Constant Switching

[CTWarrior]

Now, there has been much debate about Derrick Wilson's value to the team, and I don't want to rehash it any more.  But DePaul's guards (Young and Garrett) killed us yesterday.  The first inclination would be to say that if Derrick is such a good defender, why did both of DePaul's guards go off yesterday?  It is not because Derrick is overrated or a poor defender.  It's because we switch so predictably, that on practically every possession DePaul just ran a simple screen to get one of our forwards to guard their guards and they went to work.  Creighton did the same thing in the opposite direction, to get Thomas or Derrick on McDermott.

Now, if Derrick's best talent is as a defender, why do we embrace a defensive scheme that constantly takes him out of the action or forces him to guard a big guy under the basket?

[PGsHeroes32]

This is actually a good point. Forget that Derrick has his breakdowns on D like everyone on this team and forget that he draws a bunch of nice charges.

This team is honestly clueless when it comes to switching.

When I think McDonald(?) got his lucky bounce of a 3 in OT people on the game thread were bitching at Todd. But in reality, Jake allowed himself to get picked and just sat there as well. Neither one of them made an attempt to get at the guy.

I still don't exactly know what was happening on the final play of regulation but if Derrick is this champion defender...why the hell was he not only back away but also technically not even the guy guarding Garrett(really no one was guarding him)?

[GooooMarquette]

Agree with you CTWarrior.  Derrick is as good a perimeter defender as we have, yet the constant switching scheme seems to take him away from guarding the opponent's best perimeter players.  Most of the DePaul guards' penetrations yesterday came against Todd, Jake, Jamil or Juan...after they had switched onto Derrick's man.

Seems like a better scheme might be to put Derrick on the opponent's best perimeter player...and keep him there.

[connie]

Great post.  Seemed like we got burned on switches often by Creighton as well, and they tried various combinations of switching in that game (i.e., I think at times they stopped switching Wragge, and sometimes Dougie).  For whatever reason DePaul seemed to have the answers to whatever we were doing on defense (at least after the first 6 minutes of each half).

Hayward, I think Garrett's shot was just so deep and quick that no one was on him yet.  Not excusing that, particularly in light of the situation, but it was a pretty long shot.

[WarriorFan]

Agree as well.  I think all of our players 1-4 are athletic enough to switch much more aggressively and stay tight to both the screener and the ballhandler.

[bilsu]

The last play in regulation I was thinking we should have fouled before he shot. When they showed the replay I realized we did not have a chance, because Garret pulled up and took a really deep shot, before the defense got close. You would not of fouled with more than four seconds to go. The downside of switching is that it leaves the team opening for threes. Under Buzz  the other teams have generally shot well from three. However, his overall Big East record has been better than his talent, so it is hard to argue with his method. However, it is the wrong way to play Creighton because they have too many shooters.

[River rat]

Since this board is full of basketball coaching geniuses, how would you proposes that mu guard ball screens?

[connie]

It's not the switching, it's mostly the secondary and tertiary rotations that have been the issue.  They have been late, or absent. The rotations are complicated and vary by team, which is (in part) what Buzz means when he says things like "play to the scouting report." 

[CTWarrior]

Since this board is full of basketball coaching geniuses, how would you proposes that mu guard ball screens?

I think Derrick should fight through the screen, or we should hedge and recover quickly like we do when it is Otule or Gardner who are caught in the switch.  I disagree that it is secondary or tertiary rotations that are the issue.  Against DePaul, we simply switched every time there was a screen, then they spread out and the guards went one on one against Anderson or Jamil Wilson or Steve Taylor or whoever whenever they got that guard against forward matchup.

[UticaBusBarn]

It does seem to this less than educated observer that switching is a particular problem.

Rather, it would appear that both Derrick Wilson and Jake Thomas are often gassed by the end of the game because of the minutes they play.

All players are good for only so many minutes. When they play beyond their physical limits they end up playing down to the mean.

It is obvious that Coach Williams does not believe he has any legitimate alternatives to Wilson and Thomas. That is, he does not feel he can take them off the court.

However, by the end of the game these two guards often have nothing left. The result? Their legs go, their defense is not as crisp and, on offense, their lift on their shots is not what it should be.

Possibly a well spaced breather, or two, would help them and the team.

Anyway, the next four games will be the proverbial proof in the pudding.

[dgies9156]

Best post of the year. The more I think about it, the more I think you're right.

I also suspect most Big East coaches know this as well.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Agree, sometimes stwitiching really is the only option though. Personally not a fan of just trying to fight through screens cause with a quick guard or a shooter you get burned. I think hedging would be a good way just to mix it up so teams dont get too comfy with expecting a switch.

[GGGG]

The last play in regulation I was thinking we should have fouled before he shot. When they showed the replay I realized we did not have a chance, because Garret pulled up and took a really deep shot, before the defense got close. You would not of fouled with more than four seconds to go. The downside of switching is that it leaves the team opening for threes. Under Buzz  the other teams have generally shot well from three. However, his overall Big East record has been better than his talent, so it is hard to argue with his method. However, it is the wrong way to play Creighton because they have too many shooters.

But Taylor had his hands down.  For the life of me when I saw the replay, I couldn't figure out why Taylor's arm were at his side....as if protecting from a drive.  Buzz wanted him in there so that they would have a big target to shoot over, but then he completely negated that by having his arms down.

[GGGG]

Agree as well.  I think all of our players 1-4 are athletic enough to switch much more aggressively and stay tight to both the screener and the ballhandler.

I think the problem is they actually aren't athletic enough.  Derrick usually is.  Juan usually is.  But Jamil and Jake aren't...and Deonte often looks clueless.

[forgetful]

I think Derrick should fight through the screen, or we should hedge and recover quickly like we do when it is Otule or Gardner who are caught in the switch.  I disagree that it is secondary or tertiary rotations that are the issue.  Against DePaul, we simply switched every time there was a screen, then they spread out and the guards went one on one against Anderson or Jamil Wilson or Steve Taylor or whoever whenever they got that guard against forward matchup.

I don't think that would work.  Usually the 1-4 are capable 3 point shooters.  If you hedge when they screen to avoid getting a guard or forward on the switch, they are just going to flare the screener to the 3 pt line and get open uncontested 3 pt looks repeatedly. 

[Nevada233]

I think the problem is they actually aren't athletic enough.  Derrick usually is.  Juan usually is.  But Jamil and Jake aren't...and Deonte often looks clueless.

Deonte only wants to score at this point in his career.... When he learns basketball is about waaaay more than that he will be a Starter....

[79Warrior]

Deonte only wants to score at this point in his career.... When he learns basketball is about waaaay more than that he will be a Starter....

That is exactly why Deonte and JJJ don't play more. Defensively they are a liability.