SI.com: Top 10 projected defenses in college hoops

[HooperScooper]

UConn comes in at #9.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/11/05/best-defenses-san-diego-state-virginia-wichita-state

9. Connecticut (DE: 92.7)

UConn also projects to improve substantially from a No. 65 ranking in defensive efficiency in ‘14-15. Shonn Miller, a 6'7" grad transfer from Cornell, should have a major impact: When he sat out all of ‘13-14 with a shoulder injury, Cornell ranked 350th on D; with Miller in the lineup last season, the Big Red ranked 78th. The return of 7-foot center Amida Brimah, meanwhile, means the Huskies have the nation’s best major-conference shot-blocker.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Wow thought I read this here already or I would have linked up. My bad.

 

[HooperScooper]

Wow thought I read this here already or I would have linked up. My bad.

Probably thinking of this - http://www.the-boneyard.com/threads/si-com-ranks-uconn-19th-5-seed-in-ncaa-tournament.82523/

This is an article just explaining the defense of each team in their top 10.

 

[OkaForPrez]

Probably thinking of this - http://www.the-boneyard.com/threads/si-com-ranks-uconn-19th-5-seed-in-ncaa-tournament.82523/

This is an article just explaining the defense of each team in their top 10.

No for sure. I'd read that article linked off off Reddit but thought I had read it here. There are so many pre season lists. That's why you get paid the big bucks Hoops

 

[Pudge]

9. Connecticut (DE: 92.7)

UConn also projects to improve substantially from a No. 65 ranking in defensive efficiency in ‘14-15. Shonn Miller, a 6'7" grad transfer from Cornell, should have a major impact: When he sat out all of ‘13-14 with a shoulder injury, Cornell ranked 350th on D; with Miller in the lineup last season, the Big Red ranked 78th. The return of 7-foot center Amida Brimah, meanwhile, means the Huskies have the nation’s best major-conference shot-blocker

I just wanted to highlight one thing!

 

[OkaForPrez]

9. Connecticut (DE: 92.7)

UConn also projects to improve substantially from a No. 65 ranking in defensive efficiency in ‘14-15. Shonn Miller, a 6'7" grad transfer from Cornell, should have a major impact: When he sat out all of ‘13-14 with a shoulder injury, Cornell ranked 350th on D; with Miller in the lineup last season, the Big Red ranked 78th. The return of 7-foot center Amida Brimah, meanwhile, means the Huskies have the nation’s best major-conference shot-blocker

I just wanted to highlight one thing!

LOL here we go...

 

[Matrim55]

I'm excited, and the potential is there for the defense to be great. But this team had trouble with continuity & early recognition of rotations last year - which is why good passing teams (Duke & SMU) carved them up.

So we do have good individual defensive talents. But until we see how they all work together, I think ranking them No. 9 is really, really optimistic.

 

[mauconnfan]

9. Connecticut (DE: 92.7)

UConn also projects to improve substantially from a No. 65 ranking in defensive efficiency in ‘14-15. Shonn Miller, a 6'7" grad transfer from Cornell, should have a major impact: When he sat out all of ‘13-14 with a shoulder injury, Cornell ranked 350th on D; with Miller in the lineup last season, the Big Red ranked 78th. The return of 7-foot center Amida Brimah, meanwhile, means the Huskies have the nation’s best major-conference shot-blocker

I just wanted to highlight one thing!

Pudge here's the thing , ah forget it. LOL

 

[OkaForPrez]

Pudge here's the thing , ah forget it. LOL

We need teh whole argument on both sides pinned so we can just link to it.

 

[champs99and04]

I'm excited, and the potential is there for the defense to be great. But this team had trouble with continuity & early recognition of rotations last year - which is why good passing teams (Duke & SMU) carved them up.

So we do have good individual defensive talents. But until we see how they all work together, I think ranking them No. 9 is really, really optimistic.

You make some good points but Miller is a transformative defensive player. When you have elite defensive talent at the four and the five, rotations become less important because you can simplify schemes (see last years UK team). UConn's fate defensively will be determined by Brimah's progression, or lack there of. I fully expect him to make the leap but he has to show it first.

As an aside, I find SI's college basketball coverage to be a lot better than ESPN's. There's some decent content there beyond the usual ESPN regurgitation of simple storylines. I did think Cincinnati was an omission, though.