Posted:
#51
Ohio +2 vs. South Florida (1.5 units)
Back to the well with the Bobcats who were my biggest play of Round 1. Obviously, everyone is (rightfully) impressed by South Florida's stifling halfcourt defense. They rendered Temple's normally efficient attack helpless with tremendous weakside help and an ability to reach shooters on the perimeter. It was essentially the same gameplan they used against Cal in the play-in game. But Ohio brings a totally different dimension from what USF has seen in the previous two games. Difference number one is pressure; both Cal and Temple are strictly halfcourt teams who don't force turnovers and are content to rely on good rotations and fundamentals. And, in the two games prior to the tournament, USF faced Notre Dame and Villanova, another pair of strictly halfcourt defensive teams. Ohio forces turnovers at an alarmingly high rate - 2nd in the country in this category behind only VCU. They don't bring the same "Havoc" philosophy as the Rams, but it's a similar commitment to making offenses uncomfortable and preventing them from running their sets. At the other end of the court, D.J. Cooper gives Ohio something neither Cal nor Temple possesses: a player capable of breaking down defenses. He will be enormous in finding cracks in the USF defense and either finishing at the rim or kicking out to shooters. Kellogg, Taylor, Offutt, and Cooper are all highly-capable shooters. USF hasn't seen pressure in a few weeks, and with the lack of prep time off of two wins in three days, Ohio holds a good chance of speeding up the plodding Bulls and making them play at a faster than desired pace. If this happens, Ohio wins going away.
Back to the well with the Bobcats who were my biggest play of Round 1. Obviously, everyone is (rightfully) impressed by South Florida's stifling halfcourt defense. They rendered Temple's normally efficient attack helpless with tremendous weakside help and an ability to reach shooters on the perimeter. It was essentially the same gameplan they used against Cal in the play-in game. But Ohio brings a totally different dimension from what USF has seen in the previous two games. Difference number one is pressure; both Cal and Temple are strictly halfcourt teams who don't force turnovers and are content to rely on good rotations and fundamentals. And, in the two games prior to the tournament, USF faced Notre Dame and Villanova, another pair of strictly halfcourt defensive teams. Ohio forces turnovers at an alarmingly high rate - 2nd in the country in this category behind only VCU. They don't bring the same "Havoc" philosophy as the Rams, but it's a similar commitment to making offenses uncomfortable and preventing them from running their sets. At the other end of the court, D.J. Cooper gives Ohio something neither Cal nor Temple possesses: a player capable of breaking down defenses. He will be enormous in finding cracks in the USF defense and either finishing at the rim or kicking out to shooters. Kellogg, Taylor, Offutt, and Cooper are all highly-capable shooters. USF hasn't seen pressure in a few weeks, and with the lack of prep time off of two wins in three days, Ohio holds a good chance of speeding up the plodding Bulls and making them play at a faster than desired pace. If this happens, Ohio wins going away.
0
Hot Forum Topics
