This was Michigan's defensive strategy and it was a disaster due to the inability to contain Curbelo and the quickness of Trent, combined with Kofi's physical dominance. The better strategy to beat us is to pack it in, double Kofi, try to create turnovers, and hope we miss 3 pointers.
Pregame: Illinois vs Loyola Chicago, Sunday, March 21st, 11:10am CT, CBS
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I hope it is Krutwig who guards Kofi....but doubt it. Likely they go find 4 Chicago area construction workers between 6-8 and 6'11" and 270-300 lbs. to hack Kofi the instant he goes into shooting motion. Including Krutwig, that gives them 25 fouls, the majority that would be considered turnovers with Kofi failing on one or both FFs. Along with long possessions and Sister Jean praying for 3 pointers, this game could end Monday.
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I would agree. No team can count on hitting treys effectively and Kofi, historically, has not held onto the ball well in most games and turns it over as a result too often in losses this season. But........he has improved in that aspect noticeably in the last month....it seems few have noticed and given him some love. Yet he still has a tendency to crouch and get the ball low enough for the pygmies to slap it away or get him out of rhythm or position. Also, he is generally a black hole and seldom gets the ball back to our great shooters at the arc....and I hope that improves.
Gotta remember, Loyola is playing with house money and they have nothing to lose. The Illini, OTOH, would gain notoriety as one of the biggest disappointments in the history of the program if they come up short. No pressure....just play like there is no tomorrow and trust that hard work and good habits will pay off.
Here is a video on Loyola's defensive strategy. There is a section on how Richmond and Wisconsin attacked it with quick guards, and how another weakness is that Krutwig is a poor pick and roll defender. That plays into 2 of our strengths.
GallopingGhost
- Denver, CO
They right now are kind of what we looked like in Feb. disappointing games that played down to competition
You might see some of Ayo as a decoy, taking their best defender Williamson way off the ball, and then Hutchison/Damonte staying in the corner and taking their second best defender Uguak far from the ball, and then it turns into 3 on 3 with Curbelo and Kofi running pick and roll. This is a big advantage for us. Loyola then may counter with putting Uguak on Kofi, and hiding Krutwig in the corner. Should be an interesting chess match.
Sunday:
12:10-ILL vs. Loy Chi (CBS/BLF)
2:40-Bay vs. Wisc (CBS/Hinkle)
5:15-W. Virginia vs. Cuse (CBS/BLF)
6:10-Ark vs. TX Tech (TNT/Hinkle)
7:10-Houston vs. Rutgers (TBS/LOS)
7:45-Florida vs. ORU (truTV/IFC)
8:45-Nova vs. N. Texas (TNT/BLF)
9:40-OK St. vs. Ore. St. (TBS/Hinkle)
All these times are EST
12:10-ILL vs. Loy Chi (CBS/BLF)
2:40-Bay vs. Wisc (CBS/Hinkle)
5:15-W. Virginia vs. Cuse (CBS/BLF)
6:10-Ark vs. TX Tech (TNT/Hinkle)
7:10-Houston vs. Rutgers (TBS/LOS)
7:45-Florida vs. ORU (truTV/IFC)
8:45-Nova vs. N. Texas (TNT/BLF)
9:40-OK St. vs. Ore. St. (TBS/Hinkle)
All these times are EST
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Time to scramble the Ramblers and leave them in shamble . . . ers.
Lol, I didn’t recall the shorts of the era being so... There’s just so much fabric.
Not a fan of that start time. I imagine Sister Jean isn't either.
One thing I like about this team is that they have good shooters but don’t rely on the 3. I think we’ll be fine playing into their style of hitting 2s if that proves to be their game plan.
I think the only thing that can beat this team before the final 4 is fouls, frustration, and forcing plays because of it.
uofi7477
- Silver & Gold Vandals
And I think we got some guy named Ace that starts for us?
As far as defending the Loyola construction workers....I would recommend sagging off on them on the D side....I agree we may see "Hack Kofi" strategy at some point.
This is not going to be easy this loyola team is a fundamentally very sound basketball team this could be a trap game. They beat N. Texas and look what N. Texas did to Purdue. The big ten took a hit already we are currently sitting at 3-3 so much for the toughest conference. Oral Roberts beats Ohio State, Michigan st gets beat by UCLA and Purdue gets handled by N. Texas Oh and the MVC is 2-0, this game will not be easy this team we're playing is sneaky good.
You mean the MichiganStateSpartansPresentedbyRocketMortgage.
Being a fundamentally sound basketball team isn't about just walking the ball down the court every time. It just means that you do less with the ball. So, who's the toughest conference? Put a ball that has been used into the three games you mentioned, instead of a new, slippery ball into those games and, I have confidence that all three B1G teams would have won. Those balls will still be slippery Sunday and that is to Loyola's advantage. It still doesn't mean that Loyola is fundamentally better.
Kofi has the forth highest fg % in the country at 65%. I wouldn't consider that a black hole. His ability to catch and finish is elite as well. He is no Egwu.
Deleted member 746826
D
Guest
i dont think this game will be that easy.
loyola reminds me of us.
and as you can tell from ohio state there is a thin line sometimes....
a missed free throw perhaps
You can remove “sneaky” from your post. They are flat-out good and we need to come ready to play.
Agreed
Unless he is fouled.. We were 50% in the opening game at the line that stat continues to scare me especially in a defensive match up like the one against Loyola.
Loyola reminds me of Wisconsin. Slow pace, good defense, decent big man. In the end, they aren’t going to have the horses to keep up with us.
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