The Gimmick 2-3 Zone and JBJ

[zinch2o 9]

Does anybody else think that maybe that gimmick 2-3 zone that IU was running was to protect Blackmon Jr?

 

I just think Crean knows/knew that JBJ can't guard anybody because he has no lateral movement, and I really think that was why he went to that gimmick zone. He likes having a shooting in his offense, and JBJ is lights out. I just think his knees are worse than anybody knew, and Crean was trying to protect him....

 

If you look at when he was still playing with Hartman and NZ, all 3 of them have had knee trouble. NZ is just as bad as JBJ at guarding one on one, and Hartman is a tweener, not quick enough to be a guard or a 3 or guard a guard or a 3, but not big enough to guard a 4. He is basketball smart, as is NZ, but just not quick and on a bum knee.

 

 

I really think that is one reason, and another might be his coaching at Marquette where you have to kind of do a gimmick when playing more athletic teams, but he did have some athletes there....

 

I like Hartman, I think he is a good kid, but I think OG should play more just for defensive reasons alone. 

 

Anybody else have any thoughts on why Crean was playing that zone earlier in the year? or am I over thinking it and it was just something Crean was trying?

[Crimson and Cream 5,961]

No offense to Colin, but OG should be playing A LOT more minutes than him. Bielfeldt too. 

[HoosierAloha 30,102]

Pay closer to NZ on defense.  He doesn't have lateral quickness but he can chase a shooter well through screens.  He also does a good job on help defense.  If our "athletes" had half the basketball IQ as our "poor defenders" we would be one heck of a defensive team. 

[Yogi'sBicep 1,048]

Pay closer to NZ on defense. He doesn't have lateral quickness but he can chase a shooter well through screens. He also does a good job on help defense. If our "athletes" had half the basketball IQ as our "poor defenders" we would be one heck of a defensive team.

Most basketball teams have that same dilemma. When talent is there, brains become the necessity.

[zinch2o 9]

Pay closer to NZ on defense.  He doesn't have lateral quickness but he can chase a shooter well through screens.  He also does a good job on help defense.  If our "athletes" had half the basketball IQ as our "poor defenders" we would be one heck of a defensive team. 

 

I agree. At the start of the year NOBODY was helping out. 

 

I wish I could see the percentage of how many times players blow by him and go into the lane. Every game I yell at the TV at least 3 times because of this...but those triples he hit vs minn. were HUGE.

[BGleas 9,029]

I don't think Crean was trying to protect him, I think he was trying to hide him on defense. I don't think it had anything to do with his knees, just that he was so bad on defense.

[Bowhunter 3,125]

We need Hartman and RJ to start playing good ball again. Both seem to be struggling on both sides of the court. More OG for me!

[HoosierAloha 30,102]

Watch the second half of the Minny game. It was NZ with a great close out on a shooter in the left corner forcing him to put the ball on the floor and then keeping him out of the lane. It was NZ moving his feet to keep Buggs (I believe) out of the lane and forcing a pass into the right corner.

Hartman played great D against Shields in Lincoln that allowed us to win that game. OG and JMor helped out as well.

It frustrates me when people label players and then just assume they will never do anything to improve or help the team in that department.

Every player has limitations but I've seen a lot better defense, individually and as a team, in the last handful of games. This team has a better understanding of team defense and principals than they did a month ago.

Go Hoosiers!!