My theory why this we didn't blow out Delaware State

[mu03eng]

I was at the game, and I had a thought regarding what Crean did in this game.  We played an awlful lot of zone in the first half, more so than I have seen in quite some time.  There were 5 and 6 minutes of game time where we went zone exclusively.  I don't think we would every do that in a "real" game.  My theory is nothing forces communication like a zone defense and Crean's biggest complaint about this team to date has been their lack of talk on the court.  I'm thinking he made them play zone to force them to talk.  The boards thoughts?  I know its maybe an irrelavent item but I think it shows some very nice coaching and an example of how Crean is growing.

[ToddPacker]

I guess I don't understand how zone makes you communicate moreso than playing man-to-man?  With man defense you have to call out picks and switches and rotate based on that.  I've never heard that zone makes you communicate more.  Care to elaborate?

[MUMac]

Zone, you are talking when a man is passing through your zone to the other.  Man, you are talking with picks, switches, switch backs ...

There is more talking in man than zone.  Perhaps, though, he said if you can't communicate in man, we will play zone.  A defense these kids probably do not like.  Force them to talk more an prove they are capable of communicating in man defense.

Now, that is a theory, not necessarily mine.  I suspect the zone was due more to the fact DSU did not even attempt an inside game.

[mutpm]

We didn't blow out Delaware State?  This was a very slow paced game and we led by as many as 23.  MU only had the ball for 57 possessions.  The average for the season is just over 70.  It's very hard to get the score up when you don't have the ball. 

[NavinRJohnson]

Maybe he just wanted to play zone.

[Harrison]

I agree to play ateam that takes the air out of the ball and be up 23 very late is pretty much a blow out in my book.  they happened to score 10 of the last 12 points or so in crumbs time.  Furthermore, considering we have struggled to beat "bad" teams by single digits numerous times this year I will take 17 point wins any day of the week.  11-12 wins more and we are dancing which is goal number 1 and how many points we win each of those games by is immaterial.  wins 13+ and on only help us reach other goals give me 21 wins minimum right now and I wont quibble as to how we got them.  The worst thing that could happen to this programs momentum right now would be to miss the NCAA.  remember 2004?

[Big Papi]

Maybe we played zone because we might be using a zone against the badgers.  I don't follow them real close but I thought I heard that they are not a good perimeter shooting team, much like us.

[mutpm]

I'm sure we'll play a lot of zone vs. UW.   That will negate some of the advanatages the swing is supposed to create.  The 2 main problems are if they force the ball down in the post to a guard and draw fouls on our bigs or if Butch or one of the other taller UW players can shoot over our guards at the top. 

My gut feeling is that this game comes down to the team that shoots the outside shot better. 

[MarquetteVol]

The DSU coach might have fallen from the Mike Deane coaching tree. Do everything to stay in the game even if you play a style that would make James Naismith fall asleep.

[WashDCWarrior]

If you're a disciplined, un-athletic team with some good shooters, that's not a bad strategy.  Air Force is another team that typically plays that way pretty successfully.

I have some slight concerns that DS was able to hold us to 65 pts despite 50% shooting.  They dictated the pace yesterday, and that could cost us against a more offensively capable slow-down squad.

[mutpm]

I would argue that we didn't need to force the pace because of how efficient the offense was.  When we didn't make any shots (Idaho St., Valpo, ND St.), we needed to force tempo more than we did.  Knocking down some outside makes an offense look very efficient. 

[mu03eng]

From my playing days I always felt zone took more talking but I could be wrong on that.

I can't imagine we would play a zone against Madison.  They have some bigs that can shoot, such as Butch, which would be horrible mismatch on the perimeter, especially at the top of the key in a zone, with our smaller guards.  I could see more of a 2-1-2 trap because Madison doesn't seem to have a lot of ball handlers....I'd especially like to trap on Butch.

[mutpm]

FSU and Winthrop had success playing zone.  UW has no consistent zone busters on the roster.  Flowers and Taylor can get hot, but they can also have awful shooting days.  I would take my chances and go zone to provide as much help as possible on Tucker.

[mu03eng]

Who woulda thought we would wish for Grimm to have one last year of eligability?

[WashDCWarrior]

Or that Kinsella didn't spend more time in the shop than an Audi.

[SGWarrior]

Agree with muptm about our choice of defense for the game.  I firmly believe Crean put the zone in place against DSU for the UW game.  Gutsy considering the last loss on our home court to NDSU, but hopefully it will prove to be the right move as I expect to see a lot of zone Saturday unless Chris Rock or possibly Tucker gets hot from outside.  At least the zone will be option and another thing for Bo to practice up on.