Zone Defense

[hnkcolumbia]

I hope next year, once in awhile, we install a zone defense where it's needed or just to throw a wrinkle from time to time, but especially to help guys in foul trouble or when our guards are consistently beaten. Obviously, the man to man switching is fantastic if we have similar personnel.

 

[Knight]

I think Zone would suit Vince's skills, allowing Zuby to catch his breath.

 

[bucketshardy]

I think Zone would suit Vince's skills, allowing Zuby to catch his breath.

Couple guys could benefit …cough Brady Lefty cough

 

[SJU61982]

I've never understood the philosophy behind only playing one style of defense, all the time (I admit that we played that one style brillianty this year). Every game is on TV now, and oppoents can scout you very easily.

Also, as we face Big East teams a second (and possibly third) time, it's not a good idea to let them become too familiar with what you are doing. That's also why I don't object to holding back on certain things during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

 

[Section9]

Years ago at a Red White pre-season dinner meet-up with the team and coaches at The Sly Fox somebody asked Lou if he was planning on playing any zone. There was a ripple of laughs and then Lou, after a pause and exchanging glances with Mahoney, said "I'll think about it".

 

[Ralph318!]

I've never understood the philosophy behind only playing one style of defense, all the time (I admit that we played that one style brillianty this year). Every game is on TV now, and oppoents can scout you very easily.

Also, as we face Big East teams a second (and possibly third) time, it's not a good idea to let them become too familiar with what you are doing. That's also why I don't object to holding back on certain things during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

Sometimes your personnel dictates your strategy. For example, Creighton used Kalkbrenner very effectively against us as a one man zone. Vince could not do that. Kalkbrenner never left his feet because he can’t jump, and it worked. Vince is a terrific athlete who lacks a feel for the game. Coach knows this obviously.

 

[kranmars]

I remember Carnesecca once saying about a zone, paraphrasing: We don’t use that four letter word around here.

 

[capmaker]

In Rick's first year at SJU, didn't he completely flummox Sean Miller by using zone in their first game?

 

[lawmanfan]

I've never understood the philosophy behind only playing one style of defense, all the time (I admit that we played that one style brillianty this year). Every game is on TV now, and oppoents can scout you very easily.

Also, as we face Big East teams a second (and possibly third) time, it's not a good idea to let them become too familiar with what you are doing. That's also why I don't object to holding back on certain things during the non-conference portion of the schedule.

I agree that it's good to be multiple on D if you have the ability to do so. Depends on personnel. I think in Rick's case it also depends on where he feels it's most important to allocate practice time - if your offense is OK and your primary defense is OK then you have flexibility to do other things, but if you are spending all of your time and energy on a couple of things it may not be wise to spread yourself too thin

 

[stjohnschris]

If we didn't use it against Arkansas, hard to see Pitino using it in the future.

 

[MugCostanza]

Depends on the personnel. Going into the Arkansas game I knew Arkansas was a team that would really struggle against a zone as Kansas threw it at them and it really flummoxed them for quite the long stretch. I also knew that there was no way Pitino would play zone regardless of what happened. We had the number 1 defense in the country playing a switching man to man that requires a ton of practice, communication and execution. There was just no way we were going to move away from that.

Pitino's first year team wasn't nearly as athletic on the defensive end so he went zone from time to time and as capmaker said it worked great against Xavier. The problem with zone is that you essentially let the offense dictate the terms of the possession.

Zone would also eliminate Zuby's main strength on defense. Zone is more useful with a larger immobile big in front of the rim, so maybe we can see it with a Vince or whoever the backup 5 is on the court but not with Zuby.

 

[MainMan]

If it ain't broke.....

 

[SJU61982]

I agree that it's good to be multiple on D if you have the ability to do so. Depends on personnel. I think in Rick's case it also depends on where he feels it's most important to allocate practice time - if your offense is OK and your primary defense is OK then you have flexibility to do other things, but if you are spending all of your time and energy on a couple of things it may not be wise to spread yourself too thin

Of course, if you're primary defense is not OK, then maybe it shouldn't be your primary defense, as a general rule.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

If we didn't use it against Arkansas, hard to see Pitino using it in the future.

Rick must have been out having Scungili with Masiello during the Arkansas - Kansas game
So his missed how well Self had shut down the Hogs by playing Zone .

If not for the Jay Hawk offense falling apart in the last few minutes , Kansas would have won.