(03-22-2021 01:48 PM)Basketball Jones Wrote:  

(03-22-2021 05:54 AM)eastisbest Wrote:  That little guy, as I mentioned in the Acunzo thread was #1 ranked center in Illinois the year he came out. No surprises there, fullfiling expectations. The point is, they HAVE a center, with a back-up. His stats show he hasn't shot a three all season. They have others to pull the defense out. This "guard play" conference just means death in any tournament. This chess board has been set a long time. To make the next step a team needs a specialist guarding that paint area real estate, that can also direct offense, back-down a defender and pass out. It needs power forwards and shooting forwards that can handle the ball.

Good points, but I also think there are many ways you can win come NCAA Tournament Time! ESPN Commentator Chris Spatola said this morning that the reason Oral Roberts is going to the Sweet 16 is because their 3 point shooting offset them getting killed on the boards in both games against Ohio St and Florida 81 to 61. Now Loyal Chicago is different in that they have a 4-year starting post player in Krutweg that has the ball skills that allow the Ramblers to play inside out which make them hard to defend. Don't forget a few years ago, Toledo had a similar sized post player in Stevie Taylor who unfortunately did not have similar ball skills and the ball rarely ever came back out when he got it in the post. I think most successful coaches set up their style of play based on what their personnel does best and I think that is what TK did this season. Next season might be different based on the skill set of our interior players we have on the roster. On another note, Oral Roberts starters played an average of 40 miniutes against Ohio St and 37 minutes against Florida.

Better players is certainly a way to win a tournament. Or a Sister Jean.

We don't have an Abmas. Scary thing, he's only 19. He would have been within our recruit range. 2 star. Obaner was certainly within our recruit range, they've developed him very well. I think we find a couple diamonds in the rough but Oral Roberts is Superman with a lump of coal. Their 3pt, field and their FT shooting are better and deeper than even ours. Being Tulsa, they also recruit Texas and the south very heavy. I think this tournament is telling us, midwest recruits might be lagging, recruiting stars aside. I hope not. Even if so, if we're going to play OR's game, we need coaches that are OR's level.

Coach K was pretty out front, if not for a fluke he'd have been trying to play the same old game without the players, instead of motion. Perhaps if he sticks with it, he will develop players and call a game for that system as well as OR but he's not there yet.

So yes, you can win a tournament game without a center and only a few players. And somewhere there's a pig that can fly. I've seen it. It's not something to hang your hat on IMO. OR's coaches are doing something fantastic.