Game Thread: Massachusetts @ La Salle (Wednesday 1/30/13)

[xu95]

Massachusetts

La Salle

Records: Massachusetts (13-5, 3-2 A 10) / La Salle (14-5, 4-2 A 10)
Game time: 7PM EST
TV: None
Radio: Massachusetts WEEI (105.5 FM, 1440 AM), WATD (95.9 FM) / La Salle 990 AM
Websites: Massachusetts / La Salle

[Knobby]

Umass has to slow these boys down. They lose a track meet.

[A10BBall]

Originally Posted by Knobby

Umass has to slow these boys down. They lose a track meet.

Agreed.. should be very interesting the strategies used by the coaches...

I imagine La Salle will press early and often using their depth advantage in the backcourt to cause Williams to exert energy early in the game... The major question is when UMASS breaks the press what are they going to do: Pull it back and set up offense or attack the basket with a higher game pace

For La Salle, do you spread the floor or go inside to the center or forward and work back cuts for the guards attacking the hoop.

[Twister]

I thinks Umass will Press some not as much in this game but if La Salle wants to run we will run and Umass wins by 10

[Mik]

Originally Posted by Twister

I thinks Umass will Press some not as much in this game but if La Salle wants to run we will run and Umass wins by 10

Love the confidence.

[UMass87]

If UMass tries to run with La Salle UMass will get destroyed. If UMass tries to press full court against La Salle UMass will get destroyed. UMass only wins this game with strong perimeter defense and aggressive interior offense.

[bdance]

Originally Posted by UMass87

UMass only wins this game with strong perimeter defense and aggressive interior offense.

They can and will do both. But can they do it for extended stretches without reverting to their more natural tendencies? I have my doubts. I'll be sober for this one.

[uz2b-len]

I'll be pleasantly surprised if we win and not at all surprised if we lose a blow out. Agreed that our only hope is to slow it down and pound it inside. I do think we'll fast break when we have a good opportunity (like any team should), but we shouldn't press much.

[ExplorerFan17]

Interesting Game. La Salle needs to tire out williams so he can not be as effective. I assume they will press a lot and try to force a lot of turnovers. DJ peterson will need to have a strong game defensively as well as the other bigs. Peterson has a lot of length on the defensive end and can guard almost any position. La Salle is good at home and I think they will win this game pretty easily as I like the composure they have been playing with and have confidence now. La Salle by 11.

[ktabz16]

i've been watching chaz williams for close to 2 years and haven't seen him tire out yet. i actually like us in a track meet but don't think we should press to push the pace. in both games last year with la salle we got slaughtered when the game was slow and slaughtered them when we ran.

[Knobby]

Originally Posted by bdance

I have my doubts. I'll be sober for this one.

Dude - it's all about moderation. A (singular, one) scotch will settle your belly nicely.... Actually two would be better....

[njlsufan]

This game and the GW game on Saturday make me nervous. We could lose either one. There are no overly dominant teams in this league and if we don't play hard we'll lose.

I don't think Williams tires out either. I think the trick is to force him to play out of control by harassing him non-stop. If we can force him and the rest of UMass to turn the ball over a ton, we should win.

[Twister]

Freddie Riley will lead this team to victory

[ktabz16]

this is the type of season defining game that umass has lost every year for about a decade. one of these days we'll take one of these games by the balls. i don't think we've seen the best umass can play yet this year.

[ktabz16]

btw, despite the ohio statecirclejerk in the other thread, this is the game of the night in this league.