Keys to beating USC

[allnet59]

I really believe Anton Watson has to have a big game on both ends of the court to assure the Zags of a big win on Tuesday. Like to see him being a disruptor on defense and to add double digits on the offensive side of the ball. The Trojans looked a bit slow in the second half and a three quarter court press might help in getting some extra positions if we can get them to turn over the ball. All hands on deck!

[willandi]

Run, defend the three and drive the paint.

[GrizZAG]

Match their D. Oregon looked pretty unstoppable until they ran into USC tonight. It was solid D by USC. We will need the same against them.

[Kong-Kool-Aid]

Match their D. Oregon looked pretty unstoppable until they ran into USC tonight. It was solid D by USC. We will need the same against them.

Oregon looked like they had never seen a 2-3 zone before.

[GonzagasaurusFlex]

Oregon looked like they had never seen a 2-3 zone before.

...agreed yet Ducks played USC already this season and Altman is a great coach who had a week to prep his squad for the USC zone. Goes to show you can’t practice against USC’s length and athleticism. Keys to a Zags victory:
- Keep USC from dominating on the offensive boards
- Run it down their throats in transition
- Nembhard’s midrange game..penetrate and convert that midrange jumper vs soft spot in their zone early then pick ‘em apart when they cheat up to take that shot away. Watson in high post too can cause trouble if he’s willing to pull the trigger on FT jumper and shoot w confidence.
- two of Kispert, Ayayi, Suggs, Nembhard shooting lights out from deep.

[ZagsGoZags]

I agree with Abe, even though he hasn't expressed it yet.
Our best defensive effort of the year will give us victory. We have to
beat them at their own specialty. Best defense we will have faced.
We have to tell kispert, watson, suggs and cook that the lay-ins they have
made all year after faking out their defenders are going to be swatted down
by Mobley. The have what we don't have in practice a Rim Protector.
Oh for zach collings or brandon clark. My hopes for Pavel and Oumar in
this regard are in the Intensive Care ward.

[ZagMan in Philly]

Rebounds, passing the ball, and long balls for the Zags. Arizona put up 81 points against USC, and Arizona Bigs had great games against Mobley Brothers, so Zags should put up that many Tuesday night. Final 4 here we come.

[DZ]

If someone can hit that FT line jumper that will do 50%

Oregon's guy just stood there and looked at it. Timme can hit that shot, others can (except Watson)

I read some stuff here last night about how USC is the worst match-up we could've asked for and that sounds right to me. They look like a team that can win it all. But so do we.

I think it's going to be an absolute war. I do not think we can run them out of the gym.

Except they've proven they can be beaten, quite recently even. Not sure. Maybe they will lay an egg.

But we present huge problems for them, too.

[bartruff1]

Passing

[zagfan24]

- Crisp, strong passes
- Strong hands with the ball
- Go at Mobley and draw fouls inside
- Don't settle for contested 3's, attack zone relentlessly
- Defensive rebounding

[NEC26]

To me Defense and turnovers are going to be important. USC does turn the ball over. We need to turn those into easy fast break points and we can negate all that length and shot blocking ability. If we don't its going to be a really tight game imo.

[jayray]

I don’t have the PAC 12 network but just read this AM that USC played man defense 90% of the year.

[Hoopaholic]

Contain Eaddy and keep white from setting his feet for open looks

Timme and Watson to stay out of foul trouble

Baseline runner against zone being able to finish and draw fouls

[zagmantis2001]

Turnovers

Contain Eaddy and keep white from setting his feet for open looks

Timme and Watson to stay out of foul trouble

Baseline runner against zone being able to finish and draw fouls

GU needs to clean up the turnovers. 16 against Creighton is way too high.

[EEzag]

Get USC playing catchup. Make the Mobley brothers think they have to do more on D and get into foul trouble. Remember, Gregg and Ballo have a combined 10 fouls to give.....and I don't think they shoot free throws particularly well.