When to go to the Zone ?

[Pete108K11]

So what made Capel switch to a zone? Coaches will never admit that they go to zone in order to rest guys, they say it is to protect them from fouls. Sometimes when your man to man is getting beat and sometimes when you have less talent you go to a zone. If we had any talent advantage it was at guard playing tight man to man, especially if X could have denied some penetration. X played one game (can't remember which) where he looked like Toney on defense denying his man the ball. If only....... and yet despite 12 for 25 there were only a few threes that Louisville made that were Pitt breakdowns on D, it only takes one in regulation of course.

When Capel went to zone, it wasn't a surprise move, Louisville I think immediately got Nwora to the foul line for an easy bucket after all they are an experienced bunch. As I said in another post it was a pleasure to watch Toney and Trey play Man defense, Nwora was 5 of 13 ( in comparison Trey was 8 of 22 and X was 3 of 10).

It looks like Capel game planned to hold Nwora down, check! And Mack's plan was to force X and Trey to drive the ball? I'd love to sit in on the scouting report and game plan design. Obviously Capel knows which guys will be over matched in Man and what we must give up in Zone....choices.

 

[FireballZ]

All I know is that I cover my eyes like a 5 year during a scary movie whenever we go into zone.

 

[Tonyt66]

Our zone play has been ok at times but for the majority of the time is horrible because we give up way too many wide open threes and these teams know that coming into the game. We get caught way too many times with two guys on one on the wing because the second guy doesn't know how to slide out fast enough so teams just swing around the outside and by the time it gets back to the corner guys wide open because the wing guy can't get back fast enough because he's getting caught moving too slow trying to rotate to the corner and then we get burned. I know he has to move to Zone sometimes because of foul trouble and a lack of bench and sometimes just to give them a rest.

 

[rockypanther]

We need to try box and 1 or triangle and 2. We have some decent man to man defenders and don't who just need to protect an area. Have the bottom guys in the triangle and 2 help on the corner 3 pters.

 

[JRPITT]

We need to try box and 1 or triangle and 2. We have some decent man to man defenders and don't who just need to protect an area. Have the bottom guys in the triangle and 2 help on the corner 3 pters.

Good idea unless they have a third shooter either on the court or on the bench. Most teams (not Pitt) do.