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So this is my nightmare scenario... I'm a CU alum yet an enormous fan of UConn since I was teenager. With that said, I've seen every UConn game and most CU games (with exceptional of the 11 pm starts on the Pac 12 Network network). The bottom line... there aren't many similarities.
I will start with what CU does well.
1) they are an excellent interior team and really rebound well. Josh Scott is all Pac-12 and one of the best fundamental post players in the college game. He has gotten mixed reviews as a potential pro because he may not be as tall as listed (6'10") and apparently has short arms but I've always thought of him as a poor man's Tim Duncan and that's a complement. Their power forward Wesley Gordon is a hybrid center/PF who is an excellent rebounder, very good defender and a decent post player himself. What neither Gordon or Scott do though is spread the floor. Instead, they post and kick to their wings who are some of the best shooters in the conference.
2) their wings can score. George King is redshirt sophomore with great range and touch and is their 2nd best player. Josh Fortune also has excellent range and tends to push the ball up court. Treshaun Fletcher is a lefty who appears fairly passive yet consistently makes plays and also shoots well from distance. On top of that all three guys are between 6'5" and 6'7" and will rebound as well.
3) they hit free throws and get to the line. CU will likely be the best free throw shooting team they play and UConn will really need to try and stay out of foul trouble. The typical Brimah, Nolan, Miller silly fouls will really be an issue against the Buffs because once they start going to the line, they won't be missing like most of the teams UConn has seen this year.
Now... the problem areas for the Buffs.
1) they turn the ball over.. a lot. I'm not exaggerating when I say everyone is responsible (Scott being the exception). Their point guards (more later), the wings and their bigs all tend to dribble into traffic and either throw the ball at the rim or make terrible passes. UConn hasn't forced many live ball turnovers this season but should have opportunities against the Buffs.
2) the point guards are incredibly inconsistent and they don't necessarily facilitate the offense. Dominique Collier has been great in some games and has disappeared in others. Xavier Talton is not really a point guard but an undersized shooting guard. Thomas Akyazili is a wild card. He has been playing very well of late and tends to push the ball up the court. Regardless, none of them really make plays for others and their assist to turnover ratio is mediocre at best.
3) their defense should be better. With all of the length at the wings and an excellent interior, they should be a top 10 defense. CU plays mostly man to man and has a very difficult time with penetration. Expect Adams and Purvis to get the cup consistently.
4) they have little success outside of Boulder. Their home court is one of the best in the nation and for years were awful away from it. That wasn't as much the case this year but I'm still suspect of how they will perform on a big stage outside of Colorado.
The coach... Tad Boyle is excellent. Colorado has been one of the worst major conference jobs over the last 25 years and he has consistently gotten them into the dance. He is exceptionally composed and really relies on his players to battle through tough situations. I've never seen a coach focus as much as they do on rebounding (even over defense) but generally if they win the rebounding battle... CU wins.
If I have to make a prediction I think CU wins if the UConn bigs are in foul trouble. I think UConn wins if CU turns the ball over. As for matchups... look for Hamilton on George King and Brimah on Josh Scott.
I will start with what CU does well.
1) they are an excellent interior team and really rebound well. Josh Scott is all Pac-12 and one of the best fundamental post players in the college game. He has gotten mixed reviews as a potential pro because he may not be as tall as listed (6'10") and apparently has short arms but I've always thought of him as a poor man's Tim Duncan and that's a complement. Their power forward Wesley Gordon is a hybrid center/PF who is an excellent rebounder, very good defender and a decent post player himself. What neither Gordon or Scott do though is spread the floor. Instead, they post and kick to their wings who are some of the best shooters in the conference.
2) their wings can score. George King is redshirt sophomore with great range and touch and is their 2nd best player. Josh Fortune also has excellent range and tends to push the ball up court. Treshaun Fletcher is a lefty who appears fairly passive yet consistently makes plays and also shoots well from distance. On top of that all three guys are between 6'5" and 6'7" and will rebound as well.
3) they hit free throws and get to the line. CU will likely be the best free throw shooting team they play and UConn will really need to try and stay out of foul trouble. The typical Brimah, Nolan, Miller silly fouls will really be an issue against the Buffs because once they start going to the line, they won't be missing like most of the teams UConn has seen this year.
Now... the problem areas for the Buffs.
1) they turn the ball over.. a lot. I'm not exaggerating when I say everyone is responsible (Scott being the exception). Their point guards (more later), the wings and their bigs all tend to dribble into traffic and either throw the ball at the rim or make terrible passes. UConn hasn't forced many live ball turnovers this season but should have opportunities against the Buffs.
2) the point guards are incredibly inconsistent and they don't necessarily facilitate the offense. Dominique Collier has been great in some games and has disappeared in others. Xavier Talton is not really a point guard but an undersized shooting guard. Thomas Akyazili is a wild card. He has been playing very well of late and tends to push the ball up the court. Regardless, none of them really make plays for others and their assist to turnover ratio is mediocre at best.
3) their defense should be better. With all of the length at the wings and an excellent interior, they should be a top 10 defense. CU plays mostly man to man and has a very difficult time with penetration. Expect Adams and Purvis to get the cup consistently.
4) they have little success outside of Boulder. Their home court is one of the best in the nation and for years were awful away from it. That wasn't as much the case this year but I'm still suspect of how they will perform on a big stage outside of Colorado.
The coach... Tad Boyle is excellent. Colorado has been one of the worst major conference jobs over the last 25 years and he has consistently gotten them into the dance. He is exceptionally composed and really relies on his players to battle through tough situations. I've never seen a coach focus as much as they do on rebounding (even over defense) but generally if they win the rebounding battle... CU wins.
If I have to make a prediction I think CU wins if the UConn bigs are in foul trouble. I think UConn wins if CU turns the ball over. As for matchups... look for Hamilton on George King and Brimah on Josh Scott.