| Name | Yr. | Pos. | Flex | Motion | Triangle | Fastbreak | Man | Zone | Press |
|---|
| David Miser | Sr. | PG | D- | A | D- | D- | B- | A | A |
| Phillip Johnson | Jr. | PG | D- | A- | D- | D | B- | B+ | A- |
| Steven Pittman | So. | PG | D- | B+ | D- | D- | B- | B- | B+ |
| Ted Sloan | Jr. | SG | D- | A- | D- | C | B- | B+ | A- |
| James Bagby | Fr. | SG | F | B- | C- | F | B- | D+ | C |
| Leo Bondurant | Sr. | SF | D- | A+ | C- | D- | B- | A+ | A+ |
| Marshall Hickman | Jr. | SF | D- | A- | D- | D- | B- | B+ | A- |
| Duane Nuckolls | Fr. | SF | C | B- | F | F | B- | D+ | B- |
| Robert Couture | Sr. | C | D- | A | C- | D- | B- | A- | A |
| Andrew Bolton | Jr. | C | D | B+ | D- | D- | C+ | B+ | B+ |
| David Petitt | So. | C | D+ | B | D- | D- | B- | B- | B+ |
| Christopher Harvey | Fr. | C | F | B | F | F | B | C- | B- |
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This is an interesting matchup because the Jayhawks match up well with the Spartans at the PG and SF slots, and can hypothetically keep up at the SG slot to some degree (they have a nice player, but Russo still has an advantage across the board). They have a disadvantage in the frontcourt, both in terms of quality and depth.
In terms of their overall statistical production, the Jayhawks seem to eschew the 3-point shot, for the most part, more than a typical, well-rounded team. They have a tendency to lose when they go cold from the 3-point line, so that may explain it...and they do go stone cold...like 0-for-13. I'd say a well rounded team would shoot a 3 pointer between 27% and 30% of their shots (with 3-centric teams getting up to and above 33%). The Jayhawks shoot them in 20.3% of their shots, while the Spartans shoot them in 28.7%.
Their assist-to-turnover ratio is 11.5 to 13.8, a definite area of weakness. In the majority of their 7 losses this year, they've faced a fullcourt or halfcourt press.
With that said, they've got an interesting defensive system, and will most likely be running an uptempo halfcourt press...probably, but not definitely man/press.
If I were calling the gameplan, I'd say a packed-in fullcourt press, with it being a gametime decision what tempo to use. I give the Spartans about a 65% chance of winning this game. My initial estimation was that it was a 50% tossup, but having looked at the team in depth, I see some soft spots.