StepCross
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- Oct 13, 2010
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1. Rebound. Pitt really scores a lot off second chances. If Tennessee can keep them off the glass, it will disrupt a great deal of what they normally do. Tobias Harris in particular needs to man up and keep his guy off the glass. He's had some lapses in this area.
2. Stay in front of your man. Pitt really does a great job of flashing guys to open spots during dribble penetration. Wannamaker is especially good at beating his man, then finding the open man when help arrives. They get open threes and open dunks this way, and a quick glance at their assist numbers confirms they're good at this. Tennessee's team defense has been excellent, but if the guards get beat and BW steps in to help, Wannamaker will find the open guy, not force a bad 2 like Villanova did. Help principles are fine, but for the most part Tennessee needs to stay home, more or less, and just not get beat.
3. Attack the rim. Pitt's defense is good, and they're physical. But Tennessee has a height advantage, especially at the guard spots. Also, they're very good at getting to the FT line.
4. Run when possible. Pitt hits the offensive glass hard. The guards get back, but if (say) Tobias Harris can get out in transition while the 4's and 5's are still under Tennessee's rim, he has an opportunity to score some easy buckets, going up in the lane against PG's and SG's.
5. Irritate the guards. Goins is a really annoying defender, and he needs to be at his infuriating best today. The best defense against Pitt's dribble penetration might be to not let them do what they want to do to begin with.
2. Stay in front of your man. Pitt really does a great job of flashing guys to open spots during dribble penetration. Wannamaker is especially good at beating his man, then finding the open man when help arrives. They get open threes and open dunks this way, and a quick glance at their assist numbers confirms they're good at this. Tennessee's team defense has been excellent, but if the guards get beat and BW steps in to help, Wannamaker will find the open guy, not force a bad 2 like Villanova did. Help principles are fine, but for the most part Tennessee needs to stay home, more or less, and just not get beat.
3. Attack the rim. Pitt's defense is good, and they're physical. But Tennessee has a height advantage, especially at the guard spots. Also, they're very good at getting to the FT line.
4. Run when possible. Pitt hits the offensive glass hard. The guards get back, but if (say) Tobias Harris can get out in transition while the 4's and 5's are still under Tennessee's rim, he has an opportunity to score some easy buckets, going up in the lane against PG's and SG's.
5. Irritate the guards. Goins is a really annoying defender, and he needs to be at his infuriating best today. The best defense against Pitt's dribble penetration might be to not let them do what they want to do to begin with.
