How To Beat A Zone

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fv6Yo0Z94c

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCOr_JBRg78

 

Utep runs one of the best zone offenses in the country yet the coach at Indiana can't do anything against one. Take notes. 

[mdn82 25,743]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Fv6Yo0Z94c

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCOr_JBRg78

 

Utep runs one of the best zone offenses in the country yet the coach at Indiana can't do anything against one. Take notes. 

Ha, you use UTEP as an example of the best zone offense?  I am sure the level of play for UTEP is a strong one, but let me know the strongest type of zone they have faced.  Syracuse level?  IU's zone offense looks good against the level UTEP is looking good against.  Look.  I understand your hatred of our offense against the zone.  One thing you need to understand why ours struggles against that level.  Our offense is not mechanical.  Our offense is our transition.  Quick shots is where we score.  A sound defense will make us struggle.  One that gets back and limits transition, will make us struggle.  One that is long and can match us athletically, will make us struggle.  It is easy to say what can beat a zone.  A legit one.  Not the one UTEP is beating.  Shooting.  If you have a team who can shoot, take care of the ball, and get into the middle of the zone.  You can beat a zone.  We didn't do 2 of those 3 last year, and can't do 2 of the 3 this year against a top 4 team in the country at their place.  It is what it is.  

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

Ha, you use UTEP as an example of the best zone offense?  I am sure the level of play for UTEP is a strong one, but let me know the strongest type of zone they have faced.  Syracuse level?  IU's zone offense looks good against the level UTEP is looking good against.  Look.  I understand your hatred of our offense against the zone.  One thing you need to understand why ours struggles against that level.  Our offense is not mechanical.  Our offense is our transition.  Quick shots is where we score.  A sound defense will make us struggle.  One that gets back and limits transition, will make us struggle.  One that is long and can match us athletically, will make us struggle.  It is easy to say what can beat a zone.  A legit one.  Not the one UTEP is beating.  Shooting.  If you have a team who can shoot, take care of the ball, and get into the middle of the zone.  You can beat a zone.  We didn't do 2 of those 3 last year, and can't do 2 of the 3 this year against a top 4 team in the country at their place.  It is what it is.  

Doesn't matter what level of teams they are playing, it's the same prinicples and IU sucks against every zone. Did you watch UM against Cuse? They knew what to do, TC had an entire game to watch and fix his gameplan and we got blown out, again. 

[mdn82 25,743]

Doesn't matter what level of teams they are playing, it's the same prinicples and IU sucks against every zone. Did you watch UM against Cuse? They knew what to do, TC had an entire game to watch and fix his gameplan and we got blown out, again. 

 

Lol, so a team who lost looked lost and a team who won looked good?  No kidding?  They hit shots.  That is how you beat the zone.  We drove into the zone.  For a team full of smart players last year, they played stupid.  Even if they were coached wrong, you as an athlete sense what they are giving you.  Who cares if TC had an entire game to watch.  That is a top 5 team on their court against freshman.  The other stuff is debatable.  Look at that statement, and look at what we went into man.  Big difference with similar results.  You really couldn't have more different teams.  There was no chance we weren't getting blown out.  We can't shoot.  We are freshman playing first road game against top 5 team.  That type of team that plays sound defense will always give us trouble.  Not just a zone.  Wisconsin will do the same.  If we played Louisville, they would do the same.  On the flip side the team you were singing their praises we beat them twice last year.  Bad matchup man.  No more, no less.  

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

Lol, so a team who lost looked lost and a team who won looked good?  No kidding?  They hit shots.  That is how you beat the zone.  We drove into the zone.  For a team full of smart players last year, they played stupid.  Even if they were coached wrong, you as an athlete sense what they are giving you.  Who cares if TC had an entire game to watch.  That is a top 5 team on their court against freshman.  The other stuff is debatable.  Look at that statement, and look at what we went into man.  Big difference with similar results.  You really couldn't have more different teams.  There was no chance we weren't getting blown out.  We can't shoot.  We are freshman playing first road game against top 5 team.  That type of team that plays sound defense will always give us trouble.  Not just a zone.  Wisconsin will do the same.  If we played Louisville, they would do the same.  On the flip side the team you were singing their praises we beat them twice last year.  Bad matchup man.  No more, no less.  

I'm not upset at the fact we lost, I'm upset that they had no idea how to attack a zone. 

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

Ain't no way you win this argument mdn!

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

Ain't no way you win this argument mdn!

I'm not trying to start an argument, I just wanted to point out how to beat a zone. People should educate themselves about how bad our zone offense actually is so we can all complain more next time we play a zone! :) 

[HoosierReb01 7,511]

I'm not trying to start an argument, I just wanted to point out how to beat a zone. People should educate themselves about how bad our zone offense actually is so we can all complain more next time we play a zone! :)

Oh Chuck, I think you can complain enough for all of us. :rolleyes:

[IUfan_Charlie 3,867]

Oh Chuck, I think you can complain enough for all of us. :rolleyes:

Nah, this board needs more complaining, I'm sure of it.  :biggrin:

[Hwy 1 2,053]

Nah, this board needs more complaining, I'm sure of it.  :biggrin:

 

Nah Chuck, you do more than enough for at least two boards. There may be others I'm not aware of...

[OliviaPope40 6,866]

Michigan probably watched our game and said no wonder they didn't study up on the 2-3 zone.

[mdn82 25,743]

I'm not upset at the fact we lost, I'm upset that they had no idea how to attack a zone. 

 

We do, but we have no way to truly attack it the way you have to.  Why would any zone stay on the shooters for IU?  All they have to do is follow and attack in groups the ball.  Last year it was simple.  If Jordy or Christian were in your area stay out.  If Yogi or Vic got the ball, they were driving.  If Cody got the ball he was going to the rim.  In the zone you have to have a player that can go mid-range who can make decisions.  We don't have that.  Neither year.  Last year it should have been Cody, but he was so one dimensional, it was easy.  I know you think that is overly simplistic and it comes down on the coach completely.  Most definitely he is a part of it.  At some point your players have to play smart and make plays.  Zone offense is being patient and taking care of the ball while having the ability to hit shots.  We don't do that.  There isn't some magical offense that wins against that defense.  If there was, Boeheim wouldn't have a job.  

[mdn82 25,743]

Michigan probably watched our game and said no wonder they didn't study up on the 2-3 zone.

 

Not really.  They had the type of players with the type of game needed to win against the zone.  Slashers like Burke and Hardaway that can hit shots from all over.  A shooter like Stauskas that can keep that defense honest.  A big like McGary who can stay at the rim when his defender jumps at Burke or Hardaway.  Then you have an athletic player in Robinson who can come off screens and cut.  As a team they didn't turn the ball over.  Type of team that beats a zone.  

[Scooter D 928]

I would agree that IU's zone offense is not good.  North Florida even went zone for a bit in the first half and it looked effective.  In order to beat a zone, you must have shooters running the base line; you have got to move the ball side-to-side to get the defense moving, screeners for the men running the baseline and someone flashing to the middle/free throw line.  This creates passing lanes and gaps in the zone...you beat a zone by passing not dribbling. 

 

Of course it helps when you have some shooters to hit the outside jumper to extend the zone.  This seems to be basic.

[Frodaddy10 83]

Game Charlie


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[KingPG21 6,587]

Doesn't matter what level of teams they are playing, it's the same prinicples and IU sucks against every zone. Did you watch UM against Cuse? They knew what to do, TC had an entire game to watch and fix his gameplan and we got blown out, again. 

Washington ran zone against us more than anything else. 

[Indymike7 35]

We hardly ever have ball movement side to side unless someone is dribbling from one side to the other or making a pass because that's the only option.  I don't count that worthless weave thing we run because it doesn't make the defense adjust.  Once in the Florida game we made about 5 passes where the ball did not touch the ground and got a great shot.  Undoubtedly the best play this season.  Problem is that is the only time this year we have seen something like that.  You can talk about people running the baseline and hitting outside shots all you want, but it takes effective passing to hit those guys and we don't have that.

[KingPG21 6,587]

Doesn't matter what level of teams they are playing, it's the same prinicples and IU sucks against every zone. Did you watch UM against Cuse? They knew what to do, TC had an entire game to watch and fix his gameplan and we got blown out, again. 

What exactly were you expecting? We had Yogi and Will returning who had significant playing experience at this level, compare that to what Cuse had. We lack any great shooters on this roster right now. Last year was disappointing, this year, if you expected us to perform better at their house with all that we lost, I don't know what else I can say, other than your expectations appear to have been way too high. 

[mdn82 25,743]

Yeah, I mean I would have loved for us to put up a fight, but if you can't understand why the game went the way it did, I really don't know what to say.  They are a top 5, veteran, defensively sound team playing against a young team for their first true road game that can't shoot.  Last year's game was far more of a shock and something that pissed me off.  They were in it for 20 minutes and then didn't show up in the 2nd half.  It isn't like Crean forgot how to coach from half to half.  That is an intensity and focus issue.  That isn't coaching.  If they would have done that to us the whole game, ok, I can see a gripe.  Don't know what to tell Charlie on this one. 

[Hwy 1 2,053]

Yeah, I mean I would have loved for us to put up a fight, but if you can't understand why the game went the way it did, I really don't know what to say.  They are a top 5, veteran, defensively sound team playing against a young team for their first true road game that can't shoot.  Last year's game was far more of a shock and something that pissed me off.  They were in it for 20 minutes and then didn't show up in the 2nd half.  It isn't like Crean forgot how to coach from half to half.  That is an intensity and focus issue.  That isn't coaching.  If they would have done that to us the whole game, ok, I can see a gripe.  Don't know what to tell Charlie on this one. 

 

 

I'm glad you do respond to him because there is usually something informative or insightful for me to read in these rebuttals. I will say though that I have no idea why you waste your time doing it. Maybe for others to read? I'm sure nothing will ever seep through Charlies skull.