UConn vs Miami Final Four

[UConnSportsGuy]

I really don’t like the over-confidence and mojo-killing posts emanating from this board.

We are doomed!

Everyone say “Shamon Tooles” 20 times before going to bed every night between now and next Saturday to offset these posts.

For those youngins here who have no idea what I’m talking about…google Shamon Tooles and Darius Rice. I still have nightmares!

 

[tcf15]

I think the 2000 Final Four had the highest sum of the seeds ever. That one had two No. 8 seeds, one No. 5 seed and one No. 1 seed for a total of 22.

The 2023 Final Four has one No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and one No. 9 seed for a total of 23. So is 2023 the new record?

 

[Ripper32]

Miami is a team that may actually counterpunch us with their own runs.

 

[Ricker]

We need to run Pack and Wong off the 3 point line and the game will be ours. Whatever challenged 2's they and Miller make will not be enough. They will scrap with quickness on the boards and loose balls, but they should be 1 and done a bunch. A concerted effort into Sanogo and Clingan can very likely foul out their 6'7 center and then they have real troubles. If 6'7 Omier has to sit with 2 fouls for 7-8 minutes of the first half, or, plays and picks up a 3rd... We should be able to get at least 10 minutes in this game where Miami has no real center. Their only strategy is denying entry passes. We just need Jackson and Sanogo to stay out of foul trouble themselves, and not get sloppy with live ball turnovers into the post. The more pressure we put on them in the post, the greater liklihood that we will have open 3's on kick outs. Pack is 6' closer to 5'10, so Diarra can play a role sticking to him like glue and Hawkins has the size advantage to stop spot up 3's. Newton/Alleyne is a size match for Wong. Jackson could make life tough on Miller. Avoid our own foul trouble and we're good. All of our shooters have been hitting and the mojo gods will consent to at least 30% from 3 for us, on decent number of attempts. Don't worry. Be Happy.

 

[CardiacAndre7]

We will did you see the size of their Center? Sanogo won't be able to bully him.

He also got his 4th foul with like 12 mins left. Sanogo is wayyy wayyyyy better than any of Texas’ post players.

 

[CashewCrew]

Remember the last time we played Miami? It was legitimately one of the worst beatings I’ve ever seen, I think we beat them by 40?

 

[UCLJ0211]

We are bigger at every single position. Miami was able to kill Texas inside because they were missing Disu and Bishop is just not that good. They won’t be able to get to the rim like that against Sanogo and Clingan. However, they are absolute nails from the FT line. We cannot foul these guys. That’s how they will beat us.

Bishop is still playing? Didn’t he play for Creighton like 5 years ago?

 

[ctchamps]

I think the 2000 Final Four had the highest sum of the seeds ever. That one had two No. 8 seeds, one No. 5 seed and one No. 1 seed for a total of 22.

The 2023 Final Four has one No. 4 seed, two No. 5 seeds and one No. 9 seed for a total of 23. So is 2023 the new record?

Looks that way. Better consult the math nerds.

I have recommended!

 

[Tenspro2002]

You think our D is not as good as Texas? That’s nuts.

We're #11 in KenPom D, Texas is #13.

It is not a stretch to say that our D is not significantly better than Texas's, and they got shredded by Miami today.

 

[Chin Diesel]

 

[Mots010]

The difference is Miami's guys have been making those tough 2s that Arkansas couldn't.

Is our D significantly better than Texas's? The metrics say no.

Texas was missing a starter and rim protector. Hard to say, but that wasn’t full strength Texas d.

 

[WeAreUCONN]

Miami’s board is hopeful but not confident. They seem to realize UConn is a legit team that will be tough to beat. Not much shhtt talking going on over there.

 

[Tenspro2002]

We need to run Pack and Wong off the 3 point line and the game will be ours. Whatever challenged 2's they and Miller make will not be enough. They will scrap with quickness on the boards and loose balls, but they should be 1 and done a bunch. A concerted effort into Sanogo and Clingan can very likely foul out their 6'7 center and then they have real troubles. If 6'7 Omier has to sit with 2 fouls for 7-8 minutes of the first half, or, plays and picks up a 3rd... We should be able to get at least 10 minutes in this game where Miami has no real center. Their only strategy is denying entry passes. We just need Jackson and Sanogo to stay out of foul trouble themselves, and not get sloppy with live ball turnovers into the post. The more pressure we put on them in the post, the greater liklihood that we will have open 3's on kick outs. Pack is 6' closer to 5'10, so Diarra can play a role sticking to him like glue and Hawkins has the size advantage to stop spot up 3's. Newton/Alleyne is a size match for Wong. Jackson could make life tough on Miller. Avoid our own foul trouble and we're good. All of our shooters have been hitting and the mojo gods will consent to at least 30% from 3 for us, on decent number of attempts. Don't worry. Be Happy.

They got back into this game by making those challenged 2s. They've done it for 4 straight games now. Maybe they'll run out of gas against us, who knows, but they've got it going right now.

 

[caw]

He also got his 4th foul with like 12 mins left. Sanogo is wayyy wayyyyy better than any of Texas’ post players.

Agreed!

Texas was extremely small down low (and in the backcourt) today:

Started
Mitchell 6'8 205
Allen 6'6 210
Bishop 6'7 220
Hunter 6'0 175
Carr 6'2 175

They brought one dude over 6'5 off the bench in Cunningham at 6'6 210

Not having Disu killed them down low.

That's tiny.

Karaban would have been the tallest player on the floor for either team in all but 7 minutes when Miami's two 6'9 forwards were in.

Texas didn't have the length to challenge Miami's shots one-on-one and couldn't move Miami's big. Not to mention Miller played the game of his life.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

They got back into this game by making those challenged 2s. They've done it for 4 straight games now. Maybe they'll run out of gas against us, who knows, but they've got it going right now.

To be honest, after their game there was a lot of talk about the mission to get past the elite eight unlike last season for them. It will be interesting to see how that plays out

 

[karstenkibbe]

I really don’t like the over-confidence and mojo-killing posts emanating from this board.

We are doomed!

Everyone say “Shamon Tooles” 20 times before going to bed every night between now and next Saturday to offset these posts.

For those youngins here who have no idea what I’m talking about…google Shamon Tooles and Darius Rice. I still have nightmares!

Poor Shamon Tooles wasted an awesome 32 point performance from Ben Gordon that night. Jerry Rice’s nephew was unstoppable with 43 of his own.

Unfortunately, this version of Miami is nothing like the Wong-Chris Lykes backcourt in 2019 that we obliterated. But then again, this version of the good guys is 100x better than that 2019 team. Bring on the U. Hurley has this group focused with an eye on the prize. I simply don’t believe they will let this opportunity slip away.

 

[HuskyBaggins]

According to KP, Miller is legit. Top 25 offensive rating in the nation (#21)

 

[Ripper32]

Agreed!

Texas was extremely small down low (and in the backcourt) today:

Started
Mitchell 6'8 205
Allen 6'6 210
Bishop 6'7 220
Hunter 6'0 175
Carr 6'2 175

They brought one dude over 6'5 off the bench in Cunningham at 6'6 210

Not having Disu killed them down low.

That's tiny.

Karaban would have been the tallest player on the floor for either team in all but 7 minutes when Miami's two 6'9 forwards were in.

Texas didn't have the length to challenge Miami's shots one-on-one and couldn't move Miami's big. Not to mention Miller played the game of his life.

Miller is super solid. He honestly outplayed Trace Jackson Davis.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

According to KP, Miller is legit. Top 25 offensive rating in the nation (#21)

 

[USNavyDog]

We are bigger at every single position. Miami was able to kill Texas inside because they were missing Disu and Bishop is just not that good. They won’t be able to get to the rim like that against Sanogo and Clingan. However, they are absolute nails from the FT line. We cannot foul these guys. That’s how they will beat us.

I think the last time Miami was as big as us was when they had Constantine Popa as their center back in the day.....

 

[caw]

Miller is super solid. He honestly outplayed Trace Jackson Davis.

Yeah he's good, very good.

He's not usually 7-7, 13-13 good, that's all.

 

[karstenkibbe]

I think the last time Miami was as big as us was when they had Constantine Popa as their center back in the day.....

I still can’t believe that Popa was actually drafted by an NBA team. He was also a third team All Big East selection. Twice.

 

[Tuna]

The difference is Miami's guys have been making those tough 2s that Arkansas couldn't.

Is our D significantly better than Texas's? The metrics say no.

What do the metrics say about Texas's D without Disu?

 

[ElGreco]

They got back into this game by making those challenged 2s. They've done it for 4 straight games now. Maybe they'll run out of gas against us, who knows, but they've got it going right now.

We are bigger and deeper. Don’t think they have any depth. Don’t see how they can drive to the hoop. Don’t think they made many 3’s. In Hurley we trust!