KSUFans Archives
Sports => Frank Martin's OOD sponsored by the "Angriest Fans in America" => Topic started by: bigDcat on February 29, 2008, 01:26:45 PM
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http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?page=notebook/weekendwatch02029 (http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/notebook?page=notebook/weekendwatch02029)
Kansas State at No. 7 Kansas, Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
Outlook: Kansas is an outstanding defensive team with great size. The Jayhawks have two of the best defensive guards in the country in Russell Robinson and Mario Chalmers. Sasha Kaun is a very good post defender, especially teaming with Darnell Jackson and Darrell Arthur. Brandon Rush is an excellent and versatile perimeter defender who moves his feet, has long arms and can match up with a guard or a small forward on the defensive end. Kansas rebounds, challenges shots and pressures the ball effectively. The Jayhawks do a good job of avoiding the offense's ball screens, instead turning and trapping ball screens and pressuring the ball to disrupt opposing offenses. On the offensive end, ku runs a lot of "3 around 2" high-low action with ball screens and duck-ins, which can put a lot of pressure on opposing big men to defend out on the floor. Kansas coach Bill Self runs a lot of creative sets, including his "2-game," 1-4 high sets and single, double and staggered screens.
Kansas State does a really good job of pushing the ball up court off of a make or a miss, and the Wildcats run a Carolina secondary break with a back screen and duck-ins. Frank Martin runs a lot of isolations for Michael Beasley, and some screening-the-screener action. On the defensive end, Kansas State will play aggressive man-to-man, contesting the wings and really pressuring the ball. The Wildcats will gamble some, and they will "run and jump" a ballhandler after a timeout. Kansas State has showed some zone on occasion, and it will press full court after a made free throw or a dead ball. Kansas State's main threat is Beasley, but Martin also has another threat in Bill Walker, future pro. Guard Jacob Pullen is an athletic and quick point guard that will look to score. He is a bit turnover prone but a scrappy defender on the ball and rapidly maturing as a point guard and leader.
This game is not about Beasley. This game is about everyone else. Beasley will get his, as he almost always does. The key will be whether those around him get theirs, or more. Kansas cannot afford to let Walker or Pullen have big games in addition to Beasley.
Key Matchup: Russell Robinson and Jacob Pullen. Robinson is a strong and solid defender at the guard spot. He has a great demeanor on the floor. Pullen, a freshman, is the primary handler that has taken a major leadership and responsibility role. If Robinson can slow Pullen down and make him work for everything, disrupt his timing and take him out of the game, Kansas will be in a good position to win the game at home.
Key Stats: Defensive Field Goal Percentage. Kansas does a great job of limiting opponents to one challenged shot, and if the Jayhawks can have a sustained defensive effort and limit the Wildcats to one contested shot, which are usually low percentage shots, the Jayhawks will win.
What to Watch For: Kansas has great team speed, really good pressure defense and shot-blocking, and great experience. Kansas State is younger and vulnerable on the road. Watch how Kansas pushes Kansas State further out on the floor to disrupt and stop their advance. Kaun does a really nice job of guarding in the post, and Kansas will have to do its best defensive job of the year on Beasley.
X-Factors: Sherron Collins and Bill Walker. Before he got hurt, Collins was probably Kansas' best all-around scorer, with his dynamic athleticism and ability to get past people. Walker is an extraordinary athlete that can get 30 on you, and he is a hard worker and a man out on the floor.
Who Should Win: Kansas is playing at home in the Phog, and Jayhawks are the better rebounding team, the better defensive team and the more efficient offensive team. But, the Jayhawks don't have Beasley. Still, Kansas should win this one at home.
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vote for best player in the country is between hans and Beas
east coast bias holding a 1% lead over Beas
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i thought we were the best rebounding team in the big 12
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He forgot to mention, we shake 'n bake, very hard to defend IMO