Video Preview: Marquette's Tyler Kolek & Olivier-Maxence Prosper

[gsmooth]

No to a zone tonight -- Kolek would kill it by dribbling into the seams and finding shooters and cutters.

However we start, I think we see plenty of Jackson on OMP over the course of the game. He should definitely be on him when Joplin is in for Jones -- Karaban can move to Joplin.

And a note on ball screen defense (the dreaded "high hedge" discussion). This is not a game to employ an aggressive hedge. Kolek's vision is too good and it will lead to easy dunks. Drop with the roller, fight through and make him beat you with jump shots.

100% on your post. Kolek's passing ability and floor vision is equal to that of AJax. If a man is open in a position they can score, they will find them and deliver the perfect pass.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I didn't hear his postgame presser but I've seen several posters say Jackson would've been on him when it was pretty clear the decision was made to roll with Karaban on Hopkins from the start. I hated seeing it from the opening tip, Karaban isn't physically capable of guarding Hopkins at this stage in his career. Not a matter of toughness, he's just too hard a cover for him now and it felt like he was left out on an island to fail.

I know it didn't go well, but mostly it was Hopkins overpowering AK inside. He hit outside shots, but those didn't feel like individual defensive failures to me. I'm not sure Jackson would have done any better. I agree we needed to try something, but I'm not sure what.

You guys know Prosper better than I do, but he seems less likely to overpower Karaban inside with speed and strength. I'm not too worried about Alex guarding guys outside or in the midrange.

 

[Hunt for 7]

I really hope Samson is capable when he gets back if ever this year. Every game it seems like we have a match up issue at the 4. I love Alex but he needs another year to put some mass on so he can be better equipped to handle his man. I hope we keep it close tonight.

 

[HooperScooper]

Aj on Hopkins was optimal too. It didn’t happen. I,of course, defer to coach but sometimes he has different ideas. But he’s UConn’s coach and I’m a fat 55 year old with a 12 week old. I’ll trust it. Or try to.

Stop eating at Arby's. Then you'd just be a 55 year old with a 12 week old.