Don't Bring A Knife To A Gun Fight...
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We’ve all heard that comment before. Usually, it sounds like an arrogant remark.
I don’t mean it to sound that way, but I can’t think of a more accurate statement to describe what we witnessed last night.
Our modus operandi has been determined and executed; we like to come out a little slow and feel our way into the game. For most of the first half we were studying Purdue; feeling their best shot. And then we were almost waiting. Waiting for the right moment to turn up the speed dial on the game to see how Purdue reacts.
That was like watching two different games.
Our “big guns” in this game related to pace and intensity. When we turned those up it didn’t take long to see the impact on Purdue.
We emotionally wore them down!
When was the last time you heard that?
The “emotional” side of basketball is complex. It involves physical, mental and spiritual aspects. We challenged all those areas. And the results were a beatdown few teams ever experience.
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This team can really put a college team into a meat grinder on both ends.
On defense, because Josh Jackson is so versatile, he can anchor the defense the way a traditional shot blocking center usually would, but still also destroy ball handlers off switches in the PnR. He can trap, and with his size he is disruptive on traps (forced the travel in the corner and created the Vick 360 off double teams).
The rest of the guards can turn up the pressure on the perimeter. Graham, Mason, and Vick can really get after guys, and because Mason is such a good rebounder even at his size, KU gives up nothing on the glass even playing four guards.
On offense the weapons are overwhelming. A million ways for a season to die - choose one:
- Mason iso
- Graham iso
- Jackson iso
- Mason drive and kick
- Graham drive and kick
- Jackson drive and kick
- Svi for three
- Vick lob
- Lucas lob
- Jackson lob
- Jackson post up
- Lucas post up
- Svi drive
- Graham corner three
- Vick transition
- Jackson transition
- Mason transition
- Graham transition
- Mason PnR
- Graham PnR
- Jackson PnR
- Weave
- I think you get the point
That’s a lot of ways for a season to die. Purdue experienced them all. Their season is now dead. That is not a coincidence.
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@justanotherfan Man, you just dissected Purdue carcass. A true CSI… Those 23+ item list ought to be sent to the talking heads…
No, wait, arent we heading West soon? I’m reminded of that fun movie, A Million Ways to Die in the West…Maybe Charlize can come watch us in AZ…
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We out-rebounded Purdue by 7!
I’m sure Purdue is scratching their heads on that one!
Just shows that size is not the #1 factor in ripping down boards!
It really is about footwork and position. Doesn’t hurt to have a quick hop, either.
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@drgnslayr To be fair, KU is statistically better rebounding team than Purdue. The margin is very slim, but stats are stats.
