UConn vs Gonzaga for a Final 4 Berth

[dogpause]

Sanogo will have his body on Timme from the moment he steps on the floor, and especially once he touches the ball. The only question is if Timme's quickness will save him.

 

[husky429]

Timme is probably worse of a defender than Sanogo is.

Timme is not in the same stratosphere as Sanogo defensively. 93 vs 103 defensive rating.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I mean, no.

You're no fun. Ok, he's second best, but isn't going to enjoy going against the best and third best.

 

[B1GEast]

Let Time get his points, stop everyone else. If our bigs stay out of foul trouble, we have enough depth to be okay

 

[RichZ]

Worked out well last time it happened

?

 

[EdgewoodNHV]

Timme is not in the same stratosphere as Sanogo defensively. 93 vs 103 defensive rating.

Idk anything about defensive rating but that sounds like the same stratosphere?

 

[CL82]

So, traditional blue uni, or black?

Not the black.

 

[CL82]

tale?

Um, take… because, ah, it was a give and take battle?

 

[connVA]

The problem for Timme is it's him against Sanogo, then it's him against Clingan.

I don’t think it’s going to be easy by any stretch, but get 2-3 fouls on Timme and the Zags suddenly have a major problem. I’m assuming Few is going to go with double teaming or some kind of zone variation as a counter, for which we need to make them pay with threes or alley-opps to Jackson all night.

 

[Slasher]

Gonzaga really doesn't guard. They win with excellent / efficient offense. #1 offense #73 defense. They're middling in rebounding. UConn is the better team but Gonzaga has some magic on their side. I expect UConn to win by 5-7 points.

 

[connVA]

Not the black.

Yeah, this is the Dance. That alternative crap goes in the trash.

 

[husky429]

Idk anything about defensive rating but that sounds like the same stratosphere?

100 is average. Higher is worse, lower is better. The stat isn't an exact science, but it's decent if you're comparing players on similarly ranked teams.

Generally I think of 90 as exceptionally elite defense. Anything 110 or worse is practically unplayable.

 

[BGesus4]

?

99

 

[Tenspro2002]

I don’t think it’s going to be easy by any stretch, but get 2-3 fouls on Timme and the Zags suddenly have a major problem. I’m assuming Few is going to go with double teaming or some kind of zone variation as a counter, for which we need to make them pay with threes or alley-opps to Jackson all night.

Yes, given how soft Timme is alone on defense, they're going to have to double Sanogo, and he has to be ready for a quick kickout or backdoor to Jackson at the rim.

 

[80shusky]

I watched the Gonzaga/UCLA game last night and I have to say after watching the ferocious defense UConn and Arkansas played against each other I think either team would be overmatched by UConn. But at this point it isn't really about just plain ability and talent anymore. All the teams have it. It's matchups and execution now. UConn is a bad matchup for Gonzaga. If they execute, it's over 15 minutes in. If they don't UConn can end up in a high 80s to 90s track meet game. Gonzaga doesn't defend they just try to score more points than you.

 

[Poe]

So, traditional blue uni, or black?

Hopefully blue, not a big fan of the black

 

[elmcityboy]

i don't have the stats to back it up, but it feels like sanogo has had an incredible season defending the post 1-on-1. this will be a huge test, but everything i have seen is really encouraging.

can't wait to watch.

 

[HuskyinWRNY]

its simple. play like weve been playing we win going away. if we dont itll be a tossup.

 

[HuskyHawk]

The problem for Timme is it's him against Sanogo, then it's him against Clingan.

They have to give him help or Sanogo will eat him alive. Our guys can handle him 1v1. He'll get his points, but we shouldn't need to double him. So that should give us more open looks on the perimeter if guys are moving and the ball is moving.

 

[ElGreco]

It's not like the conference was hideous this year. Conferences at Bracketologists

I like your conference-watch quite a few games. More balance this year. I was rooting for UCLA “only” because I felt they were a better matchup for us!

 

[ElGreco]

The problem for Timme is it's him against Sanogo, then it's him against Clingan.

We are capable of wearing them down plus our great defense will help.

 

[Hurleyman216]

I’m genuinely interested in what Gonzaga and Houston’s metrics would be if they played in the Big 12, SEC or Big East. These are 2 teams that play in scrub conferences where they just haven’t been tested as much and more often than not those teams can’t string together 6 wins against high quality opponents. We all need to be hoping for a win Saturday and for Houston and Texas to both lose either this round or next round. Not getting ahead of myself, but I’d prefer not to play Texas in Houston…seems like 2009 all over again.

 

[Inyatkin]

Given how intense the Kansas State-MSU game was at the same time it feels like we're almost under the radar. You look around the tournament and every game is close in the last minute.

Except ours.

 

[Rocktheworld]

It all comes down to two things.
1. Fouls. If Sanogo picks up two quick fouls and DC simply is too green to deal with Timme its going to be a problem. If its Timme who picks up a couple early ones and his supporting cast plays like they did against UCLA we could be looking at a replay of the Arkansas beat down.
2. As mentioned Timme cant do it all by himself. If the supporting cast for the Zags are not hitting shots its a blowout. If you cannot hit 3s against this team you are in trouble.

Should be a great game.

Completely agree. Sanogo is just very shy of contact (I don’t know why he hasn’t been coached in to going straight up through contact; he could’ve drawn at least two fouls with his shot fakes last night) so that issue won’t be forced in that matchup. Hopefully the guards can drive into him and get calls

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Best case scenario is go right at Timme and try to get him a couple quick fouls. He’s an excellent offensive player but he should struggle a lot with the UConn bigs defensively and has been prone to foul trouble against bigger players in the past.