CONNECTICUT MEETS MICHIGAN STATE IN FINAL FOUR
April 3, 2009
With everything that has happened surrounding the UConn basketball team the last several months, including the recent allegations of recruiting improprieties, the chaos surrounding the Final Four is probably not having much of an impact on the Husky players.
"I think we're in a great mindset as a team, focused, ready to play the game," said senior guard AJ Price. "It's been a good experience to be down here. But I think we just ready to get on the court now."
Connecticut returns to the Final Four, their third trip under Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. The Huskies won national championships in 1999 and 2004 in their two previous trips and, like this year, each time they came out of the West Regional to do so.
Now, they head to Detroit and take on Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans, who are playing less than an hour away from their campus in East Lansing. While the feel of a road game concerns coach Calhoun, he is more worried about the team his Huskies are facing.
Read More...Click HERE! or 'Read More' Below!
"We've been a very good road team this year, but we're playing a really good team," said Calhoun. "That scares me mainly because they match us. They can do things that we can do."
As usual, coach Izzo has a squad that will play tough on the boards, defend for 40 minutes and play a structured offense that will generate scoring opportunities, a style UConn players believe set MSU apart from the rest of their conference.
"They like to run and they rebound, they're very physical," UConn senior Jeff Adrien said of the Spartans. "So, you know, I think that's really why they won the Big 10 this year, with their different style."
A style that could be seen in the Big East.
Of course, UConn likes to run, rebound and defend. With 7'3 Hasheem Thabeet manning the post and the bruising Adrien controlling the back boards, it is a match-up MSU has not seen so far this season. However, even with that intimidating size, coach Izzo believes the key to beating UConn is controlling AJ Price.
"I think that is a key matchup," said Izzo. "Even though they have tremendous size up front, some very tough, good players up there, great rebounders, I still think Price is the guy who stirs the drink. He's had an incredible tournament."
Spartan defensive specialist Travis Walton will get the assignment to contain Price and the UConn floor general knows he will have to be on his game.
"[I] Know he's going to do his job, which is to be a defensive stopper," said Price. "So I know he's going to bring his A game, I just got to try to bring mine."
While you can expect Price to have his A-game, the NCAA Tournament might also be the launching pad to the next great UConn star guard as freshman Kemba Walker had a career high 23 points and added 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the 82-75 Elite 8 win over Missouri. The tempo that Missouri was looking to play was ideal for Walker's game, Michigan State will not offer that style of game very readily. Instead, while MSU can count on 10 or 11 guys to contribute to the cause, UConn will likely have just a 7-man rotation and finding the role player that steps up could be the key to victory. Against Purdue it was senior Craig Austrie and it was Walker against Mizzou. In Saturday, could it be Stanley Robinson's turn?
Michigan State will look to bring Thabeet away from the hoop as Goran Suton is a face-up threat out to the three-point line. Versatile forwards Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers will look to find room to go inside with a clearer path to the basket. This could be a chess match between two great coaches on the level of impact Thabeet has near the basket on defense. If UConn finds a way to keep him inside and blocking and altering shots, they should be able to handle the Michigan State offensive attack. Look for them to get it done...
Looking at the basketball odds at bet USA, UConn is a 4-point favorite. While it is nearly a home game for Michigan State, look for UConn to set the tone in the paint and earn a physical win.
NBE Blogger Prediction:
Connecticut 68
Michigan State 62
With everything that has happened surrounding the UConn basketball team the last several months, including the recent allegations of recruiting improprieties, the chaos surrounding the Final Four is probably not having much of an impact on the Husky players.
"I think we're in a great mindset as a team, focused, ready to play the game," said senior guard AJ Price. "It's been a good experience to be down here. But I think we just ready to get on the court now."
Connecticut returns to the Final Four, their third trip under Hall of Fame coach Jim Calhoun. The Huskies won national championships in 1999 and 2004 in their two previous trips and, like this year, each time they came out of the West Regional to do so.
Now, they head to Detroit and take on Tom Izzo's Michigan State Spartans, who are playing less than an hour away from their campus in East Lansing. While the feel of a road game concerns coach Calhoun, he is more worried about the team his Huskies are facing.
Read More...Click HERE! or 'Read More' Below!
"We've been a very good road team this year, but we're playing a really good team," said Calhoun. "That scares me mainly because they match us. They can do things that we can do."
As usual, coach Izzo has a squad that will play tough on the boards, defend for 40 minutes and play a structured offense that will generate scoring opportunities, a style UConn players believe set MSU apart from the rest of their conference.
"They like to run and they rebound, they're very physical," UConn senior Jeff Adrien said of the Spartans. "So, you know, I think that's really why they won the Big 10 this year, with their different style."
A style that could be seen in the Big East.
Of course, UConn likes to run, rebound and defend. With 7'3 Hasheem Thabeet manning the post and the bruising Adrien controlling the back boards, it is a match-up MSU has not seen so far this season. However, even with that intimidating size, coach Izzo believes the key to beating UConn is controlling AJ Price.
"I think that is a key matchup," said Izzo. "Even though they have tremendous size up front, some very tough, good players up there, great rebounders, I still think Price is the guy who stirs the drink. He's had an incredible tournament."
Spartan defensive specialist Travis Walton will get the assignment to contain Price and the UConn floor general knows he will have to be on his game.
"[I] Know he's going to do his job, which is to be a defensive stopper," said Price. "So I know he's going to bring his A game, I just got to try to bring mine."
While you can expect Price to have his A-game, the NCAA Tournament might also be the launching pad to the next great UConn star guard as freshman Kemba Walker had a career high 23 points and added 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the 82-75 Elite 8 win over Missouri. The tempo that Missouri was looking to play was ideal for Walker's game, Michigan State will not offer that style of game very readily. Instead, while MSU can count on 10 or 11 guys to contribute to the cause, UConn will likely have just a 7-man rotation and finding the role player that steps up could be the key to victory. Against Purdue it was senior Craig Austrie and it was Walker against Mizzou. In Saturday, could it be Stanley Robinson's turn?
Michigan State will look to bring Thabeet away from the hoop as Goran Suton is a face-up threat out to the three-point line. Versatile forwards Raymar Morgan and Durrell Summers will look to find room to go inside with a clearer path to the basket. This could be a chess match between two great coaches on the level of impact Thabeet has near the basket on defense. If UConn finds a way to keep him inside and blocking and altering shots, they should be able to handle the Michigan State offensive attack. Look for them to get it done...
Looking at the basketball odds at bet USA, UConn is a 4-point favorite. While it is nearly a home game for Michigan State, look for UConn to set the tone in the paint and earn a physical win.
NBE Blogger Prediction:
Connecticut 68
Michigan State 62
Labels: 2008-2009 Game Previews
posted by NBE Blogger @ 9:53 PM
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