Spread: Alabama -5.5<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\nOpponent KenPom:<\/strong> 22 (59 offense, 7 defense, 360 tempo)
Opponent Evan Miya: <\/strong> 12 (53 offense, 9 defense, 359 tempo)
Opponent Bart Torvik: <\/strong> 22 (57 offense, 9 defense, 359 tempo)
Opponent NET: <\/strong>22 (4-3 Q1, 10-5 Q1\/Q2); Q1 opponent for the Tide
Opponent RPI:<\/strong> 93
Opponent Best Win:<\/strong> vs Gonzaga \/ @ Gonzaga (8)
Opponent Worst Loss:<\/strong> n Arizona State (66)<\/p>\nUA Ken Pom<\/strong>: 6th (4 Off, 34 Defense, 1 Tempo)
UA Evan Miya<\/strong>: 5th (2 Off, 20 Defense, 1 Tempo)
UA Bart Torvik:<\/strong> 5th (4 Off, 28 Defense, 1 Tempo)
UA NET Ranking:<\/strong> 6 (12-8 Q1, 20-8 Q1\/2)
UA RPI<\/strong>: 2
UA Best Win: <\/strong>No. 2 @ Auburn
UA Worst Loss: <\/strong>No. 29 (N) Oregon<\/p>\n
\nBefore we dive into Saint Mary\u2019s at a deeper level, here are the Cliff Notes: The Gaels are an absurdly tall team (taller than Alabama); they are elite rebounders on both ends of the floor; they are methodical and plodding on the offensive end; they are physical defenders (one of the best floor defenses in the country) and you can expect contact on every shot; they play just on edge enough to avoid sending opponents to the line; they live and die in the paint \u2014 particularly in put-backs generated by offensive rebounds; and they are not reliant on the three-point shot, but can be streaky and are especially clutch back there.<\/p>\n
Nothing about what Saint Mary\u2019s does is complex, relying much more on execution than schematic brilliance. Defensively, they want to contest shots above all else. They do not focus on forcing turnovers and making risky defensive gambles to get the ball back. In a sport where great players miss 60% of the time, the Gaels would rather force a tough shot, and then focus on getting the rebound. They are excellent <\/em>at it too, and manage that feat without being a drop defense in the backcourt.<\/p>\nSt. Mary\u2019s makes eye contact through the entire possession, slides their feet very well without losing balance, and they play help-man with a rotating second defender in the post. Alabama will be lucky to find just one defender in the lane; the Gaels understand their assignment and almost always have backside pressure on the ball down low. Mark Sears in particular will have to have a plan before he runs pell mell into the post. <\/p>\n
That is where St. Mary\u2019s size comes into play. Their frontcourt big lineup goes 6\u201910\u201d, 7\u20191\u201d and 7\u20191\u201d…the \u201csmall\u201d lineup is 7\u20191\u201d, 6\u201910\u201d and 6\u20198\u201d. The guards are long too: 6\u20194\u201d, 6\u20196\u201d and 6\u20193\u201d. It makes contesting shots, and particularly blocking them, easy with that kind of length. And good luck trying to beat SMC for rebounds after they force a bad shot. There is a reason this team is 5th in the country, allowing just a shade over 60 PPG. <\/p>\n
Offensively, the system is almost as simple as it is on the defensive side of the court. The Gaels run a \u201cread-and-react\u201d zone offense, where they set up in a 2-3 or 1-2-2 look, and run their set play depending on what look the defense is presenting, after an entry pass into the lane. It has a lot more isolation than what you see in most college ball, and it\u2019s not too clever like Byington at Vanderbilt either. Though I would not count on total iso. Randy Bennett is renowned as perhaps the best ball screen X and O coach in the game, with the Gaels always among the nation\u2019s best in floor shooting. <\/p>\n
Alabama\u2019s defenders are going to have to be exceptionally disciplined to counter the variety of screen looks St Mary\u2019s presents: Chin-up, flares, high ball, horns-twist (Texas ran this curl repeatedly with Tre Johnson), and of course pick and roll, and screen and roll. <\/p>\n
In particular, the Tide will have to be vigilant against that high ball action that can begin 30 feet from the basket and hang up defenders, as well as the iso penetration that is a feint for a short bounce-pass and far easier layup by the big. I lost track of the variety of looks that St Mary\u2019s flashes to execute this same basic play:<\/p>\n