NCAA Tournament - BYU Preview

Well, we're in the Big Dance once again, and for the second year in a row we're playing BYU in our first round game. Here is BYU's team stats for the season:

As you can see, BYU is led in scoring by guards Lee Cummard, Jimmer Fredette, and G/F Jonathan Tavernari. BYU is similar to many of the three and four-guard line-ups we've seen in Big 12, in that their guards lead their offense, and they like to run the floor on offense. Where they differ somewhat from most Big 12 teams we've played is that they have a true big man in 6'11 post Chris Miles. We'll be countering Miles with Chinemelu Elonu, Bryan Davis, and David Loubeau inside.

Looking at this game, I expect us to lean on our inside game, and try to hammer BYU inside, similar to what we did last year when we played them in the first round. We have a stronger inside game than they do, and I believe we are tougher physically than they are.

More after the jump.....

I believe the key to this game, as it is in most NCAA Tournament games, will be our guard play. If we can get solid play from Donald Sloan, Dash Harris, and B.J. Holmes, we'll be fine. The Ags play best when we limit turnovers and force other teams to match our inside-outside game, and strong play from the point guard is the key.

If we can get Josh Carter, Holmes, and Sloan going from the outside, we can spread the BYU defense, and loosen things up inside for our post game. I'll be watching closely to see if Turgeon tries to go small with BYU, if they try to run on us. A big concern for me is the play of Chinemelu Elonu, because he has struggled of late. If Elonu has a strong game, I think we can win this going away.

The other player I will be watching for is Nathan Walkup; if ihe is able to come in and contribute, I think we will win this game. Walkup has disappeared at times this season because he hasn't had significant minutes on the court, but he can be deadly from beyond the arc, and give us some solid minutes on defense. If we have any foul trouble in our front line, I expect Walkup to see the court a lot.

I think we'll try to slow Currant by putting Derrick Roland on him, because Roland is our defensive stopper. If we can force the rest of their team to try to score, and neutralize Currant, we'll put ourselves in position to win this game.

I'm sure BYU remember their loss from last season, and is anxious for revenge. I don't see this being an easy game; I think it will be a fight to the end like last season, but I am similarly hopeful for our success like I was last year.

The game starts at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow and will be nationally televised; it should be a good one.