StarkVegasSteve
03-15-2025, 07:28 PM
Well it seems like we are pretty locked into the last 8 seed or a 9 seed at this point so a good time to start to see who we're going to be matched up with on that 8 line.
UCONN- They're the 800 lb gorilla in the room. Danny Hurley is on a hell of a run and don't let their seed fool you. This is still a REALLY GOOD basketball team. They have shooters in Solo Ball and Alex Karaban. Aidan Mahaney off the bench is also a 3 point shooter. They'll also bring Taris Reed Jr and Jaylin Stewart off the bench. Murphy, Harris, and Jones are going to have to give us good run to match the UCONN bench And we haven't even mentioned the freshman Liam McNeeley. He's a streaky shooter and if his shots aren't falling the other parts of his game struggle. If I have to guess how we'll match up with them it'll be:
Hassan Diara-Hubbard
Solo Ball-Kugel
Alex Karaban-Matthews
Liam McNeeley-Melendez
Samson Johnson-Nwoko
New Mexico- A really solid mid major program. Richard Pitino has had a definite bounce back with them after he flamed out at Minnesota. Donovan Dent is the straw that stirs the drink for them. You stop him and you can beat them. Nelly Junior Joseph could give us problems. If Nwoko is on him then we could have issues. I think we see Matthews on him. He's had multiple games where he's shot 7+ threes and has had games where he's made 7+ threes. They're height could give us some issues. They start 3 guys 6'9 and over. They play about 10 guys but the bench guys all get between 6-8 minutes so not much run. Here's my projected matchup with them:
Donovan Dent-Hubbard
Tru Washington-Kugel
Nelly Junior Joseph-Matthews
Mustapha Amzil-Nwoko
Filip Borovicannin-Melendez
Marquette-HAVOC. Shaka is known for it and they play it. They are going to press us for 40 minutes and we are going to have to make a concerted effort to get Hubbard the ball. They will deny, hedge and double every ball screen, and face guard him at all times. This is one of the matchups I do not want. I don't know that we're equipped to get in a defensive slugfest with them. Kam Jones is their guy. Kugel or Melendez will have to stay right on him. He also will not come out so Harris is going to have to come to play when he comes in off the bench. They're also a 3 pt heavy team and that's a definite worry. They basically play 7, Royce Parham and Zaide Lowery are their two guys off the bench. How I'd match up with them:
Kam Jones-Kugel
Ben Gold-Nwoko
David Joplin-Matthews
Chase Ross-Melendez
Stevie Mitchell-Hubbard
I'll break down the other teams tomorrow morning and will deep dive once the bracket is announced.
UCONN- They're the 800 lb gorilla in the room. Danny Hurley is on a hell of a run and don't let their seed fool you. This is still a REALLY GOOD basketball team. They have shooters in Solo Ball and Alex Karaban. Aidan Mahaney off the bench is also a 3 point shooter. They'll also bring Taris Reed Jr and Jaylin Stewart off the bench. Murphy, Harris, and Jones are going to have to give us good run to match the UCONN bench And we haven't even mentioned the freshman Liam McNeeley. He's a streaky shooter and if his shots aren't falling the other parts of his game struggle. If I have to guess how we'll match up with them it'll be:
Hassan Diara-Hubbard
Solo Ball-Kugel
Alex Karaban-Matthews
Liam McNeeley-Melendez
Samson Johnson-Nwoko
New Mexico- A really solid mid major program. Richard Pitino has had a definite bounce back with them after he flamed out at Minnesota. Donovan Dent is the straw that stirs the drink for them. You stop him and you can beat them. Nelly Junior Joseph could give us problems. If Nwoko is on him then we could have issues. I think we see Matthews on him. He's had multiple games where he's shot 7+ threes and has had games where he's made 7+ threes. They're height could give us some issues. They start 3 guys 6'9 and over. They play about 10 guys but the bench guys all get between 6-8 minutes so not much run. Here's my projected matchup with them:
Donovan Dent-Hubbard
Tru Washington-Kugel
Nelly Junior Joseph-Matthews
Mustapha Amzil-Nwoko
Filip Borovicannin-Melendez
Marquette-HAVOC. Shaka is known for it and they play it. They are going to press us for 40 minutes and we are going to have to make a concerted effort to get Hubbard the ball. They will deny, hedge and double every ball screen, and face guard him at all times. This is one of the matchups I do not want. I don't know that we're equipped to get in a defensive slugfest with them. Kam Jones is their guy. Kugel or Melendez will have to stay right on him. He also will not come out so Harris is going to have to come to play when he comes in off the bench. They're also a 3 pt heavy team and that's a definite worry. They basically play 7, Royce Parham and Zaide Lowery are their two guys off the bench. How I'd match up with them:
Kam Jones-Kugel
Ben Gold-Nwoko
David Joplin-Matthews
Chase Ross-Melendez
Stevie Mitchell-Hubbard
I'll break down the other teams tomorrow morning and will deep dive once the bracket is announced.