I would like to add a comment. The posts by Coco and Miami are straight out of a coaching clinic. They are that darned good.
Now I suggest that you get out a big piece of paper and draw the lines of half of a basketball court (basket, paint area, circle around FT line).
Next, place five coins on your "defensive half court" in a pattern as described by Coco (i.e., 2-3, 3-2, 1-3-1, 1-2-2 for starters).
Now you can play coach of the offensive team and identify gaps or "holes" in the zone. You will quickly see that the 2-3 is more vulnerable to 3- point shooters (only 2 defenders covering lots of perimeter space), but you will likely have a tougher time snagging offensive rebounds (3 defenders on the back line with one centered close by the basket). The 1-3-1 obviously makes it tough to get shots by the FT line, but the perimeter is not well guarded and the corners are wide open, at least initially.
And so on. You, as the offensive coach, will urge your players to move to open spots and remind them that ball movement must be faster than defenders' foot movement.
I'll make my case for UConn's 1-2-2 zone separately.
I hope you don't have the feeling akin to drinking water from a fire hose.
Good luck -- once you get
"in the zone!"