[quote="Mean Gene" post=408846][quote="Paultzman" post=408825]Watched Creighton twice and in both games their FT shooting killed them. They do score in bunches and rotate ball crisply so imo defensive concentration is a must for SJU. It does not look like their bigs are much, but Mahoney is one of those junk yard dog types who can be a problem. Last year we gave them trouble being physical, but smart defensively. I agree SJU can beat them, but suggest a rock fight v a shootout.[/quote]
Paultz, i also think that shot selection on the offensive end is huge for us. When we are not getting steals, running the floor and getting easy baskets , we need to get good quality shots when we are in our half court offense. If we don’t, and we start taking bad shots and chucking up threes, those bad shots are going lead to long rebounds for Creighton which will turn into quick open threes for them on the other end. That will be a killer for us.[/quote]
Can’t argue with that.
Obviously not expecting an sudden awakening with highly effective half court D, although improvement would be nice. That said, transitional D after scores, turnovers seems prudent. Have to find those open three point shooters on breaks, which they do well, and at least make it difficult. Otherwise this becomes a “mail in” loss to me.