St. John's Scouting Report

[housekeys]

Another thing. Since we assume they will be driving to the hoop all night long, the pregame scouting report on positioning and making them go to their weaker side will be important.

 

[El Obrero]

I think Samson is going to surprise tomorrow night. I think his length is going to disrupt St. John’s offense in the paint and keep their scoring below average.

 

[JungleLobo]

In that case, I'd do:

McNeeley on Richmond
Diarra on Scott
Ball on Wilcher/Smith

Scott isn't much bigger than Richmond and his usage rate is much lower, so McNeeley guarding Richmond would have more positive impact than if he guarded Scott.

McNeeley won’t be in full speed game shape and you want to match him up with their best player?

Is be surprised if McNeeley plays more than 20 minutes Friday.

 

[JungleLobo]

Final Score St John’s 58 UConn 92

 

[auror]

I think Samson is going to surprise tomorrow night. I think his length is going to disrupt St. John’s offense in the paint and keep their scoring below average.

This is just as likely (if not more so) a 4 minute Samson has 2 fouls game. The refs have been letting them play in (at least the first half) of the big games, though.

 

[RuffRuff]

For a guy with the gift of gab he does a lot of stuttering around the injuries

 

[AntG168]

For a guy with the gift of gab he does a lot of stuttering around the injuries

Maybe because he can’t be as candid about injuries due to the law.

 

[auror]

Maybe because he can’t be as candid about injuries due to the law.

I think it's less about the law, more about the complexity of some of the situations. Have to consider the kid's health, kid's future, kid's current ability/rust, the opponent, the gameplan and how the player fits in, and deciding how much detail he wants to get into about it all with the media (and thus with Pitino and the kid's parents, and setting a public expectation, etc.).

And not to mention in this particular one he had 4 guys with differing situations that he had to speak extemporaneously about.

 

[HooperScooper]

For a guy with the gift of gab he does a lot of stuttering around the injuries

Probably because despite what he says he knows Diarra and Mahaney are playing.

 

[RuffRuff]

 

[mauconnfan]

Well then if no one can then let’s try everyone once in a while (2-3). If they make shots oh well but make them shoot from the perimeter. Guys are in a tough spot with the injuries and mismatches. But we’ve learned to watch our guys with their backs to the wall!