2 defensive issues

[chren21]

It seems obvious that this is coached:

- overplay your man on the wing to force him baseline. This is opposite of what I was coached my entire life. I was taught to force your man to the middle where your help is. How many times are we beat on the baseline and if it happens when someone is not on the block they get a dunk or layup?
-having your bigs defend bigs 30 to 45 feet away from the basket. This one also boggles my mind.

[brewcity77]

I have never understood why Buzz has his bigs defend so far from the basket. I noticed this first with Mbao last season, pretty sure it was in the Presbyterian game. As the Blue Hose (is that their nickname?) came up the floor, Mbao was standing at the top of the key. He started to drift back toward the post, as you would expect a 7'2" center to do, but Lazar gently placed his hand on the small of Mbao's back, clearly indicating he was supposed to stay out there to defend the three. I guess it's hard shooting over a guy that big, but it's pretty easy to go around them.

[Dr. Blackheart]

According to Statsheet, MU's defensive efficiency of 142.9 was just below the Pitt game of 143.5 which tied the UL game in 2004-05 as the worst defensive game in at least 15 years of recorded history.  MU's offensive efficiency was 133.9 which was higher than the DePaul blow out.

ND's eFG% was 60.5%, and their FT Rate was 83.7.  For the ref baiters, that was the 3rd highest opposing free throw rate in a game over the 15 years, and highest in Buzz's tenure.  The other two were the 1999-00 Cinci game (93.6) and  the 2007-08 UCONN game (84.7)

This team continues to be up and down defensively and it costs MU dearly. 

[DaCoach]

According to Statsheet, MU's defensive efficiency of 142.9 was just below the Pitt game of 143.5 which tied the UL game in 2004-05 as the worst defensive game in at least 15 years of recorded history.  MU's offensive efficiency was 133.9 which was higher than the DePaul blow out.

ND's eFG% was 60.5%, and their FT Rate was 83.7.  For the ref baiters, that was the 3rd highest opposing free throw rate in a game over the 15 years, and highest in Buzz's tenure.  The other two were the 1999-00 Cinci game (93.6) and  the 2007-08 UCONN game (84.7)

This team continues to be up and down defensively and it costs MU dearly. 

Hansbrough alone had 8 layups tonight. That's in addition to the fouls off his drives. Until we begin to avoid getting beat off the dribble or get a quality big guy to protect the paint, we'll continue to have problems.

[Blackhat]

Buzz is defensively retarded.

Same crap all year, hyper extend, so as soon as  you get beat there is too much space to have to help on, hence layups or easy dump offs.

I seriously question if Buzz knows what he is doing.

Frustrating cause he can coach offense. 

[mugrad2006]

I don't like to question Buzz because I think we've got fabulous talent on this team, a direct result of his stellar recruiting strategy.  However, what I don't understand is that you always hear the players say that if they don't play defense, they don't see the floor.  Is it even possible that playing the guys on the bench could make this team even WORSE defensively?

How can this be such a focal point for Buzz yet we're so bad at it as a team?

[Blackhat]

It's not even the players effort that is the problem with the defense.  Buzz gets the most out of his guys.  I appreciate that.

It's that they are put in such a bad position to succeed.  Buzz spreads our guys out so much on D, nobody could play adequate help d.

[NickelDimer]

Buzz needs to add a defensive guru to his staff.  He just is not a very good defensive coach.

[Blackhat]

Buzz thinks he is a defensive guy. 

In the long run a coach has to be able to understand his weaknesses, adapt, change,etc.   If they can't figure out how to fix it via staff or their own improvement they aren't going to last as head coach.

Or worse yet they can't identify/acknowldege a problem exists in the first place.

[MikeyT42]

What bugs me about the defense is that we are constantly switching ball screens. I know for a fact this is one of Buzz's philosophies. However, with that being said, Butler couldn't guard BH to save his life. He got beat 3 times. two for lay ups and one on an assist to Nash.

To me this is all apart of Buzz's philosophy to recruit switchables "who can play multiple positions." This way you can switch all screens with little athleticism given up. Unfortunately when Butler plays the 3, we give up too much athletically and get beat on the perimeter because of it.

Note: This is how we got beat at the end of the Louisville game, Crowder stayed, Butler switched and no one covered the roll.

[willie warrior]

Buzz is defensively retarded.

Same crap all year, hyper extend, so as soon as  you get beat there is too much space to have to help on, hence layups or easy dump offs.

I seriously question if Buzz knows what he is doing.

Frustrating cause he can coach offense. 

And he can recruit-switchables. But how dare you be critical of Buzz. He is doing a great job