Breaking down the American NCAA tournament teams


 
Who’s in?
UConn (8)     Cincinnati (9)          Temple (10)            Tulsa (11)
 
The American NCAA Tournament Matchups and Scouting Report
 
Tulsa (11) vs Michigan (11 seed play-in game)
It happened.  Nobody outside The American saw it coming, but it happened.  The Tulsa Golden Hurricane pulled an at-large bid.  That says one main thing to me… the respect for The American conference is very real.  More than almost every team in the country Tulsa is motivated after being left out of the field a year ago.  With 9 seniors on the roster this Golden Hurricane team is one of the oldest and most experienced teams in the field.  The dynamic duo of Shaquille Harrison and James Woodard are a nightmare for opposing teams’ scouting reports.  But there has to be another guy to knock down shots when Harrison and Woodard are being covered, and that guy is Pat Birt.  The junior guard, averaging 12.6 PPG, must be ready to step up knock down shots when called upon.  Birt is going to be a huge factor if Tulsa wants to shock the world.

Michigan Scouting Report
Tulsa will face a very sound Michigan Wolverine team out of the Big10.  Michigan is a poor rebounding team, ranked 324^th in country, that can be very streaky from the perimeter.  They survive off making perimeter shots.  When the Wolverines are hitting they can beat anyone on the tournament, and when they aren’t… it’s anybody’s game!
Winner of this game will face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame.
 
UConn (9) vs Colorado (8)
UConn! UConn! UConn!  The Huskies sure made a believer out of me and the rest of the country for that matter.  Kevin Ollie had this team playing like a team that’s poised for a Sweet 16 run at worst.  Physical, aggressive, poised, and efficient.  Once seen as a team on the outside looking in, now, ready for deep run in the Big Dance.  Daniel Hamilton is one of the toughest players in the country to guard, Sterling Gibbs is playing his best basketball of the year as of late, and Jaylen Adams is an emerging star.  Yes, we know all that Mike!  Ok, but what you really need to know is how important Amida Brimah and Shonn Miller are.  Keep reading, it will all make sense.

Colorado Scouting Report
The Huskies will face a very good Colorado team out of the Pac12.  Colorado is decent offensively but they are absolutely dominant on the boards.  They lead the conference in rebounding overall and offensive rebounding.  They attack the glass with a relentless effort.  Brimah and Miller MUST figure out how to play hard without fouling.  If Brimah stays out of foul trouble don’t be surprised if he plays more minutes than he is used to.
 
Temple (10) vs Iowa (7)
I’m willing to bet that the Owls are scratching at the bit to play Iowa.  Temple could have received an 8 or 9 seed if it wasn’t for their loss to UConn in the semi-finals of The American tournament.  It’s not that they played particularly bad in any area.  At the end of the day they honestly just missed shots.  It happens (that’s the beauty and the beast of basketball).  Flying under the radar (pun intended) the Owls are a very dangerous team in the tournament.  Point guard Josh Brown has been the steady force in this Owls offense and Quenton Decosey will get his 15 PPG is the quietest way possible… and that’s not a bad thing.  For me, production from Obi Enechionya will be paramount.  When Enechionya is making shots he is terrific, but when he’s not he tends to be a bit passive.  I love his skillset and when he finds other ways to contribute besides making outside shots he can be problem for any defense.

Iowa Scouting Report
The Owls will face one of the most head-scratching teams in the NCAA tourney.  The Iowa Hawkeyes.  At one point in the regular season Iowa looked like they were going to be a #2 seed.  They proceeded to lose 5 in a row before beating Michigan in the regular season.  But make no mistake, you don’t beat Michigan St. TWICE in a season by a fluke.  Iowa is for real.  Temple needs to be prepared to face a ton of pick & roll action.  Something they struggled with in their matchup with UConn.
Not to get too far ahead but if Temple pulls out the upset they could face state rival Villanova.  Cough, cough.
 
Cincinnati (9) vs Saint Joe’s (8)
Man!  You have got to feel for the Cincinnati Bearcats.  They did everything they could to win in that 4OT thriller vs UConn in the conference tournament.  I honestly don’t know of a team that plays harder than Mick Cronin’s Bearcats.  Led by Gary Clark, Cincy’s matchup zone is a huge problem for teams.  Especially teams that have never played against it.  Last year they pushed Kentucky to the brink in the round of 32.  All teams hate playing Cincinnati.  You feel like you just took a wrecking ball to the chest when the buzzer finally sounds.  It’s a war.  Tory Caupain is a superstar.  He is the one consistent offensive threat for Cincy.  Farod Cobb will need to provide an additional outside shooting to compliment Caupain.  But hey!  Defense wins championships!

Saint Joe’s Scouting Report
Cincy will face the Atlantic 10 champs Saint Joe’s.  Cincy has to key in on 2 players for Saint Joe’s.  Isaiah Miles and DeAndre Bembry are two of the best offensive players in the Atlantic 10 and you could argue the country as well.  They are NBA prospects and you have to guard them by committee.  Luckily, Cincy has been playing defense by committee all year.


CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
Memphis vs UConn
 
UConn Winning Formula
 
·      Be physical
o   When teams are physical and go inside against Memphis it seems to pay off.  Memphis plays extremely hard, but they have a tendency to try and make the home run play on both ends of the floor.  When you try to make the home run play on defense you usually end up fouling.  The Tiger’s post players need to utilize the pump fake and be prepared to get fouled and knock down free throws.
 
·      Don’t settle for jumpshots
o   3^rd game in 3 days is not for the faint of heart.  If your legs are tired, don’t panic, just adjust.  UConn shoots the ball well from the perimeter yes, but, their bread and butter all tournament long has been attacking the paint off the pick & roll.  I would keep going to the action.  The more you can move Shaq Goodwin away from the hoop, the less effective he will be.
 
·      It’s ok to be stubborn
o   For the past month all UConn has hears was, “they are on the outside looking in”,  “the Huskies are on the wrong side of the bubble” & “this UConn team just doesn’t have the pieces working together”… well guess what?  UConn doesn’t care what the critics have to say.  They have played with a reckless abandonment in The American tournament and an unrivaled sense of passion.  Be still my selection committee friends!  For where there is madness in March, there tends to be Husky lurking about. 
 
Memphis Winning Formula
 
·      Run, Forest… Run!
o   Memphis has been an absolute freight train in The American Tournament!  That train gets fuel from the Tigers highlight reel transition offense.  All-oops, dunks, no look passes.  When Memphis plays hard, it shows, usually in the form of a Top 10 play.  Play hard, have fun, and sprint in the fastbreak…  Run, Tigers… Run!
 
·      Will the real Shaq Goodwin please stand up?
o   Goodwin has the skillset to be the best player in the conference.  At times, he looks like one of the best players in the country.  If Memphis is to shock the world, Goodwin needs to be the spark.
 
·      Defense wins championships
o   Memphis coach Josh Pastner has praised the Tiger’s defensive effort all tournament long.  Everyone knows that Memphis loves to capitalize off steals and look for the easy fastbreak points.  What’s even more impressive to me is the Harcourt team defense rotations.  The Tigers are communicating effectively and playing lockdown D.  Pretty good timing wouldn’t you say?


SEMIFINALS



Tulane’s winning formula

• Be the madness
  • The Green Wave have been the underdog all tournament…  use it! Play free and with confidence.
• Go Inside early
  • Tulane had great front-court production in their win vs undersized Houston.  Memphis matches Tulane’s size but if they are patient you can get Memphis post players
• Grind it out
  • Make the game ugly.  Be patient on offense.  Work down the shot clock and get Shaq Goodwin in foul trouble.

 
Memphis winning formula

• Run baby, run
  • Memphis basketball is at its best when the game is a track meet.  Push the ball in transition at every opportunity.  Also, the full court press has plagued Tulane in the past.
• Shaq Attack
  • Shaq Goodwin has all the tools to be the best player in the league.  When he is locked in, there are very few defenses that can slow him down.  Goodwin was in foul trouble in their win Friday night so look for him to be active and aggressive early.
• No unforced turnovers
  • Tulane wants to make the game ugly.  No need to force anything in the halfcourt that isn’t there.  Be patient and the defense will break down.  Ricky Tarrant Jr. will have to own the responsibility.

UConn’s winning formula

• Must win with defense
  • Don’t reply on jumpshots.  After a 4OT thriller you know your legs will be tired.  Tired legs usually mean short shots.  That’s not an excuse, but it is a reality in conference tournament play.  If shots aren’t falling focus in on defense to create easier opportunities in transition.
• Eat grits for breakfast
  • No, not literally!  UConn has a knack for winning games through sheer will and grit.  Will and grit are the main ingredients for any starving bubble team.  The Huskies laid it all on the line last night and then some.  Temple is healthy, rested, and prepared.  The Huskies seem to have some madness on their side… and that’s always a good thing in the month of March!
• No buyer’s remorse
  • UConn just won the most exciting game all year in college basketball.  Guess, as of this moment, it does not matter.  The Huskies are still on the bubble and need to get another magical win to get to The Big Dance.

Temple’s winning formula

• No need for major changes
  • This Owls team knows who they are and to make any major adjustments would be foolish.
  • Keeping a balanced attack could wear down the heavy legs of UConn’s defensive front.
• Temple should look to take advantage of as many fast break opportunities as possible.  
  • The Huskies have tired legs from their 4OT thriller yesterday.  Forcing the Huskies to sprint back on defense might just break the whole game open for the Owls.
• Late game execution
  • Expect this to be a close and physical game.  In almost every semi-final game the team that limits turnovers and knocks down free late in the second half ends up the victor.

QUARTERFINALS



Pre-game Blog
Memphis vs Tulsa
Memphis
Key Players

• Shaq Goodwin
  • Goodwin might be best athlete in the conference
  • He can take over games at will.  Goodwin’s high motor is essential to the tigers postseason hopes
• Dedric Lawson
  • Freshman of the year in The American!
  • Highly skilled athlete who plays above the rim
  • Leads the team in scoring (15.4 points) rebounding (9.2)

Winning Formula

• Let defense create offense.  Memphis has a ton of athleticism and when they use it to their full advantage they can be scary good.
• Own the glass!  Tigers have the height advantage over the Golden Hurricane… crash the glass on both ends.

 
Tulsa
Key Players

• Shaq Harrison
  • Averaged 12.6 points in league play and led The American in steals (1.8 per game) and assists (5.2).
  • Harrison is the heart and soul of this dynamic Tulsa team.
• James Woodard
  • Led the Hurricane with 15.6 points per game in league play.
  • He is ranked second in 3-pointers per game, but is much more than a shooter.  Woodard has a knack for getting to the rim when outside shots aren’t falling.

Winning Formula

• Make Lawson and Goodwin guard out on the perimeter.  The farther they are away from the paint the less effective they become on the defensive end.
• Take care of the ball and limit turnovers.  Memphis loves to get out in transition and fast-break every chance they get.  Don’t be afraid to work the shot clock down.

Pre-game Blog


 Houston vs Tulane
Tulane
Key Players

• Dylan Osetkowski
  • Big fella could be a huge key for Tulane if utilized properly.  Osetkowski needs to establish low post position early and take advantage of undersized Houston.
• Louis Dabney
  • Green Wave leading scorer will need to score in bunches.  Tulane must find shots for him.

Winning Formula

• The Green Wave must go to the post early and often.  Houston is highly skilled but lacks frontcourt size.
• Keep turnovers at a minimum.  If the Green Wave can keep it under 11 TO’s they will have a great chance.

 
Houston
Key Players

• Rob Gray Jr
  • Balanced and lethal scorer averaging close to 17 PPG.
  • If Gray hits his first couple shots, watch!  Has the ability to go for 30 points any given night!
• Daymean Dotson
  • Big time shooter!  Dotson will catch and shoot from any spot on the floor.
  • Half of Dotson’s field goal attempts are from the 3-point line, and that’s just fine with me when you shoot over 36%.

Winning Formula

• Push the ball in transition.  Houston is always dangerous when they get stops and run 5 down the floor.  Easy buckets can open this game up early.

Team rebound all game long.  Tulane has size advantage





Pre-game Blog
Cincinnati vs UConn

UConn
Key Players

• Daniel Hamilton
  • Has the ability to take over games when he wants to.
  • Averages about 12 PPG and 9 RPG.  Hamilton is a walking double-double machine!
• Shon Miller
  • Averaging about 13 PPG.  Miller, a transfer from Cornell, is an insane athlete who has been a welcome addition to the Huskies rotation.
  • Miller’s athleticism will be needed to match the physicality of Cincy’s front line.

Winning Formula

• Take care of the ball and value every possession.  When UConn has a positive assist to turnover ratio they have the talent to beat anyone in the country.
• Daniel Hamilton needs to take over games.  He has tremendous skill and ability but UConn needs him to take it to the next level.  A lot on the line for the Huskies… play with a sense of urgency!

 
Home Team
Key Players

• Troy Caupain
  • Cincinnati’s most consistent scorer and perimeter threat.  Averaging 12 PPG he can score in a variety of ways.
  • Look for Caupain to take the tough shots for the Bearcats in late game situations.
• Gary Clark
  • The American’s defensive player of the year and a rebounding machine!
  • Clark will have to matchup against UConn’s Hamilton and Miller throughout the game.  Sometimes it’s the things that don’t show up in the stat sheet that are the most important.

Winning Formula

• Get Troy Caupain going early.  Everyone knows that Cincy is a phenomenal defensive team.  That will never change as long as Mick Cronin is coach.  However, if the Bearcats can find early offense in the hands of Caupain it will take some of the pressure off their defensive scheme.

Pre-game Blog
USF vs Temple

USF
Key Players

• Jahmal McMurray
  • Unanimous selection to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
  • Fast, quick, athletic point guard
  • Leads USF in minutes played
  • McMurray will need to calm his team down when Houston makes a run.  McMurray must be the calming force for the Bulls late in the game.

• Chris Perry
  • Tied a season high of 19 points and a career high of 11 rebounds in last night’s win over ECU.
  • If that same effort is duplicated, the undersized Temple Owls will have a hard time keeping Perry away from the paint.

Winning Formula

• Nunez and Perry need to have similar production from last night’s huge win.  Morillo is the other key.  If Nunez and Perry are being neutralized at any point during the game, Morillo will need to step up and make shots for the Bulls.
• Limit turnovers.  The Owls don’t make mistakes in the half court… you can’t give them any opportunity for easy baskets.  

 
temple
Key Players

• Quenton Decosey
  • Might be The American’s most well-rounded player.  Gave Nic Moore a run for his money in the Player of the Year voting.
  • Long and athletic wing who can get to the rim with ease but is more than capable of knocking down the deep 3!
• Jaylen Bond
  • The unsung senior hero of the Temple team.  Coach of the Year Fran Dunphy raves about his maturity and leadership.  
  • Bond is a gritty player who averages 8 PPG.  Look for him to be matched up on USF’s Perry all game.

Winning Formula

• Play Temple basketball.  No need for major adjustments to the formula when it’s working.  The Owls toughness and patience are what earned the #1 over seed.  If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
• Early bench production is extremely important come conference tournament time.  With little doubt that the Owls are competing to win the championship you have to find rest when you can.  3 games in a row is brutal!  If you can find some rest for your starters early in the tournament, it’s just icing on the cake.

Thursday, March 10
First Round Games



Pre-game Blog
Tulane vs UCF
Tulane
Key Players

• Louis Dabney
  • 2^nd leading scorer for the Green Wave.  
  • More than just a scorer… can create opportunities for teammates in a variety of ways.
• Dylan Osetkowski
  • Averages a team high 9 rebounds a game.
  • Must stay out of foul trouble when matched up with Tacko Fall.

Winning Formula

• Throw multiple post players at Tacko Fall and force him to leave the paint area.
• Get out and run!  Green Wave has the capability to push the ball in transition but they need to get clean rebounds.

 
UCF
Key Players

• AJ Davis
  • UCF’s do-it-all player.  Crafty left who can score in a variety of ways.
  • Will guard Tulane’s best player and be asked to score on the other end.
  • Triple double threat every time he steps on the court
• Tacko Fall
  • Has been the Knights go to player the last 5 games.
  • A dominant force in the paint… commands a double team almost every possession.
  • Leads The American Conference in blocked shots!

Winning Formula

• Play inside out.  Going inside to Tacko Fall early.  It creates more opportunities for shooters like Matt Williams, and Adonis Henriquez.
• The Knights need solid bench production.  Coach Jones has the talent to play 9 guys and to push the tempo.  Bench must be ready to go!

Pre-game Blog
USF vs East Carolina

USF
Key Players

• Jahmal McMurray
  • Unanimous selection to the American Athletic Conference All-Rookie Team.
  • Tremendous athlete who covers gaps of the court with ease!
  • Leads USF in minutes played
  • USF’s most consistent offensive threat, scoring in double figures in all but 3 games this year!
• Nehemias Morillo
  • Dangerous 3-point threat
  • Can be a lethal compliment to McMurray especially in transition.

Winning Formula

• USF has been fighting tooth and nail the past few games.  Playing some of their best basketball heading into the tournament.
• If the Bulls can force ECU take contested or poor perimeter shots that will greatly help their transition game.  The Bulls have been outrebounded ONLY 8 times in the last 19 games.   Those are tremendous effort stats!  Rebound and push the ball in transition is the name of the game.
• Win the paint!

East Carolina
Key Players

• Kentrell Barkley
  • Freshman sensation was named to the American Athletic Conference Rookie team.
  • Had the highest field goal percentage, assists per game average, steals per game, and assist/turnover ratio among all freshman in conference play.  Wow!  Nothing but production from Mr. Barkley aka Mr. Do it All.
• BJ Tyson
  • One of the best combo guards in the league
  • At almost 15 PPG, Tyson is ECU’s go to scorer in late game situations.  Tyson can get hot in a moment’s notice!

Winning Formula

• ECU has to make shots to pull USF’s post players away from the basketball.  
• Caleb White, BJ Tyson, and Lance Tejada need a good early start.  When ECU plays their best it’s because of that trio.
• Be patient in half-court offense.  The Bulls have great length and size but have a small bench.  You can break them down defensively if you look for shots late in the shot clock.