MU vs Zone

[MuggsyB]

Sometimes I get too emotionally involved in the games to notice what is exactly happening when MU has gone on scoring droughts. It seems to me we have struggled vs zones and not great zones.  Assuming we see zone how would you attack?  I feel like getting Oso involved early is always a positive.  I firmly believe MU's best stacks up quite nicely vs any team in the country.  I'm really hoping we get the 3-Ball rolling starting Fri.  Kam and Jop in particular are very capable of going off.  I think Kam is due to go medieval frankly. 

[JakeBarnes]

Sometimes I get too emotionally involved in the games to notice what is exactly happening when MU has gone on scoring droughts. It seems to me we have struggled vs zones and not great zones.  Assuming we see zone how would you attack?  I feel like getting Oso involved early is always a positive.  I firmly believe MU's best stacks up quite nicely vs any team in the country.  I'm really hoping we get the 3-Ball rolling starting Fri.  Kam and Jop in particular are very capable of going off.  I think Kam is due to go medieval frankly.

I think they have gotten better at them--beat the hell out of UConn's and Xavier's zone attempts during BET. This is just off the top of my head before reviewing tape to confirm, but looked like we've been addressing this by:

1. Tyler flashing through the nail
2. The "backdown" at the 3 pt line where oso or another then sets a pick and the ball handler then fish-hooks into the lane.

Both seem to open up 3 pt shooters. The second option usually has an Oso or pick-setter driving to the hoop off ball as well.

[tower912]

Getting the ball to TKo at the foul line has neutralized zones.   What DID happen in the BET is that the opponent would wait until TKo was out of the game to put the zone on.  The bench players froze a little and the zone was effective until TKo could get back in the game.

[Juan Anderson's Mixtape]

Getting the ball to TKo at the foul line has neutralized zones.   What DID happen in the BET is that the opponent would wait until TKo was out of the game to put the zone on.  The bench players froze a little and the zone was effective until TKo could get back in the game.

Should Oso be the high post hub vs zone when Kolek is on the bench?  Look for cutters, dribble into floaters, back down to the post, kick out to shooters, etc.

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Should Oso be the high post hub vs zone when Kolek is on the bench?  Look for cutters, dribble into floaters, back down to the post, kick out to shooters, etc.

Yup, plus he can pass over the top.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Getting the ball to TKo at the foul line has neutralized zones.   What DID happen in the BET is that the opponent would wait until TKo was out of the game to put the zone on.  The bench players froze a little and the zone was effective until TKo could get back in the game.

I noticed that adjustment with Tyler as the foul line floater. It's usually Jop or Oso.

[1318WWells]

I noticed that adjustment with Tyler as the foul line floater. It's usually Jop or Oso.

Think that was just when Oso and Jop were in foul trouble.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Think that was just when Oso and Jop were in foul trouble.

And Tyler too

[DoctorV]

Sometimes I get too emotionally involved in the games to notice what is exactly happening when MU has gone on scoring droughts. It seems to me we have struggled vs zones and not great zones.  Assuming we see zone how would you attack?  I feel like getting Oso involved early is always a positive.  I firmly believe MU's best stacks up quite nicely vs any team in the country.  I'm really hoping we get the 3-Ball rolling starting Fri.  Kam and Jop in particular are very capable of going off.  I think Kam is due to go medieval frankly.

Muggsy-

I have a feeling that this first game is a drive to the hoop and score at will inside the paint type of game.
Vermont is pretty weak defensively, and very small/unathletic compared to Marquette. I do think that they will throw a zone at Marquette in the hopes that MU settles on a bunch of 3s, but in this game I think settling for those 3s would be a mistake.

Honestly, the only way this stays close is if Marquette attempts and misses a lot of 3s, and on the other end Vermont attempts and makes a ton of 3s.
As long as a combination of those two things doesn't happen Marquette should be ok.
So, pass up the 3, drive and move the ball relentlessly, attack with aggression and make them have to guard you inside the paint where they are least comfortable due to their size. Use our size and superb athleticism, vision, ball movement to make them submit to Rome.

If Marquette is taking a lot of 3s in this game it could be a bad sign- meaning that they are seeing Vermont hit some and trying to match them or chase on the other end.
Vermont will play slow as heck so unless Marquette can find a way to speed up the pace- I expect that 3 quarter press to try to get them sped up- they have to value the possessions and drive and score at the hoop. Dominate and deflate them inside.
Now, if Marquette starts canning 3s the game is over regardless, but that isn't our strength compared to getting inside and scoring at the rim.

I would imagine that neither team turns it over a lot because they usually don't. If Vermont does it'll be because they are behind and sped up. If Marquette does it'll be because they are pressing and sloppy/nervous.
Marquette can overcome some extra mistakes because they are the superior team, Vermont can't.

Assert the drive and dominate inside early and often and break their spirit, opening up/speeding up the game in the process and taking the pressure off.
Settle for a ton of 3s and miss and then the pressure mounts if they game is close at or beyond HT

[MuggsyB]

I like TyKo in the middle as well. I feel strongly that MU is at their best when Oso plays aggressively to score and drops 14 pts or so. 

[MuggsyB]

I'm just going to say this:  MU boasts a team that is capable of dismantling opponents in a variety of ways.  Our primary weakness is rebounding the basketball.  That said we have seen what happens when MU is clicking on all cylinders, with multiple guys attacking and moving the rock, combined with prime-time focus and tenacity.  We have yet to do this for 40 mins but we have improved tremendously on the defensive end.  Mark my words:  MU's A game is without question capable of destroying all comers, period.   If we play our A game and lose?  I can deal with it but will frankly be surprised.  I foresee a poised and confident MU squad, starting Fri, that elevates their level of play, which in turn means big probs for those in our path. 

[WarriorFan]

Against zone, Oso in the high post and 3 out with someone in the weak side dunker slot.  MU rarely uses the dunker slot because they prefer 4 out which I totally understand given the shooters they have, however a "Steph Curry" baseline cut (which Kam can do) can yield a weak side wide open corner 3 because the dunker holds the defender in close to the basket.  Swing the ball through the high post to the cutter and it'll all happen before the D can recover.  If Defense guards the 3, the Dunker is open.  If the dunker gets guarded, there should be a cutter coming in for a dunk.

[MuggsyB]

Muggsy-

I have a feeling that this first game is a drive to the hoop and score at will inside the paint type of game.
Vermont is pretty weak defensively, and very small/unathletic compared to Marquette. I do think that they will throw a zone at Marquette in the hopes that MU settles on a bunch of 3s, but in this game I think settling for those 3s would be a mistake.

Honestly, the only way this stays close is if Marquette attempts and misses a lot of 3s, and on the other end Vermont attempts and makes a ton of 3s.
As long as a combination of those two things doesn't happen Marquette should be ok.
So, pass up the 3, drive and move the ball relentlessly, attack with aggression and make them have to guard you inside the paint where they are least comfortable due to their size. Use our size and superb athleticism, vision, ball movement to make them submit to Rome.

If Marquette is taking a lot of 3s in this game it could be a bad sign- meaning that they are seeing Vermont hit some and trying to match them or chase on the other end.
Vermont will play slow as heck so unless Marquette can find a way to speed up the pace- I expect that 3 quarter press to try to get them sped up- they have to value the possessions and drive and score at the hoop. Dominate and deflate them inside.
Now, if Marquette starts canning 3s the game is over regardless, but that isn't our strength compared to getting inside and scoring at the rim.

I would imagine that neither team turns it over a lot because they usually don't. If Vermont does it'll be because they are behind and sped up. If Marquette does it'll be because they are pressing and sloppy/nervous.
Marquette can overcome some extra mistakes because they are the superior team, Vermont can't.

Assert the drive and dominate inside early and often and break their spirit, opening up/speeding up the game in the process and taking the pressure off.
Settle for a ton of 3s and miss and then the pressure mounts if they game is close at or beyond HT

Dr.V,

I think Fri will be our most challenging game mentally for sure.  However, once we overcome the early tournament jitters, I would not be surprised at all if we see the MU team we witnessed the first 25 mins vs X.  And that team absolutely will introduce the Bama's, KU's, Houston's, Purdue's, and everyone else to darkness.  This is not hyperbole. 

[CountryRoads]

Dr.V,

I think Fri will be our most challenging game mentally for sure.  However, once we overcome the early tournament jitters, I would not be surprised at all if we see the MU team we witnessed the first 25 mins vs X.  And that team absolutely will introduce the Bama's, KU's, Houston's, Purdue's, and everyone else to darkness.  This is not hyperbole. 

Agreed. Most nervous for the opening few minutes on Friday. Once MU settles in, I think they'll start to roll. We'll be a very tough team to beat at MSG if we can get there.

[MarquetteDano]

Not really concerned about the Vermont zone given their length, esp on perimeter.  I would be more concerned with a really long team who plays zone.

More worried about them offensively... they get hot from 3 and we have a ballgame.

[wadesworld]

We didn't play very well in the early tip time against St. John's, and certainly opened the game slow.  Was our Mississippi State game an early tip during Feast Week?  Feel like it was like a 5:30 tip or something but can't remember.  Have we had many weekend afternoon tips?

[tower912]

I am sure the NCAA has an algorithm that shows MU is terrible during daylight hours and gave MU the time they did because they hate MU.

[MU82]

Muggsy-

I have a feeling that this first game is a drive to the hoop and score at will inside the paint type of game.
Vermont is pretty weak defensively, and very small/unathletic compared to Marquette. I do think that they will throw a zone at Marquette in the hopes that MU settles on a bunch of 3s, but in this game I think settling for those 3s would be a mistake.

Honestly, the only way this stays close is if Marquette attempts and misses a lot of 3s, and on the other end Vermont attempts and makes a ton of 3s.
As long as a combination of those two things doesn't happen Marquette should be ok.
So, pass up the 3, drive and move the ball relentlessly, attack with aggression and make them have to guard you inside the paint where they are least comfortable due to their size. Use our size and superb athleticism, vision, ball movement to make them submit to Rome.

If Marquette is taking a lot of 3s in this game it could be a bad sign- meaning that they are seeing Vermont hit some and trying to match them or chase on the other end.
Vermont will play slow as heck so unless Marquette can find a way to speed up the pace- I expect that 3 quarter press to try to get them sped up- they have to value the possessions and drive and score at the hoop. Dominate and deflate them inside.
Now, if Marquette starts canning 3s the game is over regardless, but that isn't our strength compared to getting inside and scoring at the rim.

I would imagine that neither team turns it over a lot because they usually don't. If Vermont does it'll be because they are behind and sped up. If Marquette does it'll be because they are pressing and sloppy/nervous.
Marquette can overcome some extra mistakes because they are the superior team, Vermont can't.

Assert the drive and dominate inside early and often and break their spirit, opening up/speeding up the game in the process and taking the pressure off.
Settle for a ton of 3s and miss and then the pressure mounts if they game is close at or beyond HT

Good stuff, V.