Overview:
All you need to know is that they went into
Lawrence, KS and beat the Jayhawks. Mark Fox has
done a really nice job of building on their recent
success. This program has made great strides in each
of the past three seasons. They are one of the most
dangerous teams in the field that most people are
not familiar with at all.
Possible Difference Maker: It starts with the
6-foot-11 Nick Fazekas. He can score in the post and
he can score from the perimeter. He really stretches
the defense. Sophomores Ramon Sessions Marcelus Kemp
are both really good guards who are only going to
get better.
On Offense: They are quick team, but they not
really a running team. They will run when the
opportunity presents itself. They do use that
quickness to get into their sets quickly. They have
a lot of options and can really shoot it well from
beyond the arc. They have a good inside-outside game
and do a nice job of grinding when shots aren’t
falling.
On Defense: They are a very sound and
physical man-to-man defensive team.
Strength: They have imposing NBA-size on the
front line and Fazekas is such a difficult matchup
with his ability to knock down perimeter shots. They
play with a high level of confidence and have a
great knack of making big shots when they need them.
Weakness: At times they can struggle from the
perimeter.
Key to Success: Fazekas, Kemp and Sessions.
If those three play well they can go deep into the
tournament.
How to Beat Them: You have to make it a
possession game. You can run at times, but they are
so good in transition defense that it’s difficult to
get a lot of points on the break.
