Zone!

[Marquette84]

Ummmmm.... you just shot your own argument in the foot there.  Crean's game plan works when you have Novak, Diener, and McAlarney type shooters.  When you don't, like this team, you have to flash players into the middle and work inside out, not outside in.  Crean's game plan was not suited for his roster the last two years, therefore it was not a good game plan.

This is where you shoot yourself in the foot.  

This team ISN'T like last year--specifically Jerel McNeal is now shooting like Novak & McAlarney!  

In fact, McNeal is #2 in the Big East in 3 point shooting.

Here are the senior season records for 3 point shooting (with Jerel and McAlarney included):
1.  Mark Anglavar 47.4%
2.  Steve Novak 46.7%
KYLE MCALARNEY 46.4%
JEREL MCNEAL 46.2%
3.  David Diggs 46.0%
4.  Robb Logterman 44.6%
5.  Tony Smith 41.4%

Here's how close they are--if just one more of McNeal's 3 point attempts from any game so far this season had gone in, he would actually BE AHEAD OF STEVE NOVAK on this list!  

So your thowaway comment that -- "When you don't, like this team, you have to flash players into the middle . . . " is bogus--becuause Buzz most certainly DOES have an excellent outside shooter.

This year's team is NOT like last years--it is more like any of the seasons we had Steve Novak.  We don't have the ability to beat zones because of some magic offense--we have the ability to beat zones because we have a guy who can shoot the lights out from beyond the arc--just like we did when we had Novak.

[MUSF]

My two cents...

There are two basic ways to beat a zone.  One, spacing and ball movement around the perimeter and make your outside shots.  Two, attack the gaps in the zone.  There are a couple of ways to attack the gaps in the zone.  You can overload one side and attempt to work the ball close to the basket, you can exploit seems with dribble penetration and dish, or you can use screens to get guys into the gaps. 

Crean's plan against the zone seemed to focus mainly on the outside shot approach and the dribble penetration approach. You obviously need good consistent outside shooting to make the first approach effective.  We obviously struggled in that department at times during the last couple of seasons.  The problem I have with the dribble penetration is that it is difficult against athletic teams that recover well, see Syracuse, and sometimes our guards get caught in no mans land down low and have to force something.

No doubt, Jerel's outside shooting has helped us deal with the zone better this year but to me, the real key to beating the zone has been how Buzz uses Lazar.  Lazar is the perfect type of player to exploit the gaps in the zone.  He plays down low but can knock down the outside shot.  By working the base line he can sneak outside for the long jumper.  More importantly he can hit the mid range jumper.  Buzz has been getting him into the gaps using screens and he knocks down the jumper.  When he can hit that shot consistently it causes the guards to collapse freeing up Jerel and Wesley on the outside. 

In summary, kudos to Jerel for improving his outside shooting and kudos to Buzz for finding more creative ways to attack the zone.

[DaCoach]

We shot 23% on our 3s against ND. That suggests to me that it wasn't our perimeter game that was the difference against the zone. Let's not forget that Novak had his highest 3pt% the year that he played with Wade who created open looks with his penetration. But to suggest that good pure shooters can break a zone is a fallacious argument if they aren't given open looks.

[CTWarrior]

One of the big things we're doing this year against all defenses is pulling up for short jumpers after beating the perimeter defense off the dribble rather than taking it all the way to the hoop where we have to challenge the bigger defenders.

[MUSF]

We shot 23% on our 3s against ND. That suggests to me that it wasn't our perimeter game that was the difference against the zone. Let's not forget that Novak had his highest 3pt% the year that he played with Wade who created open looks with his penetration. But to suggest that good pure shooters can break a zone is a fallacious argument if they aren't given open looks.

Yes, you have to get space to shoot but penetration is not the only way to do that.  Good ball movement around the outside can get defenders out of position enough to get the open look.  But again, you have to hit those shots and ball movement on the perimeter limits you to one option.  Penetration and screening gives you a couple of options.  If the zone collapses to stop penetration/or the man getting open in the gaps (Lazar against ND), you can kick it out.  If the zone doesn't collapse you take the open mid-range jumper or continue to the basket.

All that said, good pure shooters can and do break zone defenses.  Most zones concede the outside shot to some level and any team that tries to zone a team like Davidson with Curry will pay the price.