With the way K-State has played the last week and a half, any conference team could present some problems for the Wildcats, but this Texas team with their athleticism on the perimeter and the rim protection of Mo Bamba could make things tough on an already struggling Wildcat offense. And while Texas doesn't run a lot of sophisticated sets, they do a decent job of spacing the floor creating room for their athletes to get into the lane.
In the games I have watched them play, Texas has played harder more consistently than they have in the past and appear to have good team chemistry. During a timeout in the final minutes of the OU game, Osetkowski (#21) sat in the chair put down for Shaka Smart and did all of the talking during the timeout. To me, that is a sign of a team that has bought in and has some internal leadership. That by itself doesn't lead to more success on the floor, but is certainly something all coaches would prefer and is a contributor to a team's success.
Below are some looks the Wildcats will see from Texas offensively:
4 Out, 1 In
For most of this season, Texas has not been a good outside shooting team. (31% from 3 for the season. However, in their last 3 Big 12 games which included wins over ISU and OU and an OT loss to Tech, they have shot 40%, 36%, and 37%. This is still not lighting the world on fire, but better than the season average. It the Longhorns are jumping up and making shots, it will be a very difficult day for K-State.
In the games I have watched them play, Texas has played harder more consistently than they have in the past and appear to have good team chemistry. During a timeout in the final minutes of the OU game, Osetkowski (#21) sat in the chair put down for Shaka Smart and did all of the talking during the timeout. To me, that is a sign of a team that has bought in and has some internal leadership. That by itself doesn't lead to more success on the floor, but is certainly something all coaches would prefer and is a contributor to a team's success.
Below are some looks the Wildcats will see from Texas offensively:
4 Out, 1 In
- The Longhorns primary look is a 4 out, 1 in set with Mamba in the post. Mamba will frequently step out to set a ball screen. While he is most dangerous rolling to the basket for a lob, he can pick and pop and shoot the 3. K-State can live with him taking that shot. When Mamba is out of the game, Osetkowski will slide inside.
- A rule in their 4 out offense is any time a post, usually Osetkowski, catches the ball on the perimeter and passes to a wing he will follow his pass, set a ball screen, and pop to the corner.
- Texas's goal is put the defense in a spot with there is no help defender in a good spot to help on Osetkowski's pop to the corner. This mean's Osetkowski's defender has a choice to help on the ball screen and be slow to recover to him or ignore the ball screen and stick with him. Texas would prefer the 2nd option which allows one of their athletic guards to get into the lane and create a shot for themselves, a lob for Mama, or a kick out 3 if help comes.
- Initially, K-State should hedge on the ball screen and live with a slower closeout to Osetkowski as he is only shooting 27% from 3 for the season. Texas's strength is getting to the basket. This may be a game K-State has to make some defensive coverage adjustments mid-game if guys who aren't typically good 3 point shooters get hot.
- On occasion, instead of setting a ball screen after making a pass, Osetkowski will cut directly to the mid post. As long as Wade or one of KSU's 5 men are one him, I would not double him in the post.
- If Osetkowski cannot get the ball reversed, he can dribble at the wing for a dribble hand off and pop to the corner or roll to mid-post. In this action, if the wing defender for K-State overplays the hand off, they must be ready for a back door.
- In this set, the point guard chooses a side to dribble to. I have seen them go right the majority of the time. The post on that side sets a ball screen and pops to the top of the key. The other post rolls to the basket.
- This is the same basic look as the play above, but when the posts are both facing the sideline instead of facing each other, the guards will use both posts for a ball screen and the first post rolls to the basket and the 2nd post pops.
- This set starts in a 1 4 low look with the posts running a x pattern to the elbow area. The point guard passes to Osetkowski at the elbow and cuts off him for a handoff. After the handoff Osetkowski will roll to the basket and then cut opposite corner.
- The guard on Osetkowski's side of the floor cuts to the opposite block on the initial pass and then gets a down screen from Mamba after the handoff and receives a pass from the point guard.
- Mamba sets a ball screen and rolls to the basket.
- The KSU posts need to meet Mamba outside of the lane. He relies much more on athleticism than physicality. Make him fight for position, and keep a body on him to make the lob more difficult. People are probably tired of reading this, but K-State must make him score with his left hand.
- The KSU guards must keep the ball in front of them and keep Texas out of the paint. They also must do a much better job of boxing out. The Texas guards are athletic enough to jump over you in the lane for offensive rebounds.
- Late in the game against OU, several possessions in a row Texas ran guard to guard ball screens to get Trae Young on the ball. If Stokes is in the game late and Texas senses they have a mismatch there, that is something we could see again.
- Even though Texas doesn't apply the same relentless pressure that West Virginia does, my guess is K-State will see some of the same defensive strategies, especially in how they defend ball screens. Once again, Barry must be ready for a hard hedge or trap. Barry must be ready to make the next play coming off the screen and the other KSU players have to do a good job of cutting to the open spots on the floor. Texas does do a good job of rotating to the closest available player to the ball.
- When Osetkowski is on Wade, that is a match up Wade has to win. However, it wouldn't surprise me to see Texas use Mamba on him some or Jericho Sims (#20) when he comes in off the bench. Not only are both long enough to cause Wade issues in the post, both are athletic enough to play him on the perimeter.
- KSU needs to put Mamba in a lot of ball screens and other actions. One, hopefully K-State can use his youth and inexperience against him and two, it should pull him away from the basket. If the Wildcats allow him to play center field in the middle of the lane, that will make it extremely difficult for Barry and Diarra to get to the basket. Once again, if Mamba is hedging or trapping off the ball screen, K-State needs to make a quick decision on the pass and look to attack the basket before he has a chance to recover.
- Texas likes to put Mamba on the ball when a team is in bounding the ball underneath their own basket. If the Wildcats in bound the ball into the corner, which they commonly do, it would not surprise me to see Texas immediately trap with Mamba. His length would make it difficult to pass the ball out of the trap.
For most of this season, Texas has not been a good outside shooting team. (31% from 3 for the season. However, in their last 3 Big 12 games which included wins over ISU and OU and an OT loss to Tech, they have shot 40%, 36%, and 37%. This is still not lighting the world on fire, but better than the season average. It the Longhorns are jumping up and making shots, it will be a very difficult day for K-State.
