BYU versus Iona Analysis

Gunk wrote:

On offense, I sure hope that we stick to our bread and butter (assuming a healthy Noah) and work the offense through the post - getting it inside early and often. Davies and Hartsock have very good inside games and should be able to dominate. If they are doubled, we should take outside shots from kick-out passes but not necessarily 3s. We need to be able to hit the shot on the kick out consistently so that they respect the outside shot.This is where Zylstra can show up big by hitting open threes. We will also keep them honest if Carlion and Abouo are able to slash to the basket when there is an opening on the kick-out pass and get assists on the dribble drive or point blank short shots.

Some solid 3-point shooting would be awesome, but I wouldn't count on it coming from Zylstra. Iona has an RPI of 40. Zylstra can only hit open shots against sub-50 RPI teams.



Agree on the slashing and shooting from Abouo and Carlino. That will keep Iona's deffense honest. Would be great if Winder decides to show up and go 6/6 from behind the arc like he did before. Abouo, IMO, will be the X-factor. Any word on his hand?

Agreed that Charles is our X-factor. We need him to hit 3's and he needs to get things started early to build his confidence. Winder would help out a ton if he can get going from the outside



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An interesting analysis:

http://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2012/3/12/2865803/ncaa-tournament-preview-byu-v-iona-ionas-style-other-observations#storyjump" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;



They scare the mud out of me. That analysis doesn't bode will for what I've seen of BYU's play. Teams that are into full court press can disrupt us as well as strong guard combos. We can win this game, but we're not going to be able to do it unless we all play the game we can (sorry for the cliche, but I don't know how better to say it.)

I have read a lot about how great a team Iona is and how unstoppable yada yada. Charles can stick with anyone because he is always more athletic than the guy he is guarding. And if Noah is near 100% he is the best offensive bball player on the court because there is nobody in D-1 bball that can stop him. He will shoot the turn around and if you go to defend that he will do an up and under. Throw into the mix Davies and that is one heck of a problem for your big men. And something pretty good about Carlino is he plays pretty good D. He sticks with guys pretty well and can usually keep between them and the basket.



All in all, I think Iona is good but I feel BYU is better. As long as we don't go 3 for 27 in 3pt land i think we win the game.

I am more worried about bad turnovers and bad shots leading to fastbreak open 3's.



If can limited our turnovers and bad shots our talent inside should overwhelm them.

SpiffCoug wrote:
Maybe I'm naive, but I'm not scared of Iona. This game could be like the Gonzaga game last year in the tourney. The Zags made the mistake of wanting to get out and run with BYU. That's a mistake - even this year without Jimmer and our shooting woes.



BYU still wants to run and if you want to run with BYU, it doesn't bode well for you. And Iona has the name of a team that Zylstra won't be afraid of. I think BYU can win an up-tempo type game.

Iona is 22nd in Tempo while we're 5th. I think running is not going to be a problem for them. I think they're going to want to run just as much as we are so it becomes a game of who can run and stay in control... :~(



however they're also much better shooters than we are, even if they don't have much height.



But their numbers may be inflated due to lesser competition. Still the shared Nevada game is telling.

If Noah is healthy, this will be one of the easiest games we have played all year.



Getting out and running is BYU's strength. If they want to play that game they will lose handily. BYU is deeper, even with injuries, and will walk all over them with a healthy Noah and Davies to post to when the run isn't working.



BYU struggles with defensive minded teams. BYU flat out murders people that try to run with them all night. Especially people that try to run, and don't have anyone on the court above 6'7 at any given time.



Davies can run as well as the biggest person they have out there, with height and post advantage.



IF we play man on the 3 line, or a 3-2 zone, then this game should be pretty well over.



Heck, I would maybe even do an extended 3-2, essentially putting 4 guys out on the 3 line. It isn't like they are going to post us up.

BlueIsBetter wrote:
If Noah is healthy, this will be one of the easiest games we have played all year.



Getting out and running is BYU's strength. If they want to play that game they will lose handily. BYU is deeper, even with injuries, and will walk all over them with a healthy Noah and Davies to post to when the run isn't working.



BYU struggles with defensive minded teams. BYU flat out murders people that try to run with them all night. Especially people that try to run, and don't have anyone on the court above 6'7 at any given time.



Davies can run as well as the biggest person they have out there, with height and post advantage.



IF we play man on the 3 line, or a 3-2 zone, then this game should be pretty well over.



Heck, I would maybe even do an extended 3-2, essentially putting 4 guys out on the 3 line. It isn't like they are going to post us up.

We need to let Davies, Noah, Austin or whoever it is down low man the post with minimal help; no double or triple teams down low. That will allow us to stay extended on the perimeter.



I do worry about Machado driving and dishing. The the tendency will be to collapse on Machado as he drives leaving a man open on the perimeter. Machado averages just under 10 assists/game. We need to stay disciplined and not fall for the bait. Machado isn't as much a scoring machine as he is an assist machine. So, contest the shot, but don't collapse on him. Odds are he's going to pass it.



Noah, get ready for some blocks.

Too bad the game wasn't at altitude, like Albuquerque. Then I like our chances of running with them (or them trying to run with us)

They aren't a very deep team-we could hurt them badly by getting Glover or Machado into foul trouble.

Hopefully BYU builds up some confidence with putting some points on the board in the first couple of minutes. We should get lots of points in the paint. I just hope that:



1) we can defend the perimeter

2) Noah is healthy for this game

3) we play smart

Have to have to have to ATTACK the basket!!!! CHARLES and Zylchstra!

Wish I had the confidence of a lot of the posters here.



As it is I'm very concerned about this game and I'm not sure I don't put the odds at 50/50 for BYU. It all depends on how smart we play fast. It just seems like this year when we've tried to get going fast, it has turned into fast but stupid or fast but sloppy.

I haven't done much research on Iona, but just from looking at their schedule I see they've lost to some truly awful teams, but the analysts keep talking about how much talent Iona has. That tells me that they're not very disciplined. We can beat wild, immature teams with lots of talent. It's the mature, disciplined teams like St. Mary's that we're not good enough yet to handle.



Just from that, I feel good about this game.

LOL, I can't believe anyone assumes we can easily beat a single team in the country. This team has played like crap for 2 months now and has barely beaten some sorry competition. Our shooting is weak and we literally do not play defense. Iona will eat us alive unless we can summon the ghost of December's past.

I'm sorry guys but this team actually sucks. There is nothing that they do well. I wish they would have been shut out of all tournaments because they have zero hunger to compete whereas these guys from Iona want in badly. This type of game sets a program backwards.

WOW! They are doing everything that was said they needed to avoid. What a joke!

Rose, once again fails to use the right lineup. If anything, I hope this game finally gets Rose to realize Zylstra is not a D1 player.



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Surprise, surprise - we have taken te lead 71-70. Need to be calm and work for high percentage shot.

Davies can't buy a FT - three misses now!!!!!! put the game awy.

Whew - prayer answered - two FT - 73-70.