The first concern for the Wildcats could be tired legs with the short turnaround. Against TCU, Sneed played 35 minutes, Mawien 36 minutes, Wade 39 minutes, and Brown a courageous 40 minutes in which he still found a way to put the team on his back the final 8 minutes of the game. In contrast, for Baylor on Saturday Lual-Acuil played 32 minutes and Lecomte played 37, but no other Bear played more than 28. If the Wildcats could find a way to get a few solid minutes here and there from Patrick, McGuirl, or Wainright, it would help tremendously.
Sets or Actions to Look for From Baylor:
The set that Baylor goes to the most throughout a game starts with a 1-4 high look with the 2 posts at the elbows and the wing free throw line extended. Lecomte initiates the offense by passing to a wing and then cuts through the lane. The ball side post comes to set a ball screen and then rolls to the basket. If Baylor doesn't get anything from the pick and roll, the post on the other side of the floor will pop high for ball reversal. The wing sets a down screen for Lecomte and the post who has the ball at the top of the key dribbles at Lecomte for a dribble hand off. Baylor will repeat this action of the post popping high for ball reversal and the wing cutting through and coming off a down screen for the dribble hand off.
K-State could choose to defend this a couple of different way to provide help to the initial pick and roll. As Lecomte cuts through the lane, his defender could stay in help in the middle of the lane with the back side wing defender switching onto Lecomte. Another option would be for Lecomte's defender to stay with him and the back side wing defender to immediately jump into help on the first pass to the wing.
Other Offensive Sets/Actions:
Baylor will stay play the same zone we have been accustomed to seeing, but they are playing more man this year. In fact, in the games I have watched I have probably seen more man than zone and I'd imagine the Wildcats hope they see more man as well.
Baylor Zone:
Sets or Actions to Look for From Baylor:
The set that Baylor goes to the most throughout a game starts with a 1-4 high look with the 2 posts at the elbows and the wing free throw line extended. Lecomte initiates the offense by passing to a wing and then cuts through the lane. The ball side post comes to set a ball screen and then rolls to the basket. If Baylor doesn't get anything from the pick and roll, the post on the other side of the floor will pop high for ball reversal. The wing sets a down screen for Lecomte and the post who has the ball at the top of the key dribbles at Lecomte for a dribble hand off. Baylor will repeat this action of the post popping high for ball reversal and the wing cutting through and coming off a down screen for the dribble hand off.
K-State could choose to defend this a couple of different way to provide help to the initial pick and roll. As Lecomte cuts through the lane, his defender could stay in help in the middle of the lane with the back side wing defender switching onto Lecomte. Another option would be for Lecomte's defender to stay with him and the back side wing defender to immediately jump into help on the first pass to the wing.
Other Offensive Sets/Actions:
- Baylor likes to run the high pick and pop with Lecomte and Lual-Acuil, with the 2nd post starting on the block opposite the ball. As Lecomte comes off the screen the post will duck in and seal. I can't stress this enough. K-State must make Lual put the ball on the floor with his left hand and finish with his left. In the handful of Baylor games I have watched he has gone left probably fewer than five times. And the few times that he has he has spun back right after a couple of dribbles so he could finish with his right hand.
- When Laul starts an offensive set out high and Lecomte down low, there is a great chance Lecomte is going to set a back screen for Laul followed by Lecomte looking for a three. If Baylor starts in a box set look and the first pass goes away from a post, most likely K-State will see a cross or diagonal screen for the post.
- Baylor will set a lot of off the ball screens for Lecomte to try to get him open looks. Specifically, I have seen them set a lot of single screens followed by a double screen along the baseline. If the Wildcat defender goes above the double screen, Lecomte will fade to the corner for a three. I would expect K-State to get in his hip pocket and trail him around the screens. The post defender must be ready to step out and help if Lecomte looks to curl back into the lane coming off the double.
Baylor will stay play the same zone we have been accustomed to seeing, but they are playing more man this year. In fact, in the games I have watched I have probably seen more man than zone and I'd imagine the Wildcats hope they see more man as well.
Baylor Zone:
- The zone is unique in that there are times you will see four Baylor defenders above the free throw line. This obviously leaves the baseline wide open, but traditionally teams have had some trouble getting the ball there due to Baylor's length on the wing.
- Brown and Diarra will have to get into the middle of the zone off the dribble. When they do they will need to look to draw a defender and dish as Laul is extremely long and difficult to score over.
- Getting the ball to the baseline (corner or short corner) will be key just as it is with any zone. Wade will need to make quick, decisive decisions when he catches at the high post. If the Wildcats can seal Laul in the paint, the diagonal lob pass could be there.
- I think you could also attack the zone by putting both posts at the short corner with them working up the lane. Put the lone defender in the paint in a 2 on 1 situation.
- Over the past couple of seasons, the Wildcats have found some success by posting DJ. Will Mawien be strong enough to establish position and will he be able to finish over their length?
- I would make Laul defend the pick and roll. In the 2nd half against KU, he got his leg rolled into. He appeared to be in a lot of pain initially, but did come right back into the game. However, he is already not the quickest laterally, and if his knee/ankle is sore from Saturday that could slow him down even more. I don't believe he can stay in front of either Brown or Diarra, but he is long enough to block a shot at the rim even if he is beat by a step.
- Just like against TCU, Xavier Sneed must do a great job on the glass. Neither Vital nor Jolly are good shooters, but both are strong, athletic players. When they decide to attack the offensive glass they can be a handful.
- On Vital, on inbound plays underneath their own basket, they like to isolate him in the middle of the lane, and lob it up to him.
- A wildcard for Baylor is Terry Maston. He is a talented post player who Baylor was counting on for big production coming into the season. However, he has been slowed by injuries most of the year. He had been playing more as of late, but only played 4 minutes against KU.
- Get back in transition. I would not say Baylor is a team that looks to run a lot, but I would guess they have seen on film that K-State has struggled getting back on defense the last few games.
