Maryland next

It appear we'll be going up against Turgeon's team. I admit, this game makes me nervous, though I do think Kansas is more talented. Maryland just seems to win ugly.

It also doesn't help that my assistant is a Maryland grad, and it's gonna be a super tense day in the office!

I can live with that assessment!

I'd forgotten Maryland beat us in the FF in 2002 on the way to winning the championship, so it's payback time! Sorry, Turgeon, loved you as a player, but your team is going down!

That's one of the few things Sir Charles has said during this tournament that I agree with.

Sorry Turg, you are a good guy, but come next Thursday I hope KU blasts your turtle boys!!!

One word for MD.....size. They have it. KU does not. We shall see what the Einstein of Edmond does to combat that size disadvantage.

RKCKJHK!!!

First of all, any team with a player named Melo has to go down? Am I right everyone? With that out of the way I present my breakdown analysis of Maryland.

Here's the stats for both teams before the tournament started:

PPG
Kansas: 81.6
Maryland: 76.1

Opponent PPG
Kansas: 67.6
Maryland: 66.3

Scoring Margin:
Kansas: +13.9
Maryland: +9.8

FG% Margin:
Kansas: +9.8
Maryland: +8

Three Point %
Kansas: 41.9%
Maryland: 36.8%

Rebound Margin:
Kansas: +5.2
Maryland: +3.4

Turnover Margin:
Kansas: +0.9
Maryland: -1.7

Here are the starters for Maryland:

Melo Trimble (G): 6'3" 185 lbs
Rasheed Sulaimon (G): 6'4" 190 lbs
Robert Carter (F): 6'9" 235 lbs
Jake Layman (F): 6'9" 220 lbs
Diamond Stone (C): 6'11" 255 lbs


Here are the starters for KU:

Frank Mason (G): 5'11" 185 lbs
Devonte' Graham (G) 6'2" 175 lbs
Wayne Selden, Jr. (G) 6'5" 230 lbs
Perry Ellis (F) 6'8" 225 lbs
Landen Lucas (F) 6'10" 240 lbs

On paper, KU leads in every category except Opponent PPG and overall height. From lookin at these stats, KU needes to exploit Mayland's love for turning the ball over. They actually turn it over more than their opponents. In their first two games they've turned it over 13 times and 10 times. KU has turned it over 10 times and 12 times. We have to limit our turnovers to gain an advantage against them for easy fast break points.

This game will be a tough battle for sure with Maryland's Melo Trimble loving the dribble drive to the hoop. The problem for Maryland is, KU loves to dribble drive as well and we have 3 very capable guards in Mason, Graham, and Selden. Maryland may haze the height and size advantage, but we have the guard and quickness advantage. If the layup or floater is not there we have several players who are ready at a moments notice to hit a kick out open three. Mason, Graham, Selden, Greene, Svi, and Perry can all shoot the three really well. If I were Turge I would be very concerned about closing out against our shooters simply because we have so many that can hurt you from deep. Maryland was 1-18 (5.6%) from three against Hawaii and 9-23 (39.1%) against SD State. KU was 6-17 (35.3%) from three against Uconn and 6-16 (37.5%) against Austin Peay. So, Maryland has shown they are erratic with three point shooting while KU has stayed fairly consistent. I'd like to see our three point percentage closer to 40%, but I realize thats asking a lot especially during the chaos of tournament play.

Maryland only won 79-74 over South Dakota State, and only won 73-60 against Hawaii. Both teams were inferior opponents and yet Maryland struggled; especially against Hawaii. Hawaii ran a 3 guard, two forward starting lineup just like we do. Their two starting forwards Jankovic and Thomas were 6'11'' and 6'7''. Their bench forward Jovanovic was 6'11''. Meanwhile KU won 105-79 and 73-61. Uconn was a great test to see how KU would fare against a guard heavy team. I'd say we did a fantastic job limiting their dribble drive offense.

Don't let the media's rhetoric about Diamond Stone being NBA caliber and a prescense inside fear you into submission. He only had 2 rebounds against Hawaii and 5 rebounds against SD State. I expect Lucas, Traylor, Perry and yes..even Diallo...to go against him and get him into foul trouble early. Forward Robert Cater is actually the better rebounder so far this tournament. He had 9 against Hawaii and 11 agaisnt SD State. Forward Jake Layman had 6-3, Guard Melo Trimble had 8-2, and Guard Rasheed Sulaimon had 5-2. It would appear that Robert Carter is the man to lock down on the glass. I expect Landen Lucas to draw that assignment. Speaking of rebounding; let's look at how KU has fared. In the game agaisnt Austin Peay Jamari had 9 rebounds, Landen had 8, and Perry had 2. In the game agaisnt Uconn Landen had 12, Perry had 8, and Selden had 7. The overall season numbers show we have the advantage in reboudning.

Overall, it will be very competitive game with some of the best guards in the country vying for a spot in the elite 8. If Kansas plays our game, limits turnovers, dribble drives, and plays to our temp we will have a great shot against them.

Having watched Maryland / Hawaii I can honestly say I would't trade one of our starters for any of their's including the famous Diamond Stone, who looks incredibly slow footed. I wonder if he would be that famous if his name was Henry Schwartz. The more I watch Landon Lucas, the more I see him as one of the best centers in the land (although there aren't any great ones this year). Run them ragged Hawks, KU by 10.