What About the Defense?

[Col. Bleep]

Easy to overlook with the drama of the buzzer beater...but the zone really stepped up on the final stand and made it possible. The Orange forced Kennard to take a very tough shot.

They've done it several times...somehow pulling a "shut it down!" when they need a stop at the end of the game.

 

[Cuse23]

Gillon was on Kennard like glue, stayed in front of him the whole way, with very quick feet. When the shot went up, he put a hand up but was very careful not to bump/foul. And Roberson had a great box out, keeping Jefferson from getting anywhere near the rebound.

 

[Oráiste]

there were several positive signs, particularly a few key individual plays from both Gillon and Thompson, who too often have been like screen doors on submarines at that end of the court

leading me to wonder if this team can suddenly ratchet up the defense late in the season like the 2013 team did? I know the personnel is wildly different and won't likely have as much impact as that year's team did. but if these guys can get, say 30% better on defense, then with our offense we'll be a nightmare matchup