Kibitzer
Sky Soldier
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Today we are fortunate to be able to read a masterful comparison ot Duke vs. UConn (by UConnCat on another thread) comparable to those we have been privy to by HuskyNan and DoggyDaddy, among others.
One unavoidable flaw in these posts is that a casual viewer of wcbb could mistakenly get the impression that there will be five games of one-on-one going on, which we know is not the case. Teams like UConn and Duke vary their defenses -- sometimes man-to-man, sometimes zone, sometimes a variation, plus lots of switching and "help" defense. Thus, the match-ups of players, position by position, are more like comparisons of players at each position.
Game plans by coaches are based on both the skills and flaws of individuals and teams.
Back on October 26, I addressed this on a post (#96351, thank you) because I noted a tendency of 'Yarders to focus on how UConn players would match up aainst opponents, often in a worrisome way. So I started that long-forgotten post, "Let's go over to the other side. . ." and consider the challenge faced by opposing coaches as they prepare to play UConn.
So, if I am Duke's Coach "P," what am I telling my players to watch out for?
"First, you have to break the full court press and get into your offense in the fore court in less than ten seconds. The less (than 20 seconds) time you have remaining, the greater chance you will get bad looks and, by logical extension, have more misses and more vulnerability to UConn's transition game.
"You must limit Dolson's touches when she is in the low post by denying entry passes (not a strong aspect of UConn's half-court offense). But once she gets the ball in the low post, double her immediately because she can overwhelm a lone defender there."
Coach P would surely go on to develop a defense that would limit penetration by Hartley or Hayes, describe how to match up on "D" if/when Stokes is on the court with Dolson, and to never leave KML open on the perimeter. Or Hayes. Or Hartley.
What's my point? Simple. the opposing coaches almost always have a greater challenge when drawing up a game plan than Geno does preparing for them.
Think about it. How would you prep your team to face UConn's stifling defense and the offensive firepower of KML, Hayes, Hartley, Dolson, et al. That makes them earn their pay.
One unavoidable flaw in these posts is that a casual viewer of wcbb could mistakenly get the impression that there will be five games of one-on-one going on, which we know is not the case. Teams like UConn and Duke vary their defenses -- sometimes man-to-man, sometimes zone, sometimes a variation, plus lots of switching and "help" defense. Thus, the match-ups of players, position by position, are more like comparisons of players at each position.
Game plans by coaches are based on both the skills and flaws of individuals and teams.
Back on October 26, I addressed this on a post (#96351, thank you) because I noted a tendency of 'Yarders to focus on how UConn players would match up aainst opponents, often in a worrisome way. So I started that long-forgotten post, "Let's go over to the other side. . ." and consider the challenge faced by opposing coaches as they prepare to play UConn.
So, if I am Duke's Coach "P," what am I telling my players to watch out for?
"First, you have to break the full court press and get into your offense in the fore court in less than ten seconds. The less (than 20 seconds) time you have remaining, the greater chance you will get bad looks and, by logical extension, have more misses and more vulnerability to UConn's transition game.
"You must limit Dolson's touches when she is in the low post by denying entry passes (not a strong aspect of UConn's half-court offense). But once she gets the ball in the low post, double her immediately because she can overwhelm a lone defender there."
Coach P would surely go on to develop a defense that would limit penetration by Hartley or Hayes, describe how to match up on "D" if/when Stokes is on the court with Dolson, and to never leave KML open on the perimeter. Or Hayes. Or Hartley.
What's my point? Simple. the opposing coaches almost always have a greater challenge when drawing up a game plan than Geno does preparing for them.
Think about it. How would you prep your team to face UConn's stifling defense and the offensive firepower of KML, Hayes, Hartley, Dolson, et al. That makes them earn their pay.
