Have seen a few comments about SJU getting out in transition. If you check our offensive rebounding numbers, they're near the bottom of the ACC. Reason being, we send no one to crash the boards...we drop everyone back on defense to prevent transition baskets. We're very difficult to run on because of this, which is why 19 times out of 20, we'll win the tempo game. UNC in Chapel Hill has really been the only time this year someone dictated a faster pace on us.
We're vulnerable to the press, but in order to set it up, you have to execute on offense. Can your big men pass out of the double team in the post? You'll see alot of Justin Anderson double teaming with Akil when your big man gets the entry pass...if they can pass out of it, you can take advantage. If they're shaky ball handlers, or passing's not a strength, we'll force them into turnovers.
If your staff thinks like you do SJ will win this game in a walk. For example, in your post you mention "big men," "entry passes," and "execute on offense." We dont really utilize those sorts of mundane strategies and if you guys prepare for them you will have fallen into Lavin's diabolical trap.
On offense we do two things. First, we run the weave. This is intended to make the opposing team fall asleep. Once we are able to induce a coma in the defense our shooting guards break free to launch off balance fall away jumpers that connect at a percentage upwards of 35 percent. Second, our point guard Phil Greene is immune to the effects of centrifical force. Being the superior tactician that he is Lavin plays to Greene's strength by having him dribble around in circles beyond the three point line, causing defenders to get severely dizzy. (This is an off shoot of Pete Newell's motion offense called Pin the Tail on the Donkey.) Once again the idea is to stupify the opposition to free our guards to make plays.
Being that our team is so young they are still learning the intricasies of the offense, such as which end of the donkey the tail is on and how tightly to tie the blindfold. Although our progress is being measured in baby steps we seem to have put it all together, defeating a gritty a10 team with the same sort of determination we showed against BE powerhouses DePaul and South Florida. The team lost its focus slightly while losing 8 out of its last 10, but dont let that fool you. That was D'Angelo Harrison's fault because he rolled his eyes one too many times. He is no longer with the team and we're better off for it, as is evident from the one game winning streak we are riding. Needless to say I fancy our chances Saturday morning. I only hope the game does not conflict with Tennessee Tuxedo, because I loves me some Mister Whoopee.