We will continue to struggle against the Zone until:

[MCC_Cat]

1) Nance (and perhaps also Jones and Beran) can consistently make the defense pay by hitting the high post jumper; and

2) We avoid foul trouble to Young. His absence today due to ticky-tack foul calls was our undoing. While he was in there, we hung pretty even.

If we're accomplishing #1 and #2, then it really opens up the rest of the perimeter for open 3 pointers, not the contested 23 footers that Kopp and others were launching in the 2nd half.

 

[Purple Pile Driver]

1) Nance (and perhaps also Jones and Beran) can consistently make the defense pay by hitting the high post jumper; and

2) We avoid foul trouble to Young. His absence today due to ticky-tack foul calls was our undoing. While he was in there, we hung pretty even.

If we're accomplishing #1 and #2, then it really opens up the rest of the perimeter for open 3 pointers, not the contested 23 footers that Kopp and others were launching in the 2nd half.

The fouls on Young were ridiculous. Garza just steamrolls people under the basket with few calls. He got one offensive foul where he threw his should into NU’s guy like he was Joe Gaziano. That was obvious the ref’s couldn’t let it go. He is great a clearing out room for his shot.

it didn’t impact the outcome , but big names ger star treatment even in the B1G.

 

[GatoLouco]

After the Merrimack game I wondered if we could attack a zone. But we did not see zone after that. No one elected to use it.

The single, most devastating, thing against a zone is the ability of outside players to dribble to the area between two players. Forcing them both to close. It opens passing lanes and makes the zone be off balance. If they just pass the ball around the perimeter the defense adjusts easily and there are no open shots. We not only had zero of that, but also we got turnovers.

Often a way to try to create this is by setting a pick on the ball handler. None seen yesterday.

Ultimately, it helps a lot to have the #1 above. To have a threat on the high post, and also on the baseline. But if players just dribble around the three point line, it's not that hard to neutralize.

 

[TheC]

After the Merrimack game I wondered if we could attack a zone. But we did not see zone after that. No one elected to use it.

The single, most devastating, thing against a zone is the ability of outside players to dribble to the area between two players. Forcing them both to close. It opens passing lanes and makes the zone be off balance. But that can only. If they just pass the ball around the perimeter the defense adjusts easily and there are no open shots. We not only had zero of that, but also we got turnovers.

Often a way to try to create this is by setting a pick on the ball handler. None see yesterday.

Ultimately, it helps a lot to have the #1 above. To have a threat on the high post, and also on the baseline. But if players just dribble around the three point line, it's not that hard to neutralize.

You also have to hit your open 3-pointers against a zone. We had a lot of misses on open looks. Making a few more of those can bust a zone wide-open. Having guys like Spencer and Greer who simply aren't threats from 3, along with bigs who really can't hit that shot either, makes it really hard to beat a zone.

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

You also have to hit your open 3-pointers against a zone. We had a lot of misses on open looks. Making a few more of those can bust a zone wide-open. Having guys like Spencer and Greer who simply aren't threats from 3, along with bigs who really can't hit that shot either, makes it really hard to beat a zone.

In other words, you need guys who can shoot.

 

[willycat]

The fouls on Young were ridiculous. Garza just steamrolls people under the basket with few calls. He got one offensive foul where he threw his should into NU’s guy like he was Joe Gaziano. That was obvious the ref’s couldn’t let it go. He is great a clearing out room for his shot.

it didn’t impact the outcome , but big names ger star treatment even in the B1G.

He also acted like an ***, with kiss blowing b.s.. Someone should have taken that smirk off his face.

 

[JournCat]

In other words, you need guys who can shoot.

Make shots!!!!

 

[pawildcat_rivals209725]

Make shots!!!!

Yeah, I remember when the student section was ridiculed for wearing the T-shirts with that phrase, but basically nothing you can design works unless you actually put the ball into the basket.