Playing zone

[4ontheT]

I thought that switching to "zone" was an important part of the defensive scheme this evening. Took away the driving option for the most part.
Also ...the ability of Tiffany Hayes to get up and continue to play after some of the poundings she takes ....truly amazes me .

 

[VAMike23]

I thought that switching to "zone" was an important part of the defensive scheme this evening. Took away the driving option for the most part.
Also ...the ability of Tiffany Hayes to get up and continue to play after some of the poundings she takes ....truly amazes me .

You've got that right - Tiff takes a licking and keeps on ticking! +1 !

(Actually there's only one player strong enough and tough enough to knock Tiffany out of the game, and that's Maya Moore! )

 

[Scotter]

I think UConn could have played much better defense in man-to-man, and UConn wouldn't have given up as many offensive rebounds or fouled as much. The zone left players out of position and arriving late. I don't think the zone was a great defensive strategy, but I thought it worked overall though because it allowed UConn to conserve energy on defense. So UConn traded some defensive effectiveness for offensive effectiveness. Geno confirmed as much after the game.

 

[UcMiami]

I think UConn could have played much better defense in man-to-man, and UConn wouldn't have given up as many offensive rebounds or fouled as much. The zone left players out of position and arriving late. I don't think the zone was a great defensive strategy, but I thought it worked overall though because it allowed UConn to conserve energy on defense. So UConn traded some defensive effectiveness for offensive effectiveness. Geno confirmed as much after the game.

Most of the fouls came in the first half before they switched to zone. They played almost the whole second half in zone and had very few fouls. A lot of the first half fouls came because Kentucky was driving past their man and Uconn was then scrambling.
Midway in the second half the zone change a bit to where they were almost trapping the ball handler up top - not quite, but constantly squeezing in and threatening. Hadn't seen that 'half trap' defense before but thought it was very effective.

 

[Scotter]

UConn started off the game in zone. It's not something they switched to with the intention of stopping the fouling. I'll take a sceond look at the half tomorrow, but the offensive rebounds were definitely a product of the zone. The second half was as you described, but that was also after the coaches made it clear to them at the half to stop fouling.

Most of the fouls came in the first half before they switched to zone. They played almost the whole second half in zone and had very few fouls. A lot of the first half fouls came because Kentucky was driving past their man and Uconn was then scrambling.
Midway in the second half the zone change a bit to where they were almost trapping the ball handler up top - not quite, but constantly squeezing in and threatening. Hadn't seen that 'half trap' defense before but thought it was very effective.