This. Team chemistry is outstanding. Everyone knows and accepts their roles for the greater good.
Collins Might Actually Be Saving His Job
- Thread starter Gocatsgo2003
- Start date
Don’t think we missed a “ton.” Far from it. Some better FT shooting down the stretch ( give IU credit for forcing the ball to MN and Roper) and a missed bunny or two kept us from 90 points.
But 84 points on the road is great.
It has been mentioned multiple times. Brian James has been mentioned with it several times.
But what does it mean, other than, without thinking it through, looking, perhaps, impressive? It means a bigger stack of paper in a binder maybe? It really does not mean anything. It’s anecdotal. It’s not impressive or unimpreasive.
I bet every fan base says something similar to this often. We are hyper-focused on what our guys do. It's a natural bias. Sure we missed the plays you spotted. So did the other team.
Clearing out Kopp and Nance helped a ton. They were underachieving chemistry killers.
Anybody notice how these guys are seemingly always first to the floor on loose balls? Also, I don’t have updated stats, but one of the hallmarks of past teams was constant foul trouble. Because they’re more dedicated to defending—hands and feet are always aware, swarming inside—it doesn’t seem as if they’re committing as many fouls.
I believe a lot of the difference is positioning. These guys are getting in front of the ball rather than grabbing as the handler goes past them. Their hands are in the lanes and in the air, rather than grabbing arms.
I think kopp was not a team player and saw a poorly coached team and bailed. Nance did whatever was asked, even though it hurt his stock, until he had a respectable exit as a grad.
Both have shown they can play big time ball.
Your eyes don't deceive you - per kenpom, overall Fouls Committed/40 '22 v '23. (Includes B1G and non-con, and of course, only 4 B1G games are factored into '23)
- Buie: 2.5, 2.4
- Audige: 4.0, 3.1
- Beran: 4.4, 3.0
- Berry: 3.5, 2.5
- Nicholson: 10.0, 3.5 (!)
- Barnhizer: 2.9, 2.0
- Roper: 3.4, 3.6
- Verhoven: 4.8, 6.7
They’re coached and drilled and drilled some more on defense. Period. Finally, defense is the identity. (Also, they allowed 80 and won. Zoinks.)
You're not going to convince me it wasn't Chris Lowery's influence that is the difference.
The players this year are the same ones as last year. Except for Tydus.
Huge difference that is more than just one year of growth.
Why not elevate Lowery? I mean if Collins ends up taking an offer elsewhere after he takes us to the Elite Eight?
Because Lowery has failed as a head coach. I just hope he likes CCC enough to stay on as CCC’s right-hand man, same as he was for Weber for about 15 years between SIU and Illinois and K-State.
Fair enough. Hope we can keep him as our DC or whatever you call that role for hoops.
With addition of Lowery, remember the subtraction of young, Nance and Simmons.
Simmons get a break cause he was a freshmen, but I remember the Wisconsin game last year where he picked up 3 legit fouls in 4 minutes.
Verhoven and Matt have better footwork in defense
Plus this group of players is tougher and are able to deal with the tough coaching.
Simmons get a break cause he was a freshmen, but I remember the Wisconsin game last year where he picked up 3 legit fouls in 4 minutes.
Verhoven and Matt have better footwork in defense
Plus this group of players is tougher and are able to deal with the tough coaching.
It’s a difference not THE difference. If you can tell me the two biggest differences in scheme from last year to this year I’ll give your post a like. Also hint don’t forget there’s a night and day different of the quality of post defense that allows the perimeter defenders to implement these scheme changes.
Edit to say hint there’s a player interview to suggest one of these changes are a direct change due to Lowery.
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I've got two...
1. Guys are bending their knees, moving their feet and staying in front of their man
2. Guys are crashing the boards hard and jumping into the air to grab the rebound
Those are both revolutionary new ideas that we have rarely seen before from our guys in purple
Don't forget diving on the floor for loose balls they are winning a good percentage of those which leads to extra opportunities.
Right. It’s not tough to see they’re simply expending more effort on the defensive side of the ball.
Whether that’s because Nance and Young sucked up about 25% of player-minutes and were indifferent defenders, or because they’re coached harder and are being celebrated for defensive effort is an open question. I tend to think it’s more the latter.
Their knees are bent and they’re communicating better. They look different than they have for several years.
Doubled in the paint last year….
Switching 1-4 is more fluid this year than last few years. Last time they switched this well was tourney season.
So half of what I noticed.
Other half and I believe it was Berry in the interview is how they’re playing passing lanes. Based entirely off the interview I think that credit directly goes to Lowery and it’s a reason for defensive improvement. Something about the he other teams throwing the ball right to them. Was it he quote. Berry and Audige always had quick hands and played passing lanes well but the whole team is this season and they’re well positioned and active in the passing lanes.
However the base D Collins like to run is the same. The emphasis on rebounding and defense is the same. Bringing in a good coach who believes the same things helps further emphasize this. Collins has always been a defense first coach. It’s why the board was up in arms last year with the minutes debate. He played the better defensive options.
I'm looking forward to this answer. I don't know what it is. I get the feeling it has something to do woth how they defend the screen by the 5, but I'm not sure.
EDIT: Oh, there it is.
What he said
Actually I have three more for you. 1) I notice also they are at angles in facing their man on the ball and get a good number of underhand swats as opponents try to cross them or go past them. A number of our steals are on ball. 2) Also off ball they have a tendency to be in the passing lanes - it’s like they have been coached to anticipate where the ball is likely to go. 3) Getting back and challenging players with blocks - Robbie Beran had two huge ones including on their stud big.
I’ve applied it to my own game and am now stealing the ball at a greater rate in my pick up and rec league games than ever before. Thank you Chris Lowery for making my defensive game more sound than ever.
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I enjoyed way too much how Boo had him for lunch. Every time he saw Kopp on him late, he took it to him.
I am a believer that positioning in defense is more than 1/2 the battle. It goes back to one of my favorite basketball quotes of all time. Used to be right at the entrance of (then) Conseco Fieldhouse: "First, master the fundamentals". Some dude with an aviary name said it. I am sure plenty others have also said it.
Agreed fully. I think it’s the 2nd biggest change defensively this year is the position in passing lanes. They’ve always run at least a decent help defense man-man scheme. With some zone thrown in there due to some roster limitations. As far as on ball defense and how/when they help it’s a little more exaggerated this season due the rosters ability to recover but it’s a similar scheme.
The biggest change is having a good post defender for the first time since Pardon. Nance was an excellent help defender but he struggled with post defending due to lack of mass. Mass moves mass. Did have height to alter shots in the post though. MN has the height and the mass. He also has been getting into position and has the strength to wall up and hold his position which neither 5 had last season. MN put on some muscle in the off-season.
Thanks! When you can keep Audige, Beran, and Berry on the floor longer, and Nicholson can stay in the game, you have a pretty good chance to be competitive. I'd love to see a video comparison of D last year vs this year