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Haven't watched Houston. What are we up against?

bonefish1

All-American
Oct 4, 2004
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Just from what I've read, they're big, strong, mean and athletic. Sounds very similar to Auburn this year and UConn last year.
Is Smith in for a night?
Will Fletch get any open looks?
 
I wouldn’t say they are overly tall but they are physical and good rebounding team. We will be battling and need to control as best we can so we limit their second chance points.

Cryer is their leading scorer and he can stuff the stat sheet.

Their 2 primary bigs are Tugler and Roberts and it appears Roberts is the scorer but both are terrible free throw shooters. So we might see some healthily fouling of them to slow their scoring down.

They will pressure Braden hard and force our offense to start closer to half court. We can’t have errant passes and lazy plays because they will capitalize.

Braden needs to lean on Cox and Harris to release pressure and play off ball more. Honestly, that would be a genius thing to disrupt their defensive plan. Having 1/3 of the sets being run/initiated by Cox/Harris instead. Having Braden setting back screens and setting up his teammates that way.

They are riding a pretty long winning streak and those have a funny way of ending…especially when there hasn’t been a ton of competition along the way.
 
Our guys need to think quick and be ready to shoot that thang. Early on they are going to have 2 guys on Smith like syrup on pancakes. If we piss down our legs like we did against Auburn it could get ugly.

The good news is I feel our out of conference schedule gave us some experience for what we're about to see.
 
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They are definitely older and strong if not big. They are ball hawks on the glass and get a ton of second chances via offensive rebounds. They play a fierce defense and don't make a lot of mistakes so we will have our hands full to stay in the game and keep an opportunity alive to steal a win. Can't let them get a big lead, have to stay i the game from the opening tip until the final buzzer
 
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Lol, I used that same analogy earlier today. (Minus the drug dealer part)

I think Cryer, Wilson , Roberts, Walker Jr are all 23 or older? (For some reason it’s very hard to find some of their actual ages)
Think you’re right on their ages. Believe we offered Cryer in high school and when he went to the portal after Baylor.
 
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I'll ignore the Drug Dealer reference but am aware as most are of why Sampson was in the NBA for 10 years with his history of bending rules at IU, OK and one other. Can Purdue beat Houston definitely but turnovers, rebounding and guarding the 3 point line will have to be at our best to do so.

We happen to have one of their signees from our HS going to UH next year and he has good grades, conducts himself very well in school and on the court and is a very good shooter and baller!
 
Sampson spoke at our summer coaches meeting a couple of summers ago and shared his recruitment philosophy. UH identifies their targets during their Sophomore and Junior years and offers them at the end of their Junior. If they commit they are not allowed to visit other schools on official visits since they committed in return they will get their full ride despite what might happen their Senior year. If they do not commit he moves on and then uses the portal to fill the void as he would when someone leaves the team via the portal. It seems to work and he has a mix of older players due to the COVID addition and young ones that don't have to perform right away. He did not address anything on the NIL deals at that time.
 
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It was the one team I didn't want in our bracket. But I didn't want Tennessee last year and that worked out ok!!

I would really like to see us stay away from bringing a screen up high to Smith. That is going to bring another defender and they will trap the crap out of it. Much rather see Smith be defended by the single coverage and see what he can do out of that. If they run and jump to him, he will need to be ready to get rid of it quickly and the receiver needs to be ready to shoot or attack 4 on 3. Hesitate against this team and it will get ugly. They are a better offensive team than in the years past. Very difficult match-up.
 
Don't know what their GPA is but he is one of the Top Ten Basketball players in the Houston Metro area this year! One of the 10 is also going to Duke and another to LSU.
 
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I usually focus on Roberts when I watch them. He's just a beast. I bet a lot of his props during the season and did pretty well for the most part. This team is tough, strong, and experienced. It's going to take our best game to beat them.
 
I usually focus on Roberts when I watch them. He's just a beast. I bet a lot of his props during the season and did pretty well for the most part. This team is tough, strong, and experienced. It's going to take our best game to beat them.
Honestly I hope we lure them into going to him all game and trade 3 for 2. Use all 5 of Bergs fouls and make him Shaq it from the FT line. Then put up about 30 threes for us and hopefully have a good shooting night for the home faithful.
 
Just from what I've read, they're big, strong, mean and athletic. Sounds very similar to Auburn this year and UConn last year.
Is Smith in for a night?
Will Fletch get any open looks?
I've only seen them once and have not looked at any stats. They are quick and strong as they are athletic. Apparently they shoot well. Their defense swarms similar to a team pressing. In their last game there were quite a few times they had two people on the ball making sure the offensive player was covered before one defender recovered to his man. Purdue will NOT want the court cut down by allowing a Houston to prevent players heading to the lane, as Houston will want to shut that off and force baseline.

When Purdue high Trey ball screen, they will no doubt hard hedge AND possibly bring two in which many times Braden goes towards the sideline to buy more spacing so that if he can get the ball to Trey then there is most likely opposite corner open since that defender generally goes to pick up Trey on his roll. If Trey mixes up the times he tries to score with being a passer of the lane when covered...someone is going to get good looks. I'm fearful of long skip passes due to their athletic ability. Using ball screens on the wings with Myles/Cam would be another different twist as well as NO ball screen by Trey or Trey with a ball screen with CJ or Gicarri might be worth a try to see how Houston does when the anticipated defender is away from the ball at this time. Quick ball movement will produce shots, but Purdue cannot get on Auto mode and throw it away. Purdue will want Houston to play against the set D, but Purdue will want to score by pushing the ball when able. Purdue doesn't want to get into a horse race with them. Does the gym effect the perimeter shooting? If so, then I think Purdue (IF TREY is not in foul trouble) has an advantage.

I look for effectively D'ing up against the two man game between Trey and Braden as a priority by Houston. I also see Houston coming out hard and fast trying to set the tempo and so if Purdue can take care of the ball and get a good shot and not get sped up...THAT will be great for Purdue. Houston as all pressure D wants to speed you up, but any time there is a double a man is open. If Trey is an effective passer, then weakside should be open when he isn't trying to score behind the arc, but Purdue cannot be on its heels with only Houston applying pressure on D...PUrdue may need to drive the ball under control as a counter to the pressure. This will be a tough one I'm sure all of us are aware
 
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I'll ignore the Drug Dealer reference but am aware as most are of why Sampson was in the NBA for 10 years with his history of bending rules at IU, OK and one other. Can Purdue beat Houston definitely but turnovers, rebounding and guarding the 3 point line will have to be at our best to do so.

We happen to have one of their signees from our HS going to UH next year and he has good grades, conducts himself very well in school and on the court and is a very good shooter and baller!
You always have to have a couple of good students to bring the team GPA up where Sampscum is concerned. I don't believe he ever had a player graduate until the past couple of years.
 
Sampson spoke at our summer coaches meeting a couple of summers ago and shared his recruitment philosophy. UH identifies their targets during their Sophomore and Junior years and offers them at the end of their Junior. If they commit they are not allowed to visit other schools on official visits since they committed in return they will get their full ride despite what might happen their Senior year. If they do not commit he moves on and then uses the portal to fill the void as he would when someone leaves the team via the portal. It seems to work and he has a mix of older players due to the COVID addition and young ones that don't have to perform right away. He did not address anything on the NIL deals at that time.
Did he mention Cheaters Anon and whether it's helped him any?
 
You always have to have a couple of good students to bring the team GPA up where Sampscum is concerned. I don't believe he ever had a player graduate until the past couple of years.
In the past graduation rates were definitely important and rewarded but in today's NCAA, NIL world determined by our Politicians it means next to nothing! If you are eligible to play is all that counts especially with all the transfers that have transcripts that do not add up to a hill of beans anymore. They got their money and have no eligibility left so out the door the go and not just at some schools but at many schools!
 
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I've only seen them once and have not looked at any stats. They are quick and strong as they are athletic. Apparently they shoot well. Their defense swarms similar to a team pressing. In their last game there were quite a few times they had two people on the ball making sure the offensive player was covered before one defender recovered to his man. Purdue will NOT want the court cut down by allowing a Houston to prevent players heading to the lane, as Houston will want to shut that off and force baseline.

When Purdue high Trey ball screen, they will no doubt hard hedge AND possibly bring two in which many times Braden goes towards the sideline to buy more spacing so that if he can get the ball to Trey then there is most likely opposite corner open since that defender generally goes to pick up Trey on his roll. If Trey mixes up the times he tries to score with being a passer of the lane when covered...someone is going to get good looks. I'm fearful of long skip passes due to their athletic ability. Using ball screens on the wings with Myles/Cam would be another different twist as well as NO ball screen by Trey or Trey with a ball screen with CJ or Gicarri might be worth a try to see how Houston does when the anticipated defender is away from the ball at this time. Quick ball movement will produce shots, but Purdue cannot get on Auto mode and throw it away. Purdue will want Houston to play against the set D, but Purdue will want to score by pushing the ball when able. Purdue doesn't want to get into a horse race with them. Does the gym effect the perimeter shooting? If so, then I think Purdue (IF TREY is not in foul trouble) has an advantage.

I look for effectively D'ing up against the two man game between Trey and Braden as a priority by Houston. I also see Houston coming out hard and fast trying to set the tempo and so if Purdue can take care of the ball and get a good shot and not get sped up...THAT will be great for Purdue. Houston as all pressure D wants to speed you up, but any time there is a double a man is open. If Trey is an effective passer, then weakside should be open when he isn't trying to score behind the arc, but Purdue cannot be on its heels with only Houston applying pressure on D...PUrdue may need to drive the ball under control as a counter to the pressure. This will be a tough one I'm sure all of us are aware
Houston will blitz Smith in the PnR and tag TKR so getting the ball to the wing be the only outlet. I say Braden should pause when this happens and continue to occupy two players as cutters move into the lane where there may be an opening.
 
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In the past graduation rates were definitely important and rewarded but in today's NCAA, NIL world determined by our Politicians it means next to nothing! If you are eligible to play is all that counts especially with all the transfers that have transcripts that do not add up to a hill of beans anymore. They got their money and have no eligibility left so out the door the go and not just at some schools but at many schools!
Do they even track graduation rates anymore!?
 
Houston will blitz Smith in the PnR and tag TKR so getting the ball to the wing be the only outlet. I say Braden should pause when this happens and continue to occupy two players as cutters move into the lane where there may be an opening.
So I am wondering if a screen and re-screen might be beneficial or even setting a double screen with the second screen being on either the original defender or the high hedge man, maybe causing a bit more disruption or chaos in their rotation 🤷
🖤💛🏀😎
 
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