3/25/03: (2) #6 USC (31-3, 16-2) vs (1) #4 Georgia Tech (28-5, 14-4)
Scouting Report
- Primary defense: M2M
- Offense focus: Balanced
- Key players:
- Sr C Brett Watkins (15.3 ppg, 11.4 rpg, 58% FG)
- So PG Andre Vanlier 15.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 5.4 apg, #5 class rank)
- So PG Booker Randolph (11.4 ppg, #29 class rank)
- Sr SF Brad Smith (10.9 ppg)
- Notes:
- GT only has 3 legitimate big men (PF/C) in their lineup. Their starting PF is injured (85%) and may not play, while the other backup C is academically ineligible. This leaves only Watkins as the only one available for this game. Aside from SF Brad Smith, they only have one other available SF on the bench.
- Strengths:
- Defense - 59.7 opp ppg (#1 ACC), 41% opp FG (#3 ACC), 16.6 opp topg (#2 ACC)
- Weaknesses:
- Off Rebounding - on their last 2 NCAA tournament games, they averaged only 6 off rebs, and 4 2nd chance pts. Aside from C Brett Watkins, they dont have any other legitimate big men in their lineup today
- How they got here:
- Finished 1st ACC; Won Conference Tournament
- (Round 1) Def Arkansas St, 61-42; Vaniler 23 pts, 8 rebs, 4 asts
- (Round 2) Def (9) Georgia, 76-59; Randolph 30 pts, 6-6 3PT
- (Sweet 16) Def (4) #16 Indiana, 76-59; Vaniler 26 pts, 6 rebs
Strategies- In 3 NCAA tournament games, Watkins has not been a factor offensively, with only 5 ppg. It is their guards who are doing the damage
- If we can take out Watkins with early foul trouble, GT will have to field in a small lineup (no PF/C), and we can attack the paint relentlessly
- Defense: (1st half) 1-2-2; (2nd half) adjust
- Off focus: Favor inside (when Watkins is not on the floor)
Tip off (1st Half)
15:50, Up 10-4
GT 3 turn overs, all of which we converted to 3 transition baskets
11:30, Tied at 17
GT's first 3 attempts from beyond the arc all went in
An inside basket by PF Kevin Martin, the 2nd triple by SG Kaniel Coley, and 2 more FTs for C Hasheem Bailey comprise our current 7-0 run. GT sent C Brett Watkins to the bench, so we'll shift to Focus Inside
9:12, Up 24-17
GT continues to shoot well from the outside, 4-6 3PT, but we were able to get the 3rd foul of GT's C Brett Watkins. Heck, we'll go Heavy Inside and pound them further
6:20, Up 28-24
We are successful in our inside pays, either getting a basket, or a foul. But GT continues to shoot well on their outside shots. Particularly, PG Andre Vanlier (11 pts, 3-3 3PT) and PG/SG Booker Randolph (8 pts). We will go to m2m defense, double team on both Vanlier and Randolph
3:53, Up 32-28
With just over a minute left in the 1st half, GT scored their 5th 3pt shot of the game, to cut our lead to just 1 pt. PF Valery Stuart answers back on an inside basket. GT's PG Booker Randolph connects on a long jumper, with 2 defenders in his face. SF James Slay finished the scoring for us, with his 3rd FG of the game
Halftime, Up 40-37Highlights
- Both teams finished with identical 15-33 FG (46%) but the manner on how these pts were produced are of extreme contrast. GT connected on 5-8 3PT plus countless of long 2-pt shots, while we relied on our 20-0 advantage in inside pts. The 2nd half will be decided on which team can stop what the other team likes to do
- We still can't figure out how to stop GT's starting guards, who have combined for 25 pts. We tried 1-2-2 and m2m double teaming both of them.
Adjustments
- Defense sets: Continue with M2M, doubling GT's starting guards
- Off focus: Change to favor inside
Start of 2nd Half
We opened up the 2nd half with a turn over that GT capitalizes on an easy transition basket. Fortunately, we were able to score back quickly to restore our 3 pt lead.
Teams traded misses and turn overs. PF Valery Stuart with another inside basket, but was answered by another 3 from GT's PG Booker Randolph. Up 2. We scored, but GT connected on 2 FTs
16:00, Up 46-44
I replaced SG Kaniel Coley, and will try 2 SFs to man our 2-3 spots. One of them will then have to cover GT's SG Booker Randolph, and hopefully limit their outside shooting
GT's SF now joins their outside shooting party, connecting a medium-range shot to tie the game. After we miss, we got called for a foul. GT splits their FT to take the lead, I think for the 1st time in the game
15:05, Down 46-47
We turn the ball over, but we recovered and get a steal which we converted to an easy 2 in transition. Up 1
After a GT miss, we got the bal into the low post to C Hasheem Bailey who got fouled on the act of shooting. That was GT's C Brett Watkins' 4th foul. 2 FTs. Bailey splits. Up 2. With Watkins on the bench, we'll go Heavy Inside
GT missed a 3. But we turned the ball over again. Wasted opportunity
GT hits a 3 this time. Down 1. Another turn over on our end, and GT runs the break and scores. Down 3. SF James Slay answers back to cut our deficit to 1.
GT hits 2 FTs. Down 3. I reinserted SG Kaniel Coley back to the floor. A couple of plays later, Coley connects on only his 2nd 3pt shot of the game, and we are tied
9:42, Tied at 54
A miss by GT. PF Valery Stuart drives hard to the lane, and scores inside again. Stuart has been productive in this game, 14 pts, 8 rebs. Up 2
A turn over by GT, resulted in a fast break score for us. Up 4. But GT answers back with another on their next play. Up 1
SG Kaniel Coley thought about a 3. But he dumps it inside to C Hasheem Bailey, who got fouled again. 2 FTs. Split. Up 2
We foul a jump shooter. Bad foul. But GT missed both FTs
We miss a shot. GT called for traveling. Media timeout. A very exciting game so far
7:50, Up 59-57
We got called for traveling also. It's our 13th turn over; GT has 11
A miss by GT. We got fouled again on the low post, this time it's PF Kevin Martin. 2 FTs. Martin missed both FTs!
Trading misses. On GT's next possession, we got called for another foul while their PG is shooting a jump shot. 2 FTs for PG Andre Vanlier. Vanlier hits both. Vanlier now with 19 pts, 7 asts.
I will now begin to put the taller SF James Slay to guard Vanlier, and make some switches on the other defensive match ups
6:05, Tied at 59
SG Kaniel Coley gets the pass back. Coley puts up a shot. SWISH! It's good for three! Coley's 3rd triple, 13 pts. But what a clutch shot. Up 3
With about 8 secs on their shot clock, GT went to SF Brad Smith who is now being guarded by the smaller SG Kaniel Coley because of our defensive switches. Smith now realizing his mismatch takes a shot and scores. Smart move by GT. Up 1
5:12, Up 62-61
Coley missed a 3 this time, but GT turns the ball on a bad pass.
The pass is taken by SF James Slay. Slay takes a shot. Slay's shot hits nothing but the bottom of the net. Slay has been very consistent in this game, 12 pts, 5 rebs, 4 asts. Up 3
GT's PG Andre Vanlier being hounded by the much taller SF James Slay. Vanlier throws out a horrible pass. Great pressure defense by Slay
PF Hasheem Bailey gets the ball in the low post. He is being guarded by GT's C Brett Watkins who has 4 fouls. Bailey knows this and goes strong to the hoop and gets the easy 2. Watkins impotent on defense. Another strong performance by Bailey off the bench, 12 pts. Up 5
3:54, Up 66-61
A miss by GT. On our next play, SF James Slay missed a medium jumper
GT goes to Brett Watkins down low. His shot was blocked by C Hasheem Bailey. But Watkins recovers, and scores on a short jumper. That's just the 1st FG of Watkins
3:09, Up 66-63
A miss 3 by SG Kaniel Coley. He hurried that one. GT also missed. I call a timeout
2:37, Up 66-63
We'll continue to go inside
We go to SF James Slay. Slay makes his move off the dribble. Slay pulls up. Slay scores! Slay with 14 pts. Up 5
GT scores on a drive. This is far from over. Up 3
2:00, Up 68-65
SG Kaniel Coley trying to throw a pass to C Elliott Dare. It was a terrible pass. Turn over number 14
GT goes to SG Booker Randolph. He puts up a shot despite a double team. Missed the shot badly. Out of bounds. Last touch GT. I call a timeout
1:24, Up 68-65
SG Kaniel Coley dumps the ball to C Elliott Dare. Dare shoots. Miss. GT rebounds. Their C Brett Watkins, who is 1-4 FG today, shoots a long 18 ft jumper. Brick! Out of bounds. Our ball. Bad possession for GT
0:52, Up 68-65
I didn't call a time out. I just signaled that we slow down
We pass the ball around, wasting some clock. With about 5 secs left on the shot clock, PF Valery Stuart gets the pass but he is way beyond the 3 pt line. He hurriedly pass the ball but commits a turn over. Timeout
We'll go 1-2-2 zone to prevent a 3. I will insert a tall lineup to guard the perimeter
0:19, Up 68-65
We got called for a foul. Our 8th team foul. Perhaps a smart foul (?) by PF Valery Stuart. 1-and-1 for GT's C Brett Watkins, who has the chance to redeem himself with that bonehead shot attempt he put up in an earlier play. This is Watkin's 1st trip to the line in this game.
Watkins hits the 1st. And the 2nd. Wow, pressure-packed FTs. I called a timeout.
0:14, Up 68-67
No need to put up a shot. GT have no choice but to foul. I'll put SG Kaniel Coley at the 1 spot, so he'll be likely the player who will get fouled
Here we go. Full court pressure by GT. Coley safely gets it across the timeline. Foul by GT. Problem for GT is, it's only their 4th team foul.
0:08 left. We inbound again. 5th team foul. 0:07. 6th team foul. 0:06
Coley suddenly finds himself open after getting the inbound. He decided to put up a shot. It goes in! 0:02 left. GT with no timeout
Final 4 for the 3rd straight year!!!
But that was a tough match
Final score: USC - 71, Georgia Tech - 67Box Score
[INDENT]Coley 16, 2, 3, 2 stls, 4 tos, 4-10 3PT
Stuart 14, 10, 5, 3 stls, 3 tos (*)
Slay 14, 6, 4, 2 stls, 3 tos
Bailey 12, 5, 0
Dare 9, 9, 0, 2 blks
Parker 2, 3, 2
Dissinger 2, 3, 0
Martin 2, 0, 0
Wheat 0, 0, 1
Owes 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Team Stats Comparisons
[INDENT]FG: 45-42%
REB: +11
TO: +2
Paint: +26
2nd Chance: +4
Fast Break: +1
[/INDENT]
Notes- It was like a chess match, making adjustments and counter adjustments all game long. Despite their disadvantage on their front line, GT capitalized on their strength which is their outside shooting. We countered it with repeated inside plays to expose their weakness. We were just lucky enough to have the last possession, and control the end game. That's how clse the game was, a difference of one possession
- Our 3-man rotation at the post (Dare/Stuart/Bailey) did a good job following our game plan, and combined for 35 pts
