Will Wojo adjust?

[tower912]

I accurately predicted in September what the problem with our defense was going to be.    The roster make up dictated it.   Our size was slow.    Our smalls were slow.   And there were more smalls than size.    Finally, Wojo is the king of not saying a thing when he talks.  Master of coach-speak pablum.    So if he actually said that none of them want to play defense, that is actually a huge, brutal indictment.    Much like when Buzz warned before his final season that there was a lack of senior leadership and no one paid attention.   

Scheme:    The same one employed by many teams successfully.     Actually fairly commonplace
Size:   6'11 (slow)  6'10 (awkward)  6'7 (210 lbs.  A boy wrestling with men)  6'6, 6'5 (went for steals all of the time) 6'5 (worked hard but was snakebit  6'1  (probably the best defender, but guarding 6'5, 225 lb players)   5'11 (a boy wrestling with 6'4, 200 lb guards)  5'10 (at least he efforted and had been in a weight room)        Do you see the problem with the players?

Every coach had Luke come out to guard the high pick and rolls.    Leaving Sam or JJ to guard the rolling the bigs.    It is a matter of physics.      Wojo tried zone.    But the closeouts and rotations weren't smooth and it didn't hide the lack of size.    I was actually impressed with the defensive switch that they tried last night.    Did you notice it?     They didn't have Luke or Matt come out when Silva went to set the pick, instead leaving them in the middle of the lane to help.   In the end, it didn't matter, but it did show thought and creativity.     

Wojo is going to have to make the weight room a priority for his returning players.    He is going to have to get in their faces about defense.   But in the end, they have to commit and do the work.   

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

Wojo and his staff did not show an ability to devise a winning defensive strategy.  There's no question about that.

But undersized guards and slow big guys are not good ingredients from which to work.  Next year will be telling in terms of wojos development as coach

How much do u expect wojo to do?  All one had to do was straight line drive on rowsey or howard and it was a foul or a layup.  Thats a strength and athleticism issue, not coaching.  Jjj chose not to play defense or rebound 3/4 of the time.  Hauser is an under sized under strengthed freshman trying to defend qwicker, stronger, bigger n more mature players.  Katin did ok.  Just rewatch the game last night watching Luke and try to tell me he is not the softest worst defender u have ever seen. 
Cheatum and duane are solid defenders but lack strenght and are bankrupt offensively.  While good defens they are a disaster on offense and are a net negative while they are out there.

So what exactly was wojo to do. Literally has a roster where only a few guys could guard D1 players.  We saw it again last night. Its a foul, a layup or a unguarded jumper.  At the end of the day defense comes down to individual matchups, yes there is help and team defense, but can u guard ur man?? And 75% of our roster the answer is an emphatic NO! 
Really not much can be done on that.  It appears wojo is bringing in what is needed.  Lets judge him then.  This team is still patchwork at best

[4everwarriors]

How much size is coming in?

'bout 6 inches, hey?

[Mr. Sand-Knit]

'bout 6 inches, hey?

Hey oh

[GGGG]

I accurately predicted in September what the problem with our defense was going to be.    The roster make up dictated it.   Our size was slow.    Our smalls were slow.   And there were more smalls than size.    Finally, Wojo is the king of not saying a thing when he talks.  Master of coach-speak pablum.    So if he actually said that none of them want to play defense, that is actually a huge, brutal indictment.    Much like when Buzz warned before his final season that there was a lack of senior leadership and no one paid attention.   

Scheme:    The same one employed by many teams successfully.     Actually fairly commonplace
Size:   6'11 (slow)  6'10 (awkward)  6'7 (210 lbs.  A boy wrestling with men)  6'6, 6'5 (went for steals all of the time) 6'5 (worked hard but was snakebit  6'1  (probably the best defender, but guarding 6'5, 225 lb players)   5'11 (a boy wrestling with 6'4, 200 lb guards)  5'10 (at least he efforted and had been in a weight room)        Do you see the problem with the players?

Every coach had Luke come out to guard the high pick and rolls.    Leaving Sam or JJ to guard the rolling the bigs.    It is a matter of physics.      Wojo tried zone.    But the closeouts and rotations weren't smooth and it didn't hide the lack of size.    I was actually impressed with the defensive switch that they tried last night.    Did you notice it?     They didn't have Luke or Matt come out when Silva went to set the pick, instead leaving them in the middle of the lane to help.   In the end, it didn't matter, but it did show thought and creativity.     

Wojo is going to have to make the weight room a priority for his returning players.    He is going to have to get in their faces about defense.   But in the end, they have to commit and do the work.   

This is a very good summation of the problem. 

Look at Sam.  Guarding a power forward last night that was quicker and had about 50 pounds on him.  He's been doing that all year.  Ultimately personnel is the coach's issue, but it seems obvious he understands it given who he is bringing in next year.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I accurately predicted in September what the problem with our defense was going to be.    The roster make up dictated it.   Our size was slow.    Our smalls were slow.   And there were more smalls than size.    Finally, Wojo is the king of not saying a thing when he talks.  Master of coach-speak pablum.    So if he actually said that none of them want to play defense, that is actually a huge, brutal indictment.    Much like when Buzz warned before his final season that there was a lack of senior leadership and no one paid attention.   

Scheme:    The same one employed by many teams successfully.     Actually fairly commonplace
Size:   6'11 (slow)  6'10 (awkward)  6'7 (210 lbs.  A boy wrestling with men)  6'6, 6'5 (went for steals all of the time) 6'5 (worked hard but was snakebit  6'1  (probably the best defender, but guarding 6'5, 225 lb players)   5'11 (a boy wrestling with 6'4, 200 lb guards)  5'10 (at least he efforted and had been in a weight room)        Do you see the problem with the players?

Every coach had Luke come out to guard the high pick and rolls.    Leaving Sam or JJ to guard the rolling the bigs.    It is a matter of physics.      Wojo tried zone.    But the closeouts and rotations weren't smooth and it didn't hide the lack of size.    I was actually impressed with the defensive switch that they tried last night.    Did you notice it?     They didn't have Luke or Matt come out when Silva went to set the pick, instead leaving them in the middle of the lane to help.   In the end, it didn't matter, but it did show thought and creativity.     

Wojo is going to have to make the weight room a priority for his returning players.    He is going to have to get in their faces about defense.   But in the end, they have to commit and do the work.

+1. Great summary Tower.

[DavidBoone2inchesTaller]

Froling and John

Cain will be ready, physically to play right away as well. One thing about Froling though, I believe he is not eligible to suit up until the second semester (conference play), because of his transfer.

[GGGG]

Cain will be ready, physically to play right away as well. One thing about Froling though, I believe he is not eligible to suit up until the second semester (conference play), because of his transfer.

Pedantic I know, but it is actually after the end of the first semester.

[Ardmore Mug]

I read Dec 18

[manny31]

How much size is coming in?

"Bend over and I'll show you" --Ty Webb

[muwarrior69]

I accurately predicted in September what the problem with our defense was going to be.    The roster make up dictated it.   Our size was slow.    Our smalls were slow.   And there were more smalls than size.    Finally, Wojo is the king of not saying a thing when he talks.  Master of coach-speak pablum.    So if he actually said that none of them want to play defense, that is actually a huge, brutal indictment.    Much like when Buzz warned before his final season that there was a lack of senior leadership and no one paid attention.   

Scheme:    The same one employed by many teams successfully.     Actually fairly commonplace
Size:   6'11 (slow)  6'10 (awkward)  6'7 (210 lbs.  A boy wrestling with men)  6'6, 6'5 (went for steals all of the time) 6'5 (worked hard but was snakebit  6'1  (probably the best defender, but guarding 6'5, 225 lb players)   5'11 (a boy wrestling with 6'4, 200 lb guards)  5'10 (at least he efforted and had been in a weight room)        Do you see the problem with the players?

Every coach had Luke come out to guard the high pick and rolls.    Leaving Sam or JJ to guard the rolling the bigs.    It is a matter of physics.      Wojo tried zone.    But the closeouts and rotations weren't smooth and it didn't hide the lack of size.    I was actually impressed with the defensive switch that they tried last night.    Did you notice it?     They didn't have Luke or Matt come out when Silva went to set the pick, instead leaving them in the middle of the lane to help.   In the end, it didn't matter, but it did show thought and creativity.     

Wojo is going to have to make the weight room a priority for his returning players.    He is going to have to get in their faces about defense.   But in the end, they have to commit and do the work.

This is the first team in 4 years to actually play in an NCAA tournament game; hopefully that is enough incentive for the guys to put in the work and know that they can compete at that level and next time win.

[dgies9156]

I accurately predicted in September what the problem with our defense was going to be.    The roster make up dictated it.   Our size was slow.    Our smalls were slow.   And there were more smalls than size.    Finally, Wojo is the king of not saying a thing when he talks.  Master of coach-speak pablum.    So if he actually said that none of them want to play defense, that is actually a huge, brutal indictment.    Much like when Buzz warned before his final season that there was a lack of senior leadership and no one paid attention.   

Scheme:    The same one employed by many teams successfully.     Actually fairly commonplace
Size:   6'11 (slow)  6'10 (awkward)  6'7 (210 lbs.  A boy wrestling with men)  6'6, 6'5 (went for steals all of the time) 6'5 (worked hard but was snakebit  6'1  (probably the best defender, but guarding 6'5, 225 lb players)   5'11 (a boy wrestling with 6'4, 200 lb guards)  5'10 (at least he efforted and had been in a weight room)        Do you see the problem with the players?

Every coach had Luke come out to guard the high pick and rolls.    Leaving Sam or JJ to guard the rolling the bigs.    It is a matter of physics.      Wojo tried zone.    But the closeouts and rotations weren't smooth and it didn't hide the lack of size.    I was actually impressed with the defensive switch that they tried last night.    Did you notice it?     They didn't have Luke or Matt come out when Silva went to set the pick, instead leaving them in the middle of the lane to help.   In the end, it didn't matter, but it did show thought and creativity.     

Wojo is going to have to make the weight room a priority for his returning players.    He is going to have to get in their faces about defense.   But in the end, they have to commit and do the work.

Absolutely right Tower (as usual).

The question isn't what we are but what we will be. The ability of our freshmen to contribute next year will be essential to our success. If some of these guys are tough, Bob Lackey/Maurice Lucas-type ballplayers, the sky is the limit.

But if they're weak and intimidated, we'll be lucky to repeat this year's success. Given where they play, I'm betting we're getting something closer to Lucas and Lackey.

[mu03eng]

Wojo did adjust this entire season. He adjusted both in-game and across the season. He changed starters, he changed player combinations, he changed who he played max minutes and who he played min minutes, etc. Some times they worked, some times they didn't but he 100% adjusted. There is a possibility that there was no silver bullet to fix the defense, the combination of players, teaching, training, and current basketball theory prevented anyone from fixing this defense.

That is not to absolve Wojo from any of this, but the question is not will he try new things on defense the question is will this team have the right combination of talent, scheme, and effort to be at least an average defense. I refuse to believe that someone with Wojo's pedigree has no ability to put together an average defense given time and resources.