Zone Defense

[BCHoopster]

The year MU won the 1977 championship they started playing more zone defense as Bernard
Toone had no idea how to play man.  Is there a reason Buzz does not play a zone once in awhile
to change it up, is he totally inflexible.  I look at EW and he reminds of BT, Jamil Jones we saw
today why he is not playing, he is definitely clueless.  So in saying that MU could play long with EW,
Otule and Butler with Vander and you are long. Anybody for 1-3-1 zone, with Butler and Vander on
the wings, pretty quick, hide EW or Jones in the middle, can MU at least try it?  It is a shame
Buzz does not try different types of D against this ridiculous schedule.  It is nice to play the 4 teams
early, but other than UWM, these patsies do nothing for this team to prepare for the Big East.  You
can play dogs, but how about teams from 100-200 instead of all the time in the 300's?  Any thoughts?

[Sharpie]

I have been thinking the exact same thing in regards to playing a zone. In response to scheduling, it's much more difficult to schedule a lot of good teams than most think for ooc play. It would be nice to get these guys (especially a young team like this year) but it's not always possible. Would be nice though.

[Nukem2]

Was talking about this at the BC yesterday at half-time.  Believe MU could play some 1-3-1 zone to take advantage of the length of the team on the wings.  Playing other types of zones would negate the team's strong point of quickness.

[GGGG]

It's not as though it would make their perimeter defense any worse.  But in many ways, it is a harder defense to play.  Don't think that you could get away with playing Williams more by "hiding" him in a zone because good teams will figure that stuff out.

But yeah, it is worth a shot.

[ChicosBailBonds]

The downside is playing a zone defense hurts rebounding and we already need some help there.

[Daniel]

Would be nice to try it even for one or two possesions, just to mix it up.

[downtown85]

The downside is playing a zone defense hurts rebounding and we already need some help there.

Normally I would agree with you, but can it really get any worse?  We're rebounding like we are playing zone anyway.  May as well get some of the benefit of playing zone.