JB thinks we are going to run more next season...

[kirbivore]

I liked Barkley's line in the UVA game that when JB went to the press, he turned the game into our athletes vs their athletes. Playing halfcourt against an experienced UVA team was not working. But we had a meaningful advantage in athleticism that eventually brought us that win.

I hope JB means it when he says he wants to fully use our athleticism to our advantage.

I wish JB had done that vs. Vermont

 

[Dave85]

I wish JB had done that vs. Vermont

I thought we all agreed never again to talk about the Vermont game.

 

[kcsu]

No that was the Richmond game

 

[Newhouser]

IF we don't speed up and get some easy hoops I don't know how this team scores. Frosh need to show they can and so does the transfer. Going in we know we have 1 player who can make shots (Lydon) and one player who can create (Howard). For the first time in years the only thing I am not worried about is getting pounded on the glass.

 

[OttoMets]

I wish JB had done that vs. Vermont

Butler, too.

 

[tbonezone]

JB''s coaching mindset.

he ain't gonna change.

 

[Dave85]

JB''s coaching mindset.

he ain't gonna change.

 

[tbonezone]

I thought we all agreed never again to talk about the Vermont game.

 

[Capt. Tuttle]

Do you think playing the zone requires great basketball intelligence or just good conditioning and muscle memory from practice?

It's a very hard defense to play mentally.

 

[ROCorange]

Compared to most on this board, I definitely have a below average BB IQ, but I have a theory that I'd be interested in your thoughts on. I was always a huge fan of the high energy, transition offense that SU always seemed to have, BUT, I'm wondering about the downside of an offense so reliant on run and gun.

Specifically, for many years the way to beat SU was pretty obvious. Slow us the hell down and grind it out. Many of the games that we lost to inferior squads (that we all complained about) were when the opponent had the slow 'em down, rough 'em up game plan (see: Pitt) and often knocked us out of the tournament (see: Butler, etc). In the past 4-5 years, our offense has been noticeably less explosive. Even though it's more fun to watch when we have a high octane offense, I'm wondering whether our recent tournament success (two FFs in fewer years than any other time in JBs career) were because we played a more deliberate game where the strategy for less talented teams to beat us required more than simply slowing us down.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Dave85]

Compared to most on this board, I definitely have a below average BB IQ, but I have a theory that I'd be interested in your thoughts on. I was always a huge fan of the high energy, transition offense that SU always seemed to have, BUT, I'm wondering about the downside of an offense so reliant on run and gun.

Specifically, for many years the way to beat SU was pretty obvious. Slow us the hell down and grind it out. Many of the games that we lost to inferior squads (that we all complained about) were when the opponent had the slow 'em down, rough 'em up game plan (see: Pitt) and often knocked us out of the tournament (see: Butler, etc). In the past 4-5 years, our offense has been noticeably less explosive. Even though it's more fun to watch when we have a high octane offense, I'm wondering whether our recent tournament success (two FFs in fewer years than any other time in JBs career) were because we played a more deliberate game where the strategy for less talented teams to beat us required more than simply slowing us down.

Any thoughts? Thanks!

There are trade-offs in every design decision. I think the 2-3 zone allows our team to beat teams with superior talent who would beat us if we were playing M2M. We may lose some games earlier in the season as the defense improves. But come tournament time and JB's overall record the 2-3 team defense has been very successful.

For whatever reasons, the last couple of years our teams have not had very good transition offense. JB thinks this is about to change. We have a good anchors in the zone and really fast guards up top. A fast break basket off a defensive steal is huge plus for playing the 2-3 zone. I think it is one of the best and most exciting things to see watching Orange basketball.

The other thing that's nice about the 2-3 zone is when teams are in transition on us. Our players don't to think about there their M2M assignment is on the court. All our players have to do is run with all their might to a position. I think this helps prevent transition baskets because of missed assignment.

I think the reason why we lose to Pitt and Louisville has to do with their coaches playing against our 2-3 zone for so many years. They practice specific sets of motion plays to beat our zone. That's always a problem. In the past, when teams start playing good motion offense against our team I've seen our team step up the defensive pressure. Playing the 2-3 zone at its highest level takes really smart basketball players but also a huge amount of conditioning.

It's really funny the 2-3 zone and Orange basketball. When I watch any CBB it just seems wrong when the team going on defense doesn't play the 2-3 zone. And I think Orange basketball has another dimension to its attraction because a lot of times I find myself rooting for the defense to succeed just as much as the offense. I guess that's true with M2M defense. But it seems different when watching the 2-3 execute.

 

[CaptainJ]

I haven't read the thread yet, but in case anyone else hasnt said it already, weren't we supposed to run more this past season?

 

[two3zone]

I haven't read the thread yet, but in case anyone else hasnt said it already, weren't we supposed to run more this past season?

No, this past year was shoot more.

 

[CaptainJ]

No, this past year was shoot more.

I read that the 3's would be increased, but logically you will be shooting more the more you break, right?(think of the great Loyola Marymount and/or UNLV teams, or maybe Arkansas IIRC). I could have swore I read they were going to run, or was that the prior year? Time becomes a blur on here some times. Regardless of when I read it, they didnt deliver.