#3 Houston (AAC, 1st)
Best wins: LSU, Oregon, UCF, Cincinnati
Polls: No. 5 RPI, No.4 NET, No. 13 KenPom, No.14 BPI
Starters:
F Fabian White Jr. (6.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG)
F Breaon Brady (6.2 PPG, 4.1 RPG)
G Armoni Brooks (13.7 PPG, 6.5 RPG)
G Galen Robinson Jr. (7.8 PPG, 5.1 APG)
G Corey Davis Jr. (16.6 PPG, 2.9 APG)
Bench:
F Cedrick Alley Jr. (5.3 PPG, 3.1 RPG)
G Nate Hinton (7.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG)
G Dejon Jarreau (9.2 PPG, 3.3 APG)

Strengths: efficient offense, shutdown man-to-man defense, strong backcourt guard-play
Weaknesses: fouling troubles, poor free throwing, force too many 3s, lack of overall size

How They Win: limit turnovers, efficient offensive possessions with good shot selections, pressure man-to-man defense to grind down opposing teams
How They Lose: the downside of physical man defense is that UH gives up tons of fouls, opponents can stay in the game by knocking down free throws, elite guards can collapse Houston's man defense as seen in the Temple and UCF games

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#14 Georgia State (SBC, 1st)
Best Wins: Alabama, Georgia, St. Bonaventure, ETSU
Polls: No. 47 RPI, No. 121 NET, No. 115 KenPom, No. 103 BPI

Starters:
G D'Marcus Simonds (18.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG)
G Kane Williams (11.3 PPG, 3.2 RPG)
G Devin Mitchell (12.4 PPG, 2.0 RPG)
F Jeff Thomas (11.7PPG, 4.5 RPG)
F Malik Benlevi (12.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG)
Bench:
G Damon Wilson (5.1 PPG, 3.1 RPG)
G Nelson Phillips (5.3 PPG, 3.4 RPG)
F Jordan Tyson (2.6 PPG, 2.5 RPG)

Strengths: one of the top 3pt shooting teams in the country, strong guard plays in Simonds and Williams, all 5 starters are double-digit scorers who will create mismatches, senior-laden team with NCAA tournament experiences (the very same squad that played #2 Cincinnati very closely in last year's NCAA tourney---posted video below)



Weaknesses: lack of true post players, one of the worst rebounding teams in the country, relies too heavily on 3s and can be beaten easily on cold shooting days

How They Win: unleash the NBA prospect guard Dmarcus Simonds in 1v1 situations..he has a number of basketball moves in his repertoire to finish strong drives to the basket, get into a rhythm shooting the 3s, Ron Hunter's brand of 2-3/1-3-1 matchup zone defense can be confusing as it disguises like a man defense...tough to find easy passing lanes which leads to turnovers, GSU is a strong transition team that can push the tempo up and down the court, aggressive press and traps constantly seeks turnovers
How They Lose: cold shooting days behind the arc can lead to relatively easy defeats, Simonds can try to do too much by himself and make sloppy turnovers, poor rebounding means opponents will have more offensive possessions with 2nd, 3rd scoring opportunities, Georgia State is a terrible free throwing team and purposely fouling the Panthers liberally may be a viable strategy.

Good stuff.

https://collegefootballnews.com/2019/03/...me-preview

Quote:but the three-point defense is even better – they attack the perimeter as well as anyone in the tournament. Forget about any second chances on the boards, and don’t get into a shootout.

This doesn't bode well for GSU.

Quote:The Panthers have to hit from three to stay alive, but Houston has the second-best defense in the nation against the three – only Virginia is better.

Nor this.

(03-20-2019 10:42 AM)_x_ Wrote:  

Quote:but the three-point defense is even better – they attack the perimeter as well as anyone in the tournament. Forget about any second chances on the boards, and don’t get into a shootout.

This doesn't bode well for GSU.

Quote:The Panthers have to hit from three to stay alive, but Houston has the second-best defense in the nation against the three – only Virginia is better.

Nor this.

I think I said this on PantherTalk, but this is exactly why the Panthers absolute cannot fall in love with shooting a bunch of contested 3s. Georgia State has to spread out Houston's man defense and let Simonds & Williams drive to the basket. Draw fouls in the paint. Knock down the free throws (GSU has been much better at FTs since late Feb, let's see if that continues). Get Houston's starters in foul troubles early.

(03-20-2019 11:58 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  Get Houston's starters in foul troubles early.

"Foul trouble" in the traditional sense of not having starters available to play is generally not a UH problem. The stars in the back court (Davis, Robinson, Brooks) rarely get in foul trouble.

The starting bigs get in foul trouble every game, but the F/C depth is 5 deep and are mostly interchangeable (White is an exception). Their biggest value is combined that's 20 fouls to give playing tough defense without a drop off

The only issue with that is if the opponent gets to the line a lot and makes their FTs

(03-20-2019 01:23 PM)NTXCoog12 Wrote:  

(03-20-2019 11:58 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  Get Houston's starters in foul troubles early.

"Foul trouble" in the traditional sense of not having starters available to play is generally not a UH problem. The stars in the back court (Davis, Robinson, Brooks) rarely get in foul trouble.

The starting bigs get in foul trouble every game, but the F/C depth is 5 deep and are mostly interchangeable (White is an exception). Their biggest value is combined that's 20 fouls to give playing tough defense without a drop off

The only issue with that is if the opponent gets to the line a lot and makes their FTs

Sounds like GSU could be in double bonus early. Those free throws will decide if we can pull off an upset or not.

We also need to push our up-tempo offense in order to force Houston to deplete those reserve fouls.

"Most of the time when coaches get up, they give coach-speak. 'Well, you know, we'll see, we're going to play hard.' If I don't believe it, how are my kids going to believe it?" Hunter said. "It's no disrespect to Houston at all. I will be extremely, extremely disappointed if we don't win this game."

Maybe we share the same advertising company.

(03-20-2019 02:45 PM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  

(03-20-2019 01:23 PM)NTXCoog12 Wrote:  

(03-20-2019 11:58 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  Get Houston's starters in foul troubles early.

"Foul trouble" in the traditional sense of not having starters available to play is generally not a UH problem. The stars in the back court (Davis, Robinson, Brooks) rarely get in foul trouble.

The starting bigs get in foul trouble every game, but the F/C depth is 5 deep and are mostly interchangeable (White is an exception). Their biggest value is combined that's 20 fouls to give playing tough defense without a drop off

The only issue with that is if the opponent gets to the line a lot and makes their FTs

Sounds like GSU could be in double bonus early. Those free throws will decide if we can pull off an upset or not.

We also need to push our up-tempo offense in order to force Houston to deplete those reserve fouls.

Coogs sport a pretty impressive overall record, and have posted several quality wins this season. To have a chance, I think y'all need to punch 'em in the mouth early, get on top and stay on top. Think it's also gonna be important that y'all disrupt their offense.

If they jump out to a big early lead, and y'all are forced to play "catch up" most of the game, then I think you're toast.

Much hate for Scooter and GSU. But I want yall to destroy Houston. Geaux Panthers

(03-22-2019 02:17 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  "Most of the time when coaches get up, they give coach-speak. 'Well, you know, we'll see, we're going to play hard.' If I don't believe it, how are my kids going to believe it?" Hunter said. "It's no disrespect to Houston at all. I will be extremely, extremely disappointed if we don't win this game."

Isn't ANY coach going to be disappointed if their team doesn't win???

(03-22-2019 03:46 PM)KJ Eagle Wrote:  

(03-22-2019 02:17 AM)GSUALUM17 Wrote:  "Most of the time when coaches get up, they give coach-speak. 'Well, you know, we'll see, we're going to play hard.' If I don't believe it, how are my kids going to believe it?" Hunter said. "It's no disrespect to Houston at all. I will be extremely, extremely disappointed if we don't win this game."

Isn't ANY coach going to be disappointed if their team doesn't win???

Will this be one time of the year when you become a Georgia State fan?

Not the start Panther wanted . . . 15-3 Coogs, but it's still early.

Panthers weather the storm, cut the Coog lead to 5. We got a game.

. . and just like that, Coogs push it back to 10.

You can really tell that GSU is used to having the refs on their side...

With that being said, they're playing much better than they have most of the season in conference.

40-31 Coogs at the half. Panthers cut it to 5 twice, but could get no closer.
This Cougar team is big, fast, and very athletic. I don't see them losing this one. No knock on Panther, just too much Cougar.

Feels like the Cougars have an extra man on the court sometimes. What a defense. Our guys are hitting just enough shots and putting in enough effort plays to at least keep the lead in sight after that terrible start.

Announcer just called Ga St. Georgia Southern . . . .

Panther may be wishing that it was Eagle that was playing this one . . .

(03-22-2019 07:19 PM)Pounce FTW Wrote:  Feels like the Cougars have an extra man on the court sometimes. What a defense. Our guys are hitting just enough shots and putting in enough effort plays to at least keep the lead in sight after that terrible start.

Just a tough match up for y'all . . .