For much of the first game, K-State had good ball and player movement on the offensive end. When Dean Wade got the ball in the post, the other four players did a better job of moving to the open spots and cutting to the basket than we have seen in some other games. TCU was able to make enough plays to keep it close to the final minute. Here’s a look at a few things that hurt the Wildcats in the first match up:
Kenrich Williams in the post and on the glass
Kenrich Williams in the post and on the glass
- Williams may not jump off the screen at you as a great player, but he does a lot of things really well as evident by his 12.9 points, 9.2 rebounds, 4.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. In the game in Manhattan, K-State struggled to keep him off the offensive glass. He is a hard block out due to his size and strength, but also because he anticipates the shot going up and sometimes will sprint from outside the three point line to the rim before the shot is released.
- When TCU is in their four out, one in look, as the ball is swung from Williams side of the floor to the other, TCU likes to run him on a flex cut and post him on the block or out to the mid-post. At times, K-State guarded Williams with Diarra and he struggled with William’s size both in the post and on the glass. This time around, I expect Sneed to draw the bulk of the minutes against him.
- K-State did not do a poor job of defending TCU. TCU averages over 84 points per game and the Wildcats held them to 68. However, the Horned Frogs were able to generate some open shots from ball screens. They are hard to defend because first, Alex Robinson sees the floor extremely well and is a decent finisher.
- It is not uncommon to hear perimeter defenders being taught to get ball level, meaning the deeper the point guard gets into the lane with penetration, the lower on the floor the perimeter defenders should be. Typically, as a player is driving, the pass to the corner is easier than a pass back out to the wing, but Robinson is capable of making any pass at any angle. If the KSU perimeter defenders get caught with both eyes solely on Robinson, look for Williams to cut back door.
- Second, TCU has four players, Williams, Bane, Noi, and Olden, shooting 40% of better from beyond the arc. While the Wildcats need to protect the paint against Robinson’s penetration and Brodziansky’s roll, they cannot over help. In the first game, they got caught a few times with multiple perimeter defenders in the lane which made it tough to rotate out to the shooters on the perimeter. K-State must be extremely sound each trip down in knowing which perimeter defender is supposed to be the guy in the lane providing help on Brodziansky rolling to the basket.
- In the 2nd half, K-State was hurt a couple of times by the pick and pop. When TCU is in their four out, one in look, they like to ball screen with Brodziansky on the wing and then have him pop towards the baseline side. This is difficult to defend because it is an extremely long ways to go for the help defender. If it is late in the shot clock, KSU could switch the ball screen as TCU would not have time to isolate Brodziansky in the post and take advantage of the mismatch.
- K-State was in a great rhythm offensively early in the game in Manhattan. To break that rhythm, TCU played some 1-3-1 extended just beyond half court and then matched up in the half court. While this didn’t directly force turnovers, it did slow K-State down and forced them to identify whether TCU was in a zone or man. The Wildcats should be ready for multiple looks defensively and need to be able to quickly get into their offense.
- One thing K-State did in the first game that I liked was when Brodziansky was defending Wade, the Wildcats took Wade out of the ball screen and had him spot up on the perimeter. This draws TCU’s best shot blocker away from the basket and makes it an easier finish at the rim or gives Wade an open look if Brodziansky helps.
- TCU usually hard hedges all ball screens. The KSU guards could pick up some cheap fouls by attacking the post defender’s leg closest to half court. When there is a hard hedge, that means another defender must rotate over to help on the roll. Screening that help defender can open up a perimeter player.
- Out of a timeout, TCU trapped Barry Brown in the corner on an in bounds play underneath K-State’s basket and forced a turnover. KU did the same thing later in the year. K-State needs to be ready for this and have a counter.
- K-State point guards got casual with the ball several times near half court which led to turnovers. One of those did lead to perhaps the defensive play of the year for K-State in McGuirl’s block of Robinson. On the road, those open floor turnovers that lead to dunks on the other end can be an igniter for the home team and are something K-State must avoid.
