Another super-tough one w/out Dylan. It's something of a longshot but doable. There's tremendous parity in the conference.
Without knowing much about the matchups, I'd open with Lathan, Ace, DG, Jordan, and Jeremiah. I think we're very vulnerable to press, so, though he's about the last person I'd like to see on the floor, this may mean an extended stretch of JMike. In addition to pressing us, I'd go at Lathan who can guard pretty well (his defensive weaknesses are not covering his man in the post) and can score so must be covered. Get him in trouble and we play without a five--Zach or Dylan.
Keys to winning are pretty much what they always are, for all teams: minimize TOs; take open shots if there--sometimes we force things into the lane; someone, preferrably two someone's get hot. I'd probably put Jordan on Martinelli (crafty, and imo would quickle get DG in foul trouble). Typically, given being down two starters, defensively I'd likely try to give them only one way to beat us (in short, if NW is gonna win take away layups and midrange or take away 3s) but give them ONE way only. Difficulty is that if we deny threes and force them to drive our three rim protectors are vulnerable frosh.
Don't lose contact, limit turnovers, make shots, get the better half of luck in final three mins.
Upstream Red-team!
