ESPN Article - Top 10 Defenses

[David 76]

Brimah can erase a fair amount of mistakes on D made on the perimeter. But he needs to stay in the game. T Sam will be a defensive factor with Boat, Rock will add a quality we haven't had in a while.
Others will play D or sit. We will be good.

 

[nomar]

I don't care where you rank us, especially with several unknowns in our lineup, but any insider who doesn't mention Boat in discussing our defense this year isn't very much of an insider.

Actually, their head is probably "inside" their you-know-what.

You didn't need to be an insider to notice Boat's post-season D.

 

[WhereistheDove?]

Boat certainly deserved a mention in that blurb. He disrupted every backcourt UConn played on its run to the title. Little dude needs more props.

Between boat and Samuel, it's going to be 40 minutes a night of tough going for opposing guards. Having a guy like that off the bench is a heck of a luxury.

 

[Dogdeacon]

Boat certainly deserved a mention in that blurb. He disrupted every backcourt UConn played on its run to the title. Little dude needs more props.

I'd go a lot further. My opening on UConn would be; 'The Huskies won the 2014 NCAA championship In part because their defensive backcourt quickness neutralized virtually every guard they faced and disrupted opponents offenses. '

 

[mauconnfan]

I'd go a lot further. My opening on UConn would be; 'The Huskies won the 2014 NCAA championship In part because their defensive backcourt quickness neutralized virtually every guard they faced and disrupted opponents offenses. '

UF and UK guards were afraid to put the ball on the floor at times as was Archie at Nova. Smothering is a good word and pests come to mind also........Linehan-ish

 

[CL82]

Boatright, Purvis, and Brimah will be good. We'll see how DHam and Facey can do. They can go offense-defense with TSam for D and DHam for O.

One of the strengths of this year's team is going to be that guards you face in the game are going to be a heck of easier to defend and score on than the guys you face everyday in practice. Look for Boat and Purvis to push each other. TSam is no slouch either.

 

[sledog]

7 fouls per game. Cr#p. The secret is out.

 

[Deadrody]

No but it's not Top 10 to me? No one said it's not somewhat successful but it's also their undoing every year they leave early. They run into a team not half as good who makes some shots and they do not get out of that zone - is that top 10? I mean I'm ok with those who agree I just don't!

And you have to into account the fact that most of what makes the zone effective is that it's not usually what teams play against. You can effectively counter a zone defense, but if you sit back and take long threes because you can, you lose. That doesn't make the defense "good", it makes the defense gimmicky but effective because the offense is lazy.

The only time the SU zone is "good" is when they can get guys like Hakeem Warrick on the wing at 6'9".