We know this team can handle disappoint, and on Saturday we will learn if this team can respond to the positive press clippings that followed the big win over OU. In my opinion this is a must win if the Wildcats are going to end the season playing in the NCAA tournament. A win would also go a long ways in proving to the fan base this team is different from the past several.
While TCU does not have the ceiling of OU, they are solid and balanced, which can make them difficult to defend. Even without Jaylen Fisher, the Horned Forgs still have 4 guys averaging double figures and a fifth averaging 9.4. And that doesn't include Alex Robinson, who has a good chance to average double figures the rest of way now that he is the starting point guard.
TCU like so many other teams relies heavily on ball screens with Vladimir Brodziansky being the guy most frequently involved in setting the screen. The action I have seen the most is a 4 out 1 in look with Brodziansky starting on the block on the ball side. As the ball is reversed to the other wing, he will follow the pass and set a ball screen for the wing. If he is not open on the roll, he will look to seal and they will look to him on the block after a ball reversal.
Things to look for / Keys for K-State....
Limit the touches for Brodziansky
TCU is primarily a man team. Against Iowa State, they also showed a 1-3-1 half court trap and fell back into man. I would anticipate them to hedge hard on K-State's ball screens. Their wing defenders like to play high out on the floor (referred to as on the line, up the line) to deny passes to the wing. Backdoor lob passes over the top may be available.
Outside of Brodziansky, TCU does not have a legit rim protector. The Wildcats needs to continue to attack the basket. Ahmed Hamd-Mohamed, a back up post, is a below the rim player and a guy I think Wade can have success against.
Final Thoughts
The Wildcats are going to have to go out and beat this team. I don't believe TCU will beat themselves on Saturday. At times this year, K-State has thrown some zone defenses at teams to change their offensive rhythm. This may be another game that comes into play. KU zoned TCU the final few minutes of the game and it helped them close the game out. Against a zone, TCU like to go to a 2-1-2 look with Robinson at the high post, and he is a good creator from that spot.
While TCU does not have the ceiling of OU, they are solid and balanced, which can make them difficult to defend. Even without Jaylen Fisher, the Horned Forgs still have 4 guys averaging double figures and a fifth averaging 9.4. And that doesn't include Alex Robinson, who has a good chance to average double figures the rest of way now that he is the starting point guard.
TCU like so many other teams relies heavily on ball screens with Vladimir Brodziansky being the guy most frequently involved in setting the screen. The action I have seen the most is a 4 out 1 in look with Brodziansky starting on the block on the ball side. As the ball is reversed to the other wing, he will follow the pass and set a ball screen for the wing. If he is not open on the roll, he will look to seal and they will look to him on the block after a ball reversal.
Things to look for / Keys for K-State....
Limit the touches for Brodziansky
- He is the not the physicial presence like an Azubuike is which plays to Mawien's and the other 5's favor, but it still is not a favorable matchup for KSU. As long as he can stay out of foul trouble, I would prefer to see Dean Wade on him. Brodziansky is a good face up shooter and can stretch clear out to 3. He is capable of scoring with either hand, but his favorite post move is a right handed hook.
- Robinson is not Trae Young, but at the same time he won't have 12 turnovers on Saturday like Young did on Tuesday. He is solid, and looks to create for others more than he looks for his own shot. He loves the pocket pass (bounce pass between the guard and post defenders) coming off the pick and roll.
- Robinson is only shooting 27% from three so he is a guy you can get away with going under the ball screen. I was not a fan of how K-State defending ball screens under Frank Martin where the post man bodied up to the screener and the guard went under the screen, but with a guy like Robinson, this is not a bad strategy as it takes the roller out of the equation. Having said that, I would be surprised to see any changes to K-State's ball screen coverages, especially with the success they had against OU.
- Many times it has been the 2nd ball screen that has given TCU's opponents fits. If Robinson gets cut off at the free throw line, Brodziansky will redirect his role and set a 2nd ball screen. Coming in the middle of the floor this close to the basket makes this difficult to defend.
- Williams leads TCU in rebounding at 9.4 per game which includes almost 3 offensive rebounds per game. He is not an explosive athlete but pursues the ball hard. On several occassions he has been outside of the 3 point line when a shot has gone up and has flown into the lane to get a rebound. Sneed or whoever may be on him cannot take for granted that because he is away from the basket on the shot that they don't have to block him out.
- Miller is a bit of a wildcard for TCU. In terms of pure length, athleticism, and skill level, he may have the highest ceiling of any Horned Frog.
- When Williams is in the corner, they will set an occasional flex screen for him to get him the ball in the post. When on the wing, you may see a water fall cut to the block. This is usually followed by a ball screen and when Brodziansky rolls to the basket he replaces him on the wing.
- Desmond Bane is TCU's best 3 point shooter at 48%. When he is on the weak side it can put his defender in a bind on whether to help on the roll or stay home on Bane.
TCU is primarily a man team. Against Iowa State, they also showed a 1-3-1 half court trap and fell back into man. I would anticipate them to hedge hard on K-State's ball screens. Their wing defenders like to play high out on the floor (referred to as on the line, up the line) to deny passes to the wing. Backdoor lob passes over the top may be available.
Outside of Brodziansky, TCU does not have a legit rim protector. The Wildcats needs to continue to attack the basket. Ahmed Hamd-Mohamed, a back up post, is a below the rim player and a guy I think Wade can have success against.
Final Thoughts
The Wildcats are going to have to go out and beat this team. I don't believe TCU will beat themselves on Saturday. At times this year, K-State has thrown some zone defenses at teams to change their offensive rhythm. This may be another game that comes into play. KU zoned TCU the final few minutes of the game and it helped them close the game out. Against a zone, TCU like to go to a 2-1-2 look with Robinson at the high post, and he is a good creator from that spot.
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