Base defense for 18-19

[tower912]

 I think Wojo's instincts is to play an extended man to man, still guarding 25 feet from the hoop and running the same pick and roll defense he always has, this time with a lot more length and only one small guy to hide.     It has worked well for Sparty and I think MU finally has the length, depth, and speed to be effective with it.   

I can't help but think about how Duke went to a Syracuse-like zone last year.     Wojo has dabbled with it in the past.    There is certainly the length at wing to play it.      When Markus is not on the floor, MU will have enough size at every position to slide the bottom wings up high, a la Syracuse, with Theo in the middle to contest at the rim.   

I think man will still be the base and the zone will be the change up.    My dream is a Nolan Richardson 40-minutes-of-hell, but I am not certain about lateral quickness and almost nobody presses for 40 minutes, as most teams have good ballhandlers and a plan. 

[brewcity77]

We've seen a bit of everything in the past and I would like to see them mix it up. I agree that man will almost certainly be the base, but both zone and press have a lot of potential. I could see a press that comes in for some stretches after the 10 minute mark of halves once teams are a bit tired.

If we have a starting five of Chartouny/Howard/Hauser/Morrow/Heldt, a press defense of Chartouny/Elliott/Cain/Anim/Morrow could work well. Five long, quick defenders that can harass opponents into turnovers. Offensively, you would have a team that could both drive and shoot a bit.

For zone, I could see a lineup with Chartouny/Cain/Sam Hauser/Bailey/John. Plenty of length and similar to 2015, you could hide John's lack of lateral quickness while highlighting his ability to block shots (worked great with Luke). But this would probably be more effective due to the length and energy this group would bring.

So many combinations and interchangeable pieces. I think much will come from the offense. Honestly, if there's one guy I hope breaks out this year, it's Jamal Cain. His length, quickness, and the shooting he displayed last year makes him one of those guys that could become hard to take off the floor.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Yes, I would like to see defense.

[tower912]

What do you think the team will play?    Will it be improved?    By how much?

[mu03eng]

I think they play man to man with less aggressive hedging, we finally have the length at guard that we can go under screens and not create too much space for shooters.

Markus and Rowsey had to go over the top otherwise shooters would bomb any while the bigs hedged hard in an effort to keep them from turning the corner and driving the lane (with limited success).

I would also expect less sagging on the weakside because our primary paint defenders will be more capable of defending the drive


*all of this is predicated on Chartouney and Morrow being what we think they will be.

[Dr. Blackheart]

What do you think the team will play?    Will it be improved?    By how much?

I won't start the offseason harping on it, but I expect the same scheme. I was told here it was the personnel and not the scheme, so I expect VAST improvement.

[mu03eng]

I won't start the offseason harping on it, but I expect the same scheme. I was told here it was the personnel and not the scheme, so I expect VAST improvement.

No the scheme was because of the personnel....the scheme will change because we don't have HUGE liabilities on the personnel side.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Personally, I expect the same scheme with maybe a little more flexibility to move away from the base defense more often. I do think the issue was at least 90% personnel. Subbing Chartouney for Rowdy should do wonders on that end.

[tower912]

I saw the difference when the two midgets weren't on the floor at the same time.    There were still glitches as freshmen guarded seniors, granted.    In the NIT, when Harvard would run the high pick and roll and it was Cain coming from the weakside instead of Markus or Rowsey, the pass got disrupted.    I see that as the future. 

[MU82]

It's kind of a ridiculous-looking string instrument, and I don't even think it sounds very good, but those who have real talent playing it can make a decent living at it.

Wait ... I thought I was supposed to be making a defense of the bass violin.

Never mind.

As for the Warriors' defense, I know I sure look forward to seeing Matt Heldt chasing a guard 35 feet from the hoop. That's always fun!

[BossplayaOtto]

We've seen a bit of everything in the past and I would like to see them mix it up. I agree that man will almost certainly be the base, but both zone and press have a lot of potential. I could see a press that comes in for some stretches after the 10 minute mark of halves once teams are a bit tired.

If we have a starting five of Chartouny/Howard/Hauser/Morrow/Heldt, a press defense of Chartouny/Elliott/Cain/Anim/Morrow could work well. Five long, quick defenders that can harass opponents into turnovers. Offensively, you would have a team that could both drive and shoot a bit.

For zone, I could see a lineup with Chartouny/Cain/Sam Hauser/Bailey/John. Plenty of length and similar to 2015, you could hide John's lack of lateral quickness while highlighting his ability to block shots (worked great with Luke). But this would probably be more effective due to the length and energy this group would bring.

So many combinations and interchangeable pieces. I think much will come from the offense. Honestly, if there's one guy I hope breaks out this year, it's Jamal Cain. His length, quickness, and the shooting he displayed last year makes him one of those guys that could become hard to take off the floor.

Me thinks that Joey Hauser will be in some of the aforementioned lineups.

[Dr. Blackheart]

No the scheme was because of the personnel....the scheme will change because we don't have HUGE liabilities on the personnel side.

We'll see. Rowsey is the only one gone. Wojo has played the Duke defense for parts of his four years here as coach. I hope the Wino is a Miracle Worker against BE offenses.

[tower912]

Rowsey is the only one who has left.    But Joey, Morrow, Chartouny, Bailey, and Ike have been added.    All long and athletic.      So, length and depth.    Keeping in mind that at the pace MU plays offensively, it is unlikely they will be holding teams in the 40's, a la Mike Deane.   

[Galway Eagle]

Rowsey is the only one who has left.    But Joey, Morrow, Chartouny, Bailey, and Ike have been added.    All long and athletic.      So, length and depth.    Keeping in mind that at the pace MU plays offensively, it is unlikely they will be holding teams in the 40's, a la Mike Deane.

How dare you forget that we lost froling! Integral part of the team last year

[Dr. Blackheart]

Rowsey is the only one who has left.    But Joey, Morrow, Chartouny, Bailey, and Ike have been added.    All long and athletic.      So, length and depth.    Keeping in mind that at the pace MU plays offensively, it is unlikely they will be holding teams in the 40's, a la Mike Deane.

Which is why I said I expect a VAST improvement for this team which was the worst in the BE, worst for MU this century, and perhaps the worst in our MU lifetimes. I have seen nothing that Wojo will change up his base man defense although he has done so well situationally. He has recruited for this defense and has all the pieces in place now.

[muwarrior69]

Me thinks that Joey Hauser will be in some of the aforementioned lineups.

Who?

[muwarrior69]

Which is why I said I expect a VAST improvement for this team which was the worst in the BE, worst for MU this century, and perhaps the worst in our MU lifetimes. I have seen nothing that Wojo will change up his base man defense although he has done so well situationally. He has recruited for this defense and has all the pieces in place now.

The big X factor is will they be able to eXecute what Wojo expects of them. We have 5 new guys that will have to learn how to play with the other 7 in game situations.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

*all of this is predicated on Chartouney and Morrow being what we think they will be.

What do we think Morrow will be?  Sounds like a monster on the boards, but what little I've picked up here isn't that he is a monster defender.  Better than Harry but not above average--is that a fair characterization?

[tower912]

https://bustingbrackets.com/2018/04/13/marquette-basketball-expectations-for-ed-morrow-in-2018-19/

Apparently, he is a projected to be a little better than that.    It is July.   Now is the time for optimism.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

What do we think Morrow will be?  Sounds like a monster on the boards, but what little I've picked up here isn't that he is a monster defender.  Better than Harry but not above average--is that a fair characterization?

Morrow is not an all world defender but I would say above average is a fair descriptor. Keep in mind he had to guard much bigger dudes at Nebraska because he played the 5