Iowa State Matchup

#1

Go47

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#1
The tournament is so often about matchups. How do we matchup against Iowa State? One thought I have heard is that they are excellent at the guard position in creating ball pressure which leads to turnovers and bad passes. How will JG and Boswell perform seems to be a key to the game??
 
#2
#2
I watched them play the last game and all I can remember is that their PG is a stud. I doubt we have anyone who can stay in front of him which has been our kryptonite several times this season. Hopefully JG keeps playing stellar and others step up offensively.
 
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#5
#5
On paper the most glaring thing I saw is that they force a lot of turnovers, and we commit a lot of them.

That’s usually not a good sign.

But these types of games are harder to predict because when you have a full week to prepare, the arithmetic can change. (Good example was the UK S16 last year. With a week to prepare we solved their defense that had hurt us so bad in the two games earlier that season)

I value KenPom rating very highly. The difference between their KenPom and ours is a pretty large gap. It’s the same difference as ours is to Texas or Georgia (to give you context to a team you would have seen us play this year)

ultimately I think Iowa State is a pretty clear favorite. But you can’t count us out. It’s March, after all.
 
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#7
#7
We will have size advantage inside especially if Jefferson doesn’t play. We may have success rebounding and playing physical down low but their perimeter defense is elite. Makes it hard to operate. They’re very good defending ball screens. We do a ton of that. They can shoot it pretty good too. If we turn the ball over, we’ll get drilled.
 
#8
#8
On paper the most glaring thing I saw is that they force a lot of turnovers, and we commit a lot of them.

That’s usually not a good sign.

But these types of games are harder to predict because when you have a full week to prepare, the arithmetic can change. (Good example was the UK S16 last year. With a week to prepare we solved their defense that had hurt us so bad in the two games earlier that season)

I value KenPom rating very highly. The difference between their KenPom and ours is a pretty large gap. It’s the same difference as ours is to Texas or Georgia (to give you context to a team you would have seen us play this year)

ultimately I think Iowa State is a pretty clear favorite. But you can’t count us out. It’s March, after all.
Not if you ask that horsetoothed yankee, Steve Lappas. He says we're one of the best at limiting turnovers. 🙄
 
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#9
#9
On paper the most glaring thing I saw is that they force a lot of turnovers, and we commit a lot of them.

That’s usually not a good sign.

But these types of games are harder to predict because when you have a full week to prepare, the arithmetic can change. (Good example was the UK S16 last year. With a week to prepare we solved their defense that had hurt us so bad in the two games earlier that season)

I value KenPom rating very highly. The difference between their KenPom and ours is a pretty large gap. It’s the same difference as ours is to Texas or Georgia (to give you context to a team you would have seen us play this year)

ultimately I think Iowa State is a pretty clear favorite. But you can’t count us out. It’s March, after all.
Good summary. They may be the most physical, aggressive defensive team in the country. Hate to say it but I don’t think Ament will be a factor in this game - he will be physically overmatched. We will need to score in bunches in the paint to capitalize on our size advantage. And hit our free throws.
 
#11
#11
Even if Jefferson plays, he’s going to be limited and susceptible to easy box outs. If we can win the rebounding war as I suspect we will, it’s just a matter of making the bunnies and putbacks.
Do that, and we win- Iowa is great on defense, but no one is talking about how good our D is either. They haven’t seen D like this all year.

Cary hits his shots, Estrella hit his shots, we make the lob passes to Big Okpara, and drain a few threes along the way and ISU is heading to Ames after the game. Vols run away with it late.
 
#12
#12
We are only averaging about 2 turnovers more per game than them and 2 fewer steals. That's not huge. My hope is that our massive rebounding advantage will help to offset this. Our losses to them notwithstanding, Kentucky is pretty bad, and they were dominating them early. If we are within 4 at halftime and come strong in the 2nd, I think we are very capable of getting this win.
 
#13
#13
This is arguably the best team we will have faced in the season along with Houston. I’ve watched the cyclones play a few times this year and one huge key to a victory will be perimeter defense. Can’t remember his name but they have one guy that will absolutely light us up if left open. It’s pretty obvious that Ament we will need to have a huge game offensively as well.
 
#14
#14
Estrella needs to stay out of foul trouble so we have a true inside scoring threat to help JG and Ament. And I don't think he can do that. His brain is immutably wired to commit silly, unnecessary fouls 20 feet away from the basket. Then, if he does stay out of foul trouble, the guards actually have to get him the ball instead of dribbling around the perimeter, shooting 3s, or attempting to drive on their own.

It's a longshot.
 
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#15
#15
We are only averaging about 2 turnovers more per game than them and 2 fewer steals. That's not huge. My hope is that our massive rebounding advantage will help to offset this. Our losses to them notwithstanding, Kentucky is pretty bad, and they were dominating them early. If we are within 4 at halftime and come strong in the 2nd, I think we are very capable of getting this win.

Steals don’t tell the whole story because lots of turnovers can be forced without a steal occurring.


Iowa’s defense forces a turnover 22% of possessions. That’s a high number. We are at 15.8%

But I agree with you that how we need to balance this is by rebounding. And more importantly, scoring on our extra possessions.
 
#16
#16
The Cyclones dismantled Kentucky without their star Joshua Jefferson, and he is questionable right now for Friday. That means, with or without him, Iowa State is one of the best teams in the nation, IMO, and our O & D needs to be simply outstanding every second of the game. Cannot afford to blink against this team. Gonna be a barn burner for sure - so get ready Vol Nation! Go Big Orange!!
 
#17
#17
The obvious tack for Iowa State is to press every inbounds pass and press the ball to half court whenever possible. This is where most of our turnovers occur. We can't afford a 20 turnover game against this team. Barnes is going to have to push them off the 3 point line regardless of what happens inside, same as our Bama defense. Can't let these guys have 3 point shots unless you can keep pace.
 
#23
#23
Kentucky gave up at the end of that game. It was much closer than the score indicated. I won’t be surprised if we beat Iowa State, seeing what is at stake. I will be very disappointed if it doesn’t go down to the wire.
 
#25
#25
I'm hopeful that this team is finally coming together. I've been waiting all year to see a team and not 5 guys with a general idea of what they are suppose to do. There have been moments when they have clicked, but not often. The Va game was their best of the year. Everybody played hard and well. Estrella hit two big shots going down the stretch. Rebounding was strong. Okpara was a ball swatter. It was a good game. The problem all year has been playing a good game or two and then backsliding into that frustrating play we had the last few games of the year. If we take a step up instead of a step back, we could give them some trouble.
 

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