Should We Give Different Looks Defensively?

[Brad Palmer]

According to the play-by-play stats, we only made 2 defensive stops in the final 9:15 of the game! (I didn't count it as a stop if we fouled Cincy and they missed a free throw.)

By this point in the season, shouldn't we have some sort of different defensive looks as an option? 2-2-1 press; some type of zone D, etc...?

It seems as if every opponent throws something different defensively at us for at least a few minutes each game. This protects players/team when in foul trouble, less "wear and tear" fighting through screens, etc...

 

[zls44]

UConn made one FG in the last seven minutes, I believe. Its hard to set a different defense when you don't make shots.

 

[boog204]

No... Every time we've shown zone this year we've given up an easy bucket. Too small up front and our guys close out and extend very poorly.

 

[mauconnfan]

With Rodney, Turtle, TSam, Sam Jr and DHam in the future we can throw some big guards out on the top of a press and or half court zone trap…….with this team way too easy to look and throw over these guys we're always outsized on top…...

 

[Kitaman]

Our small guards looked much smaller last night. It was painful at times to see Boat's height limitation on display. Him next to Bazz really became an opportunity for Cincy. When Samuel and Kromah were playing the other guard position we seemed to be less vulnerable and less comprimised. Both were tall enough to attack the basket (Bazz as well, but he has tricks).

Some teams we can get away with it, with others it becomes challanging. Just maybe that's why Ollie has been recruiting big guards.

 

[Danzz]

Our defense was good enough to win most games. The problem was Cincinnati's defense was better and a lot better in the last few minutes.

 

[Rico444]

Since the Texas debacle, we've held teams to 35% shooting. Defense hasn't been the problem.

 

[Brad Palmer]

*** Forget the defensive shooting percentage stats (which can be overrated): 2 stops in the last 9 minutes of a close game doesn't constitute "good defense" to me.

*** Why is it harder to change defenses off of a missed shot? You can't press, but can certainly mix it up in the half court.

*** It's true that our limited attempts at zone haven't fared well, but I wonder how much the staff and players really put into it, in terms of practice/repetition, different options, etc...

Not saying in any way, shape or form that man to man shouldn't be our main defense, but with Nolan/Brimah's foul troubles, Olander's inability to guard any decent post players in man, refs calling the game tighter, it surprises me that we don't "buy into" other defenses as options. It's also tough to ask Bazz and Boat to play so many minutes against high-level players and expect 100% effort defensively.

 

[boog204]

we get carved up when we play zone... our two front guards are barely 6 feet tall so shooting over the is quite easy. On top of that, one of the ways to beat a zone is to play inside out from the foul line. If our guards are easy to pass over then you make the zone have to rotate and cutters become open. we like to kill 'cuse for playing zone, but they have the perfect pieces to do it. long athletic players who are tough to shoot over and quick enough to rotate and protect the rim. we don't really have that. on top of it, we are a very poor close out team from a defensive standpoint. giff and bazz in particular fly out at their men with little control. against zone this would be exasperated and create even more issues.

as has been said, our defense has been fine; in fact it has been very good. it's the offensive execution that sometimes goes away. cinci is an excellent defensive team, but our shot selection down the stretch was horrid. this is mostly on the player, but KO deserves some blame for allowing this to happen all year. when games get tight we rely on isolation ball. that's a dangerous way to try and win games. bazz has bailed us out a few times, but we cannot expect him to do it every game.

 

[zls44]

I liked the 2-2-1 press they showed a bit against Houston, but that could have been Houston being incompetent as well.