|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/9/2009
Posts: 270
Points: 619
Location: Upstate NY
|
So I've watched 3 Butler games so far this year, and to me this is a very winnable match-up. Two things to worry about:
1) Hayward (obviously), but I really feel like Rossiter and/or Franklin are smart enough to keep his touches down.
2) 3 ball. They can flat out shoot, and in my opinion, the Saint's ability to rotate on the perimeter is one of their defensive weaknesses.
The good news:
1) Their guards aren't overly big/athletic. Over the last few years, in certain BCS matchups, the Saints get killed in the 1st half trying to trap 6'6" guards that can just pass over the top of the trap, and we end up getting lost in the rotation after that first pass. Then, inevitably, Fran makes an adjustment at half-time, and we have to crawl out the hole we've dug ourselves into. We might be able to generate some points off of defense in this matchup, so that's a huge upside.
2) We have favorable matchups on offense. Ubiles in particular has the potential to go nuts.
All in all, a really solid opportunity.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/4/2008
Posts: 601
Points: 1,821
Location: Clifton Park, NY
|
JacqueMo wrote:So I've watched 3 Butler games so far this year, and to me this is a very winnable match-up. Two things to worry about:
1) Hayward (obviously), but I really feel like Rossiter and/or Franklin are smart enough to keep his touches down.
2) 3 ball. They can flat out shoot, and in my opinion, the Saint's ability to rotate on the perimeter is one of their defensive weaknesses.
The good news:
1) Their guards aren't overly big/athletic. Over the last few years, in certain BCS matchups, the Saints get killed in the 1st half trying to trap 6'6" guards that can just pass over the top of the trap, and we end up getting lost in the rotation after that first pass. Then, inevitably, Fran makes an adjustment at half-time, and we have to crawl out the hole we've dug ourselves into. We might be able to generate some points off of defense in this matchup, so that's a huge upside.
2) We have favorable matchups on offense. Ubiles in particular has the potential to go nuts.
All in all, a really solid opportunity. I'd expect to see Ubiles on Heyward, he is more of a SF. Butler is very good, especially at home, but I also like this match up. (i've seen them several times myself.) This is a not a team that is going to overpower Siena physically or athletically. They are fairly similar in size and Siena may have an advantage athletically.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/5/2008
Posts: 1,513
Points: 3,499
Location: Yer Mom's Box
|
I agree that Ubiles and Hayward will match up. Rossiter and Howard is going to be a good watch. Franklin has a size advantage on Veasley who is only 6'3 but plays a similar style to Alex - but can step out and hit 3s. Butler's PG has a big size advantage on Moore - and Moore struggles with big guards. Jackson will have to play well on both ends, especially defending the perimeter - which he has done a nice job at lately. Would be a superb win.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/26/2008
Posts: 240
Points: 629
Location: Long Island, NY
|
Agreed guys. I've seen parts of some Butler games this season, but never one from start to finish like I did yesterday in my scouting for our upcoming game against them.
They are a very good team no doubt. We'll need our "A" game on their home floor to get the W. But nothing to be intimidated about.
Between Hayward and Howard you'd think they'd have much better team rebounding stats. But it's simply not the case. Obviously one of the keys to the game will be if Alex and Ryan can continue to perform well on the boards and down low.
Another key is good perimeter defense by us. Their 3 pt shooters are their strength. And to honest we all know that one of our own weaknesses is to be able to defend the 3.
The other thing to look for are how fouls are called. I think I saw our Butler friend who has been posting to this site say that Howard tends to get into foul trouble. Well that was certainly the case in yesterday's game. He was riding the bench for some serious minutes because of his fouls. If we can get some fouls on him early then Alex and Ryan can really get down to business.
2 more weeks and counting. Can't wait.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 7/9/2009
Posts: 270
Points: 619
Location: Upstate NY
|
sorry, that was a typo. i wrote hayward, but meant to write howard.
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/1/2010
Posts: 29
Points: 87
Location: il
|
All I will say is, if Howard plays fewer than 20 minutes like he did last night, we will be in serious trouble. I love my team and I think they are good, but after watching them all year I know how vulnerable we can be
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/7/2008
Posts: 97
Points: 291
Location: Watervliet, NY
|
I think the Ubiles/Hayward matchup will be something to watch. Especially since Edwin typically plays at a very high level when playing against up opponents (T-Will, Shane Foster, etc).
Hopefully Alex and Ryan can keep Howard on the bench with foul trouble. If not, we'll see some epic battles down low all game long.
The one matchup problem I see for us is Mack. I just don't see how we're going to keep him out of the paint. Typically, when we need to stop someone with his skills, we put Eddie on him. But Eddie will be stuck to Hayward all game when we're in man-to-man D. And I'm afraid Butler will carve us up if we go zone for any extended period of time. They almost shot 70% against Wright St. - the 2nd place team in their league. If we don't rotate perfectly (rare), we'll pay for it 7 out of 10x.
Finally, it seems like Butler plays man-to-man D most of the time. It will be interesting to see if they can stay with that against the Saints. If history is any teacher, it probably isn't a very successful gameplan against the Saints. But hey, that's why you play the game.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/5/2008
Posts: 628
Points: 1,776
Location: Suffern NY
|
Is anyone else thinking about flying out for the game? I am seriously toying with it but will be flying out of NYC if I go.
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/5/2008
Posts: 1,513
Points: 3,499
Location: Yer Mom's Box
|
Hockeyguy wrote:Is anyone else thinking about flying out for the game? I am seriously toying with it but will be flying out of NYC if I go. If I wasn't a CPA I could probably talk a couple of buddies into going from down here in NYC. I checked flights - $158 roundtrip. Should be easy to fly out in the morning and fly back the same day in time for a later dinner. However, Indy isn't the easiest place to get to - I think the earliest time into Indy from NYC was 10:09am and would probably get you to Hinkle right at the tip. Hysterical there are no direct flights to Indy from NYC on a Saturday morning - most flights go through Cleveland and Cincy.
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/1/2010
Posts: 29
Points: 87
Location: il
|
If you see Zone, it might be for one or two plays randomly to get a turnover. Butler doesn't play zone. Last time I can remember zone for more than a half was against Louisville in the 2003 NCAA tournament, and even then it was halfway though the first half when Butler surprised them with it
|
|
Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 11/4/2008
Posts: 773
Points: 1,520
Location: Clifton Park
|
aurorix2 wrote:If you see Zone, it might be for one or two plays randomly to get a turnover. Butler doesn't play zone. Last time I can remember zone for more than a half was against Louisville in the 2003 NCAA tournament, and even then it was halfway though the first half when Butler surprised them with it Butler may have some difficulty with Franklin, Ubiles and Jackson if they decide to stay man to man. I like when teams don't pack it in and force us to beat them from the outside.
|
|
Rank: Member
Groups: Member
Joined: 2/1/2010
Posts: 29
Points: 87
Location: il
|
Gas284 wrote:aurorix2 wrote:If you see Zone, it might be for one or two plays randomly to get a turnover. Butler doesn't play zone. Last time I can remember zone for more than a half was against Louisville in the 2003 NCAA tournament, and even then it was halfway though the first half when Butler surprised them with it Butler may have some difficulty with Franklin, Ubiles and Jackson if they decide to stay man to man. I like when teams don't pack it in and force us to beat them from the outside. Butler has been playing Man forever, and they always have the ability to stay with athletic teams. They have a couple of guys in Nored and Vanzant that will play tenacious D and follow their assignment all over the court. If Howard can stay in the game to defend the interior, they should be ok.
|
|
|
Guest |
