Our Defense

[Hunt for 7]

IMO a few doses of the 2-1-2, 3-2 or Box+1 Zone internmingled with the m2m would add some differnt looks and cause the opposng offenses some difficulty in adjusting. And, as soon as they adjust, switch back to m2m.

I agree that mixing it up could help create some indecision for the opposition. Basically be a man to man defense but at times surprise the opponent with a zone. Don’t care what type just the one we are best at in practice.

My point being is how much lower in defensive metrics until we decide to make some tweaks to what is clearly not working.

 

[ucp990411]

I love these threads in which boneyarders talk like they know more than our coaches. These coaches eat, drink and sleep basketball. Don’t you think they actually discuss every possibility? They meet every day before practice and toss around different ideas

 

[FreeKlaiber]

You can still play man, but just not attacking/denying everywhere. Give a step (or 2 if needed). Foot in paint when you are two passes away. If someone drives, you have other defenders playing help-the problem is you give up the open three.

Our identity is, We attack on our man D with the high hedge and subsequent rotation, trying to wear down others with shot clock violations or stops. Not gonna happen this year. Simply going to a traditional man, with shell drill team defense fundamentals would be what I'd like to see. DH knows more about defense than any of us. I just think, that he thinks he can coach them up, but 5 man out ISO's are gonna be what we will see when it matters if others do a good scout, and we dont have an answer IMO.

 

[yungdowork]

I see a lot of talk about the high hedge in this thread, but from what I saw that isn't really what hurt us against Creighton. Kalkbrenner got below his season average on less than 50% from the floor. When the hedge isn't working, it looks more like in 2022 when Kalkbrenner went 10-14 and got 22 while running Sanogo ragged.

Our biggest issue in this game was just not being able to guard Jamiya Neal in the first half, and that comes down to Solo and Stewart. I thought Ross did a better job guarding him than either of those guys, but just isn't providing enough on offense at the moment to earn major minutes

 

[gsmooth]

I see a lot of talk about the high hedge in this thread, but from what I saw that isn't really what hurt us against Creighton. Kalkbrenner got below his season average on less than 50% from the floor. When the hedge isn't working, it looks more like in 2022 when Kalkbrenner went 10-14 and got 22 while running Sanogo ragged.

Our biggest issue in this game was just not being able to guard Jamiya Neal in the first half, and that comes down to Solo and Stewart. I thought Ross did a better job guarding him than either of those guys, but just isn't providing enough on offense at the moment to earn major minutes

If they were able to prevent Jamiya Neal from going on his inferno, I think UConn wins this game comfortably. I have watched Creighton a lot this year. When Neal starts off cold or not doing anything, he usually remains cold or disengaged the rest of the game.

What got him going were the two easy baskets at the beginning which were a layup from Ball losing sight of him to the 25 ft straight drive to a dunk where he blew by Ball as if he was stuck in mud. Then he started hitting more difficult shots he created off of 1-on-1 moves such as step back 3s and the tough drive and shot over Stewart and Reed Jr. and at that point I was thinking "uh oh".

Role players going off against UConn unfortunately is happening too much. I keep reading UConn is unlucky with players getting hot, but when this keeps happening to UConn and not so much the other teams, it's an epidemic of bad defense from UConn. Look at Dante Maddox Jr of Xavier. He looked like Steph Curry against UConn with 22 points. It took him the next 5 games to score 22 points and that includes a 14 pt game against Seton Hall who stinks. If you eliminate the Seton Hall game, Maddox Jr has only scored 19 points total in the next 6 games after the UConn game.

 

[jibsey]

I love these threads in which boneyarders talk like they know more than our coaches. These coaches eat, drink and sleep basketball. Don’t you think they actually discuss every possibility? They meet every day before practice and toss around different ideas

It’s true of course but our coaches are still trying things and will ride the hot hand in many cases as they should. This ain’t paint by the numbers. I wonder how they are going to try to get Reed and Karaban more involved in the offense.

 

[mauconnfan]

Someone needs to gently remind DH we don't have Isaiah Whaley anymore. It might be time to end the high hedge

Please keep repeating this, thank you. Both 5s aren’t very good at it, one extends and doesn’t get back all the time the other extends gets back a little more but is never in rebounding position. Add to that our help defense or at least the understanding of it is horrible. I can’t tell you how many times I see the other teams kid go to the basket, beat his guy off the dribble and the weakside defenders are clinging to their guys with no idea of jumping off to help or hey, how about picking up a charge?

They’re not good on D it’s not going to change. Change some defensive strategy, maybe even some zone? But the high hedge, lose it after 1 step out no more than that!

 

[FreeKlaiber]

I can’t tell you how many times I see the other teams kid go to the basket, beat his guy off the dribble and the weakside defenders are clinging to their guys with no idea of jumping off to help or hey, how about picking up a charge?

Pretty sure this is a coaching philosophy decision. To not give the help D, because it would give up open 3, allowing them to attack and kick. He coaches them to stay on their men, and you are on an island defending the penetration. Hence the Iso dilemma. What Jay Wright did to us (and everyone). Against Dixon we did run a double team at times, but otherwise you need to wall up on your own. Its infuriating to see the layups without shot blocker cleaning up, due to no help D. I was yelling this 2 yrs ago but what do I know,then Danny won his first one, as the team came around. Hope it happens again?