Oh yeah, did anyone who watched the UK-MSU game believe how bad UK looked on their next to last possesion when MSU game out in zone. The whole team stood there while Tubby was trying to figure out what to do. They didn't get into their zone offense until there was about 9-10 seconds on the shot clock. That led to a forced pass and steal by MSU. Too bad they couldn't make their free throws.
i disagree mike. the main object of the zone (atleast the one played against lsu) is to deny the post. they should pass around the perimeter, like you said, then penetrate (atleast sometimes) and shoot a 10 foot jumper or dish to post if a post defender steps up (as they should).
The thing about the Kentucky game though, the only reason Mississippi State was in the game towards the end was because Kentucky ran out of gas. For whatever reason thier bench doesn't have much depth to it. I think this proves Kentucky is more vulnerable against physical teams and that Kentucky isn't so great as thier ranking says. In other words: If you can wear them down, their beatable.
That's the whole thing about a zone defense. Speaking of a 2-3 zone, when someone penetrates and draws the middle post defender the wing man is supposed to sag and cover the unguarded offensive post player. Sometimes the player is late dropping down so a drive and dish is open, but most of the time the defender gets down in time leaving the guard to force a shot or pass out to an open offensive player on the wing (open from the defender who dropped down). So that gets us back to where we started, needing perimeter players to be able to knock down open 3 pointers.
We need it all, guys that can bang down outside shots and midrange jumpers, which would pull them out of a zone, and then you drive and dish. Pass it around on the ouside till you can get the ball into 1 of the big men and then they need to hit a cutter if someone doubles them. We make a couple of passes and then miss a 3. The guys can't shoot worth a hoot. Last year we lived and died by the 3. we went on an incredible roll for a few games and then completely lost our shot, and that is what happens when you live by the 3. Our best scorers are our big men and we have to have patience and really work on getting them their shots. If we keep playing the way we are we will get blown out against the better teams such as UK, Florida. The best thing we have going for us is many of the SEC teams don't look great this year. In the Tiger Rag preseason issue brady thought Bama would be weak but he thought Arkie would be pretty good. He was right on one count but Arkie didn't look to good.
