Will Coach Ray use a "40 Minutes of Hell" type defense when he has a full team?

[Hanmudog]

Will Coach Ray use a "40 Minutes of Hell" type defense when he has a full team?

We have got to do whatever it takes to get easy baskets next year. Forcing turnovers with a good full court press is a great way to do it and it seems like very few teams can competently run the ball up the court on a fast break these days.

Has he said exactly what he wants to do once he has a complete roster?

 

[msstate7]

If we're gonna do it, we have to find a pg that can check the opposing pg. Hopefully ready or Davis will be up to it.

 

[SkullCandy.sixpack]

I think he will. If nothing else, his players are the best conditioned on the court, and that's what it takes to keep up a press.

 

[MetEdDawg]

Early on in conference play our 1-3-1 was ridiculous.

For an entirely new team, we executed it very well, especially in the 1st half of games. Caused a lot of turnovers and got us fast break points. Ray showed the ability to use multiple defenses effectively and I believe going forward that will be our identity. We also used a lot of matchup zone and that was effective in spurts as well. I think you are going to see a Shaka Smart type of approach with a mix of approaches including the full court press.

The big difference in next year will be the full season conditioning with having a full roster. We played pretty well in the first half in most every conference game. But where we really started to see the breakdown was in the 2nd half on defense. Our 1-3-1 wasn't as effective because we were slow to the ball after the initial pass, our matchup zone wasn't fast enough to the perimeter so we were susceptible to open 3s, wide open driving lanes, and the "hockey assist" on the extra pass.

Defense should be fun to watch for all 40 minutes next year. We should be a much more consistent team and I really look forward to seeing what we can do next year.

 

[mount lefroy]

I'd love to see that but the single rarest thing I've seen Msu execute above beating a press is us pressing another team.

My mind might not be able to handle that.

 

[Faustdog]

No. To press well, you need a bunch of athletic players. We don't have that, and we don't have it coming in this year's recruiting class.

 

[engie]

For an entirely new team, we executed it very well, especially in the 1st half of games. Caused a lot of turnovers and got us fast break points. Ray showed the ability to use multiple defenses effectively and I believe going forward that will be our identity. We also used a lot of matchup zone and that was effective in spurts as well. I think you are going to see a Shaka Smart type of approach with a mix of approaches including the full court press.

You were 100% correct on this post...

Anyone that wants to see what Ray is attempting to do here needs to tune in to the VCU/Michigan game at 11:15(8 minutes)-- or at least DVR that game while watching the baseball game on Fox Sports South.

VCU will show you exactly what Ray is trying to accomplish here. They've got 2 4*s on the entire roster -- both freshmen. So, the vast majority of what they accomplish is on the backs of workhorse system 3*s...

 

[Hanmudog]

No. To press well, you need a bunch of athletic players. We don't have that, and we don't have it coming in this year's recruiting class.

Right now we don't have a bunch of any kind of players but the few we do have are pretty athletic even if they are not great basketball players just yet. Sword, Thomas, Bloodman, Ware, and even Borchert are plenty athletic enough to pull off an effective press as long as they have a bench to give them a breather.

I have no idea about the guys coming in next year.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

I was really, really hoping we'd hire a coach with a 40 Minutes of Hell philosophy. You have no idea how much I love that style of play. It's the most fun style to watch in all of college hoops, in my opinion. I'd love to see Ray go to that, but I think Met Ed & Engie are right when they say we'll be a more multiple defensive team. I do want to see us use the press more, though.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

If he does, he better hope no ones gets this tape. Beilein's guys are putting on a clinic so far. Havoc is predicated on speeding the offense up and getting them to make mistakes but Burke and Hardaway have not fallen into that trap, no pun intended. But the real difference is on the Michigan defensive end. Excellent in the half court and limiting VCU's transition opportunities.

 

[engie]

If he does, he better hope no ones gets this tape. Beilein's guys are putting on a clinic so far. Havoc is predicated on speeding the offense up and getting them to make mistakes but Burke and Hardaway have not fallen into that trap, no pun intended. But the real difference is on the Michigan defensive end. Excellent in the half court and limiting VCU's transition opportunities.

They are certainly getting out talented right now...

Just not making shots as well. Fully expect them to get back into it(at least to an extent) in the second half. No way to really defend those NBA threes that Hardaway is draining though...

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Hardaway only hit two threes. They are lucky to be only down 15. Michigan missed some wide open looks. Beilein has a great plan. 20 more minutes to play though.

 

[Hanmudog]

If he does, he better hope no ones gets this tape. Beilein's guys are putting on a clinic so far. Havoc is predicated on speeding the offense up and getting them to make mistakes but Burke and Hardaway have not fallen into that trap, no pun intended. But the real difference is on the Michigan defensive end. Excellent in the half court and limiting VCU's transition opportunities.

Big difference in Michigan and most SEC teams. I think a nearly nonstop full court press would freak most SEC teams out and create a lot of turnovers because there are no guards the caliber of Hardaway in the SEC. Not many good ballhandlers at any position really in the SEC.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Very true. Can you imagine Hickey/Stringer for example, against them? I don't even want to think about Bloodman/sWord. Pressey might be able to handle it until the last three minutes. And with the way Arkansas turns up the tempo in Bud Walton it would be fun to see them host VCU.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Fully expect them to get back into it(at least to an extent) in the second half.

Whoops.

 

[Coach34]

Big difference in Michigan and most SEC teams. I think a nearly nonstop full court press would freak most SEC teams out and create a lot of turnovers because there are no guards the caliber of Hardaway in the SEC. Not many good ballhandlers at any position really in the SEC.

SEC basketball has been awful for the most part of the last 6 years

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Its sad really. There used to be nothing better than going to the SEC tournament. Two or three really good teams, three or four solid ones, a couple who could beat you if you didn't play well and even the bottom feeders were usually a threat. Now it's just a shell of that. I don't think an SEC all star team would make the Final Four, and I am at least half serious about that.

 

[engie]

Yep -- they've had a historically bad shooting day. I've been waiting on them to heat up, and they haven't...

Bout to bust my my first elite 8 team as well on the first game of the day. Damn it!

 

[Hanmudog]

I remember going to the SECT and seeing Shaq, Chris Jackson, Gerald Glass, Allan Houston, Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, Charles Barkley, Chuck Person,etc.

I used to be fun to watch even after State was put out (which was usually early in those days). I could not even tell you who the best five in the SEC are anymore.

 

[War Machine Dawg]

Ha, I have Meechigan in the Final Four.

 

[engie]

They are certainly about to fall off my Sweet 16 impotence list... and Minnesota and Cal will have their chances...

 

[DawgatAuburn]

If I had to have a rotation in the tournament, I would go with (I think)

Pressey and Releford because I love point guards.
KCP, McRae, BJ Young and regrettably, Henderson. Have to play some three guard most of the time with KCP or McRae playing some 3.
Stokes and Bowers and Noel if he was healthy. If not, I guess Patric Young.

That team MIGHT be in the Elite Eight. Maybe.

 

[engie]

If I had to have a rotation in the tournament, I would go with (I think)

Pressey and Releford because I love point guards.
KCP, McRae, BJ Young and regrettably, Henderson. Have to play some three guard most of the time with KCP or McRae playing some 3.
Stokes and Bowers and Noel if he was healthy. If not, I guess Patric Young.

That team MIGHT be in the Elite Eight. Maybe.

How is this going to change when OM and Florida both actually make the elite 8? Not saying it will happen -- but it is certainly conceivable at this point...

 

[DawgatAuburn]

I know it was bad but what made it historical?

 

[DawgatAuburn]

The brackets have definitely broken in their favor. They both had good draws to begin with and each of them has gotten easier.

 

[engie]

I know it was bad but what made it historical?

Obvious hyperbole -- No idea if they'd shot that bad from 3 all year though -- and they were terrible in transition for the first time I've seen under Shaka Smart. Tons of credit goes to Michigan though. That's setting up to be a Florida/Michigan war for the Final 4, and I'd give Michigan the edge at this point. Knew they were uber talented, but they never really put it together in the regular season -- They certainly appeared to have it together today though.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

I know it was bad but what made it historical?

His feminine side.

 

[DawgatAuburn]

Gotcha. Hyperbole, yes. Obvious.....if you say so. Florida definitely has an easy path to the Elite Eight. Michigan has to get past Kansas, assuming KU dispatches of the Tar Holes. That's the Sweet 16 game I was most looking forward to when the bracket was released. I guess we have a different view on Michigan. They were the last undefeated team this year then a few weeks later were ranked #1. That's putting it together. They definitely took a step back in February but in the bloodbath known as the Big 10 someone had to lose a few games. I'm happy to see them playing well. Burke is one of my favorite players in the country and Hardaway has the kind of stroke that makes me think every single shot is going in when he releases it.

 

[olblue.sixpack]

Obvious hyperbole -- No idea if they'd shot that bad from 3 all year though -- and they were terrible in transition for the first time I've seen under Shaka Smart. Tons of credit goes to Michigan though. That's setting up to be a Florida/Michigan war for the Final 4, and I'd give Michigan the edge at this point. Knew they were uber talented, but they never really put it together in the regular season -- They certainly appeared to have it together today though.

I thought Michigan came within 14 seconds of sharing the Big 10 title. If that's not "really putting it together", the bar is pretty high in Ann Arbor

 

[DawgatAuburn]

That last 90 seconds in Ann Arbor was mighty impressive for Indiana, although they were fortunate Watford was not called for a flagrant on the breakaway.