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Message: [QUOTE="Ceerqqq, post: 2698687, member: 6702"] Everyone expects that Defense will be a strength of this year's team, but just how good are we talking about? Are we talking about a mere statistical improvement over last year's defensive performance (inevitable, given the learning curve of last year's very young team) and widespread recognition across the sports media that Syracuse is "a good defensive team?" Or are we maybe talking about a season long stand out performance that has television commentators shaking their heads in awe at how devastating the Cuse defensive scheme is to opposing offenses? I'm thinking there is a fair chance that we will be witnessing the latter scenario this year, rather than the former. Of course, projecting such things is always, well...[I]with all the unknown unknowns involved[/I]... :) But nevertheless, I believe it is [I]exceedingly rational[/I] to 'look for' one of those stand out defensive seasons this year, one comparable to the "Shut it down!" defensive performance we saw some nine years ago, when it took us to the 'Promised Land' of a #1 ranking during the regular season (only to lose it a couple of weeks later to Arinze's devastating quadriceps injury). As always, two variables in particular must come together in a special way when such seasons come to pass: Talent + Experience. We know Boeheim always [I]tries [/I]to recruit the kind of long, athletic athletes he needs to make his zone formidable, but he doesn't always succeed in getting all the spots filled with such athletes [I]who have been around long enough to gain the [U]experience[/U][/I] needed to turn his defense into something special. This year, the Talent + Experience variables seem to be near the top of the possibilities curve. The team's success in the NCAAT last year, based primarily on their defensive efforts, has unquestionably sold the entire team on the ability of their zone to bring them victories vs. the Duke's and Kentucky's of the world. It is the special thing they can do together to humble the best of their opponents. This year, they are going to want to steal every pass and block every shot that their opponents attempt. Last year, there was a lot of thinking/learning that had to take place, which of course made them a half-step slow in anticipating the lob, the entry pass to the top of the key, the interior pass from that spot, etc. This year, I expect it will all become much more instinctive/reflexive, where they don't have to think about where they need to be, but will know when the next pass will be attempted and where. Where they begin to position themselves in such a way that they encourage the guy with the ball to pass it where they want it to go, so that they can promptly steal it. All of this is possible when your long athletes finally have enough experience with The Boeheim Zone. I think Jim Boeheim came to the realization during the John Thompson/Ewing years that he needed to master the defensive side of the strategic equation. As he studied the challenge and saw the potential strengths of the zone defense, he became a stand out defensive coach and innovator, to the point where he convinced one of the most celebrated college coaches in history---K---to embrace his approach. Barring injuries to key personnel, I suspect we are going to see something special this year in the way Boeheim's players are able to execute his Pressure Zone and that it will quickly elevate the team to a Top Five ranking through most of the season. (Not due [I]solely [/I]to the team's defensive performance, of course, as I also expect to see significant improvements in the teams offensive performance, as well, for reasons that are well-known to many: new offensive talent + player improvements +bench + experience). My impression is that defensive innovation/execution has become THE key element of Boeheim's coaching identity over the past dozen years, or so. I suspect he will go all out to make this year's defensive execution the best he has [I]ever [/I]put together, a signature statement of his unique contribution to college basketball. It will be fun to see if he is able to pull it off...and maybe even get that second National Championship? :rolleyes: [/QUOTE]

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