Final Four Thoughts
-The two best basketball teams are playing in Monday's final. Kansas' first half against North Carolina was the best example of what I've been saying about the Jayhawks all year: They are outstanding both offensively and defensively. You just don't see a team as good offensively as North Carolina get shut down the way the Jayhawks shut them down in the first 20 minutes.
I thought they were in a class all their own, but that's apparently because I hadn't seen enough of Memphis. If both teams play up to their potential, we're in a for a doozy of a championship game.
-I though Bill Self used his timeouts well and Roy Williams didn't. Williams let the game get out of hand, electing to wait for the media timeouts rather than use one of his allotment of stoppages to halt Kansas' momentum. The Jayhawks got out to a 28-point first-half lead, and while the Tar Heels fought back valiantly to within four points, you can't let the game get that out of hand against a opponent of Kansas' caliber.
It was eerily reminiscent to last year's Elite 8 exit to Georgetown, where the Heels blew a late lead and got blown out in overtime. Williams let the Hoyas run off the first 15 points of the extra period without calling a timeout to stop the momentum. Same sort of thing tonight.
-Speaking of "eerily reminiscent to last year, a good chunk of Kansas' blown lead can be blamed on a second-half stretch where North Carolina stole several passes on the perimeter. How? The Heels were jumping the passing lanes, and Kansas wasn't adjusting, running the same perimeter action possession after possession. Last year, of course, Kansas lost in the Elite 8 after failing to adjust to the fact that UCLA knew what they were doing on offense and had figured out how to stop it.
-Self didn't manage his rotations well. Early foul trouble led to 13 first-half minutes for freshman forward Cole Aldrich, and the kid responded better than could have been expected, registering six points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. So why did he only play four minutes in the second half?
I know why: Because Aldrich only averages 8.4 minutes per game. Once the foul trouble to Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun was alleviated, Self went back to his regular rotation. In my opinion, he should have adjusted to the fact that Aldrich was playing out of his mind and stuck with him more in the second half, particularly during Carolina's comeback when the team just wasn't playing well.
-Kansas guards Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins allowed themselves to get caught up in the pace of the game too much. In addition to the quick or bad shots they did take, they seemed to be in a rush all night. Often, a Kansas big would get a loose ball or offensive rebound and kick it to one of these two, and then have to direct them to slow down. They'll have to be a bit calmer against a tough defensive team like Memphis -- possessions will be too valuable Monday night.
-I'm sticking with my pick of Kansas, but I'm not nearly as confident in it as I was, the way Memphis is playing. Should be a great one.
I thought they were in a class all their own, but that's apparently because I hadn't seen enough of Memphis. If both teams play up to their potential, we're in a for a doozy of a championship game.
-I though Bill Self used his timeouts well and Roy Williams didn't. Williams let the game get out of hand, electing to wait for the media timeouts rather than use one of his allotment of stoppages to halt Kansas' momentum. The Jayhawks got out to a 28-point first-half lead, and while the Tar Heels fought back valiantly to within four points, you can't let the game get that out of hand against a opponent of Kansas' caliber.
It was eerily reminiscent to last year's Elite 8 exit to Georgetown, where the Heels blew a late lead and got blown out in overtime. Williams let the Hoyas run off the first 15 points of the extra period without calling a timeout to stop the momentum. Same sort of thing tonight.
-Speaking of "eerily reminiscent to last year, a good chunk of Kansas' blown lead can be blamed on a second-half stretch where North Carolina stole several passes on the perimeter. How? The Heels were jumping the passing lanes, and Kansas wasn't adjusting, running the same perimeter action possession after possession. Last year, of course, Kansas lost in the Elite 8 after failing to adjust to the fact that UCLA knew what they were doing on offense and had figured out how to stop it.
-Self didn't manage his rotations well. Early foul trouble led to 13 first-half minutes for freshman forward Cole Aldrich, and the kid responded better than could have been expected, registering six points, six rebounds, three blocked shots and a steal. So why did he only play four minutes in the second half?
I know why: Because Aldrich only averages 8.4 minutes per game. Once the foul trouble to Darnell Jackson and Sasha Kaun was alleviated, Self went back to his regular rotation. In my opinion, he should have adjusted to the fact that Aldrich was playing out of his mind and stuck with him more in the second half, particularly during Carolina's comeback when the team just wasn't playing well.
-Kansas guards Russell Robinson and Sherron Collins allowed themselves to get caught up in the pace of the game too much. In addition to the quick or bad shots they did take, they seemed to be in a rush all night. Often, a Kansas big would get a loose ball or offensive rebound and kick it to one of these two, and then have to direct them to slow down. They'll have to be a bit calmer against a tough defensive team like Memphis -- possessions will be too valuable Monday night.
-I'm sticking with my pick of Kansas, but I'm not nearly as confident in it as I was, the way Memphis is playing. Should be a great one.
posted by H.S. Slam, Ph.D at 10:22 PM
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