A few thoughts on MU's zone offense

[Eye]

I understand the more modern theory is to screen the zone, but I'm not sure MU gets a lot of value out of that.

Therefore, things I'd like to see MU do more effectively against the zone, which I'm surprised they don't see more often:

1. Get the ball into the high post with either Butler or Crowder, and get some high-low offense going.
2. Use the skip pass more often. Seems like the ball doesn't go from wing-to-wing often enough.
3. Fake that skip pass once in a while to set up a back-door lob to a baseline cutter. Seems like MU ran that fairly effectively with DJ against zones and it helped.
4. They dont seem to get enough crossing action with their two post players.
5. I guess based upon #4 I don't see MU using two post players against zones enough IMHO, too much 4-out, 1-in instead of more 3-out, 2-in.

Thoughts?

[CTWarrior]

After watching last night my first thought is that we didn't have a zone offense...

I basically agree, but Butler is not particularly effective in the high post area the way Hayward was last year.

It starts with the same old same old.  It would be nice to have a low post presence against a zone to force the zone to sag to leave some shooting/driving lanes.

Otherwise, the key to beating a zone is quick ball movement to find angles for penetration.  We we penetrrating too much from the top rather than the wings last night, I thought.

[MikeyT42]

I agree with a lot of what you said about Zone offense. Marquette was way to stale not moving without the ball. The didn't utilize the skip. They get the ball to the second side by reversing it through the top, which is way to slow and allows the guards to reset.

They are at their best vs the zone when.

1. DJO starts under the level of the forwards and comes through to the high post or the 3 point line. This motion either pulls a forward out or stretches a guard wide creating space for Butler and Crowder to catch inside or at the high post.

2. Fulce works the "wide post" and gets under the level of the defense. Otule isn't athletic enough to play there and finish.

[chapman]

1. Get defensive stops on more than 6 out of 28 possessions in the half so you're not always in the half court offense against a set up zone and players don't lose their attack mentality.
2. ???
3. Profit

[mviale]

Any idea what % of those 28 defensive possessions had a foul?

[NersEllenson]

The skip pass is no longer used in college basketball at the high major level.  Players are far too athletic to make that pass anymore.

Our zone offense is generally pretty good.  As Buzz mentioned post game - we had more paint touches in the 2nd half than first half.  We were getting the ball into the teeth of the zone.  Problem was Jimmy, nor Otule could finish.  Junior broke down the zone on 1 occasion and gave Jimmy a great drop off pass right at the basket, and he inexplicably didn't even draw iron on the shot attempt - but wasn't fouled apparently?  There were numerous times we pentrated the zone - which is what you want - but we didn't convert, and in my opinion a lot of the failed conversion had more to do with Jimmy B getting contact on his shot attempts.

[muchamps]

After watching last night my first thought is that we didn't have a zone offense...

I basically agree, but Butler is not particularly effective in the high post area the way Hayward was last year.

It starts with the same old same old.  It would be nice to have a low post presence against a zone to force the zone to sag to leave some shooting/driving lanes.

Otherwise, the key to beating a zone is quick ball movement to find angles for penetration.  We we penetrrating too much from the top rather than the wings last night, I thought.

"What low post presence",as you said.
Otule will never be able to do it with his limitations and Gardner is limited to 45 seconds according to "The Coach". Get ready for 3 more losses,but at least they will be close.