Final Thoughts, Pre-Sweet 16

Collinsworth Getting Comfortable
After re-watching the Gonzaga game in its entirety, I noticed that true freshman Kyle Collinsworth is really coming into his own.  He has been looking better in rebounding situations for a few games now.  He really has found his legs again and is skying to control the defensive glass.  Against the Zags, he looked comfortable getting to the rim, he looked smooth on his free throws, and he seemed right at home putting the ball on the floor and playing the point.  BYU could use a little help in all facets.  Without a true post player (no, James Anderson does not count), they need Collinsworth to have confidence around the rim to score points and draw fouls, and then convert at the line.  His ability to handle the ball for a few possessions in a row can take pressure off of Jimmer and free him up for some of his off-the-ball magic (which is very underrated!).  Collinsworth has found a way to get back to his mid-season form.  And just at the right time too.

Zoning Up
BYU incorporates several different strategies within its 2-3 zone, based on the opponent's strengths.  What BYU was able to do against Gonzaga should work even better against Florida.  The weak-side defenders were really cheating down low to help on the bigger interior players for the Zags.  Gonzaga was occasionally able to use that to hit open threes with a skip pass or by going inside-out.  Florida has better passers in the post, but worse shooters on the outside.  Perhaps a similar strategy of really making a concerted effort to clog the middle will help the Cougars.  Florida may be able to hit threes and make BYU pay: but I'd much rather make Florida beat me using one of their weaknesses than I would letting them go to one of their strengths.

With that said, whatever defensive strategies Coach Rose comes up with seem to turn to gold (with the exception of the first two games against New Mexico).  I would expect to see BYU give Macklin a difficult time getting touches and good looks by incorporating more of a Gonzaga-style 2-3 zone than the one BYU employed in the MWC Tournament against New Mexico.

Confirming My Thoughts
After watching the Gonzaga game, BYU has what it takes to slay this SEC "giant."  They don't need to be perfect, they don't need to shoot lights out, they don't need to get 10 steals.  They just need to play solid defense and get contributions from a couple of different sources on offense.  They can give up 35 points in the paint and get outrebounded by 10 and win the game.  I wouldn't say a similar thing for Florida: they cannot give up 12 threes and be minus 5 in turnovers and win.  If BYU loses the battles they are supposed to lose, they will still have a chance, even if there is a seemingly large disparity.  If Florida loses the battles they are supposed to lose, they will lose the game.  I like BYU to play well, but stay in a close game.  I like the way Jimmer closes games out with 6 minutes left, where most guys wait until there are 2 or 3 minutes left before doing their thing.  That is why I picked (and am sticking with it) BYU to pull away in the final 6 minutes for a 9-point win, 81-72.