4/1/03: (5) #14 Southern Illinois (27-7, 13-3) vs (2) #6 USC (32-3, 16-2)
Scouting Report- Primary defense: M2M
- Offense focus: Inside (fast)
- Key players:
- Sr PG Josh Marshall (14.3 ppg, 5.0 apg, 2-time All Conf, #18 class rank)
- Fr C Ward Sullivan (13.6 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 53% FG, #28 class rank)
- Fr PG BJ Smith (10.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 3.5 apg, 1.7 spg, #37 class rank)
- Sr SG Davin Stinnett (9.8 ppg, 43% 3PT)
- Notes:
- They start with a 3-guard lineup
- Strengths:
- High-scoring, balanced offense - 72.6 ppg (#1 MVC), 17.0 apg (#1 MVC)
- Ball handling - 16.4% OTO (#1 MVC)
- Defense - 59.2 opp ppg (#1 MVC, #12 Nat'l), 39.2% opp FG (#1 MVC, #12 Nat'l), 18.4 opp topg (#1 MVC, #2 Nat'l)
- Weaknesses:
- FG shooting - 44.9% FG (#5 MVC)
- Rebounding - 32.2 rpg (#4 MVC)
- How they got here:
- Finished 1st MVC; Won Conference Tournament
- (Round 1) Def Colgate, 69-47; Marshall - 26 pts
- (Round 2) Def Illinois-Chicago, 60-41; Marshall - 20 pts
- (Sweet 16) Def New Mexico, 69-67; Smith - 23 pts
- (Elite 8) Def UCLA, 67-56; Marshall - 20 pts
Strategies- Starting guards Marshall and Smith combine for almost 30 ppg during their 4 games so far in the tournament. But they have scorers not just from outside, but can also score inside
- Defense: (1st half) Mixed 60-20-20; (2nd half) adjust
Tip off (1st Half)
15:49, Down 9-10
SG Kaniel Coley off to a good start 7 pts. But SILL are shooting well also, and have gone to the FT line 4 times already
11:28, Up 16-14
After starting the game at 3-4 FG, SILL missed their last 6. PG Antonio Parker already has 3 turn overs, and I have him replaced early; he needs to regroup himself
6:30, Tied at 26
A couple of lead changes earlier, when SILL hits a 3 and we went down by 1. SG Kaniel Coley answers back with his 2nd triple, 10 pts for the game, and we regain the lead. The score has been tight since
We were leading by 1, but SILL scored 5 unanswered pts, including their 3rd 3 pt shot of the game, and we were down by 4
3:53, Down 27-31
We have committed 7 turn overs already. I encouraged the team that this is still a long game, but they need to refocus starting now
We kept it close. SG Kaniel Coley hits his 3rd triple to cut our deficit to 1 with just 8 secs left in the 1st half. SILL answers back with a buzzer-beating 3, and the lead goes up to 4 again
Halftime, Down 36-40Highlights
- It's only a 4 pt game, but SILL was able to control the game and take away our strengths. We only had 4 off rebs in the 1st half, which resulted to a paltry 2 2nd chance pts. Also, we didn't have a single pt on fast break
- Our +4 differential on turn overs really hurt our chances in the 1st half. SILL surprisingly tries to slow down the game, and we won't have enough opportunities to score if we keep on throwing the ball away
Adjustments
- Defense sets: 1-2-2
- Off focus: Change to favor inside (we only had 10 pts in the paint in the 1st half)
Start of 2nd Half
Had a chance to cut the lead to 2, but C Elliott Dare traveled. SILL brings their to 6 twice. Both time, we were able to cut it to 4
Another opportunity to get within 2, but our shot was blocked
A few plays later, we get another chance. C Elliot Dare missed
SILL missed. This is our 4th chance (at least) to cut the lead. Blocked again. But C Eliott Dare recovers. Dare puts up a shot. It's good plus a foul. Hits the bonus FT
14:54, Down 45-46
SILL missed. But they get the off rebound, and the 2nd serving is good. Down 3 again. SG Kaniel Coley hits his 4th triple to tie the game
14:19, Tied at 48
SILL's SG Davin Stinett (who pays the 3) ball fakes. Goes closer and hits another jumper. Stinnett has burned us with 15 pts. Down 2
The pass is taken by SG Kaniel Coley. Coley lets one go. Coley drops in a triple off the glass! Coley's 5th trey of the game, 21 pts. We take the lead
13:39, Up 51-50
SILL: C Ward Sullivan got fouled. 2 FTs. Hits both. Sullivan with 12 pts. Down 1
USC: PF Valery Stuart answers back with basket the low post. Up 1
SILL: SG Davin Stinnet sticks a long 3. Stinnett is on fire today, 18 pts. Down 2
USC: We turn it over
SILL: They are running and gets a 2 on the break. Down 4.
USC: SG Kaniel Coley wants to answer back. Coley receives the pass. Coley puts up a shot. Coley puts it through from downtown! Coley's 6th trifecta, 24 pts. Down 1
SILL: Turn over
USC: Coley thinking of another 3. He pass to C Elliott Dare instead at the post. Dare makes his move. Dare shoots and scores, plus a foul! Hits the bonus FT
11:45, Up 59-57
The pace of the action has definitely turned up a notch. I'll be giving COley a brief rest
SILL: Miss, but they get the rebound. Shoots plus a foul also. Hits the bonus. Down 1
USC: SG Malik Owes hits a jumper from the left corner. Up 1
SILL: SG Davin Stinnett has the hot hand. He drives, but SG Malik Owes with a fantastic block. Refs ruled last touch SILL. Owes with 2 great plays on both ends
USC: SF James Slay gets a pass. Slay is trying to go to the hole. Slay's shot hits nothing but the bottom of the net. That is the 1st FG of Slay today.
10:22, Up 63-60
SILL: SG Davin Stinnett gets away from his defender and hits a tough shot. Stinnett with 20 pts. Up 1
USC: C Hasheem Bailey got fouled while putting up a shot. 2 FTs. Split. up 2
SILL: Turn over
USC: Foul. 2 FTs for SG Malik Owes. Hits both. Quality minutes for Owes, 4 pts. Up 4
SILL: Miss. They don't have top scorer SG Davin Stinnett on the floor
USC: Shot was blocked. SILL now has a total of 9 blocks
SILL: They get a basket. Up 2
USC: SF James Slay gets the ball. Slay makes his move. Puts up a shot. Missed. Out of bounds in favor of SILL. Media time out
7:56, Up 66-64
I bring back SG Kaniel Coley
SILL: Their backup SF hits a long 3. This team is very deep. Down 1
USC: We need to answer back. The choice is clear on who do we go to. SG Kaniel gets the ball. Without hesitation, Coley fires up a long 3 also. SWISH! It's good for three! Triple #7, 27 pts for Coley. Up 2
SILL: PG John Marshall puts up a 3. Miss. But they get the rebound. SILL with 6 off rebounds. They reset. Marshall with another 3. Miss again. Ball out of bounds. They say we touched it last. I was shaking my head
6:54, Up 69-67
SILL: Marshall faking to attempt a 3. Goes closer. Pulls up a jumper. Miss again. We finally rebound the ball
USC: SG Kaniel Coley goes up for a long 2. Miss but a foul is called. 2 FTs. Coley hits the 1st, but missed the 2nd. C Elliott Dare with the big off rebound. Dare follows up. It's good! Dare with 12 pts. Up 5
6:04, Up 72-67
SILL: Their backup SG shoots from way downtown .... BANG! Down 2
USC: Coley missed a 3
SILL: They get a basket again. Tied ball game once again
5:05, Tied at 72
USC: C Elliott Dare missed
SILL: They have a chance to regain the lead. But they miss a 3
USC: Foul. SILL 8th team foul. 1-and-1 for SG Kaniel Coley. Gets the 1st. And also the 2nd. Whew! Coley with 30 pts. Up 2
4:20, Up 74-72
SILL: C Ward Sullivan was able to squeeze himself inside for the easy 2. Breakdown in our defense. Tied game
USC: SG Kaniel Coley dumps the pass to C Hasheem Bailey at the post. Bailey spins. Bailey scores. Bailey with 9 pts, 9 rebs.
3:33, Up 76-74
SILL: C Ward Sullivan powers his way again. He shoots. But he missed Good challenge by our big men this time
USC: We turned it over
SILL: They go to C Ward Sullivan again. And this time, Sullivan scores. Tied once again. Sullivan with 16 pts. Timeout
2:47, Tied at 76
USC: A bad pass by PG Antonio Parker. Crucial mistake
SILL: They score on fast break
2:31, Down 76-78
USC: This time, PG Antonio Parker gets it to SF James Slay. Slay with a jumper. It's good. Slay with 6 pts.
2:17, Tied at 78
SILL. They get it C Ward Sullivan again. But we get called for a foul. Only our 4th team foul. They inbound again. Sullivan again for the score. Down 2
USC: Another turn over
I shouted to the team that we'll go 2-3.
SILL: Foul called while on the act of shooting. PG Josh Marshall to take 2 FTs. Hits both. Down 4. Timeout
1:06, Down 78-82
I replaced PG Antonio Parker, who committed 2 crucial turn overs
We'll go balanced focus
USC: PG Shea Wheat is looking to make a pass. SG Kaniel Coley catches the pass. Coley puts up a shot. Coley sinks the long one. Coley with 33 pts, 8 triples. Not yet over!
0:53, Down 81-82
SILL: PG Josh Marshall nails a tough shot. Down 3. Timeout
0:34, Down 81-84
We go heavy outside
USC: Stolen by SILL
SILL: They score on the fast break again. Down 5. Timeout
0:22, Down 81-86
No choice now. Go for 3s. And foul
They foul. Probably a good move to prevent a 3 from us. PG Shea Wheat hits both.
On our next defensive play, we foul. But we're not in the penalty. After the inbound, we get a steal. 0:06 left. I don't have a timeout left. Pass to PG Shea Wheat. Wheat has to put it up. Wheat takes a shot .....
No good. Game over. Tough loss, but those are the breaks of the game
Final score: Southern Illinois - 86, USC - 83Box Score
[INDENT]Coley 33, 2, 3, 8-14 3PT
Dare 14, 6, 1, 2 blks
Bailey 9, 9, 0
Stuart 9, 3, 2
Slay 6, 4, 0
Wheat 6, 2, 7, 3 tos
Owes 4, 0, 0
Dissinger 2, 1, 0
Parker 0, 3, 4, 5 tos
[/INDENT]
Team Stats Comparisons
[INDENT]FG: 49-54%
REB: +7
TO: +5
Paint: -2
2nd Chance: +2
Fast Break: -13
[/INDENT]
Notes- Tough luck. We can point to the 3 crucial turn overs in the waning minutes, or our poor transition defense. But this was a good game between two equally matched teams. It's like a boxing match where both boxers alternately giving big blows to one another, but nobody is going down.
Southern Illinois defeated Kansas St in the championship game, to win their 1st ever national title. Congratulations!!!