1. Very interesting mismatch for both teams. When the Vols are on defense, who does Chism guard? When the Vols are on offense, who guards Chism and Williams? Lighty was playing PF defense for OSU today. Can he handle Chism or Williams. I have to think because of Chism's footwork, this mismatch favors the Vols. I don't know who Chism guards. I'm sure it isn't Turner (JP likely gets him), or Lauderdale (except when Williams is on the bench) and I'm pretty sure it won't be Buford. So, can Chism handle Lighty or Diebler?
2. This may be the game where we don't have to play Baby Pearl. It seems to me that Tatum can get some minutes when Williams comes off the floor. OTOH, I don't think this is a game where Pearl is as much a liability on the defensive end. I think, however, with OSU's quickness and athleticism Pearl could be a bigger liability than usual on the offensive end.
3. OSU is one of the thinnest teams you will see. Hopson, Prince, Maze, and Chism all have the ability to create foul problems for the defense. If OSU gets any one of their starters in foul trouble, they become a very different team. I wonder if this late in the season, they aren't a bit tired.
4. OSU is not a dominant rebounding team. They would be right above middle of the conference in the SEC. When Lauderdale goes to the bench and Madsen comes in, there is a significant drop in rebounding for them.
5. OSU has no true PG. Turner is their PG. I believe they are susceptible to turnovers. They average 11 per game. Against Ga. Tech they had 18 and Georgia Tech was inept for most of that game.
6. As you can imagine, a team that has so many perimeter players, relies somewhat on the three point shot. They are in the top 25 in the NCAA in 3 point percentage. That is good because 3 point defense is our thing. They also don't seem to run many ball screens, which should also help us avoid further mismatches. Their offense seems to be a Turner or Lighty one on one and a kick to Diebler for a three point shot.
7. With respect to MSU and Northern Iowa, the good thing about those two teams is that neither can handle pressure. This may be the perfect storm for the Vols if we can beat OSU. MSU may have lost their PG (and leading scorer) Jai Lucas with an Achilles tear today. And N.Iowa absolutely looked feeble when Kansas starting pressing them. They couldn't get the ball in most of the time and when they did, they had a hard time advancing it. This would be the perfect scenario for Bruce to throw in the Vol press in the Elite 8.
This is quite an opportunity for the Vols. If JP plays great defense on Turner, Chism plays like a man in the low post, and Maze and Hopson come to play, we can beat OSU and then get a very favorable match-up in the Elite 8 with 40 minutes between us and the Final Four.
2. This may be the game where we don't have to play Baby Pearl. It seems to me that Tatum can get some minutes when Williams comes off the floor. OTOH, I don't think this is a game where Pearl is as much a liability on the defensive end. I think, however, with OSU's quickness and athleticism Pearl could be a bigger liability than usual on the offensive end.
3. OSU is one of the thinnest teams you will see. Hopson, Prince, Maze, and Chism all have the ability to create foul problems for the defense. If OSU gets any one of their starters in foul trouble, they become a very different team. I wonder if this late in the season, they aren't a bit tired.
4. OSU is not a dominant rebounding team. They would be right above middle of the conference in the SEC. When Lauderdale goes to the bench and Madsen comes in, there is a significant drop in rebounding for them.
5. OSU has no true PG. Turner is their PG. I believe they are susceptible to turnovers. They average 11 per game. Against Ga. Tech they had 18 and Georgia Tech was inept for most of that game.
6. As you can imagine, a team that has so many perimeter players, relies somewhat on the three point shot. They are in the top 25 in the NCAA in 3 point percentage. That is good because 3 point defense is our thing. They also don't seem to run many ball screens, which should also help us avoid further mismatches. Their offense seems to be a Turner or Lighty one on one and a kick to Diebler for a three point shot.
7. With respect to MSU and Northern Iowa, the good thing about those two teams is that neither can handle pressure. This may be the perfect storm for the Vols if we can beat OSU. MSU may have lost their PG (and leading scorer) Jai Lucas with an Achilles tear today. And N.Iowa absolutely looked feeble when Kansas starting pressing them. They couldn't get the ball in most of the time and when they did, they had a hard time advancing it. This would be the perfect scenario for Bruce to throw in the Vol press in the Elite 8.
This is quite an opportunity for the Vols. If JP plays great defense on Turner, Chism plays like a man in the low post, and Maze and Hopson come to play, we can beat OSU and then get a very favorable match-up in the Elite 8 with 40 minutes between us and the Final Four.
