M.I.A: Defense

[FadedCrown]

Here is our KenPom Defensive Efficiency ratings for last seasons.

2008: 102.8 (154) (Gregg's first year)
2009: 100.4 (120)
2010: 96.6 (69)
2011: 95.9 (48)
2012: 93.8 (26) (Tekele Cotton arrives)
2013: 91.5 (20) (Baker, VanVleet, Early, Lufile arrive)
2014: 92.4 (11)
2015: 93.6 (15) (Morris, Kelly, Brown arrive, Early leaves)
2016: 88.7 (1) (McDuffie, Shamet arrive, Cotton leaves)
2017: 92.6 (13) (Baker, VanVleet leave)
2018: 97.7 (56) (MVC leaves, AAC arrives.)

[FadedCrown]

What is interesting with this is the fact that we return the same lineup yet have a significant falloff in defensive efficiency since last year.

[SB Shock]

What is interesting with this is the fact that we return the same lineup yet have a significant falloff in defensive efficiency since last year.

Markus McDuffie and Daishon Smith - those were the two guys who could turned people over last year for WSU. DS is gone and MM has been out for a third of the season and hasn't found his way back to being 100% productive.

[Shockm]

It's interesting how against Houston our defense was great (they didn't make shots and Gray only scored 13 for the game. Then SMU hits shots and our defense is bad. We did have a few break downs on the screen yesterday but the facts are that Milton is tough match up when he's on because he is a 6'6 guard who can hurt you inside and out. SMU runs that 4 out (spread) 1 in offense and the 1 6'9 Chargoise was a stretch inside guy. They slowed the game, limited possessions and hit shots in 25 second possessions. I watched SNU against Temple and another game or two. Milton was never as good as last night. But when they hit 60+ percent of their 3 point tries, they would probably beat anyone.

[Shaqness]

It's interesting how against Houston our defense was great (they didn't make shots and Gray only scored 13 for the game. Then SMU hits shots and our defense is bad. We did have a few break downs

Stop it. We are a bad defensive team and I was hoping Houston was a turning point. It wasn't. I'll say it again, we are a bad defensive team. This goes directly against Marshall's winning formula and will equate to an early tournament loss. Easily the biggest difference maker in March is the ability to shoot the three. We let everyone who plays us shoot the rock incredibly well. For anyone WSU fan interested in a FF or NC run this year, our defensive end of the court is a RED FLAG.

[Shaqness]

I'll add that Gregg seemed to take the defense seriously in post-game stuff. He shrugged it off a few times in earlier games.

[Bluzrover]

On the face of it, I would say our defense is no where near what it has been in the past. I'm not sure we've faced the same level of talent in the past, however, and it would appear this year's opponents have certainly found success in contested shots. I mean, good grief, some of these guys have just had career nights against us. Shake, in particular, just couldn't miss and he was not batting an eye at launching from well beyond the arc. Suffice to say, Gregg needs to get his team's defensive intensity up a couple of notches because our schedule is not about to get any easier.

[Shockm]

Stop it. We are a bad defensive team and I was hoping Houston was a turning point. It wasn't. I'll say it again, we are a bad defensive team. This goes directly against Marshall's winning formula and will equate to an early tournament loss. Easily the biggest difference maker in March is the ability to shoot the three. We let everyone who plays us shoot the rock incredibly well. For anyone WSU fan interested in a FF or NC run this year, our defensive end of the court is a RED FLAG.

You may just be an idiot. Do you not remember against Houston how much our defense was highly touted? Brown stopped Gray to 13 points. Ive watched last nights game twice. Milton was unbelievable. He hit 5-6 from 3. A couple were 25-30 ‘ from the basket and a couple had a hand in his face. We did not cover the ball screen very well several times. We turned the ball over several times when we weren’t even pressured. You have a one track mind as to what happened. Watch the game again. Our defense wasn’t great but we had other problems in a low possession, slow down game. Jankovich had a great game plan because of his time to prepare and the matchups with their 4-1 offense favored them.

[ShockerFever]

Stop it. We are a bad defensive team and I was hoping Houston was a turning point. It wasn't. I'll say it again, we are a bad defensive team. This goes directly against Marshall's winning formula and will equate to an early tournament loss. Easily the biggest difference maker in March is the ability to shoot the three. We let everyone who plays us shoot the rock incredibly well. For anyone WSU fan interested in a FF or NC run this year, our defensive end of the court is a RED FLAG.

We may not be as good as we were, but being ranked in the top 15% of schools in adjusted defense isn’t necessarily “bad”. It’s all relative.

[Shaqness]

You may just be an idiot.

We are a bad defensive team. No stroking of the other steams star players will make our defense less bad. Arkansas State, SDSU, Dunk City, and Cal all came out and killed our defense. The numbers Faded Crown provided above should demonstrate that. The way awful teams put up 80+ points against up will demonstrate that. Coaches own words will demonstrate that. The players own words will demonstrate that.

You can't cut the personal attacks now.

[vancedave56]

IMO we put a lot of focus on the other team's top players - which we should. At the same time, our defense on their "lesser" players is not up to snuff. In the Valley, we may have been able to "ignore" the lesser players, but not in this league. We need to play the top scorers tight, but still can't allow other to shoot wide open shots - which we appear to be doing at times.

[Good News]

Relax everybody. Quit the bickering, this doesn’t have to be complicated.

Somebody call Dino Gaudio and ask him for Ronnie Bender’s info. He sounds like a real player.

[jcdshocker]

It is a fact that our defense is not as Good as prior year(s). I think our post defense of the pick and roll is bad. I think our on ball defense is down from last year but this might be due to Z Brown not at 100% and M McDuffie is no where near being 100%. There seems to be a pattern of allowing unguarded 3s. However to be fair it is hard to guard a 30+ ft shot and also defend the dribble drive.

I am hopeful we we can make some adjustments soon. We have the personnel to do so.

I do also think we bring out the best in people and when someone like Shake Milton is on like he was, you just tip your hat and move on.

[Pigman]

There is one thing that I don't see anybody taking into consideration. The powers that be decided they wanted to make the college game more like the NBA no defense league. They've given most if not all advantage to the offensive player to drive at will. So defenders are already on their heals to try and prevent or slow down the dribble drive and find a way to not get fouled out. They are having to play off a bit to react to the drive or to help off to prevent the dribble drive slam into the nearest opponent to get the free throws(ex. Devonte' Graham). This style of basketball is why I don't watch the NBA. While I prize an offense that moves the defense with passes and quick drive to dump off for an easy play as Landry did a couple time last night for very easy baskets, and a defense that is allowed to do what a defense is supposed to do, stay between the other guy and the basket. Thist just isn't sexy enough for the talking heads that want more "scoring".

Last nights shooting display was and is probably the only time this year SMU's shots almost all go in. I would take my chances every time that 25'-30' shots are not going to go often enough to hurt You. I agree with jcdshocker that You just have to tip your hat to them for that effort.
On the shockers play, valuing the ball would be much more important than the way we defended. When we had 9 turnovers and 8 were steals mostly from poor pass choices. If we had those possessions back and had at least a shot (we shot over 50% for the game) we would be talking of how we got past a team that was shooting way beyond their norm.

[SB Shock]

We are a bad defensive team. .

The metrics would dispute you.

60th in the nation in Def. efficiency
45th in Def. effFG%
6th in Def Reb%
42nd in Block%

not so good in:
326th Stl%
272nd Turnover %

Difference is we are used to be in the Top 10 of these metrics.


The ESPN article broke it down pretty well from other coaches comments about their defense:

1. Not overly talented, but the sum is greater than their parts.
2. Good in "Team" Defense, but opposing teams can exploit one-on-one matchups or use ball screens to get mis-matches
3. Have a couple defensive liabilities that play a lot of minutes.
4. WSU is susceptible to guards who can create off the dribble.
5. WSU struggles with top ball-screens.

This team has spent to much time partying, thinking up stupid names to call themselves (hyenas), reading their news clippings and sunning themselves in the media attention. They are soft and lazy. They have forgotten how to "Play Angry". Perfect example was L.S. instead of fighting through a ball screen late in the game, went under and the guy stepped out and hit a 3.

I remember the year when SIU was good, they came in to Koch and were down by about 20 points at half. They came back and beat WSU. The SIU coach was asked what he told their team at half and he said he told them to come out and put every ounce of energy into playing defense, play hard every minute, don't leave anything left in the tank. I have not seen that type of intensity by WSU this year.