IMHO, It's gotta go

[Go Go Golston]

I'm sure the Bennetts are nice folks and God bless them for their creativity, but for this team, the pack line has gotta go. It just is not working against good shooting teams. The rebounding margins are fools gold. It's not creating turnovers or deflections and once again a team that shot 34% for the year from 3 made 11 against us. The high hedge is not disrupting anything and ball screens kill us repeatedly. I think teams that play us lick there chops because they know how to beat us on the dribble drive and kick it. Plus you have to have players who will really buy in to it. If you have a low basketball IQ or are just a wee bit lazy on defense, you're toast. Why not just play a pro style man-to-man with a little match up zone mixed in?

[XU 87]

They don't play help defense in the NBA?

[Joel]

Over the last 11 games, our AdjD was 92.7. That's a top 20 defense. Maybe we don't punt on what we were doing there just yet.

[KC Muskie]

I would prefer they solve the mystery of letting the 2 worst 3-point shooters in the league shoot the most 3 point shots per game.

[XU 87]

I would prefer they solve the mystery of letting the 2 worst 3-point shooters in the league shoot the most 3 point shots per game.

Good point. And if you are the former DC Muskie, welcome back.

[bleedXblue]

I would prefer they solve the mystery of letting the 2 worst 3-point shooters in the league shoot the most 3 point shots per game.

Yes this.......next year Steele must correct this. Gotta run the offense and get guys the shots where they excel the most. Q needs to be reigned in and be a pass first/creator PG whens he's on the floor. Naji got a little carried away late in the year will some ill advised early in the shot clock 3's. I liked that he got more confident as the year went on, but that's not his game unless its very late in the shot clock.

[XU 87]

Over the last 11 games, our AdjD was 92.7. That's a top 20 defense. Maybe we don't punt on what we were doing there just yet.

Who cares what the facts are. That defense sucks!

[nuts4xu]

I'm sure the Bennetts are nice folks and God bless them for their creativity, but for this team, the pack line has gotta go. It just is not working against good shooting teams. The rebounding margins are fools gold. It's not creating turnovers or deflections and once again a team that shot 34% for the year from 3 made 11 against us. The high hedge is not disrupting anything and ball screens kill us repeatedly. I think teams that play us lick there chops because they know how to beat us on the dribble drive and kick it. Plus you have to have players who will really buy in to it. If you have a low basketball IQ or are just a wee bit lazy on defense, you're toast. Why not just play a pro style man-to-man with a little match up zone mixed in?

This year’s team was patched together with crazy glue and duct tape. It was a lineup that was constructed on the fly, with spare parts from all over the country. It wasn’t crafted over time, wth consideration for the big picture...it was put together so we could field a team this year. That said, you don’t scrap the pack line after one season. The system has served us well the past several years.

Hankins had a real tough time hedging on screens this year. Wellage was too slow to play the pack line effectively, and we had little depth to hide some of our defensive deficiencies.

This thread will not age well. It’s a knee jerk reaction to this season will little perspective on our program in general.

[markchal]

yeah, I think our defense next year is going to be what Travis said it would be this year. We'll be able to switch on everything and still play strong D. Not worried about that end of the ball nearly as much as I was two months ago.

[drudy23]

The pack line is basically weak side help man to man, which everyone runs at some point. We don't have some special defense we run. It's more about the commitment to defense vs. the defensive system we run.

[SemajParlor]

The pack line is basically weak side help man to man, which everyone runs at some point. We don't have some special defense we run. It's more about the commitment to defense vs. the defensive system we run.

Right. Hilarious when people throw around pack line defense like it's this radical concept.

[xu82]

Good point. And if you are the former DC Muskie, welcome back.

Maybe he chose between politics and BBQ?


Wise choice!

[xufan02]

Travis is clearly more fond of mobile bigs that can switch everything vs. the big hedging on the high pick and roll. I think we will continue to see the packline, but with depth next year you could see some 3/4 court pressure from time to time.

[stophorseabuse]

Right. Hilarious when people throw around pack line defense like it's this radical concept.

It is actually quite different. It is complex and takes great effort focus, correct personnel and commitment. I use it as well and have had teams that were great with it and teams that never got it.

I believe in it as a superior strategic defense when played with great effort and when it is x and o priority 1 within your program it can be decestating (see Virginia). Millers teams had it, Mack’s teams were built to score and I thought the pack line was negative for those teams, as it wasn’t their top priority.

It is the ultimate TEAM defense imo, and it is a great way to ensure always being competitive.

It can be absolutely devestating at prep level when shooters are not automatic when unguarded. Virginia proves it can work at higher levels too.