offense against a Zone

[BCHoopster]

I really do not see what Buzz is trying to do against a zone, there is basically no attack. High pick, then
side to side.  Not sure what they accomplish there?  Cadougan by far the worst shooting point in the Big
East, then he brings in Vander, nothing against both players (blame Buzz) but neither can shoot the ball.
I would zone MU every game.  Hopefully, Juan Anderson and D. Wilson can break the zone.  Very troublesome,
looked very un-organized.  Lastly, is there a reason, DJO does not take wide open shots?  Also, the point guard
play can be summed up this year by the first or second play of the game when Bucyks threw the ball out
of bounds!

[mileskishnish72]

Was sitting right in that section - that TO was on DJO. He was in la-la land on that play.

[Spaniel with a Short Tail]

It seemed that later in the second half JB was flashing into the lane and the guards were dumping the ball into him.  We were getting some good looks then.  Reminded me of LH last year, just from a different angle (LJ would be at the top of the key while JB was off to the right side).  That is what I'd like to see more of next week.  I think some of the time these guards are afraid to make that pass, while last year's guards had no issue doing it.

Keeping the faith - Go Marquette!

[ecompt]

Problem is, no team ever has to guard either Vander or Junior. And if Erik is in the game, too, that's three players you don't have to worry about. Either VB or JC or both have to develop jumpers over the summer. They're still young, so it could happen.

[mileskishnish72]

And CO, God love him, I like the progress he's shown but he just cannot catch the ball unless he is standing stock still.

[avid1010]

It seemed that later in the second half JB was flashing into the lane and the guards were dumping the ball into him.  We were getting some good looks then.  Reminded me of LH last year, just from a different angle (LJ would be at the top of the key while JB was off to the right side).  That is what I'd like to see more of next week.  I think some of the time these guards are afraid to make that pass, while last year's guards had no issue doing it.

Keeping the faith - Go Marquette!

I'd agree.  In both the SH and Cincy games I liked the adjustments Buzz made, but they came way too late.  He's a hard guy to notice any patterns on.  Early in the year they'd come out and get leads then blow them, now they come out and struggle but make adjustments to get back in the game.  Against both SH and Cincy the answer to the zone was to get the ball to JB in the high or extended post.  When they did this they were fine, otherwise they passed the ball around the perimeter and jacked up poor shots.

[karavotsos]

The problem is we have been fairly consistent in being unwilling and unable to shoot the 3.  Even if you get the zone moving, defensive players don't have to recover to the 3 point line or worry about the 3 point line.  We don't make teams pay for failing to recover to the 3 point line. 

The other team can just pack in the zone, and passing lanes disappear.  If you remember back to Louisville and Syracuse, we got inside their zones with ease.  Part of how Crowder got so many points, is they kept getting the ball to him in the alley behind the zone.  I remember one play in the Syracuse game where Buycks got into the lane about 8' out, and everyone in the BC was yelling at him to shoot.  He waited for the center to come out and dumped it into Crowder for a layup.  When you know MU has to penetrate the zone and look for interior passing to score, simply pack everyone in, cut down the passing lanes, and let MU kick it back outside or force something that's not there insed because they're not a threat outside.

That's how St. John's came back on us.  That's how UConn came back on us.  I would think we'll see zones until we can shoot our way out of it.  I don't think conceptually Buzz's zone offense is bad.  Exactly the opposite.  Holes just disappear when you can't shoot.

It's really hard to beat a zone when you can't shoot the 3, and you're taking the ball out of the basket most times on defense, so you can't beat the zone down the floor.