Zone Defense

[NotAnAlum]

It looked like for much of the Butler game (or at least for much of the Butler game I could stand to watch) MU was back to playing man to man defense.  It seems to me that while most coaches seem to detest it, the zone does seem to slow down the other team and give them problems offensively.  The MU Zone was very effective this year until the Seton Hall game where SH was extremely hot from 3 and torched it.  Prior to SH the zone had kept us close.  Since that point it seems Wojo has used less and less zone.
So my question is this.
Has he switched back to man because he assumes all the other BE teams have the MU zone figured out?  I can't imagine we would have done worse defensively against Butler in a zone.
Or are we seeing the first admissions that we are effectively "Playing for next year" and he is playing M2M because that is what he wants to play primarily next year?

[CTWarrior]

I think the word is out on our zone, particularly the 1-3-1, and teams know how to attack it and get the easy corner threes.

We lack the length to be terribly effective in zone once our opponents are prepared for it.  Syracuse's zone works primarily becuase they have big, quick guys anchoring it.

But I think there is validity in your larger point.  If we're going to be ineffective on defense, we may as well be ineffective in our long-term defense.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Juan is critical for that zone to be effective due to his energy, wingspan and athleticism. He can cover a lot of ground on the trap. Sandy is the only other one left who could,play that role and he isn't able to yet. The zone also protects Carlino who is not very good playing man.

So, back to the man with the injuries, which in the end is better for the future as the high pressure defense is what Wojo prefers. Trial by fire is sometimes the best teacher.

[Blackhat]

Playing for next year, imo.  Still tough to watch, we're getting smoked on penetration running the Duke tight man D.