Rewatched UT-UM and put some
thoughts in the other thread, but figured my notes from rewatching IU-UM would make more sense here.
- Game was a really interesting counterpoint to UT as those two opponents are wildly different (especially with Disu out). Texas had some speed but lacked any real size, IU had the size but looked every part the traditional plodding big ten team outside of Jackson-Davis. Nothing complicated about UM's offense, they just went right around the much slower defenders. We will present an interesting challenge as this team is much longer than Texas and much more athletic than IU.
- Strangely, this game was probably a better blueprint for how both UM and UConn can win this matchup than UT. IU got Omier into quick foul trouble and then Jackson-Davis just went to work and got pretty much whatever he wanted in the post. Even when Omier came back in, they largely had Miller guarding Jackson-Davis (not sure if this was strategic as a help side defender or to avoid more foul trouble). On the other hand, Miami employed a much more balanced attack than against UT. Offense was still based on ISO with their very talented guards, but they were much more committed to establishing the 3 point line as well.
- This win really came down to two things: IU missed a lot of wide open shots, especially from 3, and just got killed on the boards (combo of Omier being a high-motor menace and IU, especially Jackson-Davis, seemingly being allergic to putting a body on him on the offensive glass). UConn should win the rebounding battle, but someone NEEDS to put a body on Omier. Interestingly, when Omier is out, they basically don't crash the offensive glass at all.
- On offense, Miami is probably the most talented late shot clock team we've faced this year since 4 guys on the floor have the ability to create. UConn needs to keep pressure up the entire shot clock because this team, especially Wong, is able to make something out of nothing.
- Their defense is really interesting. Their one-on-one defense isn't particularly bad, but their team defense is pretty rough. It wasn't quite as bad as against UT, but IU got a lot of wide open three point looks with a similar formula: drive into the paint, draws 3-4 help defenders into the lane and then a kickout with no defender within 10 feet. I actually don't think IU, and especially Jackson-Davis exploited this as much as they should have, instead settling for a contested look in the paint rather than a wide open three they either passed up or (more likely) did not see. After watching these two games, I just don't see any real chance that Hawkins, Karaban, Alleyne, and Calcaterra aren't going to get really good looks.
- IU had a tendency to telegraph some really bad entry passes that got picked off and let Miami get out and run. It wasn't really caused by crazy pressure, they were just incredibly easy to jump the pass with Miami's athletic ability. That's not an area we generally have a big issue with, but will absolutely be a point of focus this week. Need to limit Miami's easy looks in transition.
- They showed some traps and token full court pressure this game but still not a ton. I'm going to be really interested to see if Laranaga tries to employ this more against UConn, given some of our struggles (though we've also seen that backfire in a big way).
I continue to be cautiously optimistic against Miami. We're just a terrible matchup for them defensively. They have showed nothing in these two games that makes me believe they'll stop our ball movement and open perimeter looks either in the half court or in transition and I'm not confident Omier will be able to avoid foul trouble, much less significantly slow down Sanogo or Clingan (who he gives up 7-8 inches to). If Omier has to sit for 40% of the game like he did against IU, it's going to be a bloodbath on the boards because the drop-off is significant. That being said, we've seen this UConn team go cold from 3 before and it could certainly happen again, even with good looks. I think Miami's path to victory is winning the turnover margin, keeping it close on the glass, getting to the line a lot, and hoping we miss shots. It's absolutely possible, they're a really talented offensive team, but I feel pretty good about our chances.
