Scouting Report
- Primary defense: M2M
- Offense focus: Outside (fast)
- Key players:
- Sr PG Aaron Jackson (14.6 ppg, 3.1 apg, #21 class rank)
- Jr C Rufus Palmore (9.9 ppg, 6.5 rpg, All-Conf)
- Strengths:
- Defense: 54.9 opp ppg (#1 SEC, #3 Nat'l), 38.3% opp FG (#2 SEC, #11 Nat'l), 28.5% opp 3PT (#1 SEC, #2 Nat'l), 16.9 opp topg (#2 SEC, #21 Nat'l)
- Guard depth: their backup PG is ranked #25 in his class
- Weaknesses:
- Middle of the pack offense: 65.1 ppg (#5 SEC, #227 Nat'l), 44.1% FG (#3 SEC,#158 Nat'l), 32.7% 3PT (#10 SEC, #251 Nat'l)
- Rebounding: 31.0 rpg (#4 SEC, #153 Nat'l)
- How they got here:
- Finished 2nd SEC; Lost Conference Tournament Finals
- (Round 64) Def Boston, 82-48 (BOS 28% FG, 24% 3PT)
- (Round 32) Def Michigan, 74-58 (MICH 25% FG)
- (Sweet 16) Def #11 New Mexico, 66-56 (NM 40% FG, 14% 3PT)
- (Elite 8) Def #3 Seton Hall, 58-50 (SH 26 tos)
- (Final 4) Def #1 Georgia, 64-52 (GA 40% FG, 19 tos)
- LSU's defense can beat you two ways, either forcing opponents to take tough shots, or force a lot of turn overs. And in the case against GA in the Final 4, they did both. LSU has beaten 2 of the top 3 teams in the country to get to this stage. Their perimeter defense is one of the best in the nation, so we'll try to challenge them inside the paint. Very important for our guards to safely pass the ball to our bigs
- LSU's "average" offense may be a bit misleading, because they play in the SEC where defense rules; 4 of the Nat'l top 11 in opp ppg are from the SEC. We'll initially challenge then to shoot from the outside.
- LSU relies a lot on transition pts for their offense. During their last 3 conference games (against ranked teams NM, SH, GA), they averaged 16 fast break pts per game, which comprises around 25% of their total pts
Start of 1st half
We turned the ball over 4 times already. LSU is 2-3 3PT. Down 4-6, 15:51. We're satisfied with our defense so far, forcing LSU to take low percentage shots. We're showing good signs on offense also, attacking the rim; we just need to bury those FTs, as we're currently 2-6 FT. Up 12-10, 11:34.
We have 7 turn overs already; fortunately, LSU hasn't done much damage on transition but still, those are lost opportunities for us. SF Terrell Wallace was a spark plug on offense for use, scoring 7 pts off the bench. Good game for C Kelley Brown so far, 6 pts, 8 rebs. Up 23-22, 5:04. Both teams have done a good job preventing the other to make extended runs. No team has led by more than 5, game was tied 4 times, and there were 11 lead changes. Halftime, Up 30-29.
Key stats / Notes (Halftime)
- Pts in paint: TOW 24, LSU 6
- 3PT shooting: TOW 1-4, LSU 5-12
- We have more rebounds, but it was offset by our turn overs. We shot 3-8 FTs, and in a tight game like this, I hate to think the possibility of the game being decided by FTs
Start of 2nd half
2nd half started with the same defense-oriented flow of the game. LSU committed 2 turn overs. SG Cain Ward, who was 0-2 FG in the 1st half, scored his 1st basket. Up 36-34, 15:55. Our big men continue to pound the ball inside with considerable success. LSU's PG Aaron Jackson starting to heat up though, and he just converted a 3pt play opportunity to reclaim the lead for LSU; Jackson with 8 of his 13 pts in the 2nd half. SG Cain Ward answers for us, with a long jumper. We get the lead back. LSU turns it over and we scored on the fast break. Up 3. Another turn over by LSU. SG Cain Ward drives strong and dunks the ball. Up 5. Teams trading misses, and LSU with another turn over. Up 46-41, 11:03. Ward scoring 6 of his 8 pts in the 2nd half; as he has shown in the Elite 8 game against Iowa, you can never discount Ward even if he is not playing well at the start of the game.
We go to SG Cain Ward again. Ward dribbles, and pulls up a jumper, and he scores again! Ward with 10 pts (8 in the 2nd half). We are on an 8-0 run, after trailing momentarily by 1 earlier. Timeout LSU. Up 48-41, 10:51.
PG Udonis Dement picks up his 4th foul; both he and PG Doug Price have 4 fouls each, and I have to bring in 3rd string PG Nick Granger. No one scored for at least 3 possessions each; we have 12 turn overs, while LSU has 9. A good opportunity to get SG Cain Ward a very brief rest, before the final push.
We get a shot block on LSU. On offense, SF Terrell Wallace drives strong and made a great pass at the last moment on an open PF Dan Morton. Morton scores his 1st 2 pts of the game after going 0-7 FG. Unselfish play by Wallace. Up 9. LSU answers back with medium-range jumper. Up 50-43, 7:33.
SF Mike Mason got fouled on the act of shooting. Hits both FTs. We're 6-6 FTs in the 2nd half, after going 3-8 in the 1st. Up 9. A series of unproductive possessions, as LSU committed 2 more turn overs, while we added 1 more. LSU's leading scorer, PG Aaron Jackson has 13 pts, but has been very streaky, going for 5-23 FG (2-12 3PT). On our last play, C Kelley Brown goes strong to the hoop and was able to fish for a foul. Time to bring back SG Cain Ward and starting PG Udonis Dement (4 fouls). Brown splis his FTs, but SF Mike Mason gets the offensive rebound. SG Cain Ward immediately demands the ball. The step back jumper by Ward is good. Ward with 12 pts (10 in the 2nd half). Almost there, but not quite yet. Up 55-43, 4:31.
We'll start to go m2m defense. Took almost the whole shot block before LSU can put up a shot. They miss; excellent defense in that last play. We get the rebound. SF Mike Mason with the running jumper and its good! Up 55-43, 3:50.
LSU's PG Aaron Jackson scores on a teardrop. Up 55-45, 3:24.
We got called for a traveling, but we were able to chew up a lot of time. LSU missed. We secure the def rebound. Timeout. I want to make sure the players' focus is still there. Up 57-45, 2:30.
We'll continue to try to slow down. We successfully passed around the ball. We missed a low post shot, but we get the off rebound. A fresh shot clock. Another miss. Ball out of bounds, and the refs says it's out ball. LSU gets a steal, and scores on transition. That's the worst things that could have happened. Timeout. Up 57-47, 1:37.
This time we were able to spread out the floor. Wasting some time, and LSU called for a foul. They are in the penalty. 1-and-1 for SF Mike Mason. Mason missed the front end. LSU rebounds.
LSU's PG Aaron Jackson able to get away from his defender and drives. But he was met on the lane by PF Dan Morton who swatted the ball away! LSU retains possession, but what a play by PF Dan Morton offering weak side help on the defense.
Only 1:00 remaining. We probably need just 1 more stop to ice this game. LSU missed. LSU gets the off rebound. 2nd shot also missed. And we finally secure the rebound. Timeout. Celebrations starting now. Up 57-47, 0:42. I replaced the 2 seniors, SG Cain Ward and PF Dan Morton. Hugs all around the bench now
A perfect season!
Final Score: Towson - 59, LSU - 47
Box Scores
[INDENT]Brown 16, 15, 0, 2 stls (*)
Ward 12, 4, 6, 1 blk
Wallace 9, 5, 2, 1 stl, 2 blks
Mason 8, 7, 2, 1 stl
Wise 4, 5, 1
Desmond 4, 0, 0
Morton 2, 5, 0, 2 stls, 1 blk
Dement 2, 3, 1, 1 stl, 1 blk
Price 2, 0, 1, 1 blk
Granger 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison
[INDENT]FG: 45-32%
REB: +19
TO: +4
Pts in paint: +20
2nd chance: +4
Fast break: +4
[/INDENT]
Notes
- We played outstanding defense in the 2nd half, limiting LSU to only 18 pts. It's true what they say that defense (and rebounding) wins championships. We were led by our 2 All-Americans, C Kelley Brown and SG Cain Ward, but every body contributed in this win, whether on offense or defense
- There were some moments in this game, and in the previous tournament games where it appears we are about to lose the game. Perseverance, and believing in our game plans, is what got us this championship.