pt1gard said:
scott,
in all fairness to your height issues,
Ivan R. shoots 43.9 and is hardly a terror, any pac-10 fan knows that
Isiah Fox only plays 9 mins a game and shoots 41%
Frye is da man tho 54% fgs!!! and 84% from stripe!!!
True and good pts but height advantage is height advantage. Especially when AZ has FRYE. Big men have career games against OSU. If FRYE just has a big game (which is high prob.) then the other 2 big men will have a MUCH easier time and those other 2 big men already will have a major height advantage.
If the BIG MEN are hurting OSU, it only will help Salim more. If Salim is doing his thing, it will only help the big men more. Pretty tough to stop the big men of AZ (with a big height issue) and stop Salim. Then you have the other talented players AZ has.
What I am getting at is AZ poses a big problem for OSU. OSU can beat AZ but all mismatches and advantages going into this game point to AZ.
Im surprised you didint mention McClennan, he's their 6th man FR. and possibly their 4th best scorer right now
Yeah he is good but I don't like to rely on freshman in big games when handicapping. Curry for OSU is awesome but he is freshman and McClennan is great talent too.
Hassan is incredible talent and real X-factor in this game;
I agree and I don't think OSU has anybody to defend him or Salim. Either Adams or Salim will be able to beat their man off the dribble. Depends on the matchup. Then you add on OSU's lack of depth as a team. What if they get into foul trouble? OSU has big history of getting into foul issues.
it all boils down to whether OSU's Def. can contain Zona's speed
OSU couldn't handle So. Illinois speed, what makes ANYBODY think they will handle Arizona's speed? On top of that, AZ has height advantage unlike So. Illinois had with OSU. AZ has SPEED and SIZE. So Illinois only had speed and they made OSU look bad. Then you factor in OSU not looking great in their last 8 games. Barely winning or barely losing.
vyrus858
for me, this bet comes down to what I think is a more solid team in the clutch and the way they play wiht one another.
That is true. Great free throw shooting team and they shown they can win the close games. But they also lost some close games as well in their last 8 games played. So that doesn't bode well.
For me, if you contain Salim, you have killed a good portion of their newer gameplan
OSU will need to contain Salim AND contain AZ big men. Tall order if you ask me. And if either one goes off, it will compliment the other. Not to mention AZ has other talented athletes as well. OSU has talented athletes but they don't create mismatches. This is what I am pointing out. Nobody here at MJ's has given an analysis of what mismatches or advantages OSU has going into this game. IMO they all point to AZ. Doesn't mean AZ blows out OSU or even beats them. Just when handicapping this game, too many things point AZ way. Since OSU is a talented team I am holding back from pounding AZ. I am just offering my analysis.
and trust me, the big men on OSU are some of the most physical and aggressive 6'7 and 6'9" you have seen...2 inches is not going to make me change a bet, especially when the 2 big men on AZ other than Fry cannot COMPARE to talent of McFarlin, Graham etc.
Why do they have big history of always getting into foul trouble? ALL 3 big men (not really big men) of OSU get into foul trouble all the time. Against AZ, OSU is not gonna get a 30+ pt performance from McFarlin. That is what is scary about betting OSU. Lack of depth, foul issues, and lack of size. That scares me if I am backing OSU. Now if OSU doesn't get into foul trouble, and lack of size turns out not to be big deal, then you gotta LOVE OSU's chances of winning. Just too much to ask for IMO and when making a big bet, you shouldn't hope for things to happen, you should expect it. Too much "hoping" for things to happen if you are backing OSU.
If these 3 guys are so physical, then how come so many "big guys" have career games against OSU? Its no coincidence that all or most of OSU's losses have come against teams with big men.
Those teams don't have a Salim Staudamire! AZ does and should win this game. Salim is the difference in this game.
