Man or Zone
- Thread starter pmulcahy96
- Start date
I expect we'll play mostly zone. Especially with the shorten shot clock.
I think Willard will put token pressure in the backcourt and then fall back into his zone.
Hopefully a straight zone, but I think he'll mix it up and play multiple zones including his favorite, the match-up.
Look for the team to switch defenses if they're in a man around the 15 second mark during many possessions. That too is a favorite tactic of Willard.
Dan, personally I can not stand zone. I always thought PJ did a great job of using different zones and at the right times but the emphasis was always man to man defense. Willard's zones are atrocious.
I don't like them either. But players are so deficient in playing man/man that zone is in vogue now.
That and the skills possessed by offensive players have made man D in college rare.
When you play man you need five guys to be able to handle their defensive assignments. One breakdown can cause havoc.
Plus you need a bench because playing man D is going to get players in foul trouble.
That and the skills possessed by offensive players have made man D in college rare.
When you play man you need five guys to be able to handle their defensive assignments. One breakdown can cause havoc.
Plus you need a bench because playing man D is going to get players in foul trouble.
Here's where KW's lack of respect by the players comes into play. Zone is effective only if everyone is committed to the system. Willard's players barely buy into whatever system he preaches.
The issue as I see it Pete is that Willard likes to play multiple zones, including the very difficult to learn match-up. A defense that is a favorite of his dad.
Then take into consideration that he switches D's in the middle of possessions and you can understand why at times we don't perform well on that side of the court.
That said, losing Sina, Mobley and Gibbs, all players who were known more for their offense then defense will help considerably.
We may lose a few points with them gone, but we will probably give up less as well.
Then take into consideration that he switches D's in the middle of possessions and you can understand why at times we don't perform well on that side of the court.
That said, losing Sina, Mobley and Gibbs, all players who were known more for their offense then defense will help considerably.
We may lose a few points with them gone, but we will probably give up less as well.
Early in his tenure that wasn't true. But yes, the last couple of years we have struggled on that side of the ball.
A lot had to do with not having players who were proficient on D. Like I noted above we lost three quality offensive players from last season who struggled on the other side of the court.
In Big East play last season SHU was #9 in a 10 team league in defensive efficiency.
I think he uses way too much zone and he tries to get to cute. I think if we have a better defensive roster we should be playing man. The zone defense SHU plays is horrific. The good teams in the league that have great ball movement will shred us. When I think of effective zone defenses I think of Chaney's matchup, Boeheim's 2-3, Beilein's 1-3-1 or Dean Smith's point zone. Those have been effective but there is no jibberish mixed in. Defense and rebounding will be the lifeline of the team this year, playing zone horrifies me especially if we are not playing a traditional one.
One year we had a VERY good zone. At least for our standards.
And KW used to switch it up halfway through the shot clock.
I remember opponents having a ton of turnovers, shot clock violations and ugly forced shots that year.
If we can get that back, it'd be great.
And KW used to switch it up halfway through the shot clock.
I remember opponents having a ton of turnovers, shot clock violations and ugly forced shots that year.
If we can get that back, it'd be great.
Unfortunately with our lack of proven depth; we'll be forced to play more zone. I think our guards especially Whitehead and Carrington can be ball hawking man to man defenders.
Willard's matchup zone only works if you have 5 guys on the court that are above average defenders. If not as we've seen the offense will fine the weak link on a switch and exploit it.
Willard's matchup zone only works if you have 5 guys on the court that are above average defenders. If not as we've seen the offense will fine the weak link on a switch and exploit it.
