[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=14651.msg157328#msg157328 date=1456599076]
Before the game, Kate answered a question about the zone defenses we have faced.  The question was something like "In the past the way to kill zones has been with three point shooting, but we don't seem to be able to do that this year.  Why?"

And the answer was something like:  "You need strong post play to force the zone to collapse inwards, otherwise the zone extends out and blankets the three point shooters.  Earlier on we were not getting strong enough inside play to force the zone to collapse."

In other words, modern zone defense can do just as good a job at covering three point shots as it can at covering points in the paint--but it can't do both simultaneously.  The inside threat just has to be great enough to pull the perimeter of the zone inside.

I'm not sure if that was actually what we did to beat the zone last night, though.  I think the mid-range jumpers somehow messed with it.  I'll have to review the game and keep an eye on when OSU switched in and out.

I think what Kate said about OSU's defensive style giving up midrange shots applied to their zone as well as man. Hamblin and their other bigs wouldn't venture far from the hoop in a zone, so the idea was mostly to penetrate past the extended perimeter and then mostly get midrange looks. The details of how to penetrate are different between zone and man, though.
[/quote]

I think you are right about that.  Did anyone notice how open Kailee was, over and over and over again, a few feet inside the top of the arc?  If she could take and make a 17-18 foot jumper we would have won by another 20 points.  She did try a three point shot, at least, but missed it and her other attempt.  But not only did OSU sag off of her, they just completely ignored her.

[81alum]

[quote author=81alum link=topic=14651.msg157328#msg157328 date=1456599076]
Before the game, Kate answered a question about the zone defenses we have faced.  The question was something like "In the past the way to kill zones has been with three point shooting, but we don't seem to be able to do that this year.  Why?"

And the answer was something like:  "You need strong post play to force the zone to collapse inwards, otherwise the zone extends out and blankets the three point shooters.  Earlier on we were not getting strong enough inside play to force the zone to collapse."

In other words, modern zone defense can do just as good a job at covering three point shots as it can at covering points in the paint--but it can't do both simultaneously.  The inside threat just has to be great enough to pull the perimeter of the zone inside.

I'm not sure if that was actually what we did to beat the zone last night, though.  I think the mid-range jumpers somehow messed with it.  I'll have to review the game and keep an eye on when OSU switched in and out.

I think what Kate said about OSU's defensive style giving up midrange shots applied to their zone as well as man. Hamblin and their other bigs wouldn't venture far from the hoop in a zone, so the idea was mostly to penetrate past the extended perimeter and then mostly get midrange looks. The details of how to penetrate are different between zone and man, though.
[/quote]

I think you are right about that.  Did anyone notice how open Kailee was, over and over and over again, a few feet inside the top of the arc?  If she could take and make a 17-18 foot jumper we would have won by another 20 points.  She did try a three point shot, at least, but missed it and her other attempt.  But not only did OSU sag off of her, they just completely ignored her.