Mar 24, 2003: (5) #8 Delaware St (30-3, 15-1) vs (1) #1 Kansas (30-4, 15-1)
Scouting Report
- Primary defense: 2-3 zone
- Offense focus: Balanced (fast)
- Key players:
- Jr C Ray Johnson (12.9 ppg, 13.3 rpg, 2-time All Conf, #15 class rank)
- Sr SG Brooks McClinton (13.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg, #29 class rank)
- Sr C Maurice Hanavan (10.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 50% FG, #28 class rank)
- Strengths:
- Rebounding: 41.1 rpg (#2)
- Defense: 57.6 opp ppg (#6), 36.6% FG (#3), 7.4 spg (#33)
- Ball Handling: 12.2 topg (#11)
- Balanced scoring: 7 players average at least 7 ppg
- Weaknesses:
- Shooting: 43.0% FG (#250), 35.8% 3PT (#135)
- How they got here:
- Finished 1st Big 12; Lost Conference Tournament Finals
- (Round 64) Def Farleigh Dickinson, 65-50 (Johnson 18 pts, 14 rebs; KAN +24 pts in paint)
- (Round 32) Def LSU, 62-38 (Hanavan 15 pts; LSU 30% FG)
Strategies- Similar to Kansas' style, we'll clog the lane with our 2-3 defense. Will be a matter which team can shoot well from the outside
- We know it's going to be difficult to score in the half court, so we'll press all the time, and hopefully generate enough fast break pts to get a win
Start of 1st half5 turn overs got us in a bad start.
Down 3-6, 15:37. KAN controlling the game with their defense, and we have 8 turn overs already.
Down 3-14, 11:56. Took us more than 10 minutes to score our 2nd basket of the game.
Down 5-18, 7:45. We went down by as much as 20, score was 11-31; got a couple of 3s to fall in.
Halftime, Down 19-33.
Key stats / Notes (Halftime)- FG shooting: DELST 24%, KAN 35%
- Turn overs: DELST 11, KAN 3
- Rebounds: DELST 18, KAN 25
- Fast break pts: DELST 2, KAN 18
- Our shooting is not to blame why we are down in the 1st half; it's our poor rebounding and transition defense that needs improvement
Start of 2nd halfWe converted a couple more 3pt shots, but still keep on throwing the ball away.
Down 25-39, 15:38. Another 3 by SG Cain Ward. Down 11. On KAN's inbound, we stole the ball on their back court and score an easy 2. Down 9. We get another steal, and score on transition. KAN called a timeout. We scored 7 pts in less than half minute.
Down 32-39, 15:00. However, KAN scored the next 5 pts, as we committed at least 4 more turn overs (total of 17 in the game).
Down 32-44, 11:47.
KAN scored on a 3, and we're down 15 again. SG Cain Ward scored 5 straight pts, and after a KAN miss, PG Brandon Costa converts a 3pt shot. We're knocking on the doors again.
Down 40-47, 9:18.
We had a couple of chances to reduce the deficit to 5, but we couldn't convert. KAN increased their lead to 9 again. Both teams trading a lot of misses; our time window to turn this game around is now getting smaller. After several scoreless minutes for both teams, SG Cain Ward (26 pts) drains his 6th triple of the game.
Down 47-53, 4:20.
KAN answers back with a jumper.
Down 47-55, 3:55. C Brandon Braun got blocked; Braun (2 pts) having a tough time scoring inside. We'll just go heavy outside. KAN scores again. Timeout.
Down 47-57, 3:14.
We'll also increase pace, and shoot at will; 4 shooters on the floor now. We miss again. But we stole the ball back. C Brandon Braun gets only his 2nd FG of the game.
Down 49-57, 2:30. Another turn over by KAN.
We miss a 3. Follow up by C Brandon Braun also did not go in. KAN finally secures the ball. And KAN scores another basket. Timeout.
Down 49-59, 1:48.
Look for 3s now. SG Lewis Lepore gets a 3; we're not giving up.
Down 52-59, 1:37. KAN's C Ray Johnson drives and scores on a tough fade away.
Down 52-61, 1:25.
We missed a 3. KAN also missed. We hurried up, and SG Cain Ward scores from deep again.
Down 55-61, 0:47.
We'll foul intentionally, and play m2m.
But we get another steal from the back court! SG Lewis Lepore scores on a layup!
Down 57-61, 0:40. Actually no need to foul immediately, just play intense pressure defense first to try to go for a steal; and then foul on their front court.
We foul. Problem is, it's only our 3rd team foul. We foul 4 more times in succession. 1-and-1 for KAN now. They miss the front end! We secure the def rebound. Timeout.
Down 57-61, 0:29.
We go for a quick shot, and then foul right away. SG Cain Ward was left open on top of the key for a 3. BANG!
Down 60-61, 0:16.
We'll go for a quick foul. But KAN able to break our press quickly. We frantically try to foul, but SG Lewis Lepore made a mistake of fouling a KAN player attempting a 3; missed but 3 FTs. Gets 2 of out 3 to sink in. Timeout.
Down 60-63, 0:03.
Do we have enough time for a desperation 3 given that we'll be inbounding from our back court? Apparently, not enough time to even put up a shot (even at max pace). Very disappointing
Final Score: Delaware St - 60, Kansas - 63Box Scores[INDENT]Ward 32, 3, 0, 2 stls, 8-12 3PT
Lepore 14, 1, 2, 2 stls
Braun 4, 17, 1, 2 stls
Price 3, 3, 5
Costa 3, 1, 2
Murphy 2, 1, 0
B Collins 2, 0, 1
T Collins 0, 10, 2
Andrews 0, 2, 1
Jefferson 0, 0, 0
[/INDENT]
Stats Comparison[INDENT]FG: 35-39%
REB: -1
TO: +10 (21-11)
Pts in paint: -10
2nd chance: -8
Fast break: -15 (14-29)
[/INDENT]
Notes- Very good effort by the team. Even though we forced ourselves to change strategy and go for quick outside outside shots than usual, we didn;t quit and just run out of time to catch up. Memorable last game for SG Cain Ward
