CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Yeah, but how tough was their non-conference schedule?
Since it's a non-conference game, are we even allowed to play it?
Washington st forum
- Thread starter cyclones12321
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Since it's a non-conference game, are we even allowed to play it?
Confirmed. We sat in low rows in the corner last night for their game. Couldn't see a thing when their bench players stood up.
They very much don't play as big as they are listed. The '2' and the '3' are both 6'8" guards who attempt more 3s than 2s, and their two 6'11" posts only combine for about 20 minutes per game.
Their crunch time line-up is :
Rice - 6'3" and a skinny FR
Watts - 6'3" and a skinny FR
Wells - 6'8" and weighs less than Lipsey
Jakimovski - 6'8" and not skinny, but not a banger
Jones - 6'9" strong and tough
That matches up very favorably with our crunch time lineup, especially if Milan is in at the 3, plus we are stronger at every position.
I'll use this opportunity to say again that it is utterly amazing what Keshon Gilbert has done with this game and his physicality. He's bought in like almost no other transfer I've seen and changed from an offense-first perimeter player to the toughest guy on the floor who is stronger and more physical than anyone he faces and is a defensive stopper on their best scorer. I didn't see a lot of his games at UNLV, but that was absolutely NOT his reputation coming in. He and Tamin are going to each Rice and Wells alive.
Keep in mind that there is no universal measuring system for college basketball. Not to re-open the whole "measure with shoes, or without debate. For instance. William Kyle on SDSU last night is listed at 6'-9", 230. Hassan Ward is also listed at 6'-9", 230. Kyle looks closer to the size of Demarion Watson than Hassan Ward. If a team lists their player heights with shoes on, they'll all be 1-2" taller than their actual heights compared to our players.
Agree with point #1. Devries definitely had a shoulder injury. Don't know when it happened, but he tweaked something.
I hope their coaches are game planning like their fans think because the paint will be open all night if they think we live and die by the 3. It's another nice aspect of our game when the 3s are falling but I don't feel like chucking up a bunch of 3s is our game it's always been attacking the paint for higher percentage shots.
Metrics-wise they are closest to Oklahoma from the BigXII, 40ish in KenPom with defense slightly higher ranked than the offense. I think Uzon is a good comp for Rice as well, but with higher Usage (takes more shots).
I think the OU games are a good barometer of how the game tomorrow could go too - if they make 10 3s and we make 3, and only turn them over 10 times, we'll probably lose. But it's more likely we hold them to 45 points and dominate them (like we did OU in Ames)
Tuff Tiger has resurfaced on the barren plains (and message boards) of eastern Washington...
Well, let's say he was far and away the most effective offense WSU had against Drake.
Like I said, what was working for him is a different deal vs. ISU. Not even just because of Brodie vs. Ward/Jones, but just because ISU isn't going to let him keep going one-on-one.
When Drake did finally decide to start bringing DTs it was slow and he was already in deep.
That was the first mostly full game I saw of Drake. I get that Tucker was 6-18 and struggling, but I think you just got to ride him rather than sit him like DD did down the stretch.
But overall, I thought Coach Devries did a horrible job in-game. They were getting good offense working through Brodie. Jones was eating Brodie's lunch down low all game, not only scoring but racking up the fouls. Letting Brodie try to handle him one-on-one for much of the game until he either started doubling or switching cost them that game as much as Tucker shooting poorly. Once Brodie fouled out their offense was toast.
They brought one big guy off the bench who was huge but insanely slow compared to our three big guys and actually I think Milan or Watson might match up even better against him in terms of just scoring at will.
It's really their Jones and I think the key is we need all three big guys available in second half without serious foul trouble. Gonna be a lot of Jones on both teams.
I'm sure thier coaches are smarter than thier fans. Seems like a good matchup for ISU though.
WSU's Jones had 11 rebounds but a lot of them were his own misses (probably all four offensive rebounds) and they didn't always result in points. He will be a load but he's not some elite unstoppable talent either. For example not like Clingan vs UConn last year who could have scored at will on us all game if they had played him more than 20 minutes.
Agree the game was Drake's to take and nobody forced the issue with leadership down the stretch. WSU's Jones was starting to score or get fouled every posession and WSU had a few crunch possessions in a row where they didn't get him the ball and Drake really missed an opportunity. Both teams really had poor strategy on offense especially in final two minutes, WSU just scored a few baskets on their ill advised plays.
March is unpredictable if anything and we could easily lose. However, if we keep playing like we have been (minus some less than stellar defense during the first half yesterday) we should be moving on.
