Elite 8 To Final Four what Regional Finals have in store Riebeil Durley-Petty
Riebeil Durley-Petty
Elite 8 To Final Four what Regional Finals have in store
The cream of the crop has risen and the field has been narrowed to the Elite 8. UConn and Missouri are vying for Regional supremacy. Now it’s time to see who can cement their admission to Ford Field and prove they truly are that deal at the Final Four.
West Regional Final #1UConn vs. #3 Missouri Saturday 4:40 PM
UConn keys to the game- Embattled head coach Jim Calhoun’s Huskies have bulldozed through the tourney thus far by an average of 31 points and UConn will look to continue their dominance against the relentless Tigers. UConn expectedly disposed of Purdue, 72-60 on the strength of All-America center Hasheem Thabeet’s 15 point, 15 rebound, 4 block performance. Obviously UConn will have to rely on their huge post advantage. Thabeet, aka Mutombo Jr. is a mobile big man and fared well against similar up tempo Big East team Marquette playing 36 minutes and finishing with 14 points, 15 boards and 5 swats in a 93-82 win February 25. Though Mizzou’s big men DeMarre Carrol and Leo Lyons are talented they are really small forwards impersonating inside players and can’t match up with Thabeet and Jeff Adrien. The brutalizing Adrien in particular should have an advantage over Lyons who has a tendency to provide the defensive stoutness of a piece of crumb cake. As great as Mizzou’s perimeter defense is Memphis proved they’re vulnerable inside scoring a ridiculous 60 points in the paint in Mizzou’s 102-91 triumph. UConn will need to pound the rock in the paint incessantly and look for the slashing athletic rim-wrecker Stanley Robinson to slash to the cup and feast on the Tigers flaccid interior defense.
Amityville, New York native A.J. Price is used to a fast-paced, streetball game but he’ll have to be vigilant of not getting swindled into Mizzou’s frenetic run and gun approach. Price, freshman guard Kemba Walker and Craig Austrie will have to be selective with their transition opportunities and not diverge too much from the bash and slash gameplan. UConn is a prolific scoring team, dropping 89 points a night in the tourney, but they can’t match Mizzou’s combustibility and can ill-afford to let the game spiral out of control. Walker will need to use his propensity to get to the cup, and Price and Austrie will have to drill some jumpers or the Tigers could run UConn out the building like Memphis, who shot abhorrently outside the paint.
Missouri keys to the game- Pressure, pressure and more pressure! Mizzou has absolutely no business being here. They were picked to finish 7th in the Big 12 and continue to drudge in the conference doldrums. Thankfully for Mizzou faithful, head coach Mike Anderson has proven to be the programs George Jefferson and move the Tigers up to a deluxe position in the Elite 8 after clocking Memphis in the West Regional Semifinals. Because of the Tigers improbable run they have absolutely no pressure on them and. They lampin back icin and have nothing to lose. That only amplifies their dangerousness. Mizzou will look to capitalize on UConn’s dearth of ballers, draining them with their full court anarchy and wave of 11 players. J.T. Tiller and Zaire Taylor will try to smother UConn’s guards like a plate of hashbrowns, and “Junkyard Dog” Carroll will look to burglarize the pill with his ravenous traps. Matt Lawrence scored 13 points against Memphis and supplied some timely run extinguishing trifectas. Lawrence, Kim English, Taylor and Marcus Denmon will need to be prepared to bust some triples because Tiller will have to kick the orange out occasionally because of Thabeet’s ability to alter shots.
Carrol and Lyons may be giving up size but they, along with the rest of the Tigers definitely aren’t lacking in the confidence. They’re the hardwood epitome of Bonecrusher’s I ain’t never scared hit. They’re a fearless, audacious crew that will keep coming. Carrol and Lyons will need to use their quickness advantage and capability to create off the bounce to attack Adrien and Thabeet in particular. It’s obligatory Lyons occupies Thabeet and lures him away from the lane to clear the pathway and enable the guards to get some clean looks and constrict Thabeet’s domineering presence. Lyons and Carrol will also have to be ready to bang and swang because Thabeet (13.7 ppg, 10.9 boards) and Adrien (13.7 ppg, 10 boards) both average double-doubles and will be hitting the glass fiercely. If Mizzo rebounds well collectively, not even having to win the board battle but is at least keeps a reasonable disparity it will go long way towards them pulling the huge upset.
Prediction- This is a ill classic dichotomy of styles. UConn’s Big East punishing power game versus Mizzou’s frenzied full court mania. For UConn gaining a decisive edge on the defensive window is crucial because if the Huskies own the boards they can handicap Mizzou’s ability to press because the Tigers need to score to set up their swarming helter-skelter defense. If UConn successfully negates the press the loss of Jerome Dyson won’t expose UConn’s suspect ball-handling as much. UConn can also get fast-break buckets because Mizzou’s devoid of shot-blocking and marginal transition defense. If Price gets single coverage in space and allowed to work in the open floor he’ll roast Mizzou guards like meatloaf because of his sewer creativity and triple range off the bounce. Mizzou’s grittiness and fortitude will keep them close, but Thabeet will be a meanacing deterrent beating their lay-up attempts like scrambled eggs. It wouldn’t be a monumental stunner if Mizzou pulls it out because they’re a very good team, but they must have no blasé’ mental lapses with buzzer to buzzer infallible ferocity which is a tall order. UConn is just a little too talented, athletic, disciplined and on an unyielding mission to realize their championship vision.
Elite 8 To Final Four what Regional Finals have in store
The cream of the crop has risen and the field has been narrowed to the Elite 8. UConn and Missouri are vying for Regional supremacy. Now it’s time to see who can cement their admission to Ford Field and prove they truly are that deal at the Final Four.
West Regional Final #1UConn vs. #3 Missouri Saturday 4:40 PM
UConn keys to the game- Embattled head coach Jim Calhoun’s Huskies have bulldozed through the tourney thus far by an average of 31 points and UConn will look to continue their dominance against the relentless Tigers. UConn expectedly disposed of Purdue, 72-60 on the strength of All-America center Hasheem Thabeet’s 15 point, 15 rebound, 4 block performance. Obviously UConn will have to rely on their huge post advantage. Thabeet, aka Mutombo Jr. is a mobile big man and fared well against similar up tempo Big East team Marquette playing 36 minutes and finishing with 14 points, 15 boards and 5 swats in a 93-82 win February 25. Though Mizzou’s big men DeMarre Carrol and Leo Lyons are talented they are really small forwards impersonating inside players and can’t match up with Thabeet and Jeff Adrien. The brutalizing Adrien in particular should have an advantage over Lyons who has a tendency to provide the defensive stoutness of a piece of crumb cake. As great as Mizzou’s perimeter defense is Memphis proved they’re vulnerable inside scoring a ridiculous 60 points in the paint in Mizzou’s 102-91 triumph. UConn will need to pound the rock in the paint incessantly and look for the slashing athletic rim-wrecker Stanley Robinson to slash to the cup and feast on the Tigers flaccid interior defense.
Amityville, New York native A.J. Price is used to a fast-paced, streetball game but he’ll have to be vigilant of not getting swindled into Mizzou’s frenetic run and gun approach. Price, freshman guard Kemba Walker and Craig Austrie will have to be selective with their transition opportunities and not diverge too much from the bash and slash gameplan. UConn is a prolific scoring team, dropping 89 points a night in the tourney, but they can’t match Mizzou’s combustibility and can ill-afford to let the game spiral out of control. Walker will need to use his propensity to get to the cup, and Price and Austrie will have to drill some jumpers or the Tigers could run UConn out the building like Memphis, who shot abhorrently outside the paint.
Missouri keys to the game- Pressure, pressure and more pressure! Mizzou has absolutely no business being here. They were picked to finish 7th in the Big 12 and continue to drudge in the conference doldrums. Thankfully for Mizzou faithful, head coach Mike Anderson has proven to be the programs George Jefferson and move the Tigers up to a deluxe position in the Elite 8 after clocking Memphis in the West Regional Semifinals. Because of the Tigers improbable run they have absolutely no pressure on them and. They lampin back icin and have nothing to lose. That only amplifies their dangerousness. Mizzou will look to capitalize on UConn’s dearth of ballers, draining them with their full court anarchy and wave of 11 players. J.T. Tiller and Zaire Taylor will try to smother UConn’s guards like a plate of hashbrowns, and “Junkyard Dog” Carroll will look to burglarize the pill with his ravenous traps. Matt Lawrence scored 13 points against Memphis and supplied some timely run extinguishing trifectas. Lawrence, Kim English, Taylor and Marcus Denmon will need to be prepared to bust some triples because Tiller will have to kick the orange out occasionally because of Thabeet’s ability to alter shots.
Carrol and Lyons may be giving up size but they, along with the rest of the Tigers definitely aren’t lacking in the confidence. They’re the hardwood epitome of Bonecrusher’s I ain’t never scared hit. They’re a fearless, audacious crew that will keep coming. Carrol and Lyons will need to use their quickness advantage and capability to create off the bounce to attack Adrien and Thabeet in particular. It’s obligatory Lyons occupies Thabeet and lures him away from the lane to clear the pathway and enable the guards to get some clean looks and constrict Thabeet’s domineering presence. Lyons and Carrol will also have to be ready to bang and swang because Thabeet (13.7 ppg, 10.9 boards) and Adrien (13.7 ppg, 10 boards) both average double-doubles and will be hitting the glass fiercely. If Mizzo rebounds well collectively, not even having to win the board battle but is at least keeps a reasonable disparity it will go long way towards them pulling the huge upset.
Prediction- This is a ill classic dichotomy of styles. UConn’s Big East punishing power game versus Mizzou’s frenzied full court mania. For UConn gaining a decisive edge on the defensive window is crucial because if the Huskies own the boards they can handicap Mizzou’s ability to press because the Tigers need to score to set up their swarming helter-skelter defense. If UConn successfully negates the press the loss of Jerome Dyson won’t expose UConn’s suspect ball-handling as much. UConn can also get fast-break buckets because Mizzou’s devoid of shot-blocking and marginal transition defense. If Price gets single coverage in space and allowed to work in the open floor he’ll roast Mizzou guards like meatloaf because of his sewer creativity and triple range off the bounce. Mizzou’s grittiness and fortitude will keep them close, but Thabeet will be a meanacing deterrent beating their lay-up attempts like scrambled eggs. It wouldn’t be a monumental stunner if Mizzou pulls it out because they’re a very good team, but they must have no blasé’ mental lapses with buzzer to buzzer infallible ferocity which is a tall order. UConn is just a little too talented, athletic, disciplined and on an unyielding mission to realize their championship vision.
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