Topic: UAB Inside Game

[HERDIT]

Just thinking about a way to counter UAB's inside game.  I know that we don't have a lot of depth on the frontcourt and Thompson is first off the bench to replace Kelly or Taylor, but can anyone remember this year if all 3 were ever on the floor together? If so, how did we do?  These 3 together with Elmore and Browning might give us some better overall D, especially late in the game if fouls are not an issue.

[girthyherdon]

Play a 2-3 zone, problem solved.

[QuickStrike]

Play a 2-3 zone, problem solved.

Agree.  Also, Thompson hanging around the basket on both ends can end up being a key factor on rebounds and put backs.

[Olen]

Just thinking about a way to counter UAB's inside game.  I know that we don't have a lot of depth on the frontcourt and Thompson is first off the bench to replace Kelly or Taylor, but can anyone remember this year if all 3 were ever on the floor together? If so, how did we do?  These 3 together with Elmore and Browning might give us some better overall D, especially late in the game if fouls are not an issue.

Depending on what is being focused on (specifically), UAB is not really bigger in the front-court than the Herd.  In fact, that is probably what makes UAB a little more difficult to defend front-court to front-court because UAB is as quick (if not a tad quicker) than the Herd at the "big" positions.  Lee is playing ahead of Mehinti of late and Cokley is steady.  While UAB will play more traditional with their big-men, back to the basket and trying to get post-based shots, these guys are similarly dangerous when running free for easy lay-ups and dunks. 

That said (and unless DD throws a surprise zone), look for the Herd to continue with what they do:  use the guards to over-play the center and force the ball-handlers to the sideline for possible traps along the sideline; when the trap is sprung, off-ball defenders get into usual passing lines to try and force turnover or at least force the ball back out near the hash-mark/half-court area, and force the offense to re-set; when or if the ball gets middle to near the key, front the post player(s) and sag offside block defender for back-door help.

Being a Thursday game, the officiating should be better (much better) than Saturday games of recent vintage, and hopefully, the refs will let the players get up and down the court without a bunch of touch fouls.  If so, slight advantage to the Herd; if the game is called tightly, advantage to UAB and their depth.

JMO.

[coalherd]

Have we used a zone since DD has been here?  This season?  Just wondered why zone was never tried especially when we've played teams who were not particularly known for their outside firepower, but had an effective inside game.  The home losses against JMU and Akron came to mind; Akron had the big 6'11" kid, Forsythe, a transfer from WVU, who scored on the low block; JMU had a similar type inside game.  Also, didn't see, and don't recall, but our loss at Ohio U. who has a strong big man scorer, Campbell, 6'10", also comes to mind.  Zone would protect to some extent, Kelly and Taylor, and would make other teams show they could hurt us consistently from the outside, i.e., shoot us out of the zone.

[Olen]

Have we used a zone since DD has been here?  This season?  Just wondered why zone was never tried especially when we've played teams who were not particularly known for their outside firepower, but had an effective inside game.  The home losses against JMU and Akron came to mind; Akron had the big 6'11" kid, Forsythe, a transfer from WVU, who scored on the low block; JMU had a similar type inside game.  Also, didn't see, and don't recall, but our loss at Ohio U. who has a strong big man scorer, Campbell, 6'10", also comes to mind.  Zone would protect to some extent, Kelly and Taylor, and would make other teams show they could hurt us consistently from the outside, i.e., shoot us out of the zone.

The Herd is mostly a man-to-man defensive squad.  However, there are times where DD switches the defense to a hybrid man defense w/ zone principles.  In this scheme, our best guard defenders (of the starting five - Elmore and Browning) will switch on guard-motion through the center.  For example, the guards may man-up and Elmore' man is on the left side of the court and Browning's man may be on the right side of the court; if Elmore's man passes the ball and rotates through on motion, Elmore will maintain his defensive position on the left-side of the court and match-up with the next player in his zone, and Browning may rotate to the man-in-motion when the players gets to his side of the court.  Just one example.

I think (just an educated guess) that there are a couple of key reasons for playing the man-hybrid in this way.  It keeps the guard-defenders from chasing and trailing the offensive guards, cutting down on unnecessary movement and reducing the possibility of clear-out and isolation plays in-behind the trailing guard-defender.  It also preserves the guard-defenders in that center-out position (over-playing the center) so that the guards can continue to force the ball-handlers along the side line for trapping opportunities. 

From what I recall, when the offense over-loads one side of the court against the man-hybrid, the Herd defense does a lot of shifting as one would see with a zone as it shifts ball-side, but the shift is not overly aggressive unless it is to defend a three-point shot, as DD's philosophy is defend and contest the three, contest as many two's as possible, and avoid giving up lay-ups and dunks. 

[2xBison]

Quick - don't look for anyone hanging around basket on offensive end.

Solution- shoot well play solid herd defense and out score them

[banker]

The only reason we lost to UAB the last time is that our guys came out too pumped by the crowd and wasted the first half offensively. It took up about 16 minutes to score our first 20 points then we scored 58 points in the next 24 minutes. It was essentially the same story against ODU where the big crowd threw us off early.

We don't need to do anything different against UAB than we did the first game.  We just have to come out more focused.

[coalherd]

UAB's play by play guy was on Paul and Woody show this evening.  They have not had a sell out at Bartow Arena yet this season.  Hoping to come close tomorrow night.  Seats about 8500.  Said early start time, 7:00 pm Birmingham time, should help them plus game apparently is some kind of t-shirt promotion night.  Herd can't let opposing crowd affect them too much, especially in first half.  Crowd may have had some effect in our loss at UTEP, which usually draws the best in the league.  Not sure if same applied in our loss at UNCC.  Go HERD!!

[HerdFan1114]

There are several Herd Fans going tonight.  Hopefully the boys will see the support.  Go Herd!!!

[MUonium]

sweet talk the refs during warm up, they have daughters that need a date.  sneak in ricky huckaby to sing the nat anthem.  deflate all the balls to your liking.  put fire ants and tacks on the opposing bench.
or
yep, stay the course.  get hot early, take the crowd out of it and stay cool, calm and hot

[Herdmeister]

The only reason we lost to UAB the last time is that our guys came out too pumped by the crowd and wasted the first half offensively. It took up about 16 minutes to score our first 20 points then we scored 58 points in the next 24 minutes. It was essentially the same story against ODU where the big crowd threw us off early.

We don't need to do anything different against UAB than we did the first game.  We just have to come out more focused.

Correct!

[QuickStrike]

Quick - don't look for anyone hanging around basket on offensive end.

Solution- shoot well play solid herd defense and out score them

No one near the basket on shot attempts drives me nuts. LOL

Offensive rebounds equal extra possessions. Extra possessions equal extra shot attempts. Extra shot attempts equal extra points. If you shoot at least 33% from 3 point range each offensive rebound can be worth 1 point.

No one around the basket ensures the other team will get the missed 3 point shot at least 60% of the time.