As Matt said in the podcast following the Kentucky game, don't let the seed fool you. Loyola-Chicago is an extremely solid team on both ends of the floor. They move the ball well and have good spacing offensively, and have guys who are capable of making plays on their own. Loyola-Chicago does not create the mismatches from a size and athletic standpoint like Kentucky did, but they were certainly be a test for K-State's defense.
Loyola-Chicago Offense
In a game at Florida during the non-conference, the Ramblers ran a ton of sets. In the games I have seen more recently they have relied more more on 4 out 1 in looks with ball screens and some dribble drive motion concepts. An example of a basic concept of the dribble drive motion is when a player drives into the lane from the wing, a player at the top of the key or the opposite wing, cuts into the lane behind the dribbler. The goal is to get going downhill towards the basket.
With as much as K-State has pressured the basketball and gotten into the passing lanes, I would expect Loyola-Chicago to try to counter that with backdoor cuts. One way they do that is by running a high ball screen with the dribbler going to the side with one wing. As Custer drives towards the wing, he goes backdoor. This is something I would look for early in the game if I were the Wildcats.
General Concepts
I believe this is a game KSU can attack Loyola with the high pick and roll, specifically when Krutwig is in the game. He does have decent feet, but is a guy I think both Brown and Diarra can get around. Loyola does not hedge hard on ball screens but plays contain. They do a good job of boxing in the dribbler or walling up by bringing a third defender into the area. KSU must have good spacing to prevent that or could use ball and player movement prior to getting into the high ball screen to get Loyola's defense out of position. Another option would be to set the ball screen higher on the floor to make Krutwig have to cover more ground.
Loyola likes to switch perimeter screens that the five man is not involved in and I would expect them to do that on Saturday to prevent the pick and pop with Sneed. This could create opportunities for Sneed to roll to the basket and post up. Also, if K-State believes Loyola has a weaker on ball defender, they can use a guard to guard screen to get the match up they desire.
Against Florida, Loyola played quite a bit of 3-2 zone. It would not surprise me to see this some on Saturday, especially if Dean is unable to go.
Final Thought
One quick thought to close. I completely understand not fouling up three against Kentucky with our issues on the glass; however, if this game is a three point game in the final seconds, K-State needs to take the foul.
Loyola-Chicago Offense
In a game at Florida during the non-conference, the Ramblers ran a ton of sets. In the games I have seen more recently they have relied more more on 4 out 1 in looks with ball screens and some dribble drive motion concepts. An example of a basic concept of the dribble drive motion is when a player drives into the lane from the wing, a player at the top of the key or the opposite wing, cuts into the lane behind the dribbler. The goal is to get going downhill towards the basket.
With as much as K-State has pressured the basketball and gotten into the passing lanes, I would expect Loyola-Chicago to try to counter that with backdoor cuts. One way they do that is by running a high ball screen with the dribbler going to the side with one wing. As Custer drives towards the wing, he goes backdoor. This is something I would look for early in the game if I were the Wildcats.
General Concepts
- The Ramblers run a lot of offense through Krutwig (#25) and Jackson (#24) on the perimeter. If they receive a pass near the free throw line area, look for cutters off of them for a hand off. On ball reversal to a wing, they will follow their pass for a screen and roll.
- When a Ramblers guard is coming off a ball screen if he can't get into the lane, he generally looks to swing the ball back to the weak side for a three or post entry. This puts pressure on the weak side defender as many times he is assigned to help on the roll.
- When a guard catches near the free throw line area, they like to look for a high/low post entry. Krutwig does a good job of sealing his defender and walking him up the lane. In their four out set, Loyola will enter the post from any spot on the floor.
- In the four out set, as the ball is passed from one side to the other, the post will step to the elbow area and the guard who made the pass will make a UCLA cut to the basket. The post will then follow with a ball screen.
- Cameron Krutwig - 6'9" Center
- Krutwig has a big body and uses it well. As I said earlier he does a good job of sealing in the post and will do so in transition early in possessions. His strong hand is his left hand and he relieves heavily on it. Outside of a layup I have not seen him take a shot with his right hand. This can cause some issues for defenders as they are used to taking away a guys right hand, so that can be a tough adjustment to shade the other side. He has some ability to put the ball on the floor. On catches on the perimeter Mawien cannot relax and allow him to drive to the goal.
- Aundre Jackson - 6'5" forward
- Jackson plays both the four and the five as Loyola goes small quite a bit. He is a capable three point shooter (36%), but is very good around the basket and putting the ball on the floor. When driving the ball, he is much stronger with his right hand. The first two possessions he was in the game against Nevada, Loyola looked to get him the ball inside.
- Two guards high, Two wings free throw line extended, 5 man at the free throw line
- Custer initiates the set with a dribble hand off to the wing who enters the ball to the 5 at the free throw line. On the pass, himself and the other guard that is high on the floor crisscrosses off of the five man for potential hand offs. If the hand off is not there, Custer cuts high. The five swings the ball to Custer and follows his pass for a screen and roll.
- This play is very similar except Custer enters it directly to the five man and you get the crisscross cuts. If Custer does not get the hand off he cuts to the corner where he receives a pass from the five, who follows it for a baseline screen and roll.
- 4 and 5 man high with two wings in either corner
- Custer picks a side for a ball screen. The post setting the screen rolls and the other pops to the top of the key. If the ball is thrown pack to the post who popped, look for a high/low pass. Custer can also dribble a the wing in the corner for a hand off who will then get a ball screen.
- 5 man at the top of the key with Richardson or another guard below him.
- Custer gets a ball screen from the 5, and Richardson pops to the top of the key off of the 5 man who then rolls to the bucket. Loyola ran a backdoor coming off the ball screen out of this look.
I believe this is a game KSU can attack Loyola with the high pick and roll, specifically when Krutwig is in the game. He does have decent feet, but is a guy I think both Brown and Diarra can get around. Loyola does not hedge hard on ball screens but plays contain. They do a good job of boxing in the dribbler or walling up by bringing a third defender into the area. KSU must have good spacing to prevent that or could use ball and player movement prior to getting into the high ball screen to get Loyola's defense out of position. Another option would be to set the ball screen higher on the floor to make Krutwig have to cover more ground.
Loyola likes to switch perimeter screens that the five man is not involved in and I would expect them to do that on Saturday to prevent the pick and pop with Sneed. This could create opportunities for Sneed to roll to the basket and post up. Also, if K-State believes Loyola has a weaker on ball defender, they can use a guard to guard screen to get the match up they desire.
Against Florida, Loyola played quite a bit of 3-2 zone. It would not surprise me to see this some on Saturday, especially if Dean is unable to go.
Final Thought
One quick thought to close. I completely understand not fouling up three against Kentucky with our issues on the glass; however, if this game is a three point game in the final seconds, K-State needs to take the foul.
