NU Perimeter D...the Billy Donlon Effect?

[Medill90]

NU kept both IU and Michigan about 10 percentage points below their 3 pt shooting average....roughly 27 and 25 percent respectively.

Two years ago at Michigan he was credited with transforming perimeter D to one of the best in the country.

Has it now happened at NU?

 

[macarthur31]

Nice pickup, Medill90! I had read about Donlon specializing in defense, and besides being good friends with Collins -that he was gonna bring to the squad.

I also wonder about:

BMac-Lindsey-Law-Skelly-Pardon

vs

Turner-Gaines-Law-Taylor-Pardon

While the second lineup lacks a heft, I'd offer Turner/Gaines is a significant upgrade on perimeter defense over BMac/Lindsey. Pair that with a more seasoned Law and Pardon, that results in a better defense.

Also, while Skelly had energy, he was also a foul machine - 4.9 Fouls Committed/40. Gaines is close at 4.4 FC/40 (which is up from 3.6 last year).

 

[Wrestlerneverdiesasacatfan]

NU kept both IU and Michigan about 10 percentage points below their 3 pt shooting average....roughly 27 and 25 percent respectively.

Two years ago at Michigan he was credited with transforming perimeter D to one of the best in the country.

Has it now happened at NU?

That's the Wrassler lock down defense! LOL

 

[CappyNU]

Nice pickup, Medill90! I had read about Donlon specializing in defense, and besides being good friends with Collins -that he was gonna bring to the squad.

I also wonder about:

BMac-Lindsey-Law-Skelly-Pardon

vs

Turner-Gaines-Law-Taylor-Pardon

While the second lineup lacks a heft, I'd offer Turner/Gaines is a significant upgrade on perimeter defense over BMac/Lindsey. Pair that with a more seasoned Law and Pardon, that results in a better defense.

Also, while Skelly had energy, he was also a foul machine - 4.9 Fouls Committed/40. Gaines is close at 4.4 FC/40 (which is up from 3.6 last year).

Small sample size alert, but in the 2 Big ten games this year, the second lineup is +14 with a PPP of 1.18 against an oPPP of 0.96.

Last year, the first lineup in 19 Big ten games was +11 with a PPP of 0.97 against an oPPP of 0.96. Through the first two Big ten games, that lineup was -6 with a PPP of 1.06 against an oPPP of 1.22.

 

[JournCat]

Small sample size alert, but in the 2 Big ten games this year, the second lineup is +14 with a PPP of 1.18 against an oPPP of 0.96.

Last year, the first lineup in 19 Big ten games was +11 with a PPP of 0.97 against an oPPP of 0.96. Through the first two Big ten games, that lineup was -6 with a PPP of 1.06 against an oPPP of 1.22.

Reiterating the small sample size, but posting a 1.18 against those two defenses is very encouraging. About as good as you can feel about a pair of 2-point losses.

 

[haywood jahblowme]

Nice pickup, Medill90! I had read about Donlon specializing in defense, and besides being good friends with Collins -that he was gonna bring to the squad.

I also wonder about:

BMac-Lindsey-Law-Skelly-Pardon

vs

Turner-Gaines-Law-Taylor-Pardon

While the second lineup lacks a heft, I'd offer Turner/Gaines is a significant upgrade on perimeter defense over BMac/Lindsey. Pair that with a more seasoned Law and Pardon, that results in a better defense.

Also, while Skelly had energy, he was also a foul machine - 4.9 Fouls Committed/40. Gaines is close at 4.4 FC/40 (which is up from 3.6 last year).

he also installed the michigan defensive system which they still use

 

[blockm2]

he also installed the michigan defensive system which they still use

not exactly. He helped Beilein tweak the D 2 years ago to be more effective which he did after a slow start to the year. Last year after Donlon left, Beilein hired Luke Yaklich and made him the "defensive coordinator" and it's 100% Yaklich's style now.

 

[lou v]

Nice pickup, Medill90! I had read about Donlon specializing in defense, and besides being good friends with Collins -that he was gonna bring to the squad.

I also wonder about:

BMac-Lindsey-Law-Skelly-Pardon

vs

Turner-Gaines-Law-Taylor-Pardon

While the second lineup lacks a heft, I'd offer Turner/Gaines is a significant upgrade on perimeter defense over BMac/Lindsey. Pair that with a more seasoned Law and Pardon, that results in a better defense.

Also, while Skelly had energy, he was also a foul machine - 4.9 Fouls Committed/40. Gaines is close at 4.4 FC/40 (which is up from 3.6 last year).

I agree. I think NU’s perimeter defensive improvement has more to do with the lineup than Donlan. While I don’t doubt Donlan’s expertise, NU plays without a point and is very long and athletic in the backcourt. I think every guard in the rotation is an upgrade defensively over last year’s starters.