only get offensive rebounds but punish puke for allowing Orebs through second chance points and more importantly fouls. Puke doesn't have a great front court and they've lost because they don't rebound enough and foul too much.

Second, defense and defensive rebounding. Obviously, Ulis and Murray are their main producers. Briscoe struggles to throw a ball in the ocean from the shore. I would play Williams on Briscoe and have him basically sit in the lane for help side defense. I might even possibly go triangle and 2 to stop the lobs and concentrate on Murray/Ulis. Willis is a threat from deep so I would have Hartman trail him. If Murray starts going crazy I would put OG on him to use his length. The lobs and Murray scare me. Pack it in and take a shot they won't beat you from deep. Finishing a defensive possession with a rebound and pushing the ball up is important. If we can play with tempo like we were doing for awhile we could possibly fatigue them going into the last 5ish minutes. We have to cutdown turnovers, especially live ball TOs. I think we actually have a pretty good shot if RoJo, Hartman, and Morgan are good to go.

I think i heart you! Great analysis, Aloha

[theriverpilot]

This matchup is scary.

Yogi vs Ulis.

Rob vs Briscoe (Rob can't hold Murray- I think OG can suffocate him with length)

OG vs Murray

Troy vs Poythress (ugh- worry about physicality here)

TB vs Skal. (Good matchup here-should be interesting)

Hartman vs Willis

Max vs Lee.



I don't like our match ups. Not sure where we exploit them. Troy has speed advantage. Yogi has size advantage (lol).

Troy vs Poythress (ugh- worry about physicality here)

TB vs Skal. (Good matchup here-should be interesting)

 

I like these two matchups ^^^

Neither Skal or Poythress are very physical.  Bryant isn't afraid to bang a little inside.  Max would be at a disadvantage height-wise but his physicality would keep them at bay. Come to think of it, no one on UK seems physical.  Lee, Poythress and Skal just want alley oops.  There's a reason they're a poor rebounding team.

[Miller'sTheMan]

We should be able to crush UK on the offensive glass

[DawgBawls]

Its gonna be all about fouls and foul shots.

[Str8Hoosiers]

Poythress is their scariest player in my opinion, so we definitely need to get him in foul trouble early (which he has had some foul issues)... Other than that I think we match-up really well with them...

[biteoftheapple]

I believe good pressure defensively, and rebounding.

[Stuhoo]

Stay on thread topic, you knuckleheads!

 

Do you guys think we play "guards in and bigs out" against UK?

[VO5]

Poythress is their scariest player in my opinion, so we definitely need to get him in foul trouble early (which he has had some foul issues)... Other than that I think we match-up really well with them...

to me it's Murray, he can absolutely go off and we don't really have anyone that can guard him. Ulis and yogi are a wash, so we will really need someone to step up if Murray starts draining 3s