Room for improvement

[wadesworld]

This is actually a really interesting point. If we win our first round game, I think what you just said might help me sleep better at night before the R32.

I think people also just overestimate how much good teams will change what they do for one team. Yes, if teams that switch up defenses have a zone as part of their system they might go to it more than they might in most games. But bad teams that have no chances of beating you with their normal system and aren't going anywhere with their season are the teams that will throw a random zone at you on a Tuesday in the Big East (see: DePaul or Georgetown). Teams like Houston or Tennessee going into a Final Four matchup aren't going to be like, "Yeah we play tough nosed man to man defense and really get into you. But I watched the tape DePaul put out there for us and they're onto something with this one against MU." And Danny Hurley isn't coming into Milwaukee next week saying, "Well, we're a couple games back in the BE standings and they stink against a zone so let's install that for this game."

If we run into a Jim Boeheim coached team then we'll need to really make sure our zone offense is humming. I just don't see a lot of teams playing that, and I don't see teams that don't play that just installing it for one MU game.

[wadesworld]

By the way, the one possession (that I remember, anyway) where Butler went zone we ran an absolutely beautiful set.  Think it was Gold setting a screen up top on the outside guy at the top of the zone for Chase, who attacked the middle of the zone, and dropped it off to Stevie in the dunker's spot for a reverse layup.

[GoldenEagles03]

By the way, the one possession (that I remember, anyway) where Butler went zone we ran an absolutely beautiful set.  Think it was Gold setting a screen up top on the outside guy at the top of the zone for Chase, who attacked the middle of the zone, and dropped it off to Stevie in the dunker's spot for a reverse layup.

Good call. There is a reason teams don't run it all the time against us. Easy to get burned by our personnel once they settle in.

[GoldenEagles03]

By the way, the one possession (that I remember, anyway) where Butler went zone we ran an absolutely beautiful set.  Think it was Gold setting a screen up top on the outside guy at the top of the zone for Chase, who attacked the middle of the zone, and dropped it off to Stevie in the dunker's spot for a reverse layup.

https://x.com/ryancassidycbb/status/1884636578548416726?t=jyN9zqiZEfON_Z1ACkY_6g&s=19

[wadesworld]

https://x.com/ryancassidycbb/status/1884636578548416726?t=jyN9zqiZEfON_Z1ACkY_6g&s=19

Thanks, that was the play I was thinking of.  Beautiful play (although if I were a Butler fan I'd probably want an illegal screen called on Ben).

[tower912]

Yes, without Kam or Joplin on the floor.  And that was that.

[SaveOD238]

Facing lots of zone at this point in the season will prepare us for when some 15-seed throws that wrinkle in March.

[MarquetteVol]

All of this said, this team is really good at winning.

[bradforster]

All of this said, this team is really good at winning.

The vitriol coming from members of the game thread throughout the first half was laughable.  This is a second half team.  Hang in there and exercise some level of equanimity.

[tower912]

The vitriol coming from members of the game thread throughout the first half was laughable.  This is a second half team.  Hang in there and exercise some level of equanimity.

Preach.

[Hards Alumni]

The vitriol coming from members of the game thread throughout the first half was laughable.  This is a second half team.  Hang in there and exercise some level of equanimity.

I rarely wade into those threads for that reason.  Lots to be embarrassed about in them.  I did enjoy the live chats that JayBee used to put up.

[jesmu84]

I rarely wade into those threads for that reason.  Lots to be embarrassed about in them.  I did enjoy the live chats that JayBee used to put up.

Bump

What happened to the game chats?

[bradforster]

I rarely wade into those threads for that reason.  Lots to be embarrassed about in them.  I did enjoy the live chats that JayBee used to put up.

Typical game thread after the opposing team goes on a run and Marquette gets behind - all players suddenly suck, and the coach can't recruit, properly call time outs, or deploy the right player combinations.

[THRILLHO]

https://x.com/ryancassidycbb/status/1884636578548416726?t=jyN9zqiZEfON_Z1ACkY_6g&s=19

Nice! Got them out of it so fast i didnt even notice it!

[The Sultan]

Facing lots of zone at this point in the season will prepare us for when some 15-seed throws that wrinkle in March.

Unless a team plays zone regularly, I doubt many 15 seeds would do something like this. Zone isn't exactly an easy defense to teach if you aren't used to playing it. The concepts are oftentimes the exact opposite of man, and things like rebounding become that much more difficult.

I think most coaches are going to try to do what they do best and pray they hit shots.

[tower912]

And zones mess up many teams.  Witness Kentucky vs Oakland.  Oakland had the players to make their amorphous, shifting 1-3-1 work and stymied Kentucky and coach Cal. 

Butler played zone one possession, leading to a Stevie layup.  MU was ready, even with Joplin and Kam on the bench

[GoldenEagles03]

It would be cool to see Caedin Hamilton assert himself a bit. He has had some bright spots, but just isn't quiiiite there. A nice bucket against UW, he bullied Freemantle to the basket for a bucket against Xavier, and he's a nice little change of pace or alternate look from Ben and Royce.

I think it was Jay Bilas back when MU and the Big East played on ESPN that said something to the effect of (relating to Davante Gardner)

"It is easy for a coach to tell someone to box out, but how the heck do you expect a guy to block out a player that blocks out the sun?"

I'd love for Caedin to become that force for a few minutes off the bench. I think he'll get there!

[tower912]

A couple of seasons away. 

[The Sultan]

It would be cool to see Caedin Hamilton assert himself a bit. He has had some bright spots, but just isn't quiiiite there. A nice bucket against UW, he bullied Freemantle to the basket for a bucket against Xavier, and he's a nice little change of pace or alternate look from Ben and Royce.

I think it was Jay Bilas back when MU and the Big East played on ESPN that said something to the effect of (relating to Davante Gardner)

"It is easy for a coach to tell someone to box out, but how the heck do you expect a guy to block out a player that blocks out the sun?"

I'd love for Caedin to become that force for a few minutes off the bench. I think he'll get there!

I would not expect that this season. Hopefully he improves, especially on the defensive end, and he can make more contributions in the future.

[GoldenEagles03]

A couple of seasons away. 

You may be right on that, but even if he could come on and provide a sturdy presence for like 5-7 minutes of clean basketball it would be great.