The problem is not the D, Bob.
The "overall" problem is not the D. The situational problem, when you've battled back/forth for 38 mins playing the same defense, the other team can get into a comfort level, and then with 2 minutes to go they can get/create a good shot.
My argument is not against zone, it's against using zone exclusively. This board often complains about some unknown player torching us for a career-high 26 with 6-7 threes...there's obviously a reason for that.
The point of a zone is to give up shots but give up less-good shots over the course of a game, leading to low % for the opponent over time. But over the course of the game, the opposing team can find patterns and weaknesses, and above all, they can overload the zone and get an open 3-pointer really whenever they want. Anytime you watch our wing player (CMAC, Roberson, Mike G) over on the wing guarding nobody you know that there's an overload going on (they have 5 vs. your 4).
In theory, for the duration of the game, your opponent probably won't have 3 three point shooters out there...but in a situation like that, they can sub in a bunch of shooters and create a situation like that Michigan game, where we ended up giving Albrecht a wide-open three I think a couple times in the last two mins.
The counter-argument to this is that our zone is really a match-up and we change styles etc, but to be honest I've really only seen that play out a couple years in the last 5-10...some teams just "got it". (Or, we had two guards with really long reach).
We've had some really good teams who've been fun to watch, I just think it's fair to re-assess every once in a while if a change of strategy is called for...in this case I think this team might respond to a man situation, where they don't have to think as much, who knows?
I'd also love to see some 3/4 court pressure...I've never understood why we don't do that, to be honest. Despite the above, the truth is we do play a tough zone, and it usually takes 25-30 seconds for the opponent to get an open shot...why not make them take 10-15 seconds to get the ball into their pattern so they have less time to work the zone? I'm NOT talking about the suicide/mission all-or-nothing 1-2-1-1 full court press we employ when we're down 10.
Just some thoughts. Sometimes switching it up on D can jumpstart the O too
