I think one of the most interesting things about tonight’s matchup will be seeing how NU plays Iowa’s 7-foot player of the year candidate Luka Garza. Will Ryan Young get more minutes because of his size and work in the post? Or will Collins play Nance at the 5 and try to bring Luka out of the middle and make him play on the perimeter and run more? I think NU will double him on the catch either way, with a host of different players, but how Collins uses his personnel will tell the story.
How will NU play Luka Garza?
- Thread starter lou v
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good question, a lot might rest on Beran’s’ health. He’s been superb on defense thus far. If he’s good to go, does coach CCC stick nance on Garza and have Beran come weak side help or does he go big with both nance and young? Tough call... what would you do in Coaches shoes?
Collins faced Ethan Happ 7 times. Happ never exceeded 20 points against us; he only exceeded his season average in a game that corresponding season twice. We won 3 of those 7 games, 3 of 6 regular season games.
They're different players, but whatever the plan was for Happ is my guess of what the plan will be for Garza.
They're different players, but whatever the plan was for Happ is my guess of what the plan will be for Garza.
That’s a good point about Beran.
My guess is Collins uses the typical starting five and tries to push the pace as often as possible to wear Garza out, especially early. That’s the way they like to play, anyway. But he’ll use everything against Garza at one point or another. We’ll see Nance and Young together, I’m sure, too. And double-teams will come from different places at different points, depending on where he gets the ball.
That’s how I would play him. Not double team immediately as he gets the ball, but player closest to him fluctuate and ready to double team when he puts the ball on the floor. Requires a lot of routining of rotations. We seem to be good with those.
Knowing this will give him up to 30 points but not get the defense so off balance that there are open shooters everywhere.
That or just rotate guys on him, play him straight up, let him score 45 but close out on the perimeter.
I’m guessing we will see a pretty fast paced game. If we can score in the mid 80’s we have a chance.
Not even close to the same player. Why on earth would the way you defend them be similar?
He’s a big man on a team where he’ll be surrounded by shooters. I remember Collins sending swarming double teams at him whenever he touched the ball in the post, and I’m guessing we’ll see more of that tonight. Garza can shoot from outside, of course, so that part is different.