Using the Cats' size (again)

[MdWIldcat55]

Whatever happened since the Louisville game, no Cat got shorter.

And yet, lobs, blocks, dunks, offensive rebounds have all fallen off dramatically in the past two games. I went back and watched the Kansas and UCLA games, and the difference was incredible.

I think that's because of a combination of things, none necessarily serious or long lasting. Willie and Karl have just had two bad games in a row at the same time. OVerall, intensity has been way down. Cal has made a mistake by cutting Lee's minutes -- he's very active inside and it keeps Willie fresher and out of foul trouble. Dakari is not getting enough chances on the low block. If he hurt Andrew just by bumping him, let him bump the other team, draw some fouls and loosen up those packed-in zones.

I'd like to see Towns at the high post as the trigger to the offense -- look to pass down to Willie or Lyles, or make a move into the seam of the zone.

I think Cal will work on this for a couple days, and we'll see the front court guys return to form. That'll take care of the perceived over-shooting by the Harrisons as well.

 

[wromanp7]

One MAJOR thing I have noticed is how sloooooooooooooooooooooow our perimeter passing has become vs. earlier in the year. We would drive, move without the ball, whip the pass... and now it seems we just weave, slowly, over and over.

We are not going to get lobs off a weave, only.

 

[sosoblue]

Originally posted by MdWIldcat55:
Whatever happened since the Louisville game, no Cat got shorter.

And yet, lobs, blocks, dunks, offensive rebounds have all fallen off dramatically in the past two games. I went back and watched the Kansas and UCLA games, and the difference was incredible.

I think that's because of a combination of things, none necessarily serious or long lasting. Willie and Karl have just had two bad games in a row at the same time. OVerall, intensity has been way down. Cal has made a mistake by cutting Lee's minutes -- he's very active inside and it keeps Willie fresher and out of foul trouble. Dakari is not getting enough chances on the low block. If he hurt Andrew just by bumping him, let him bump the other team, draw some fouls and loosen up those packed-in zones.

I'd like to see Towns at the high post as the trigger to the offense -- look to pass down to Willie or Lyles, or make a move into the seam of the zone.

I think Cal will work on this for a couple days, and we'll see the front court guys return to form. That'll take care of the perceived over-shooting by the Harrisons as well.

Good assessment I agree with everything you said. I'm also seeing too much side to side ball movement. I like the idea of Towns being at the top of the key receiving the ball.

 

[bigbluelou]

The zone is packing in, keeping our guards from penetrating or finding holes in it. This is where the lobs and power plays inside will come from. It's just not there in these tightly packed zones, or we're not finding them. Yet. Of course hitting outside shots will cure a lot of ills.

I like the Towns on the high post suggestion, and I agree that it would be nice to see Marcus Lee get more minutes and bring his energy and great finishes to the table. As for Dakari though, he has regressed somewhat. He's taking way too long to make his move when he gets the ball on the block. It's giving the zone too much time to collapse on him, and then all the hacking and slapping begins, which simply isn't being called. He doesn't have much lift so he's not going to outjump the defense. His best chance is to make his move as soon as he gets the ball...don't wait for the D to converge on him. And don't bring the ball down while he tries to back his man down. He ends up getting it stolen, turning it over, or getting his shot blocked 80% of the time of late. Keep the ball up and turn inside or under ASAP...make your move quickly, big guy!

I know the staff will continue to work with him and I have no doubt we'll get it back on track here pretty soon.

 

[BourbonBalz]

When we're facing a zone, we need to flash Lyles to the free throw line for a pass. He can either shoot if he's open or try to hit an open teammate. He has a very good mid-range game and at 6'10", he can see over the defense.

 

[Big Foot 275]

These teams have all seen the effect all those lob dunks have on the game
and are now focused on preventing them. The defenders are not leaving
their man to pick up the player who is penetrating so the UK player that
has the ball needs to go on to the basket and score or get fouled.

 

[doneitall]

Originally posted by #1Wildcatfan4life:
When we're facing a zone, we need to flash Lyles to the free throw line for a pass. He can either shoot if he's open or try to hit an open teammate. He has a very good mid-range game and at 6'10", he can see over the defense.

We have a couple of players that we could use at high post and be very good there. Even Cauleystein can hit that shot or make a pass but your right lyles and towns would be the best bet

 

[EMMCAT]

The key to beating any zone is to get the ball to the middle at the foul line from where you can enter the ball down low or shoot a 15 footer. The middle man on defense in the back line MUST come out to guard the man at the foul line and when he does the lob is easily available.The Cats have two (2) players who are ideal zone busters ,Lyles and Towns.

Both are an unusual combination of height , passing ability and shooting ability. I can't imagine a better attack against a zone than Booker, Towns , Lyle and the twins/Ulis. assuming they dump the ball into Lyles or Towns at the foul line. Seriously, no other team in college basketball has this unique combination of skills.

Stop continuously jacking up threes and toss the ball to a 7 footer at the foul line . The defense is in big trouble the moment they catch the ball.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Originally posted by EMMCAT:
The key to beating any zone is to get the ball to the middle at the foul line from where you can enter the ball down low or shoot a 15 footer. The middle man on defense in the back line MUST come out to guard the man at the foul line and when he does the lob is easily available.The Cats have two (2) players who are ideal zone busters ,Lyles and Towns.

Both are an unusual combination of height , passing ability and shooting ability. I can't imagine a better attack against a zone than Booker, Towns , Lyle and the twins/Ulis. assuming they dump the ball into Lyles or Towns at the foul line. Seriously, no other team in college basketball has this unique combination of skills.

Stop continuously jacking up threes and toss the ball to a 7 footer at the foul line . The defense is in big trouble the moment they catch the ball.

It's basketball 101. That's why I have no idea why we don't do it.

 

[Beezermc]

Agreed. Once we put lyles there in the second ot I was screaming finally!!!!

Hell, our guards, except Ulis, are big enough to flash there. This team should be a zone killer with our size and offensive rebounding potential.

Also, why the weave 40 feet from the basket? We did that a lot last year too. That is as useless as you can get against a zone.

 

[BourbonBalz]

I just don't get it. Sometimes our offense is just a wreck. We have far too much talent to be this stagnant time after time. We had almost no movement Saturday and all we did was pass around the perimeter. Baffling.

 

[Bert Higginbotha]

Originally posted by #1Wildcatfan4life:
I just don't get it. Sometimes our offense is just a wreck. We have far too much talent to be this stagnant time after time. We had almost no movement Saturday and all we did was pass around the perimeter. Baffling.

Have you noticed in the last two games that our bigs can't walk and can't make a two foot pass?

Have you noticed the reason that our bigs can't walk and can't make a two foot pass?


They are fouling the shit out of them and the fouls are not being called. So I ask, why would you want to go into that zone and get the crap beaten out of you when there is no reward?


It is the SEC and we may not get a decently called game until March in the NCAA.

 

[SpensBRJ]

It does appear that some of the basics are missing with the group right now. Finishing is now an issue and earlier in the year, only a few had those issues and others were there to clean it up. So far the SEC teams have been very physical and I don't want to call it the Shaq treatment that our guys seem to get but in my blue tinted glasses, it looks that way.

Also, why in the world does Andrew try to draw contact on every shot around the rim instead of just going strong and absorbing the bump? drives me crazy. Eyes on the rim, go up strong big fella!!!!

 

[JonathanW]

Also, we are playing mostly Booker and Aaron at the 3 (except the opening 4 minutes), thus taking away our biggest height advantage at the 3. This affects our defense too (having 3 rim protectors > having 2).

 

[uk78]

Funny how I got criticized after the Texas A and M game for saying we have been shooting too many 3's in the last two games. Some people see things as all in or all out. Now, more are realizing it. I was not saying we shouldn't take 3's. If Andrew hadn't taken a 3 against UL at the end, we might not have won. If Aaron had not hit 3's last year in the tourney, well obvious answer.

What needs to occur is to establish and work on the inside game and not settle for 3's. However, combined with that (and Cal is saying it too by the way), the big men must take the ball more forceful at the basket and quit trying to avoid getting fouled or getting pushed away from the block. The zone doesn't prevent drives in the middle as others have pointed out, or interior passing.

Think about the first few minutes of the Ole Miss game. Could Kentucky have shot the 3 better? They were hitting outside shots and immediately had a big lead. Then, like Duke or other teams that depend upon the 3, the misses start to occur, no inside game has been established, and the other team gets hot.

Establish the inside game first, and selectively shoot the 3, with mainly Booker, then Aaron, and others only when totally open. Get physical and use the overwhelming talented numbers with the platoons and things will return to dominance. There is no team that has the inside strength of Kentucky, no one. But, they have to play way more physical.

 

[catben]

We didn't have but a few scores on post moves the entire game against A&M or Ole Miss. Our Bigs are losing the ball too much on post moves and even rebounding. It has really killed our scoring.

Our Guards are not finishing strong at the rim either. When is the last time either Harrison got an And 1? Thank goodness Booker was making shots or it could have been an L in the last 2 games.

Our Bigs have got to toughen up and work on ball security. It is apparent that the SEC Refs are going to allow the hack and smack defense against our team from here on out. So our players need to go STRONG when attacking the basket.

I KNOW Cal will work diligently to get our Big men and perimeter players used to the physical play.

 

[wildcatdonf]

They are fouling the shit out of them and the fouls are
not being called. So I ask, why would you want to go into that zone and
get the crap beaten out of you when there is no reward?

This is what I am seeing a lot. It has to be frustrating to our bigs. They are being beaten up with no foul called, especially in these last 2 games. DJ saved our bacon with his FT shooting against A&M in those final 2 minutes of the second OT.

Aaron's made % on 3s has dropped to 28%. He will shoot better than that. On the other hand Booker is shooting 50%. Don't expect him to keep that up. Nobody shoots 50%.

We need to figure this inside game out,

 

[Poetax]

Originally posted by MdWIldcat55:
Whatever happened since the Louisville game, no Cat got shorter.

And yet, lobs, blocks, dunks, offensive rebounds have all fallen off dramatically in the past two games. I went back and watched the Kansas and UCLA games, and the difference was incredible.

I think that's because of a combination of things, none necessarily serious or long lasting. Willie and Karl have just had two bad games in a row at the same time. OVerall, intensity has been way down. Cal has made a mistake by cutting Lee's minutes -- he's very active inside and it keeps Willie fresher and out of foul trouble. Dakari is not getting enough chances on the low block. If he hurt Andrew just by bumping him, let him bump the other team, draw some fouls and loosen up those packed-in zones.

I'd like to see Towns at the high post as the trigger to the offense -- look to pass down to Willie or Lyles, or make a move into the seam of the zone.

I think Cal will work on this for a couple days, and we'll see the front court guys return to form. That'll take care of the perceived over-shooting by the Harrisons as well.

Plus everyone has film now. Willie got undercut on one attempted lob, that is happening a lot now.

 

[BourbonBalz]

Originally posted by Bert Higginbotha:

Originally posted by #1Wildcatfan4life:
I just don't get it. Sometimes our offense is just a wreck. We have far too much talent to be this stagnant time after time. We had almost no movement Saturday and all we did was pass around the perimeter. Baffling.

Have you noticed in the last two games that our bigs can't walk and can't make a two foot pass?

Have you noticed the reason that our bigs can't walk and can't make a two foot pass?


They are fouling the shit out of them and the fouls are not being called. So I ask, why would you want to go into that zone and get the crap beaten out of you when there is no reward?


It is the SEC and we may not get a decently called game until March in the NCAA.

Fouling is not the issue. Our guys need to put on their big boy pants and nut up.