Bobby Knight just said on

[mark79]

on Sports Center that Syracuse's zone is the best in the history of college basketball... wow... I believe it though.

He also said that his team always had a great deal of difficulty dealing with it.

 

[CorduroyG]

As in this year's particular zone is the best ever?

 

[AZOrange]

on Sports Center that Syracuse's zone is the best in the history of college basketball... wow... I believe it though.

This is the best defensive team I have ever seen at Cuse.

 

[mark79]

Corduroy, he said "they play the 2-3 zone better than any team in the game's history" I'm not sure if he was referring specifically to this year's zone, but as AZ said above, that comment certainly would apply. This year's zone, when playing hard and when the guard's really get after it is downright smothering. We haven't seen the zone in it's smothering best in a few games now, hope it comes back in full force tonight. I think it will, and I'm hoping JB will unleash a little more MCW as well. When all of the players are totally committed to trapping and stealing and when Fab is in full block mode ala Seton Hall it is scary...

 

[RF2044]

You know--I'm not anti-zone by any means, but I have to say that in 2 of the last 3 seasons, we've seen two of the best defensive squads ever at SU. Some of it has to do with personnel--we have the right components to effectively man the zone and make it formidable, with rangy, athletic players who can cover a lot of ground and seem uniquely suited to play zone.

Whatever the reason, in 2010 and this year, it just seems like our personnel are better suited for the zone than another other years. Hell, there were many years where it felt like the zone was actually somewhat of a liability, given our personnel. The two aforementioned teams seem like they are on a different level when it comes to playing zone.

 

[moqui]

what does he know? he only made it past the sweet 16 8 times in 40 seasons

 

[arbitragegls]

...tonight should be a defensive battle...but I believe 'Cuse wins going away. If the zone shuts down the back door passes and covers the 3s well...it will not be a close game

 

[mark79]

RF - I agree, I don't think there is no doubt about that. As an article that was just posted on the board today also outlined, Fab plays a HUGE role at the back of the zone because of his charges drawn, shots blocked, shots altered, etc. And then to have four guards at the front of the zone harassing and stealing who are all very long is a big advantage as you say. I'm sure it must sometimes feel like SU has four guards out there lol

 

[CorduroyG]

I think knight feels bad about stealing our title in '87. He knows we had the better team. He knows we outplayed them most of the game. He knows our missed fts were the only reason it came down to keith smart's shot. He feels guilty so thats why he praises syracuse every chance he gets.

 

[mark79]

Arbi, yes, I have to agree. I think they will come loaded for bear tonight. If they come to the game committed to play great defense the game will take care of itself.

 

[mark79]

Corduroy, you may be right lol. He definitely stole that one... he is one of our biggest advocates. Is he on our game tonight? Thought I read that. If so this should be a good watch.

 

[moqui]

You know--I'm not anti-zone by any means, but I have to say that in 2 of the last 3 seasons, we've seen two of the best defensive squads ever at SU. Some of it has to do with personnel--we have the right components to effectively man the zone and make it formidable, with rangy, athletic players who can cover a lot of ground and seem uniquely suited to play zone.

Whatever the reason, in 2010 and this year, it just seems like our personnel are better suited for the zone than another other years. Hell, there were many years where it felt like the zone was actually somewhat of a liability, given our personnel. The two aforementioned teams seem like they are on a different level when it comes to playing zone.

personnel is key, you are right . . . but what we are also seeing is the culmination of JB's "stubbornness." He has been so sure that the zone can be a disruptive force if applied correctly, that he sticks with it and puts every flaw and breakdown into his memory bank, then adds a new wrinkle. The zone principles that he is teaching now are vastly more complicated than they were 10 years ago. It is such a sophisticated system that changes game to game depending on matchups. Bilas has even mentioned how the zone look you face in one possession won't necessarily be the same one you get in the next possession.

 

[cusetown1]

Well at least we know this team doesn't have "serious, serious problems" as far as defense goes. Gob bless Bobby Knight!

 

[AZOrange]

the 3 biggest differences to me are (1) big guards up top, (2) shotblocker in the middle, and (3) agile wings.

 

[mark79]

Yup - I think this year's zone does a few things differently than in past years... forwards come up to guard / double on the wing, guard's cheat down better on the dump into the foul line. And lastly I think they are doubling a little more than they used to and it is very effective. They are also much better at swatting balls away.

What they don't do as well as they did in 2003, largely because of Carmelo, is cheat down on the pass from the foul line to the cutting forward under the hoop. CA was a master at intercepting that pass. Would like to see KJ and CJ/South do a better job at that. Other than that, I think this team's zone is better at every other component.

 

[CorduroyG]

Well at least we know this team doesn't have "serious, serious problems" as far as defense goes. Gob bless Bobby Knight!

LOL, that was ryan burr right? serious serious problems. what a tool.

 

[br801]

I think knight feels bad about stealing our title in '87. He knows we had the better team. He knows we outplayed them most of the game. He knows our missed fts were the only reason it came down to keith smart's shot. He feels guilty so thats why he praises syracuse every chance he gets.

Knight may know all that, sure, but there is no way that man would feel bad about any victory, especially a championship game.

He does however have great respect for JB and what he has accomplished as a coach.

 

[Moontan]

From SportsCenter can be found here.

Iggy will love it.

 

[SoBeCuse]

Arbi, yes, I have to agree. I think they will come loaded for bear tonight. If they come to the game committed to play great defense the game will take care of itself.

Agree but we need to play at least average in the halfcourt. GTown will be racing back I bet to negate transition.

 

[mark79]

Hitting a few threes would definitely help!!

 

[cusetown1]

LOL, that was ryan burr right? serious serious problems. what a tool.

ya. He's silly that Ryan Burr.

 

[armory]

Here's a video of Knight on the zone: LINK

 

[Townie72]

And, Gentlemen, to all this you must add the depth of this team -- the constant substitution of the second and even third line into the game.

This does two important things. The first is that you are constantly seeing "fresh" rested player in there playing defense. The second is that fresh players find it easier to focus on defense. Focus and discipline are some of the first casualties of fatigue.

And, if someone dogs it on defense, there's a player on the bench as good as he is to come in and play. Players are less tired and more motivated.

 

[jekelish]

Watching that video, it's pretty clear he's not talking specifically about this team, but the program in general. He was talking about how his teams struggled against the zone, "because Syracuse plays the best zone in history."

 

[EastCoast2]

Is this year's zone better than 09-10 with AR at the top and Wes on the wing swatting everything?