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Message: [QUOTE="diggerfoot, post: 4846143, member: 1673"] I have yet to see my take on this, so I’ll give it. :) With or without Cardoso SC has the better frontcourt, or at least the better rebounding frontcourt. I don’t think UConn wins many rebounding battles this year and what happens with Cardoso is not going to change that with SC. However, UConn is winning games convincingly now because small ball is working for them. Guards come first in both offense and defense. If you are turning over the ball before a shot then the value of your shooting or rebounding efficiencies lessens. Similarly, if guards are hitting their midrange jumpers and three point shots well, then the value of rim protection and rebounding lessens as well. This contributes to why folks call basketball a guard’s game, partly because they are involved the most and also because they are involved first, sometimes negating the value of the frontcourt. Understanding that, SC likely would be handicapped much more by losing Johnson against UConn than Cardoso. I think UConn might have a slight advantage in the backcourt, but if SC did not have Johnson UConn would have a distinct advantage and a good shot at winning, even with Cardoso in the line up. SC is dangerous not just because they have a 6’7” center, but also because they have outstanding guards. [/QUOTE]