Creighton used a barrage of three’s in the second half of game one, along with heavily leaning on the dynamic duo of Kalkbrenner and Ashworth, to best Providence in Omaha 84-64. Providence is looking to get some revenge against the Bluejays after a last second loss to Big East leading St. John’s at MSG.
We preview what Providence needs to do in this re-match to secure an upset.
If you are pondering why the preview article contains a picture of Charles Barkley, let me remind you that Mike GUARANTEED a victory tonight.
Run Bluejays Off Three Point Line – I walked away from the game in Omaha really disheartened with the overall defensive strategy. Everybody knows Creighton does one thing really well: shoot the deep ball. Providence allowed Creighton to shoot 44% from deep, which to me indicates an unusually hot shooting night. That happens.
What frustrated me is not the 44%, but rather Providence giving them the option to shoot 32 three’s, making 14. Providence needs to do everything in this home tilt to run the Bluejays off the three point line. If Creighton is going to beat us tonight, I want it to be from the three point line in. I can live with them besting the Friars in that way, but I don’t want to see Creighton have the ability to shoot more than 20-23 three’s. That’s all contingent on Providence staying defensively sound with their assignment. No falling asleep because the second half against Creighton showed even role players can completely open up the game.
Oswin Staying Out of Foul Trouble – Who would have thought the most important player on the court for Providence is a true freshman who should technically be in high school? That’s where we are, for better or worse, and we desperately need Oswin to continue to play aggressive, but under a level of control that doesn’t get him in early foul trouble. Providence’s chances of a win rapidly diminish with Essandoko, DeLaurier, or Bonke getting extended minutes due to Oswin being in foul trouble.
Kalkbrenner is going to get his, no question, but if he is going to get his, we need him to do it against Oswin.
Lastly, Oswin – no moving screens please. For the love of God.
Defending High Ball Screen – I’d like to see Providence turn down the switching on defensive assignments and ask the Friars to fight through their screens. By doing this, it helps simplify the defensive assignment for Oswin to just stay on Kalkbrenner. Secondarily, I would ask the defender of the ball handler to not only fight through the screen, but go over the top. This feeds into Point #1 above of running Creighton off the three point line.
The counterargument to my strategy is giving up the mid range with ease. So what? We somewhat do that anyways with drop coverage. Lull the primary ball handler into taking the open mid-range looks rather than finding the man open from deep.
Regarding Ashworth, I’d task Bensley Joseph or Corey Floyd Jr. to guard him. They need to press him and make his life very difficult. On the offensive end, whomever Ashworth is guarding, attack the rim. He has suboptimal size, and you want him working on both ends to tire him out so he potentially isn’t as effective on the offensive end.
Go Friars!