The Glaring Difference Between This Year and Last

[moqui]

That will not change the lack of height with the guards when Trevor and Ennis are up top.

We also lack a shot blocker.

Historically, our defenses are solid when we have big guards or a shot blocking threat...and its great with both.

We have neither this year.

We are going to have to score.

SU had one of the top defenses in the nation in the three years when the guards were 6-2 Scoop Jardine, 6-4 Brandon Triche and either 6-5 Andy Rautins or 6-4 Dion Waiters. The current rotation is 6-2, 6-4 and 6-7.

In those years, Ricky was the leader in block percentage (a more significant measure than raw totals) with 8.0 and 8.2, then Fab with 13.0; as a team SU was in the top 5 in block percentage all three years. Last year, Roc was at 11.0 and BMK was 8.6 and SU was #1 in the nation in team block percentage at 19.3%, just a smidge below the 19.4 mark set behind Fab in 2012. The team block percentage is 20.9 after two games, but that is meaningless in such a small sample against this quality of opposition.

Still, it is clear that the team has both the size at the top of the zone and the shot blocking behind them to excel. The raw material is in place, all that remains to be seen is the execution.

a slow white dude.

that kind of sloppy comment is just a reflection of stupid cultural bigotry . . . the fact of the matter is that Cooney is at least as fast and as quick as was Triche

 

[Orangezoo]

.

We cant expect to match last year. MCW was the best defensive guard we have ever had in the zone, just ask Boeheim. Its tough to lose a lottery pick stud (and a 4 yr starter) and replace them with a much shorter frosh and a slow white dude.

We will be fine though. Grant and CJ will destroy every team we play this year.

In a year where the advantage rolls to the offense a bit more because of enforcing the current rules strictly the fact we have such weapons on offense becomes really important.

 

[pearl31]

and a slow white dude.

just sheer brilliance right there Oh Lord

 

[Madbiker]

Ennis is never going to be the defensive presence that MCW was but he will get better than he is now as he gains experience playing the zone and adjusts to the college game.