Keys to Improvement in Half-Court Defense

[LawVol13]

1) The obvious one-- STOP DRIBBLE PENETRATION from the PG spot. This was terribly disappointing last year. Any half-way competent PG had his way with us. I was particularly disappointed with Tabb as I had considered him a good on-ball defender. Hopefully, if nothing else, Going provides some improvement in that area for us.

2) Defend Ball Screens-- last year, I think UT was the only team in the nation that simply could not hedge and recover. Pearl likes to switch screens in some situations, but it was clear that last year, it was out of necessity. It's time for Forbes to step up and earn his money because to this point, he has not; it's just not that hard to get your kids to hedge on a ball screen and recover. It is simply ridiculous to have Chism having to switch off on the PG every time a screen is set.

3) Have Better Rotations-- Every single game last year, we struggled making the second rotation. For those of you unfamiliar, when we were beat off the dribble, we usually got the initial help, but there was never a second rotation and this led to dunk after dunk after dunk. Ex. Kansas. This is why Aldredge had about 10 dunks on us.

If we improve on these areas, I think we will be significantly improved overall. To me, this is make or break for Forbes. Either the half-court defense significantly improves, or he should get fired.

 

[dooleydiesel28]

This team is as experienced as kentucky in my mind the D just needs to be stepped up cause the O is no doubt there

 

[KingNick865]

This team is as talented as kentucky in my mind the D just needs to be stepped up cause the O is no doubt there

No.

Good post kiffinator.

 

[dooleydiesel28]

Kentucky is slated with Freshman! Freshman make mistakes.

 

[KingNick865]

Kentucky is slated with Freshman! Freshman make mistakes.

I'll get that message the Fab 5. Or perhaps Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Blake Griffin, or any of the multitude of freshmen who have made immediate impacts on their teams.

This isn't like football, here. A freshman in basketball is nothing like a freshman in football.

 

[dooleydiesel28]

I know that but look at Scotty Hopson he was amazing wasn't he? one of these freshman wont perform up to what people think they will

 

[Hardwood_fanatic]

This team is as talented as kentucky in my mind the D just needs to be stepped up cause the O is no doubt there

Let me fix this for you.

"This team is more experienced that Kentucky."

I'm not a Kentucky homer dude, but your drinking some serious orange Kool-aid if you believe the talent level is the same.

 

[dooleydiesel28]

I know i messed that one up ill edit it i knew i did from the time i typed it. I just looked at the recruiting class again and that is just sickening.

 

[allvol21]

2) Defend Ball Screens-- last year, I think UT was the only team in the nation that simply could not hedge and recover. Pearl likes to switch screens in some situations, but it was clear that last year, it was out of necessity. It's time for Forbes to step up and earn his money because to this point, he has not; it's just not that hard to get your kids to hedge on a ball screen and recover. It is simply ridiculous to have Chism having to switch off on the PG every time a screen is set.

If we had 5 great defenders on the floor at one time we could afford to switch screens. The fact of the matter is we don't. Having to switch screens shows the lack of heart and disipline on the defensive side of the ball. As you mentioned above we have got to hedge the guy coming off the screen and the guy getting screened has to get his ass through it. It's 6th grad basketball. A little hustle and a little communication = problem solved. Switching screens is lazy and is the easy way out for defenders. I hope we don't see that this season.

 

[MikeHamiltonFan]

This was a good post. The early returns are positive. We will see what it looks like more in the tournament coming up.