Finding the missing pieces for top teams with holes
Your favorite team has problems. The Jigsaw Man has solutions.
Every year, the Jigsaw Man burns up his TiVo in an effort to scour the country looking for holes to fill. Then he comes up with the perfectly-shaped piece to step into that void. The Jigsaw Man doesn't ask for thanks, or remuneration, or gifts or even praise. He is simply grateful for the chance to do his job and do it well. He also warns that you shouldn't try this at home, especially if your wife wants to TiVo American Idol on occasion.
Herewith, the Jigsaw Man's 12 favorite puzzles:
Arizona
Biggest deficiency: Much was made about the hiring of Kevin O'Neill to shore up the Wildcats' defense, but even the best coaching won't cure anything if the personnel isn't there. Arizona has some good individual defenders -- Jerryd Bayless has been a pleasant surprise as a ball hawk and Nic Wise is second in the Pac-10 in steals -- but the Cats need someone who can lock his man down on the wing, yet be versatile enough to body up bigs down low.
Missing piece:Marcus Dove, 6-9, Sr., F, Oklahoma State
Dove hasn't developed into a consistent offensive threat (he raised his scoring average from 4.7 to 10.4 points this season, but his field-goal percentage has dropped from 58.3 to 45.5 percent), but there is no more feared defensive player in the Big 12. Dove is big enough to defend the post, yet Sean Sutton has sometimes matched him up against a shooting guard. Arizona has enough players looking to score. Dove would win O'Neill's heart and mind with his defense and selflessness.
Duke
Biggest deficiency: When your best inside player is Brian Zoubek -- and he's hurt -- you know you've got a hole in the middle. It hasn't cost the Blue Devils much as they've dashed their way to a 17-1 record, but at some point during the NCAA tournament they're going to go cold from outside against a physical team. That's when they'll need a beast inside to push them through.
Missing piece: Richard Hendrix, 6-9, Jr., F, Alabama
Since the Crimson Tide are probably not going to the tournament, it's only fair Hendrix tag along with Duke for the ride. He's leading the SEC in rebounds (10.2 per game) and is third in both scoring (19.4 ppg) and blocks (2.15 bpg). He's also a very good passer who will be able to recognize double teams and find Duke's three-point shooters.
Kentucky
Biggest deficiency: It's been a frustrating and inconsistent season for the Wildcats with guards Derrick Jasper and Jodie Meeks hampered by injuries. Even more perplexing has been the inconsistency of the two healthy veterans in the backcourt, Ramel Bradley and Joe Crawford. So while I'm sure Billy Gillispie would love to have another big body inside to complement freshman Patrick Patterson, what this team really needs is one solid, efficient, smart combo guard who can make the offense run smoothly.
Missing piece: Brian Roberts, 6-2, Sr., G, Dayton
Roberts was recruited as a combo guard, but he was shifted to point guard his sophomore year and has matured each season -- without sacrificing his ability to score. This year, he has been the model of efficiency: 19.3 points per game, 49.6 percent from the field, 44.3 percent from three-point range, 1.6-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. Best of all, he has an even-keeled demeanor, which you must have to succeed in the pressure of the bluegrass.
Louisville
Biggest deficiency: Rick Pitino likes to say the college basketball three-point line is a chip shot. If that's true, he's got a bunch of 22-handicappers. The Cardinals have just one player (Andre McGee) who makes more than 40 percent from three, yet they still jack up long shots without conscience. But to play in Pitino's offense, you need to do more than hit threes. You've got to be athletic enough to apply full-court pressure on defense while being a good enough ball handler to dribble through it.
Missing piece: Jack McClinton, 6-1, Jr., G, Miami
McClinton does a little of everything for the Hurricanes, but what he does best is make shots. He leads the ACC in free-throw shooting (91.1 percent), he's third in three-point shooting (46.0 percent) and he's sixth in scoring (16.1 ppg). He's also averaging 3.1 assists and is a hard-nosed, no-frills competitor. Frankly, the Cardinals could use another good locker room guy.
Marquette
Biggest deficiency: Like Duke, Marquette is suffering from lack of a decent inside player. Unlike Duke, the Golden Eagles' guards can go extended stretches without generating their own offense. This team needs a big body inside who also provides a dynamic scoring presence.
Missing piece: Jason Thompson, 6-11, Sr., F, Rider
It's a shame that Thompson, a late bloomer from Mt. Laurel, N.J., is toiling in obscurity at Rider. He is a big, agile power forward with a nice shooter's touch around the rim. Thompson leads the MAAC in rebounds (11.2) and blocks (2.8), and he is second in the conference in points (19.9). His ability to draw double teams should open up lots of driving lanes for Marquette's speedy guards.
Memphis
Biggest deficiency: What do you give the team that has everything? Well, the only dent in Memphis' armor is free-throw shooting. The Tigers' 58.7 percent clip is ranked 337th in the nation. Plus, while 6-10 sophomore Shawn Taggart is giving Memphis some surprising offensive punch (averaging 6.8 points in 16.3 minutes), the Tigers are a little thin in the frontcourt, which leaves them susceptible when Joey Dorsey gets into foul trouble.
Missing piece: Brian Laing, 6-5, Sr., F, Seton Hall
Laing may be a bit undersized for a forward, but he is still grabbing 7.4 rebounds per game for the Pirates. More important, he is seventh in the Big East in free-throw shooting at 80.6 percent. He might have to concentrate on rebounding and take fewer shots if he's playing for Memphis, but at least he'd be on the floor at the end of close games.
Michigan State
Biggest deficiency: In the preseason, Tom Izzo said he wanted to get back to the up-tempo attack like the one spearheaded by Mateen Cleaves and Morris Peterson. Well, this Spartans team has too often been stuck in the mud. Their numbers are pretty good -- Michigan State is second in the Big Ten in scoring (73.9 ppg) and 24th nationally in offensive efficiency -- but their problem is they don't get enough easy baskets. Since conference play has begun, Michigan State hasn't hit the 80-point mark once, and the Spartans only scored 36 points in a loss at Iowa.
Missing piece: Courtney Lee, 6-5, Sr., G, Western Kentucky
Here's another mid-major stud worthy of a bigger stage. Lee is a big, athletic guard with a great touch (he's shooting 50.3 percent from the field, 37.4 percent from three-point range and 86.0 percent from the foul line). This year he added a mid-range game, which is why he's averaging 21.3 points.
Oregon
Biggest deficiency: It doesn't take a genius to figure this one out. (Though the Jigsaw Man is certainly genius-like.) The Ducks lost a stellar point guard, Aaron Brooks, who took them to the Elite Eight, and haven't replaced him. Their only true point guard is 6-2 Kamyron Brown, but he has shown typical freshman inconsistency. Tajuan Porter, a 5-6 sophomore, is doing his best to run the offense, but he is a pure scorer with little feel for the position. Oregon needs someone who is smart enough to run the offense but also quick enough to push the Ducks' transition game and set up their athletic wings on the break.
Missing piece: Drew Lavender, 5-7, Sr., G, Xavier
Lavender and Porter might form the smallest backcourt in America, but it would also be one of the best. Lavender's speed and ability to find open guys has never been a problem, but it has taken him five long years (he sat out one season after transferring from Oklahoma) to learn how to play under control. Porter, Bryce Taylor and Malik Hairson would have plenty of open looks with Lavender running the point. He could even have some fun posting up Porter in practice.
North Carolina
Biggest deficiency: Clearly, the Tar Heels' biggest problems are on defense. They have had a lot of trouble stopping dribble penetration, but you could say that about a lot of teams. What North Carolina misses most is a back-line defender who can erase everyone else's defensive mistakes. That's what Brandon Wright did for them last year, but without him the Heels are ranked eighth in the ACC in blocks (4.3).
Missing piece: Jarvis Varnado, 6-9, So., C, Mississippi State
Vanardo is only an inch taller than North Carolina's starting forwards, Tyler Hansbrough and Deon Thompson, but he is blessed with long arms, quick jumping ability and uncanny timing. He leads the nation with 5.1 blocks per game -- that's more than the Heels are getting as a team -- and while he doesn't have much range on his shot, his ability to run the floor would fit perfectly within Roy Williams' secondary break.
Texas
Biggest deficiency: Did you see the way Texas A&M kept pounding the ball inside against the Longhorns on Wednesday night? That had to really irk Rick Barnes, whose teams have always been characterized by interior strength and toughness. Texas also lacks depth, and while I'm sure Barnes would love to have another point guard so he doesn't have to play D.J. Augustin 39 minutes a game, the reality is you can only go so far with Connor Atchley as your starting center.
Missing piece: Shaun Pruitt, 6-10, Sr., C, Illinois
When you're the best player on a bad team, you tend to be unappreciated. There is nothing fancy about Pruitt's game. He takes smart shots (which is why he's sixth in the Big Ten in field-goal percentage at 53.2 percent) and he's a monster on the boards (7.6 per game, fifth in the league). Plus, he's a senior who could give the young Longhorns the benefit of his wisdom.
Vanderbilt
Biggest deficiency: Talk about a team in free fall. Since starting the season 16-0, the Commodores have lost four of their last five games. They basically have two problems right now. The first is on defense; Vandy's ranked last in the SEC in scoring D (76.3 ppg), 10th in field goal defense (43.6 percent) and ninth in three-point defense (35.4 percent). On offense, they don't have enough players who can break down defenders off the dribble and find open shooters. This is especially important since Shan Foster is a catch-and-shoot guy who has trouble creating his own shot.
Missing piece: Devan Downey, 5-9, So., PG, South Carolina
The only thing Downey can't do right now is win, but that's not his fault. He is a whiz with the ball who is ranked second in the SEC in scoring (19.6) and third in assists (5.1). Best of all, he is leading the nation in steals at 3.35 per game. He can solve many of Vanderbilt's problems on both ends.
Washington State
Biggest deficiency: The Cougars have a reputation as plodders, but last year that wasn't the case. That's because they had an athletic jumping jack in Ivory Clark. With Clark gone, they're back to slowing it down and pounding inside to Aron Baynes, but I'd love to see Wazzu's push the tempo a little more. They have the guards to lead the break, they just don't have someone like Clark to finish it.
Missing piece: Jawann McClellan, 6-4, Sr., G, Arizona.
McClellan remains a steady if unspectacular glue guy in Tucson, but the Cougs could really benefit from the energy he would bring, especially on the break. It takes a lot of poise and patience to be able to play Washington State's style, and McClellan has plenty of both.
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