So what we learned (Canada)

[shocka khan]

I feel like it's rare that he does go to a zone, but I'm lacking specific examples.

I do remember thinking we should have gone to a zone against UNI in the Valley tournament last year. Washpun's dribble penetration straight up destroyed us at the end of the game, and they kept using the guy being guarded by our slowest player (Wessel on multiple occasions) to screen for him so he would switch onto Washpun instead of Baker or Brown.

I agree with that. I'm just saying that he can play a zone. Perhaps he (Marshall) will need to become a little more flexible. It might be good for him. Coaching should be a function of the players you have and fitting them into a system that works for them, rather than trying to force players into a system that does not.

[pie n eye]

Our defense seemed to improve quite a bit when we switched to a zone in the second half of that McGill game.

Our M2M defense wasn't great in Canada but I take it with a little grain of salt though because I remember how terrible McDuffies man defense was in Orlando but by the end of the year he turned out to be one of the best on the team.

I would love to see some more variety/creativity in the way we guard pick and roll. Seems like that causes us a lot of trouble.

[Kel Varnsen]

Our defense seemed to improve quite a bit when we switched to a zone in the second half of that McGill game.

Our M2M defense wasn't great in Canada but I take it with a little grain of salt though because I remember how terrible McDuffies man defense was in Orlando but by the end of the year he turned out to be one of the best on the team.

I would love to see some more variety/creativity in the way we guard pick and roll. Seems like that causes us a lot of trouble.

The last few years, we have been incredible at defending pick and rolls. Usually our big guy hard hedges and recovers well due to the other guys rotating over to the right spots. But like you said, the defense in Canada is far from a finished product.

[Kel Varnsen]

I agree with that. I'm just saying that he can play a zone. Perhaps he (Marshall) will need to become a little more flexible. It might be good for him. Coaching should be a function of the players you have and fitting them into a system that works for them, rather than trying to force players into a system that does not.

Went back and watched some tape. Looks like we went to a zone down the stretch in the second half against Saint Louis in 13-14. Same with the Tennessee game that year. Had a hard time finding tape of us playing zone the last couple years. Hmmm, wonder why that could be?

EDIT: And it was the exact 1-1-3 Fresno Zone you talked about.

[im4wsu]

Our defense seemed to improve quite a bit when we switched to a zone in the second half of that McGill game.

Our M2M defense wasn't great in Canada but I take it with a little grain of salt though because I remember how terrible McDuffies man defense was in Orlando but by the end of the year he turned out to be one of the best on the team.

I would love to see some more variety/creativity in the way we guard pick and roll. Seems like that causes us a lot of trouble.

Our M2M is somewhat like a zone in that it is VERY MUCH a team defense, with M2M but lots and lots of help at all positions. It takes more than 10 practices to get the players to understand the scheme and to communicate as a unit. I'm not worried that 3G and GH will mold these guys into a very good team defense. The Fresno is certainly part of that and they practice that at nearly every practice, at least the 3-4 I've been to.

[Kel Varnsen]

What I learned looking at the team roster...Austin Reaves' neck is so skinny (how skinny is it?) that one side of his collar overlaps with the other side while wearing a normal-sized dress shirt.



Two things at play: 1) I don't think Austin wears too many dress shirts, being such a country kid and 2) He was probably wearing the same shirt that some other guys were wearing for their headshot.

EDIT: After further review, he and some others did wear the same shirt/tie combo. It fit Eric Hamilton and Darral Willis, not so much Austin.

[SlyShock]

His haircut makes me giggle

[Shocker Mama]

That boy needs to add some meat to his bones.

[Dave Stalwart]

Somebody just registered as "angryplayer"

Now I'm nervous :)

[Dave Stalwart]

Hopefully it's someone who plays angry and not literally an angry player

[Kel Varnsen]

Hopefully it's someone who plays angry and not literally and angry player

Or he's really popular with the ladies and has anger management issues.

[WstateU]

What I learned looking at the team roster...Austin Reaves' neck is so skinny (how skinny is it?) that one side of his collar overlaps with the other side while wearing a normal-sized dress shirt.



Two things at play: 1) I don't think Austin wears too many dress shirts, being such a country kid and 2) He was probably wearing the same shirt that some other guys were wearing for their headshot.

EDIT: After further review, he and some others did wear the same shirt/tie combo. It fit Eric Hamilton and Darral Willis, not so much Austin.

His haircut makes me giggle

That boy needs to add some meat to his bones.

Best musician/actor (could have posted this in the 'new' caption thread)…

Only 108,000,000+ views; Austin Reaves' look-a-like begins at :34 (I'm confident 'AR' will be getting the last laugh)... :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9qYF9DZPdw

Disclaimer: No offense intended to anyone

[Kel Varnsen]

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/17365100/overseas-trips-help-teams-coming-season

Wichita State Shockers (Canada)

What we learned: We already knew Gregg Marshall was the type of coach who will fight for his guys. We didn't need the demonstration. The Shockers don't have a scholarship senior on the roster, so their loss to Canadian powerhouse Carleton University to start the tour should come as no surprise. If anything it was an early signal that the post-Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker era will have a transition period.

Keep an eye on: Forward Darral Willis Jr. looked like a perfect fit for the rotation with his ability to run the floor and physical presence. Junior college transfer Daishon Smith has the physical tools but faces a steep learning curve trying to play point guard in Marshall's system.