Our man-to-man D in the 2nd half

[DonLightfoot]

Didn't look that good to me, but now is the time to check it out.

 

[Madbiker]

Good M-2-M is a complicated defense. We play a very simplified, and therefore not a very good version. We probably don't spend much practice time on it. Our guys are recruited for zone attributes not man attributes. If it provides a surprise element at some point for a couple of minutes coming out of a time out that throws the other team off and maybe gets a TO great.

 

[pearl31]

#mercy

 

[Oakland]

According to bernie fine, the team played m2m 90% of the time in practice. Why would they would practice against a D they rarely see in a game.

Good M-2-M is a complicated defense. We play a very simplified, and therefore not a very good version. We probably don't spend much practice time on it. Our guys are recruited for zone attributes not man attributes. If it provides a surprise element at some point for a couple of minutes coming out of a time out that throws the other team off and maybe gets a TO great.

 

[FrancoPizza]

According to bernie fine, the team played m2m 90% of the time in practice. Why would they would practice against a D they rarely see in a game.

This is why we often struggle against really good m2m defenses - or at least take a half to adjust. I hope Hopkins plans to watch some m2m for dummies when he takes over. Is JB doing this now partly to assist Hopkins in recruiting? "See nick we don't play zone 100% of the time!"

The zone is going to get lit up by Wisconsin or anyone with good passing and standstill shooters. Hope the offense can outscore in those games to bail the D out until they can figure out the slides and rotations.

 

[weedsportwarriors]

Sucked, stick with zone or press.

 

[OttoMets]

Sucked, stick with zone or press.

Do you guys have new seats this year?

 

[HoustonCuse]

Here's my take:

1. JB has said that due to limited practice time, he realized that focusing 100% on zone was a more effective way to go. Since he has done that, our zone has reached new levels, setting records in the NCAA tournament in 2013 and leading to 2 FFs in recent years on teams with very suspect offenses. An all-time accomplishment for the program.
2. Now here we are seeing M-2-M being rolled out again. No it was not for mercy purposes, JB talked of playing it in the preseason.
3. This is confusing to say the least. In a year where we need all the available time to teach 5 new guys the zone, time is being spent on M2M. An absolute contradiction to point #1.

Some possible conclusions:
1. JB is concerned he cannot get this zone to a functional state in time (that could mean by conference play or by NCAA Tourney time). With all the new personnel he feels he just can't get there and so he is hedging bets with M2M. This is of course extremely concerning because it means that a mediocre defense is the teams ceiling. Whether it is zone or M2M, it will be average at best in this scenario.
or
2. Since our "scout team" in practice can now be comprised of all scholarship players that are actually going to see the court, there are now players who "know" M2M available to put into games. For instance, last year, the only players who would ever play M2M in practice were all walkons on the scout team, this year, that is different. Thus, your actual scholarship players are being exposed to more M2M and thus it is sort of "free" to try it out some. I suggest this is probably not the case since we had similar depth in 2012 and saw zero M2M in game action that year.

Other thoughts?

 

[weedsportwarriors]

Do you guys have new seats this year?

Yes, we moved back up to 308 second row. Sitting in the lower section we were right on the aisle and everyone kept getting up and we would miss a lot of plays. Where are you at?

 

[Dave85]

Didn't look that good to me, but now is the time to check it out.

I think JB went M2M out of mercy for Holy Cross.

 

[AlaskaSU]

We have enough depth that we do not have to worry about fouls. With limited depth you have to play zone 100%. This team has flexibility. MTM might be best when Gillon is in. There is no reason why JB would think that our players will not evolve to play good zone.

 

[AZOrange]

The amount of M2M we will play when the games matter is 0 percent.

 

[Briancuse]

I think JB went M2M out of mercy for Holy Cross.

Well done Dave.

 

[OttoMets]

Yes, we moved back up to 308 second row. Sitting in the lower section we were right on the aisle and everyone kept getting up and we would miss a lot of plays. Where are you at?

306 - Kate said she was sure she saw you both to our left in the second row, so 308 sounds about right. We'll get your attention next time.

 

[kmart128]

Really i thought out Man to Man was a lot better than previous years when we tried it. We got a lot of deflections it seemed to me. But it doesnt help we had a 7'2 player playing out on 3 point line against a much smaller player.

 

[We Are Syracuse]

M2M is more detailed oriented than the zone. Ball screen coverages are far more complicated and complex and if you do not practice them often, it will be very challenging to guard.