Zone!!! Zone!! Zone!!!!

[dogsrus]

Didn't I read in the paper the other day that BU has won 8 of its last 12 TRUE road games? If thats the case.....zone....mano on mano.....whatever, just win baby.

[squirrel]

Don't know if that's correct or if there is some sort of qualification, but we are only 5-5 over our last 10:

L @ Creighton
L @ Missouri St
W @ ISU
L @ SIU
W @ Evansville
W @ VCU
L@ Mississippi State
L @ UIC
W @ Loyola
W @ Wright

For non-con, its 4-6.

L @ Loyola
L @ Butler
W @ Southern Miss
L @ Tenn Tech
L @ Michigan State
W @ VCU
L @ Mississippi St
L @ UIC
W @ Loyola
W @ Wright

Simply for games "away from home" meaning road or neutral, we are 7-5. . .

W @ ISU
L @ SIU
W @ Evansville
W @ VCU
W vs. UNI (St. Louis)
L vs. SIUC (St. Louis)
L @ Mississippi St
L @ UIC
W vs. Iowa (SPI)
L vs. Vandy (SPI)
W @ Loyola
W @ Wright

[Dubl R 1]

Didn't I read in the paper the other day that BU has won 8 of its last 12 TRUE road games? If thats the case.....zone....mano on mano.....whatever, just win baby.

I think it was 6 of last 11 Dogs, with this game making it 7 of last 12. Whatever it is, it's getting better.

[chitown fanatic]

just because our system dictates we run everyone off the floor doesn't mean we can't take a golden opportunity to save our legs a bit and play a defense that is KNOWN to work against an opponent. My whole point to the post is that if you scout a team and find its weakness, then you exploit it until THEY figure out how to stop it. Wright St DIDN'T SCORE A BASKET for over 5 minutes in that zone...and then we inexplicably played man-to-man. Why? Because it's our system to run??? Give me a break. That kind of logic will get you beat when it counts in Feb and March. Why scout? We'll just play our game and whatever happens , happens.
Of course I'm happy we won...but I think about long term much more than one game in December...and so will the committee.

[BradleyBrave]

Quite simply, the zone goes against the philosophy of his system as our success is predicated on outrunning teams in an effort to get as many possessions as possible.

Teams know that and our going to do everything in their power to limit the number of possessions we get. Playing zone plays right into the opponents hands.

So, if you are JL, you have to go into every game planning on winning the game your way. Obviously, you keep the zone in your pocket.

With the halftime lead, I'm sure Les felt that we could outrun the team in the second half. Unfortunately it didn't work out. Two years ago, I don't even think he switches to zone and we lose.

So I can see Les' approach.

How was playing zone against a team that can't play against a zone playing into their hands? If it's 'our way or the highway', why even scout teams or make adjustments? That type of stubborness gets you beat. JL's greatest accomplishment as a coach was adjusting to last year's personnel and completely changing our style of play to fit that personnel. We have different personnel this year, and at times situations dictate we go away from the man-to-man pressure and away from the 4 guard set. If Jim's going away from one of his strengths, which is adjusting to the personnel and situation, then he's taken a step back and we're going to lose ball games because of it. I don't buy this 'our way or the highway' mentality. Not one bit.

[squirrel]

How was playing zone against a team that can't play against a zone playing into their hands? If it's 'our way or the highway', why even scout teams or make adjustments? That type of stubborness gets you beat. JL's greatest accomplishment as a coach was adjusting to last year's personnel and completely changing our style of play to fit that personnel. We have different personnel this year, and at times situations dictate we go away from the man-to-man pressure and away from the 4 guard set. If Jim's going away from one of his strengths, which is adjusting to the personnel and situation, then he's taken a step back and we're going to lose ball games because of it. I don't buy this 'our way or the highway' mentality. Not one bit.

I think I agree with you here. . .

But successful coaches force other coaches to adjust to them. You still do the other stuff, but you never play into the opposing coach's or team's hands, unless you have to. But this was a team that could not afford to get into a track meet with us, and they should get credit for slowing us down.

[bu fan 9]

The reason we got out of the zone is because of rebounding we won the game because we out rebounded them.It is really hard to rebound well in a zone come on guys this is basketball 101.

[Da Coach]

There are other factors that caused Jim to employ a zone, too. Remember that he usually doesn't like to zone, and there have been some games he played 100% man-to-man.
He went to a zone when Theron Wilson was on the bench, because he may not have as much confidence in some of the other bigs defending inside. Wright State's only low post guy got an easy basket by posting up Sam S., and spinning around him for a layup. I think he was trying to adjust to the lack of quickness when Theron is out of the game. Also, he does it sometimes just to make the opposition slow down their attack and read and adjust to the changes.

[it's boogie time]

I like Bradley playing zone a couple times a game. Preferably with the opposition's best long range shooter on the bench and Collins in the middle for BU. I've always thought zones were for tall, slow teams.

If you play zone too much, teams find the soft spots and get the right guys in the game. With the right matchups, it's a nice tool to have.

[dogsrus]

Good stuff DRU- Some people are never happy.. They won- which they have struggled to do on the road.. and the whole idea behind message boards is the old Monday morning QB.. everybody has a better idea how to do it...

Having been on the inside of a college basketball program, I can tell you that teams and coaches often do things that seem confusing to those in the seats.... BUt I assure you they have a method to their madness...

Thanks....I wasdn't trying to call Bbrave out or anything. He makes some legit points. Just playing a little point-counterpoint. Its a message board and its where we express our opinions and I appreciate his.

Either way I like having these discussions after a win.....

[BradleyBrave]

Good stuff DRU- Some people are never happy.. They won- which they have struggled to do on the road.. and the whole idea behind message boards is the old Monday morning QB.. everybody has a better idea how to do it...

Having been on the inside of a college basketball program, I can tell you that teams and coaches often do things that seem confusing to those in the seats.... BUt I assure you they have a method to their madness...

Who isn't happy about the win? If we barely beat a bad team like Florida-Gulf Coast, should we be all happy-go-lucky because we won? I'm sorry if I thought there were things we could have done differently to make last night a little easier on ourselves. I am sure Jim has his reasons, but I don't think he had a perfect game last night. I'm sure he doesn't either.

[TheGreatOne]

I am sure Jim has his reasons, but I don't think he had a perfect game last night. I'm sure he doesn't either.

I know of no coach who would ever believe he or she had the perfect game or gameplan.

Every coach finds flaws in his team and in their game. Coaching is about being able to identify the problems or weaknesses and adjust. I think Jim Les has gotten much much better in the past 3 seasons at doing that very thing.

As a coach you may see a problem, decide on a solution and implement it, and then find its not the right solution. You may also decide to "try" new things or styles during a game. Sometimes these decisions work, sometimes they do not.

In the end, the W is what you are ultimately after. I think in this case Jim did what was necessary to get the W.