Boeheim and the staff

[Cuse4]

Really got to give JB and the staff alot of credit... after the title team, the zone just didn't move and find shooters... had a reputation to be a little lazy... it picked up alot better with the 09 team, but still would bend at times and allow for games where teams would be lights out from 3... you can now see that Boeheim will have none of the "if they beat us with that shot, they beat us" attitude... when there's a team that can really shoot it, or a player, we don't even give them breathing room any longer... kudos to them

 

[SoBristol]

Really got to give JB and the staff alot of credit... after the title team, the zone just didn't move and find shooters... had a reputation to be a little lazy... it picked up alot better with the 09 team, but still would bend at times and allow for games where teams would be lights out from 3... you can now see that Boeheim will have none of the "if they beat us with that shot, they beat us" attitude... when there's a team that can really shoot it, or a player, we don't even give them breathing room any longer... kudos to them

JB has evolved in a few ways, even late in his career. He adjusted the rotation to accommodate bench talent -- we haven't seen his typical 7.0 rotation in the past two years, partly because of the Melo/Keita tandem and also because CJ and James each bring something. (I know there were other years when he played 8 or 9.) Starting a frosh PF for 4 minutes (or Melo last year), and using a 4th guard to develop MCW, are innovations.
The zone has more flex (still can get lit up by Seton Hall last year; by Louisville on occasion) -- I wonder if JB has learned from his international experience with the US team, or reacted to the presence of great shooters in the league, or adjusted based on what he has at guard and forward. We have had some guys like Andy and Wes and KJ who are good at getting out on shooters, but JB also had made the point -- you don't get out on shooters, you sit.

 

[Jake]

Better athletes in the zone. GMAC, Edelin, McCrosky, Devendorf - not the greatest athletes on the front of the zone. Dion and Triche have size and athleticism.

 

[RoysRunts]

This group plays harder on Defense than many of the past teams (For the most part)

 

[jdubs30]

This group plays harder on Defense than many of the past teams (For the most part)

Yup. The team has bought into the fact that defense is why we are winning, and it leads to offense. Scoop and Dion always mention it in their interviews. If you told me last year that Dion would be our best perimeter defender and he would buy into the concept, I'd say you're crazy. It all really started with the 09 team, they really showed how special the zone can be.

 

[BlackKnight76]

Yup. The team has bought into the fact that defense is why we are winning, and it leads to offense. Scoop and Dion always mention it in their interviews. If you told me last year that Dion would be our best perimeter defender and he would buy into the concept, I'd say you're crazy. It all really started with the 09 team, they really showed how special the zone can be.

Dion had some moments last year on defense when he was really good, but yeah...if I had to choose one guy who would be a lock-down type I would've guessed Brandon.