Heels need Hansbrough tonight
Hansbrough goes for the ball during Round II of the NCAA first round in Greensboro, March 21, 2009. Tar Heels defeated LSU 84 to 70. Photo by Todd Melet
Mar 27, 2009
Tags: ACC
The difference between UNC and Gonzaga is not as great as the separation of these schools geographically. Both teams have outstanding perimeter play, tough big men and talented wings that can shoot or take the ball to the tin.
Here are two keys for both teams tonight:
North Carolina:
1. Get Tyler Hansbrough involved early, if the big man in the middle commands a double team that will open up the outside for Wayne Ellington. Also Hansbrough has the motivation of the last time he was matched up against Josh Hytvelt, the Gonzaga big had the better day, so feed the beast and open up the offense.
2. Clean the glass. The Bulldogs have players that crash the boards and keep second chance and third chance scoring opportunities alive. This is where the height of the Heels will come into play. If Gonzaga only gets one crack at the basket this game could be over by the half. If the Heels do not come back and crash the boards the Bulldogs can make a living on second chance buckets.
Gonzaga:
1. Attack the interior, that doesn’t mean get the ball low to Hytvelt, that means take the ball to the rack. Jeremy Pargo needs to force Ty Lawson to play defense, this strategy is two fold. Forcing Lawson to move on that sore toe and try to get Hansbrough into foul trouble. The Bulldogs cannot settle for jump shots, it might have against Western Kentucky, but not against UNC.
2. Stop the transition of the Heels. Make UNC play in the half court and do not give up the easy baskets that Carolina loves on the break. If that mean leaking a defender back after a shot attempt then so be it, but the transition game is what the Heels count on for their scoring cut that number down and the Bulldogs have a chance.
Almost tip time.
