The line up does not need to be expanded in the tournament, if anything in the tournament your lineup shrinks(plenty of timeouts b/c of tv and should be able to rest those who need it)Ferro and especially Simpson hopefully don't need to be in the game. If they are in the game Shaq and Black are in foul trouble, which is not good.
Need to limit their shots, their offensive rebounding could kill us if we don't block out.
Harass their guards and hopefully make it hard for them to get into their offense.

(03-22-2013 01:54 PM)salukiblue Wrote:  I would pull Stan and Ferro aside and have a serious talk with them. Let them know they WILL play but they don't need to be world beaters out there. Tell them to buy into playing stand up defense on the MSU stiffs, don't get fancy, and run the court in transition. Explain they will probably play in 2 to 3 minute spurts, and to just do what is needed...set SMART screens, put a body on the MSU bigs at all times and rebound.

Stan plays so little I wonder if he knows the plays.

Well, Darryl Royal said it long ago "dance with who brung ya".

Don't change anything. We have won 31 games doing what we have been doing. Don't do anything different now.

Keep a lot of pressure on Appling, mix it up, Joe, Chris and Geron all take turns guarding him and hounding him. He's the key, he plays bad, we have a great shot. I don't mean run double teams at him like we did with Dellavodova necessarily, but just keep constant pressure on him and don't let him relax.

That said, every once in a while, I would change the defense to keep MSU off balance ... 90% man, but an occasional zone too (unless the M2M is doing very well like against St Mary's).

We have to be ready for them posting up DJ ... I might even use Adonis to guard the 4 spot and have DJ check Dawson, who he matches up better with. I agree that we need to be ready to double down on their post players and get good rotation on the perimeter kick outs.

On offense, be ready to run, but don't force. Don't forget about Tarik in the post, make their big guys play defense.

And finally ... MAKE SHOTS!

(03-22-2013 02:18 PM)J12312 Wrote:  I'd try to get my team to buy into scoring more points by the second buzzer than the other team.....

I have defensive mindset. Hold MSU to fewer points than the Tigers

I would demand bigs to rebound like crazy and throw all outlets quick and free throw line extended so we can get out on the break...simple game plan. We miss too many opportunities to run...

Im just glad that none of us are the coach. If you even mention using Stan (unless no other options are available) then you are clueless. Dude doesnt even get in with the walkons.

My strategy as coach would be to just win baby!!! Go Tigers!!!

run mich st to death. see how good nix at 290 pounds can run gassers. tell the guys (especially DJ) to go down on contact in the lane and draw fouls. take the open 12' shot at the top of the lane that is ALWAYS THERE (yes im talking to you adonis). thomas crawford and johnson MUST swarm the glass.

in other words, be agressive on every single possession - MAKE THEM PLAY YOU.

(03-23-2013 07:59 AM)tigerjeb Wrote:  run mich st to death. see how good nix at 290 pounds can run gassers. tell the guys (especially DJ) to go down on contact in the lane and draw fouls. take the open 12' shot at the top of the lane that is ALWAYS THERE (yes im talking to you adonis). thomas crawford and johnson MUST swarm the glass.

in other words, be agressive on every single possession - MAKE THEM PLAY YOU.

That would be a good strategy.........but tell me the last time you've seen Black, Shaq, or DJ take a charge? Black and Shaq foul and DJ swats. Now that I think about it, our whole team hardly ever takes charges.

TM

to be honest, with some of the string beans in cusa, black and adonis going down on contact would be laughable. im not really advocating flopping, but if the cookies are on the table, might as well grab one.

(03-22-2013 05:03 PM)450bench Wrote:  In the half court set, Joe doesn't need to run the point...That killed us in the second half yesterday...He has excelled when he was moved to a wing, rotating the ball...Geron and Chris should run the point in the half court set rotating the ball around...Obviously Joe would certainly be up there at times but not all the time...He dribbles too much out there, which takes away from his angle of penetration...Geron and Chris penetrate better from the top than Joe and they rotate the ball around better...Early in the year, Joe's abilities were negated when he was at the top of the set and when he shifted over, the team got better...Keep that philosophy and apply it tomorrow and the ball will not be as stagnent in the half court offense

Yep....As a wing Joe is lethal with pick & rolls, shooting and entry passes to the low post player.

Tarik and Shaq play straight up defense, no leaning, no swatting at the ball, hands straight up. DJ will take care of the block from the weak side...

Rebound and get it to the guards for transition offense.

Most coaches do not make changes to their starting lineup in the NCAA tournament except in case of injury or disqualification.

Most coaches do not make substantial changes to their rotations in the NCAA tournament, except perhaps to shorten them to 7-ish guys.

Bears released in the MSU locker room before the game.

Go small and spread the floor. Run the to death and attack the basket. Make their bigs tired and start fouling when we are taking it to the tin.