Defense............

[mauconnfan]

Okay we've hammered on players long enough now the staff needs a little. I could be wrong on this so feel free to bash but I'm going to give it a try based on watching this team.............

Time to take the stubborn out Jim and mix in some zone with this squad. Many reasons for this:

1) Most teams we play give us huge matchup problems because they are much smaller and don't allow our bigs to play near the basket all the time, therefore making UC to change lineups. And reality is we already give up the 3 but usually because of being picked off.

2) The need to keep Andre around the basket in an area of impact. He is a shotblocker and changer and needs to have a "spot" rather than roaming and looking for steals.

3) Our guards are fast and can get to shooters from their spots rather than being picked to death because they aren't stron enough to get through or big enough. Also on occasion having Jeremy on top of a 2-3 or 3-2 would drive shooters nuts.

4) More opportunity to play AO and Andre together without losing on that end due to the matchup issues.

5) All of our guards play for the big steal and never keep their guys in front of them. Too much allowing guys into the paint and therefore leaving it up to bigs to leave their guys and the domino has begun...........

6) Give them a new identity on defense, make it fun....not all the time but if it's working stay with it. Everyone else changes up and maybe JC and the staff need to think this way with this team who cannot identify their requirements to be good defenders. Big guys don't move their feet on the baseline and block and guards are always looking for the big play.

Time for change? I'm not sure but I think it is worth a try especially as I see it work for everyone else. I know the stubborn Irishman may not do it but this team in particular may be very good in that siutation. They're big and long like the Cuse!!!

Have at it people..................

 

[Dogbreath2U]

Play zone? What are you, a heretic? Questioning JC? We clearly need to hang you, burn you up, and run you through the shredder (not necessarily in that order)

I have found myself thinking the same thing as AD is so often not a factor on defense, being pulled outside and not getting back to the basket. Our perimeter guys do not stay in front of their man well (with possible exception of Giffey who does a little better than most). Blaney tried to go to a zone against SHU and we gave up 2 quick baskets and that was the end of that. I doubt that JC would shift the defense that drastically this far into a season, but it might be interesting if they could get good enough to shift to it at times and give the other team a different look.

 

[businesslawyer]

Play zone? What are you, a heretic? Questioning JC? We clearly need to hang you, burn you up, and run you through the shredder (not necessarily in that order)

No, that order is right. It's very difficult to hand someone after you've run them through the shredder

 

[mauconnfan]

No, that order is right. It's very difficult to hand someone after you've run them through the shredder

You guys are tough........."have at it" wasnt shredder talk!! LOL

I get that it's late in the game for change but reality is they don't get man defense that well. They do on occasion but not all in!! Hey there's teams out there playing worst defense than our Huskies and let's be honest, they are struggling to score the ball and that magnifies the D end. But mixing some in would not hurt. I wouldn't go by the Hall game either they simply caught fire and were scoring against anything and anyone, it happens. With certain lineups it wouldn't hurt at all.........Bazz, Jeremy, Giff/DD, Andre and AO for instance.....long and quick to the ball!!

But I agree very late in the season but it's really BBall 101 and hard work