Also, here's Tenspro's post on why his team should win:
Starters: Balance was my rule of thumb.
C: Emeka Okafor: Best two-way player in program history. Can defend opposing posts and also neutralizes guards trying to attack the rim. You think Bazz and Boat had trouble finishing at the rim against average post players? Try finishing against the most intelligent shot-blocker in program history. Oh, by the way, he also averaged 18 a game with a versatile set of back-to-the-basket moves and a capable jump shot from inside 15 feet.
PGx2: A.J. Price/Doron Sheffer: My two point guards, which I feel are essential to a balanced offensive attack. AJ can penetrate into the paint, feed the post, and make you pay from the 3-point line (40% on 3's). Doron can run an up-tempo attack for a change of pace and is another excellent outside shooter (also around 40%). I wanted point guards who can both distribute and shoot, since Okafor was going to be drawing a lot of attention in the post.
F: Kevin Freeman: An athletic 4 who can play opposite of Emeka and clean up on the boards, as well as run the fast break. Remember Sheffer to Donny Marshall? KFree can be on the receiving end just the same. In the half-court, he doesn't crowd the lane and has decent range, and can credibly defend athletic 4's as well as help body up opposing bigs around the paint.
G/F: Rashad Anderson: Not the most overall talented wing, but given the talent around him, I don't need a wing that can create for himself. Rashad will have ample spot-up opportunities from deep (and is the third 40%+ 3-point shooter in my starting lineup) off of drive-and-kick action, and from passes out of the post, where Emeka should be drawing double-teams.
Bench: Nobody is playing 40 minutes a game, so I needed a bench that would allow me to keep multiple low-post defenders and multiple ballhandlers on the floor at a time.
F/C: Travis Knight: Not the same shot-blocking presence as Okafor, but at 7' is a credible deterrent in the paint, and he is an excellent rebounder. With Knight able to pass and shoot out of the high post, he can play alongside either Okafor or Freeman.
G: Lasan Kromah: A secondary ballhandler when either Price or Sheffer takes a breather, and offers the luxury of a third ballhandler when Rashad is out. More importantly, he provides lock-down defense at the wing spot, and can slow down opposing 2's or 3's.
Overall philosophy: We are a versatile offensive team in either the halfcourt or transition, with good size at every position. The offense can be run either through Price and Sheffer's dribble-penetration, or through an inside-out game starting with Okafor in the post. Having three 40% 3-point shooters punishes opposing defenses that have to collapse to stop that penetration or that have to commit extra defenders to stopping Emeka. With multiple players who can initiate offense, no single defensive stopper will be able to completely neutralize our attack.
Our defense starts with the most intelligent and skilled shot-blocker and post defender in program history. Admittedly, our starting guards aren't the stoutest of defenders, but Okafor is the ultimate eraser at the rim and is able to make up for defensive lapses. Freeman also provides toughness on the interior and on the glass. If matched up against a true stud on the wing, Kromah will get extended minutes in those circumstances where defense at the 1/2/3 position is paramount.
Why my team beats CTBasketball's: It starts with having the best player on the floor in Emeka Okafor. Okafor will abuse Voskuhl in one-on-one scenarios in the paint, and if Adrien comes to double, Freeman will be left free to slip to the rim. If Okafor is doubled by a guard, three 40% 3-point shooters (AJP, Sheffer, and Rashad) stationed at the perimeter will make them pay. A twin-towers setup of Knight and Okafor, who, given Travis's passing and shooting abilities will generally stay out of each other's ways, will make life difficult for the smaller Adrien.
Oh, by the way, CTBasketball has minimal size off the bench, so unless Voskuhl is playing all 40 minutes, Okafor will be able to prey even more on those smaller subs. My team also has a size/rebounding advantage in the backcourt with Price and Sheffer over Bazz (despite an admirable effort on a terrible rebounding team in 2014) and Bialosuknia.
On defense, Voskuhl isn't a big threat, and Emeka will be free to roam the paint and neutralize most drives to the rim. Bazz will get his from the perimeter, but will have a hard time finishing in the lane. Ditto for Bialosuknia and Gamble. If one of those 3 really starts going off, Kromah will get heavy minutes to provide stifling D on the perimeter.
I drafted a team, not individual talents, but if you want direct comparisons, here they are:
AJ Price < Bazz
Sheffer ~ Bialosuknia
Rashad ~ Gamble
Freeman = Adrien
Okafor >> Voskuhl (everything starts with this matchup)
Knight, Kromah > Quimby, Johnson
The sheer talent and intelligence of Okafor will initiate matchup problems on both ends, which the rest of the roster can take advantage of.
