How do we play Columbia???

[Turk_rivals223269]

Columbia uses a 3 guard 2 forward system. Only plays a center for the jump ball at the beginning of the game.
I'm concerned about Olah in this game. I mean either we commit to him down low for easy buckets or get him out of there. We can't keep on tossing the ball along the arc and not going to him down low if he has a huge height advantage. He is too slow otherwise. This is a game where Law would really be useful. Taphorn is too slow and doesn't have a pure shot. Columbia will score points so we need to feed the ball to Falzon or Demps, and we need BMC to bring his A game again. Lindsey also has to show up.

Yesterday, we just didn't have good looks as we had to hurry shots due to no penetration/assist off penetration.

It's going to be tough. I like some of our BIG matchups better than this one.

 

[Donatello Cat]

Columbia uses a 3 guard 2 forward system. Only plays a center for the jump ball at the beginning of the game.
I'm concerned about Olah in this game. I mean either we commit to him down low for easy buckets or get him out of there. We can't keep on tossing the ball along the arc and not going to him down low if he has a huge height advantage. He is too slow otherwise. This is a game where Law would really be useful. Taphorn is too slow and doesn't have a pure shot. Columbia will score points so we need to feed the ball to Falzon or Demps, and we need BMC to bring his A game again. Lindsey also has to show up.

Yesterday, we just didn't have good looks as we had to hurry shots due to no penetration/assist off penetration.

It's going to be tough. I like some of our BIG matchups better than this one.

I would think we have to pound it down low. That *should* be a big advantage for us. I'd also guess that we have to play zone on D, since we wouldn't want to big guys trying to guard the perimeter.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

I would think we have to pound it down low. That *should* be a big advantage for us. I'd also guess that we have to play zone on D, since we wouldn't want to big guys trying to guard the perimeter.

i agree. a sorta mismatch for them if our big guys are running with guards. but they really pound down those 3s so this may be a game where lindsay demps bmc, lumpkin, falzon may b on the floor at the same time if we dont push it low to olah.

 

[DocCatsFan]

i agree. a sorta mismatch for them if our big guys are running with guards. but they really pound down those 3s so this may be a game where lindsay demps bmc, lumpkin, falzon may b on the floor at the same time if we dont push it low to olah.

Generally in basketball the mismatch in size GREATLY favors the bigger team. I'm guessing we are bigger than Columbia at every single position on the court. Columbia may be picked to win the Ivy League, but it is the IVY LEAGUE. No reason a B1G team with tournament aspirations should not be able to handle them.

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Generally in basketball the mismatch in size GREATLY favors the bigger team. I'm guessing we are bigger than Columbia at every single position on the court. Columbia may be picked to win the Ivy League, but it is the IVY LEAGUE. No reason a B1G team with tournament aspirations should not be able to handle them.

there are plenty of reasons. columbia jumped out to an 11-0 lead against one stud program. they play great bb and nail 3s. there is every reason why we lose if we dont make shots.
At any rate, i hope you are right about tournament visions but i think the team with the best chance to b in the tournament is Columbia. Doc you dont personally think we will be in the march madness do you? id b grateful if we made the nit. law was a big loss as Taphorn is a serious downgrade. Nothing against Carmody for recruiting him.

 

[NJCat83588]

Generally in basketball the mismatch in size GREATLY favors the bigger team. I'm guessing we are bigger than Columbia at every single position on the court. Columbia may be picked to win the Ivy League, but it is the IVY LEAGUE. No reason a B1G team with tournament aspirations should not be able to handle them.

Listen to the Collins post-game interview, he is really pumped about Columbia. Greatly respects them. Their best player, Maodo Lo, will probably get drafted by the NBA, or at least get a serious look. Their guards are 6'3', 6'2" and 6'4", so a push height wise versus NU. Up front they go 7'1", 6'11", 6'8" and 6'7", so pretty similar to Olah, Sanjay, Falzon and Tap. These teams are pretty even skill and size wise.

 

[DocCatsFan]

there are plenty of reasons. columbia jumped out to an 11-0 lead against one stud program. they play great bb and nail 3s. there is every reason why we lose if we dont make shots.
At any rate, i hope you are right about tournament visions but i think the team with the best chance to b in the tournament is Columbia. Doc you dont personally think we will be in the march madness do you? id b grateful if we made the nit. law was a big loss as Taphorn is a serious downgrade. Nothing against Carmody for recruiting him.

Turk, I do not think this is a tournament team. I didn't think so when Vic Law was healthy (despite ECat's guarantee that we will make the big dance). There is no question we can lose to Columbia. My point (and my post was somewhat tongue in cheek) is that if this program is going to get to where we want it to get, this is a game that must be won. B1G NCAA Tourney teams don't lose to Ivy League teams on the home court. The fact that we are worried about this game (and I'm not saying we shouldn't be) shows that we are far from "there" yet.

Regarding Tap, I think his shot is better than your impression. He is a very nice shooter but for some reason he is pressing and not hitting the threes. I think with more PT his shots will drop.

 

[DocCatsFan]

Listen to the Collins post-game interview, he is really pumped about Columbia. Greatly respects them. Their best player, Maodo Lo, will probably get drafted by the NBA, or at least get a serious look. Their guards are 6'3', 6'2" and 6'4", so a push height wise versus NU. Up front they go 7'1", 6'11", 6'8" and 6'7", so pretty similar to Olah, Sanjay, Falzon and Tap. These teams are pretty even skill and size wise.

I would expect Collins to say nothing less. He praised Fairfield too if you'll recall. So a team like Columbia which has a legitimate shot at the NCAA Tournament deserves respect.

 

[Donatello Cat]

Listen to the Collins post-game interview, he is really pumped about Columbia. Greatly respects them. Their best player, Maodo Lo, will probably get drafted by the NBA, or at least get a serious look. Their guards are 6'3', 6'2" and 6'4", so a push height wise versus NU. Up front they go 7'1", 6'11", 6'8" and 6'7", so pretty similar to Olah, Sanjay, Falzon and Tap. These teams are pretty even skill and size wise.

Ok well if they have height like that but call them "forwards," then maybe the need to feed Olah isn't so great. (Yeah, still generally a good idea to get your center going regardless, but if he's up against someone who's actually TALLER than he is, that's a little bit unusual for him!)

 

[NJCat83588]

I would expect Collins to say nothing less. He praised Fairfield too if you'll recall. So a team like Columbia which has a legitimate shot at the NCAA Tournament deserves respect.

And Fairfield showed he wasn't blowing smoke a la PF.........

 

[Turk_rivals223269]

Ok well if they have height like that but call them "forwards," then maybe the need to feed Olah isn't so great. (Yeah, still generally a good idea to get your center going regardless, but if he's up against someone who's actually TALLER than he is, that's a little bit unusual for him!)

the starting center is 7'1" but he plays less than 10 minutes a game. Only played 5 minutes in his last game.

 

[DocCatsFan]

And Fairfield showed he wasn't blowing smoke a la PF.........

Let's be clear. Fairfield is not a very good D1 basketball team.

 

[NJCat83588]

Let's be clear. Fairfield is not a very good D1 basketball team.

He said Fairfield was better than their record indicated. He was right.

 

[mikewebb68]

Best team we've played thus far, but we are better. Just need to play that way...

 

[Gladeskat]

The "ripping on Tap" crap is absurd. For a guy who lacks a "pure shot" he didn't shoot too badly from beyond the three-point line last year.

50%

 

[NJCat83588]

The "ripping on Tap" crap is absurd. For a guy who lacks a "pure shot" he didn't shoot too badly from beyond the three-point line last year.

50%

I think he's improved his game overall this season, although he's off to a slow start on 3's: 2-9. But that is better than Tre, who is 1-12.

 

[DocCatsFan]

He said Fairfield was better than their record indicated. He was right.

What evidence do you have that they were better than the record indicates? I mean, they were 0-2 and they will not go without a victory all year so I guess in that sense they are. Fairfield is currently 201 in KenPom and they are predicted to finish 10th out of 11 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. We should NOT be up by only 2 points to Fairfield at home with 2 minutes to play in the game.

 

[JournCat]

We're 5.5-point favorites. Should be a really good game and a ramp-up in competition level heading into Kansas City, though UNC is way further up that ramp.

 

[NJCat83588]

We're 5.5-point favorites. Should be a really good game and a ramp-up in competition level heading into Kansas City, though UNC is way further up that ramp.

Right now, UNC is at the top of the ramp looking down at everyone else!

 

[VirginiaWildcat]

What evidence do you have that they were better than the record indicates? I mean, they were 0-2 and they will not go without a victory all year so I guess in that sense they are. Fairfield is currently 201 in KenPom and they are predicted to finish 10th out of 11 in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference. We should NOT be up by only 2 points to Fairfield at home with 2 minutes to play in the game.

Doc DEMANDS more!!!

 

[DocCatsFan]

Doc DEMANDS more!!!

Nah. I'm happy if you're happy.

 

[Walker Fan]

Maodo Lu is nowhere to be found in terms of NBA draft picks. The mock drafts that I have seen do not rank him anywhere in the first two rounds. So let's not overhype anyone.

The question of how to beat Columbia comes down to these keys:
1. We need to guard the three better (Lumpkin needs to shut down Lu like he shut down Fairfield's Gilbert);
2. We need rebound better (Olah, JVZ, Falzon, Lumpkin and yes, even Tap). Maybe we can get some contribution from Skelly, if he is health;
3. We need to take the ball to the hoop and draw fouls and not settle for three's (Demps might be able to get out of his slump by penetrating and getting some hoops getting to the hoop and maybe Lindsey can draw some fouls).
4. And yes, we need to create some steals and hopefully, easy buckets and hit threes better.