So who starts?

[Cycsk]

A combination of several ideas already suggested, slightly augmented:

* Kane assumes a quasi-Niang role at high-post, with Morris running point almost exclusively.
* Long starts at shooting-guard
* Thomas/Edozie off the bench, with Edozie getting more minutes than usual in rotation w/ Hogue & Ejim.

When I started thinking about lineup changes, I thought about putting Kane in the middle. Sometimes, he would get the ball passed into him. Other times, he would enter the paint with the ball, but with more of a mind to work the ball rather than just get to the basket, though he will probably do that often. This would put Morris at the point and Thomas/Long at shooting guard.

Another idea that came to mind is to put Thomas in the middle. He is a smart player who sees the whole court, so we could work the ball through him.

If we get a lead, then we can use Edozie for defensive strength.

I hope nobody tries too hard. We have lots of weapons. A win will probably be the result of execution of whatever Hoiberg designs, not any particular player taking it on himself to win the game. Like Niang said, it isn't a matter of individualism.

When we keep winning, Hoiberg takes the inside track to Coach of the Year!

 

[cyclones500]

I believe we will achieve a hard fought win tomorrow versus North Carolina, a fairly easy win against Villanova.

I feel like UConn will knock out Villanova. No logical reason, but since January I thought UConn seemed like a team that would advance beyond its seeding*. Whether that'd be better matchup than Nova for ISU if we reach Sweet 16, can't say.
*And I picked St. Joe's to win that 7-10 game — so ignore everything I just said. :smile:

 

[DutchViking]

Looks like it will be Naz per all of the local media on Twitter.

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Looks like it will be Naz per all of the local media on Twitter.

I hope that doesn't affect his good shooting

 

[isufbcurt]

Was our last Sunday game the one that Naz went off in?

 

[Wesley]

IMO, we need the most from Edozie tomorrow. If we want to avoid getting stuck in a half-court game with UNC bigs on offense, we need a rebounding presence to get out and run.

Checking their bigs, they are 6-9, 225, (2); and 6-5 215, (2) Paige is 6-1, 175. So size is not as big an issue.

 

[cmjh10]

Checking their bigs, they are 6-9, 225, (2); and 6-5 215, (2) Paige is 6-1, 175. So size is not as big an issue.

They do hit the boards extremely well, especially on offense. That is where we need Edozie to come up huge.

 

[WastedTalent]

The defensive side does not bother me near as much as offensively. Let's be honest, Georges wasn't anywhere near a defensive stopper.

 

[Dingus]

How good is Paige's defense? Cause I'm hoping for a monster game from Morris tomorrow.

 

[Rabbuk]

I think Paige will matchup on Morris.

 

[cmjh10]

The defensive side does not bother me near as much as offensively. Let's be honest, Georges wasn't anywhere near a defensive stopper.

We will probably need to step it up on the defensive side of the ball because we may not be as proficient on offense. Defense and rebounding will be very important in this game.

 

[WastedTalent]

We will probably need to step it up on the defensive side of the ball because we may not be as proficient on offense. Defense and rebounding will be very important in this game.

I agree with this, but what I'm saying is we may actually be a better defensive team. I haven't seen enough of Edozie to know for sure, and I'm sure his lack of experience could hurt us sometimes, but he has the physical attributes to be better than Niang on defense.

Even with 3 guards and Hogue & Ejim, we may be better defensively. That's a helluva lot of quick athleticism out there.

 

[cmjh10]

I agree with this, but what I'm saying is we may actually be a better defensive team. I haven't seen enough of Edozie to know for sure, and I'm sure his lack of experience could hurt us sometimes, but he has the physical attributes to be better than Niang on defense.

Even with 3 guards and Hogue & Ejim, we may be better defensively. That's a helluva lot of quick athleticism out there.

Okay, I agree with you then. I think Edozie could be huge for us tomorrow.

 

[ajk4st8]

EJim with 2 quick fouls could be horrid.

 

[Beyerball]

We have to play zone or box and 1. If we play man we could get crushed. We just have to take our chances that UNC isn't hitting from 3 well. Playing too much man to man and we risk Ejim or Hogue picking up 2 early fouls and that would be catastrophic.

 

[CycloneErik]

We have to play zone or box and 1. If we play man we could get crushed. We just have to take our chances that UNC isn't hitting from 3 well. Playing too much man to man and we risk Ejim or Hogue picking up 2 early fouls and that would be catastrophic.

Play zone and we may not box out against a team that lives by the offensive rebound.

 

[WastedTalent]

EJim with 2 quick fouls could be horrid.

Gosh, I don't even want to think about this type of scenario. And if Roy has any brain at all, you know he's gunna pound it inside, or drive it to the basket, to try to get Ejim & Hogue in foul trouble. Not sure if they have the big guys

 

[CycloneDaddy]

How many times have we played zone this year? At this point in the season we are who we are ... We ain't playing zone tomorrow.

 

[WastedTalent]

How many times have we played zone this year? At this point in the season we are who we are ... We ain't playing zone tomorrow.

This. The only time you'll see zone is if there is big time foul trouble.

 

[Luth4Cy]

Play man, and it sounds like they aren't the best shooting team, so know which guys to lay off of when they are around the 3 point line. Playing zone is a sign of panic. There is no need to panic.