Cal has been against going zone, but on a team with all this length and athleticism, I can see why he gave in. There were some mixed results as Maxey and IQ were getting pretty easy layups at times, but I understand it's an early scrimmage and seeing All-Star weekend type defense isn't far from the realm of possibility. What do you guys think of the defensive change of mind?
Thoughts on zone and defense
- Thread starter shiftteamwarlord
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I think this team won’t play zone just like pretty much none of his other teams have
Not a bad tool to have in the box as a change of pace.
I think Cal can work more zone in because these guys are more adept at man to man from the get-go. Most years, he's having to build an entire defensive identity and can't afford to lose the practice and game reps putting in a zone look.
This season, our guys are more naturally gifted defensively, and bringing back Hagans, IQ, EJ and Richards helps.
I think Cal can work more zone in because these guys are more adept at man to man from the get-go. Most years, he's having to build an entire defensive identity and can't afford to lose the practice and game reps putting in a zone look.
This season, our guys are more naturally gifted defensively, and bringing back Hagans, IQ, EJ and Richards helps.
Think that was just for show tonight. Don't think we will see much of that unless we get in big foul problems.
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He’s played less than ten minutes worth in the last ten years. Smart money is on not a lot of zone getting played.
It’ll never be a huge part of our defense
I’m ok with that.
switch it up. Maybe especially for teams that don’t shoot 3s very well. But that’s about it. I prefer we play man to man
I’m ok with that.
switch it up. Maybe especially for teams that don’t shoot 3s very well. But that’s about it. I prefer we play man to man
I'm pretty confident on our guard play on both sides of the ball, especially with Hagans, but the bigs I'm still iffy on when it comes to defense. I like Nate offensively more than defensively, and I'm not completely sold on EJ and Nick quite to the extent as past Kentucky Bigs.
I'm definitely in agreement in terms of keeping M2M the status quo, but since the 3pt line has been moved back, perhaps against teams that struggle we can use zone
To win in college you have to be able to play zone by it’s not why you think although having it in your defensive arsenal will come in handy.
All coaches need to be training and teaching zone. Why? Because you are going to face it 30 times in the season. If your team isn’t learning it and playing against it in practice they won’t know what to do in game situations. Also to play zone forces communication. Our man defense needs to be more connected. Learning and training zone will benefit defensive communication.
Cal made a point of saying he’s changing going to start playing zone. I think we re gonna see it
All coaches need to be training and teaching zone. Why? Because you are going to face it 30 times in the season. If your team isn’t learning it and playing against it in practice they won’t know what to do in game situations. Also to play zone forces communication. Our man defense needs to be more connected. Learning and training zone will benefit defensive communication.
Cal made a point of saying he’s changing going to start playing zone. I think we re gonna see it
I wish he'd utilize it more. With the size and length, the Zone could be a really disruptive force.
I didn't care for it much. Then again I'm not one of the ones screaming for Cal to play it. Good teams are man to man primarily. We can play zone a little but 95% of the time we should be in man. Besides if you are playing zone I'd rather see a 1-3-1 instead of the generic 2-3.
That's a great point that studying zone can help benefit other defensive schemes. How much do you think that Cal should go down the zone path? I don't think that he will just cannonball into that pool, but maybe spending a bit more time preaching zone could really help.
Rebounding out of a zone is more difficult and we’re not exactly deep in the front court, zone seems a bad fit for this team. Never mind that we don’t play zone enough to effectively run one and a bad zone gives up everything, stops almost nothing.
I might be in a minority here...... but I don't see the 3 point line moving back affecting shooting percentages that much.......most kids are a step or so behind the line most of the time......
Yep. I was in the bathroom when Cal was talking about playing zone. The wife yelled at me to tell me that Cal had said they were gonna play some zone during the scrimmage. She replayed it for me just so I could hear it, after I came back into the living room. Funny my wife is even familiar with the whole Cal and zone defense saga.
She said she thinks this team should play zone with all the height and length, just like she has with some of Cal's past UK teams. She doesn't have much faith in Cal actually doing it, however. She actually found it pretty comical when he said it. Hence her replaying it for me. [laughing]
I agree that man to man defense should be played most of the time. However, a zone needs to be implemented in order to mix defenses up, if nothing else. Good college teams will figure out ways to beat you if you play the same defense every single possession. Especially ones with good guard play. Gotta mix it up to keep the opposition off balance and guessing. JMO.
If a zone is so damn hard to teach, why do most all middle and junior high teams play a zone? Seems to me if 12-14 year olds can learn it, surely 18-19 year olds can learn it.
I’m not so sure about zone D with this team. Kentucky gave up 161 points in last night’s game.
They only play zone for 2 purposes.
1. because we were short handed and the zone allowed them to rest on the court by standing around.
2. some zone has to be put in practice to prepare for teams that will zone us.
like always we will be a 99% man to man team this year.
1. because we were short handed and the zone allowed them to rest on the court by standing around.
2. some zone has to be put in practice to prepare for teams that will zone us.
like always we will be a 99% man to man team this year.
I know this is a popular opinion. I disagreed for a very long time. I, however, now agree somewhat with this theory @stenchymouse. Sadly, I still feel that Higgins and company would've screwed us one way or the other, though.