Uconn vs. Houston -Thurs @ the XL

[the Blades]

UConn vs. #9 Houston -THUR Feb. 14, 7 pm @ the XL Center (TV- ESPN)
23-1 after their home win over Cincy on Sunday ....One of the few AAC teams that Uconn would have matched up good against prior to Jalen and Rique's injuries.... Houston plays their version of 3 guard small ball.

 

[the Blades]

NCAA NET rankings

 

[the Blades]

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

The Vegas Insider line opened at -7 and with money being bet on Houston is now at -8

 

[the Blades]

More pre-game :
" So expect Gilbert to be stuck to the bench Thursday, and probably content to be there. A week off follows and Gilbert will need that to knock off rust and get back in basketball shape, to smooth out of the rough edges of any instincts. He could — and he should — return to the lineup Feb. 21 against SMU."

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

This is a game in which something will be needed from Carlton, like a double double. UConn can’t win unless he gives them something inside and can stay out of foul trouble. I can also see Cobb playing a lot in this game.

The Houston team is relentless on D and leads the AAC in every single defensive category. Kelvin Sampson is an old school coach like Calhoun whose teams play disciplined, tough and they guard you at all 5 positions.

 

[the Blades]

This is a game in which something will be needed from Carlton, like a double double. UConn can’t win unless he gives them something inside and can stay out of foul trouble. I can also see Cobb playing a lot in this game.

The Houston team is relentless on D and leads the AAC in every single defensive category. Kelvin Sampson is an old school coach like Calhoun whose teams play disciplined, tough and they guard you at all 5 positions.

True there's a reason they've only lost one game, they wear you down on both sides of the ball. They reminded me of some of Jay Wright's Nova teams who, value possessions and move the ball around until Uconn's D got out of position and they get, not a good, but a great shot. On D they play you strait up and stay between their man and the basket. Simple grown man stuff and not overly athletic, but against teams that force plays or lose their men on D they just grind you down until your out of it. Have to give the Uconn kids credit for never giving up, again with only 7 players, which didn't happen with the last regime. Games like this were 20+ point blow outs ( last year they had 7 of them this year just 1) Also would have been nice if the Huskies shot better than the Drummond line on FT's @ 56%)

Box Score

 

[the Blades]

 

[KhalidShockedTheWorld]

Pretty good summary Blades, I was very impressed by how Houston was consistently able to locate the guy who was open at the 3 line. They are a grind the possessions out team, for sure, and they hunt good shots. I am not sure how far they will go in the NCAA tourney with that style of play and their talent level and size, however, which seems to have limitations. They will face better big men than Carlton, and really I think they are capable of being damaged inside by teams with good, experienced big men who do not mind their constant fouling and physical play. UConn was looking for Carlton and he did not do as well as I had hoped combatting the double teams and physical play, and he did not make FTs like you mentioned. However UConn never gave up in this game and all things considered I thought they did OK. They were outshot in FGs and at the 3 line and outrebounded by 5. Had Jalen and Gilbert been available for this game, UConn might have won. With the type of D that was being played against UConn, you need people who can beat their man off the dribble, get into the paint, draw the defense and get fouled or else kick out to someone with a clean look. UConn struggled in that department and did not have the right guys shooting the FTs.

Houston to me looks like a team that gets to the 2nd round, maybe sweet 16, before getting beat.