Virginia and UK defense observation...

[BBUK_anon]

From the eye test. I have watched a couple Virginia games. They seem to exert a huge amount of effort playing defense. UK's defense seems to flow better and with less effort. I do not see UK defending with a frantic pace. I see Virginia playing defense frantically with a "Man, I almost messed up" type pace. It seems they play that way all the time. I guess they can keep it up but it looks like when they are pressured they get rattled. (It takes a good effort to rattle them but it seems to be what happens.) This from a basketball novice.

This post was edited on 3/13 8:48 PM by BBUK

 

[Rhavic]

For me, I don't feel like the two defenses can be compared all that well in many ways. Kentucky's defensive philosophy is to funnel players into the paint and force hard shots against UK's length, athleticism, and shot-blockers.
Virginia's defensive philosophy is to keep players out on the perimeter. When they go against more athletic teams (what we're seeing now), the more athletic teams penetrate their defense, and Virginia gives up some pretty easy shots on the inside after that.
Virginia has to play defense frantically because they really lack a lot of athleticism. I see maybe 2 true athletes on their team. Kentucky struggles much less at making quick plays like that because Kentucky is a significantly more athletic team. Overall, Kentucky's defense is much more opportunistic, and considering how much faster Kentucky's tempo is, and only allowing ~2 points more defensively, you could easily make the argument that UK has the better defense.
UVA doesn't get much in transition, they don't go for steals often, their philosophy isn't revolved around shot-blocking. More fundamentally sound, looks prettier, and if you want to drag out the possessions, that's the way to go, but kentucky's defense is deceptively fast and long. Easier to remedy UK's defensive downfalls as opposed to UVA's.
All my perception of it though.