That zone defense was awesome!!! Oh wait…

[Mdnerd]

Cal won’t play zone under any circumstance. So much for doing whatever it takes to win.

Never even heard of a coach not willing to try anything to win. That level of stubbornness is pretty rare.

 

[ORCAT10]

Especially on those in bound plays where UT got dunks. We’ve seen before.

 

[Mike-McD]

There are two "z" words not allowed in discussion about UK BB. And Zone is one of them.

 

[UKfanINcoach]

It’s simple. He never will play zone because it’s not done in the NBA. He said and has proven this is a players first school. His top priority is getting players drafted. It has been apparent since he has been here. He’s the only college coach that puts his school second.

 

[TheDude73]

It’s simple. He never will play zone because it’s not done in the NBA. He said and has proven this is a players first school. His top priority is getting players drafted. It has been apparent since he has been here. He’s the only college coach that puts his school second.

Actually, third. He puts himself first, players 1b, and the school a distant 3rd. He fancies himself as some kind of philanthropist that thinks his legacy will be changing families' lives, but what he's actually interested in is how it makes HIM look. That he gets kids drafted is nice, but it's about him first and foremost. Wins at UK are by far tertiary in his mind.

Other HOF coaches realize that wins at a school is a better legacy than NBA draft picks. Just look at Coach K and Self - they win games and championships and their legacy will be known and respected by their millions of fans. I can't stand either coach, but the fact that they care about wins, GET WINS, and never talk about draft picks is why they will be seen as truly great coaches.

In 15 years not a single UK fan will give a rats ass about how one-year-and-done washed up NBA players from Kentucky are doing. Hell, I don't really care now.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Out of all the annoying things about Cal, and there are a lot of them, this is the most annoying.

Do SOMETHING different…..ANYTHING!!!!!!

 

[Emarc]

Not against trying anything but Gotta play defense in a zone, too.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

Not against trying anything but Gotta play defense in a zone, too.

Zone cuts off a lot of straight line drives to the hoop, and helps cut down on foul trouble for short handed, “injury” riddled teams like ours.

It makes too much sense for this particular UK team to play zone. If we give up open threes in a zone, it would be the same open threes we are giving up playing man-to-man.

 

[TheDude73]

Zone cuts off a lot of straight line drives to the hoop, and helps cut down on foul trouble for short handed, “injury” riddled teams like ours.

It makes too much sense for this particular UK team to play zone. If we give up open threes in a zone, it would be the same open threes we are giving up playing man-to-man.

And with our length, a zone is ideal.

 

[Jamal Mercer]

And with our length, a zone is ideal.

correct. And If Antonio Reeves is your best on ball defender……it’s time to try something else.

 

[crawfords corner]

Cal won't even take advantage of our strength in numbers defensively. If he does apply pressure he waits until the end of the game when the other team is about to win. If you sense a team is struggling offensively you should ratchet up the pressure. Instead UK just allows the other team to catch a breath. He sure as hell isn't going to play a zone.

 

[deep3]

Actually, third. He puts himself first, players 1b, and the school a distant 3rd. He fancies himself as some kind of philanthropist that thinks his legacy will be changing families' lives, but what he's actually interested in is how it makes HIM look. That he gets kids drafted is nice, but it's about him first and foremost. Wins at UK are by far tertiary in his mind.

Other HOF coaches realize that wins at a school is a better legacy than NBA draft picks. Just look at Coach K and Self - they win games and championships and their legacy will be known and respected by their millions of fans. I can't stand either coach, but the fact that they care about wins, GET WINS, and never talk about draft picks is why they will be seen as truly great coaches.

In 15 years not a single UK fan will give a rats ass about how one-year-and-done washed up NBA players from Kentucky are doing. Hell, I don't really care now.

Well said and soooo accurate

 

[GoCats53]

B

It’s simple. He never will play zone because it’s not done in the NBA. He said and has proven this is a players first school. His top priority is getting players drafted. It has been apparent since he has been here. He’s the only college coach that puts his school second.

But they do play zone in the NBA.

 

[wldktz8]

Cal won’t play zone under any circumstance. So much for doing whatever it takes to win.

Never even heard of a coach not willing to try anything to win. That level of stubbornness is pretty rare.

How did that work for Boeheim at Syracuse? 1 title in nearly 5 decades playing zone.

 

[Mdnerd]

How did that work for Boeheim at Syracuse? 1 title in nearly 5 decades playing zone.

You proved my point, playing only one style of defense is a losing strategy. At no point did I say Cal should ONLY play zone, which would be required for your comparison.

A coach should be able to adjust and adapt to fit a situation. Sometimes zone, sometimes man, etc. Cal, just like Boeheim, doesn’t adapt to anything.

 

[Fox2monk]

Out of all the annoying things about Cal, and there are a lot of them, this is the most annoying.

Do SOMETHING different…..ANYTHING!!!!!!

I agree, the fact he won’t even try is what pisses off the fanbase the most.

 

[AGEE11]

Come on now squad!

We know the best way to keep quick guards out of the paint and from coming around those picks is to stick tight to them with slower players!

If the man would just throw zone out there for 4-5 possessions would help.

The last 14 seconds against Florida if we go zone, they lose 4-5 seconds on confusion and getting set up for a different way to attack us.

 

[SemperFiCat]

And with our length, a zone is ideal.

With all of Cal's teams, with their length and athleticism, just having a zone and press in your pocket is not just ideal, it's optimal. It's also basic, day one stuff. Buuuut, that would mean Cal is prioritizing Kentucky winning over draft night. And we can't be having that.

 

[Mike-McD]

How did that work for Boeheim at Syracuse? 1 title in nearly 5 decades playing zone.

Yep, exactly like Cal, tons of talent, tons of time, only one defense, and one title to show for it. Thanks.

 

[ncaaky]

And with our length, a zone is ideal.

What length? 6’1 Dlly, 6’1 Reed, and 6’2 Wagner up at the top is not much length.

We play a hybrid zone right now with Reed and Rob essentially roaming around the lane the whole game and our big trying to protect the basket. What has killed us is you can’t leave your man in the SEC. Not many teams play much zone anymore now that the 3 point shot is the main stay of modern offenses.

 

[stenchymouse]

Cal is worried that if he tries a zone, the other team may score a lot of points, we surely don't want THAT to happen.

 

[crestcat]

Especially on those in bound plays where UT got dunks. We’ve seen before.

Three straight games now, what’s the over under for Vandy?

 

[Catman100]

I have said it for years and years. There are no McD all-Americans that are recruited to UK because of their defense. Some may have turned out pretty good defensively, but playing defense is not what got them to UK.

So with that said, pay attention to how much of an opponents offense is predicated by the guy with the ball getting past his man. Watch how often that happens tonight, or any night. The result is usually a shot at the rim, a kick out to a wide open 3, or a foul.

If we don't have guys who can consistently stay in front of their man, and we haven't for 4-5 years, then what is the harm of trying a zone for 4 or 5 minutes a half? If anything, just to change things up, and make the opponent have to try something different. Hell 2 or 3 possessions might make a difference.

 

[Mike-McD]

What length? 6’1 Dlly, 6’1 Reed, and 6’2 Wagner up at the top is not much length.

We play a hybrid zone right now with Reed and Rob essentially roaming around the lane the whole game and our big trying to protect the basket. What has killed us is you can’t leave your man in the SEC. Not many teams play much zone anymore now that the 3 point shot is the main stay of modern offenses.

WTF Reed and Rob are both 6'3" per ESPN. GTFO

 

[tngamecock#]

The zone defense has its place if used wisely. I don’t understand why any coach would not use a zone to change things up a little. The other day against Georgia, they were shooting lights out against South Carolina. I believe they hit eight three-pointers in the first half. In the second half Lamont Paris went to a 131 zone. It worked to perfection, and Georgia could not figure it out in time. That could’ve won us the game, and Georgia cooled off from three point land.

so it’s one thing for a coach to lean on what he believes in, but it’s also pretty lame to not try something different. I don’t watch enough Kentucky games to know if he ever plays a Zone, just going by what I see here. SC doesn’t play one often, but it likely won a game for us last Saturday.

 

[ncaaky]

WTF Reed and Rob are both 6'3" per ESPN. GTFO

6’3” 😂🤣

 

[Jakerz]

Are we entirely sure that cal knows what a zone is? Yes, he makes 10 milly a year, but the man hasn’t figured out how to stop and inbounds play in 30 years, it’s entirely possible cal doesn’t realize what zone defense is.

 

[CatsFanIL]

Zone cuts off a lot of straight line drives to the hoop, and helps cut down on foul trouble for short handed, “injury” riddled teams like ours.

It makes too much sense for this particular UK team to play zone. If we give up open threes in a zone, it would be the same open threes we are giving up playing man-to-man.

1. Eliminate straight line drives
2. Keep our best rebounders in prime rebounding position, as opposed to Ugo or Tre being on perimeter defending action up there
3. Allows Reed to gamble a little bit and gives him more help on the ball
4. Already giving up open 3s, so no concern there
5. Can allow for extra length being played at same time, which helps if you have Reed and Rob in together, as well as with Reeves

 

[Kybluedude]

The match up zone might really fit this group. I think it might mentally take some stress off our guards. Forces communication.

Don’t have to play a zone exclusively. Mix it in. Doesn’t have to be perfect but have another pitch in the arsenal. These players all played zone in HS. It’s not rocket science.

Make teams go side to side rather than north south. We give up too many layups and kick out 3s.

Make them take more time and reset. Adds to the scouting report and even helps us in our practice. Designate a couple assistants to implement a couple zones.

Adjust Cal- do what fits this team best and helps THIS team be it’s best. Drop the stubborn/ ego trip. Win games and titles for your employer…UK!

Don’t become Knight Crum Boeheim. Embrace some changes like great coaches.

 

[CELTICAT]

Tennessee was hitting everything from the outside, all the way to the logo. We also suck at rebounding. Not sure how a zone might have helped, honestly.

 

[WildcatStu1]

We’ve got to play zone on inbound plays under our basket. It is crazy how many layups we’ve given in just the past five games. Opposing coaches are designing plays specifically for us. And if you play zone on the inbounds, 90% of the time you usually can switch back to man to man when they have the ball up top if you are stubborn about man to man as your only defense.