Why can't freshmen at Louisville play defense?

[Mojocat]

I just saw this quote from RP after the ND loss. Curious.


"Look, it's very obvious to see that Quentin Snider doesn't play defense, but he wasn't supposed to be in this situation. Peyton Siva was no good on defense as a freshman and neither was Russ Smith. he was supposed to learn, back it up and get better. So he's thrown into a situation where it's not his fault. So he's out there right now and you can see he's making defensive mistakes, but he was supposed to have a year to learn that, so it's not his fault."


Far as I can tell, there's no physical reason why Snider, Russ and, especially, Siva couldn't play defense as freshmen. The only logical answer is he's making things too difficult for them. Pitino can't land big-time recruits because he doesn't have a record of getting them into the draft. And this is exactly why. I saw a conversation earlier about the kid at Ohio State, and that it shows the failure of Pitino, that he could have had a one and done if he'd landed that kid. But he wouldn't have been one and done at UofL. He wouldn't have known how to play defense, wouldn't have understood the offense, and so he wouldn't have played much.


At least they would have had him for a second year!

 

[kb22stang]

Originally posted by Mojocat:

I just saw this quote from RP after the ND loss. Curious.

"Look, it's very obvious to see that Quentin Snider doesn't play defense, but he wasn't supposed to be in this situation. Peyton Siva was no good on defense as a freshman and neither was Russ Smith. he was supposed to learn, back it up and get better. So he's thrown into a situation where it's not his fault. So he's out there right now and you can see he's making defensive mistakes, but he was supposed to have a year to learn that, so it's not his fault."


Far as I can tell, there's no physical reason why Snider, Russ and, especially, Siva couldn't play defense as freshmen. The only logical answer is he's making things too difficult for them. Pitino can't land big-time recruits because he doesn't have a record of getting them into the draft. And this is exactly why. I saw a conversation earlier about the kid at Ohio State, and that it shows the failure of Pitino, that he could have had a one and done if he'd landed that kid. But he wouldn't have been one and done at UofL. He wouldn't have known how to play defense, wouldn't have understood the offense, and so he wouldn't have played much.

At least they would have had him for a second year!

Because zone defenses are basic in theory, but nuances to execution are complex. Those complexities make it a great defense when teams are experienced at playing it, but it makes it hard to pick up.

 

[Neue Regel]

Rick knows far more than I do, but at this point shouldn't he be less concerned about defense and more about offense? being able to play D hasn't been their problem all year. They simply cannot score on a consistent basis which has been the real killer for them.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Because

1. RP's defenses are that complicated that it takes a while to get it down.

2. RP rarely plays freshmen so they dont get enough time against real competition

 

[BourbonBalz]

Well, to be fair, they can't play offense either.

 

[Hoskins91]

I can see how it would take a little more time to learn your role in Pitino's press. I wouldn't think it would take a whole year though.

 

[UKWildcatT]

Recruits: TAKE NOTE

Just ridiculous, making a defense so complicated that he's keeping legit talent off the floor.

Again, recruits, TAKE NOTE.

 

[Noxium322]

Shouldn't be too hard. Just hack and slap the ish out of your man until he coughs it up. If this doesn't work, just Jones it.

 

[Svaniro]

It due mostly to fact that Quentin Snider kind of sucks.

 

[Wildcat-in-STL]

Originally posted by Svaniro:

It due mostly to fact that Quentin Snider kind of sucks.

What ? no way, didnt you hear all summer that he was miles ahead of Ulis?

 

[Mojocat]

Originally posted by kb22stang:

Originally posted by Mojocat:


I just saw this quote from RP after the ND loss. Curious.

"Look, it's very obvious to see that Quentin Snider doesn't play defense, but he wasn't supposed to be in this situation. Peyton Siva was no good on defense as a freshman and neither was Russ Smith. he was supposed to learn, back it up and get better. So he's thrown into a situation where it's not his fault. So he's out there right now and you can see he's making defensive mistakes, but he was supposed to have a year to learn that, so it's not his fault."


Far as I can tell, there's no physical reason why Snider, Russ and, especially, Siva couldn't play defense as freshmen. The only logical answer is he's making things too difficult for them. Pitino can't land big-time recruits because he doesn't have a record of getting them into the draft. And this is exactly why. I saw a conversation earlier about the kid at Ohio State, and that it shows the failure of Pitino, that he could have had a one and done if he'd landed that kid. But he wouldn't have been one and done at UofL. He wouldn't have known how to play defense, wouldn't have understood the offense, and so he wouldn't have played much.

At least they would have had him for a second year!

Because zone defenses are basic in theory, but nuances to execution are complex. Those complexities make it a great defense when teams are experienced at playing it, but it makes it hard to pick up.

yeah, I know that, and I know the matchup zone that they run in particular is especially complex. but isn't that letting the tail wag the dog? If you choose to run stuff that is so mind-numbingly difficult that it impairs your ability to get top notch players - isn't it self-defeating? There's more than one way to skin a cat - why pick the one way that prevents you from doing the most important thing, getting good kids? He's doing it wrong.....

 

[*CatinIL*]

Why????

Here vvvvvvvv

 

[Cats192]

I think Rick is just trying to take the heat off the kid.

I think nationally, you don't expect most freshmen to be great at defense. James Young certainly struggled at times last year, even in the tourney.

Are there exceptions? Of course.

 

[Waterview Catfan]

At UL, it's sort of a pick-em, you know, have to pick what's more important given time restraints. they've got to learn offense, traffic court, drug court, domestic violence etc., no time left for defense.

 

[MychalG]

It takes a player at least or in Wayne Blackshear's case 4 years, to truly understand what it takes to be a "Louisville Man." A player cant play defense for Pitino until he "gets it" and becomes a true "Louisville Man." Just ask any of the top 25 teams that UL has lost to this year and they will tell you how difficult UL's defense is to solve. From what I have seen, UL's Freshmen cant play defense or offense.

 

[jameslee32]

1. Size
2. Coaching
3. Who
4. Cares

 

[Aike]

Originally posted by Mojocat:

Originally posted by kb22stang:

Originally posted by Mojocat:


I just saw this quote from RP after the ND loss. Curious.

"Look, it's very obvious to see that Quentin Snider doesn't play defense, but he wasn't supposed to be in this situation. Peyton Siva was no good on defense as a freshman and neither was Russ Smith. he was supposed to learn, back it up and get better. So he's thrown into a situation where it's not his fault. So he's out there right now and you can see he's making defensive mistakes, but he was supposed to have a year to learn that, so it's not his fault."


Far as I can tell, there's no physical reason why Snider, Russ and, especially, Siva couldn't play defense as freshmen. The only logical answer is he's making things too difficult for them. Pitino can't land big-time recruits because he doesn't have a record of getting them into the draft. And this is exactly why. I saw a conversation earlier about the kid at Ohio State, and that it shows the failure of Pitino, that he could have had a one and done if he'd landed that kid. But he wouldn't have been one and done at UofL. He wouldn't have known how to play defense, wouldn't have understood the offense, and so he wouldn't have played much.

At least they would have had him for a second year!

Because zone defenses are basic in theory, but nuances to execution are complex. Those complexities make it a great defense when teams are experienced at playing it, but it makes it hard to pick up.

yeah, I know that, and I know the matchup zone that they run in particular is especially complex. but isn't that letting the tail wag the dog? If you choose to run stuff that is so mind-numbingly difficult that it impairs your ability to get top notch players - isn't it self-defeating? There's more than one way to skin a cat - why pick the one way that prevents you from doing the most important thing, getting good kids? He's doing it wrong.....

Yes. He's doing it wrong. He's a former NBA coach, coaching at a program that has historically put guys in the league. But he can't recruit future pros or put many guys in the league today because he plays a complicated college defensive system that does not translate to the pros.

Simply, it is all about Rick.

 

[ville 77]

College defense is difficult for freshmen and the UL hybrid zone is very complex and works best with more experienced players. SO freshmen pick it up quicker than others. Harrell was playing it well late in his freshmen year and last year Rozier and Jones were playing it well also. This years freshmen are not as gifted. For the record Rick played almost all man defense in the ND game. Nothing very complex about it.

You guys need to keep several things in mind.

#1 the freshmen UK has been getting the last 5 year are mostly top 15 players. UL has been getting players mostly between 20 & 75. Good players but not at the level of UK guys.

#2 While Cal plays mostly a simple Man defense not all of his freshmen have played good defense. This year all of your freshmen are playing it very well but it helps to have a guys like WCS to fix mistakes. On the other hand last year both the Harrisons and Young were awful defenders even plays simple man defense. That is why UK lost a lot of games early.

 

[Bluest Member]

Originally posted by kb22stang:

Originally posted by Mojocat:


I just saw this quote from RP after the ND loss. Curious.

"Look, it's very obvious to see that Quentin Snider doesn't play defense, but he wasn't supposed to be in this situation. Peyton Siva was no good on defense as a freshman and neither was Russ Smith. he was supposed to learn, back it up and get better. So he's thrown into a situation where it's not his fault. So he's out there right now and you can see he's making defensive mistakes, but he was supposed to have a year to learn that, so it's not his fault."


Far as I can tell, there's no physical reason why Snider, Russ and, especially, Siva couldn't play defense as freshmen. The only logical answer is he's making things too difficult for them. Pitino can't land big-time recruits because he doesn't have a record of getting them into the draft. And this is exactly why. I saw a conversation earlier about the kid at Ohio State, and that it shows the failure of Pitino, that he could have had a one and done if he'd landed that kid. But he wouldn't have been one and done at UofL. He wouldn't have known how to play defense, wouldn't have understood the offense, and so he wouldn't have played much.

At least they would have had him for a second year!

Because zone defenses are basic in theory, but nuances to execution are complex. Those complexities make it a great defense when teams are experienced at playing it, but it makes it hard to pick up.

That's funny right there troll,funny in how every freshman at UK can play excellent defense to the tune of the best in the nation,yet you UL Lil Sissy fans believe all the BS Pitino spews ,when in fact it's his way of holding back any talent they might have and destroying their NBA career

 

[Bluest Member]

Originally posted by Wildcat-in-STL:
Because

1. RP's defenses are that complicated that it takes a while to get it down.

2. RP rarely plays freshmen so they dont get enough time against real competition

The only thing complicated at UL is how to cover up crimes and have affairs without the media running stories on it,funny how every freshman at other teams with any talent at all can play defense.

UK's freshmen are playing good defense to the best in the country

 

[rhstoess]

I've never seen a coach throw his players under the bus more than Pitino. It's sickening.