Why is our D so good lately?

[ponyte]

This is a very naive question form one that admittedly hasn't followed SMU basketball in a very long time.

With that disclaimer, our D has powered some very strong comebacks and is a very significant component of our recent winning streak.

How did our D get so good?

I understand the assistants have had an effect on the offense we run. Who is responsible for the defenses we run and how well we execute those defenses?

And with additional talent next year, will the D get even better?

[CalallenStang]

Great adjustments in the Tulsa and ECU games.

[Harry0569]

Hobbie.

Doh talked about it in his post game press conference. We disguise our defense extremely well, whether we are in man, zone, or the deadly match-up zone.

Personally, I think our offense has a profound effect as well. We made the opposing team work extremely [deleted] the defensive end, and it begins to wear on you--having to play D for 28-35 seconds every time down the floor. Guys' legs get tired, and alters their jump shot.

I'll let PonyDoh or someone else go into more detail, but that's my brief analysis.

[ponyte]

It seems that our D is causing more shot clock violations then I remember seeing any team cause. That is just well played hard D and it is [deleted] our kids.

Once again, not a BB fan so don't watch it much but what I have seen appears that we are cause time clock violation far more than in the past and more than most other teams.

[ponyboy]

Incredible that ECU scored nothing in the final 14 minutes of the second half.

[Pony_Fan]

They seem to hit some decent open shots in the first half. Seemed like they have some athletic long guys that could cause us matchup problems. I think the zone was messing them up and neither team could hit anything at all.

[shadowman]

SMU doesn't defend the three well or rebound well, but our zone is pretty hard to crack. Our guys are good at keeping the ball on the perimeter and not give up easy shots. especially with Papa in there swatting stuff away.

We are still vulnerable to a team with a hot hand from the outside (see the Houston game), but at least we are not giving up many easy shots.

[ponyboy]

True on the rebounding. I believe they outrebounded us two to one.

[PonyDoh]

The princeton is a system, not just an offense. It's almost always the O w/an accompanying slew of zones and junk Ds. You see the match-up 2/3 quite a bit. anyway, in order for the princeton to work, it's absolutely essential to force tough looks and keep opposing offenses to a very low FG percentage. Take away dribble/drive, extend and force tough looks, the longer the shot clock runs, the less possessions for the opposition. The princeton is supposed to convert at a high percentage, so talent differences are neutralized, and tempo controlled. Basically, all the princeton teams keep teams to a very low FG percentage, it's almost more important than the offensive part of the system

[shadowman]

Rebounding out of a zone is tough, but we actually do a decent job. We lose a lot of chances at offensive rebounds because our philosophy is to not crash the boards and get back on defense, so its a calculated a choice, and I think a good one, considering we shoot such a high percentage.

[PonyDoh]

Rebounding out of a zone is tough, but we actually do a decent job. We lose a lot of chances at offensive rebounds because our philosophy is to not crash the boards and get back on defense, so its a calculated a choice, and I think a good one, considering we shoot such a high percentage.

also, we're tiny and sorta soft. No reason to crash the glass when only Mangrum likes to get after it. Kids like Jalen Jones & Leslee Smith MAY have a little more freedom in that regard, cause they get after it on the glass

[ponyscott]

Rebounding out of a zone is tough, but we actually do a decent job. We lose a lot of chances at offensive rebounds because our philosophy is to not crash the boards and get back on defense, so its a calculated a choice, and I think a good one, considering we shoot such a high percentage.

also, we're tiny and sorta soft. No reason to crash the glass when only Mangrum likes to get after it. Kids like Jalen Jones & Leslee Smith MAY have a little more freedom in that regard, cause they get after it on the glass

Don't forget about Vilde as I bet he will be a beast on the boards. The multitude of changing D's out there throw the opposing teams rhythm off during the game to go along with their limited looks at the basket...heck they are even running a Triangle and Two defense sometimes to go along with their match up zone. And you usually get out rebounded when you run so many zones instead of man to man, unfortunately.

[Mitch McConnell]

I'm asking this off of the points that have been raised. Since it appears the athleticism will be far better in 2011-12, do some of you believe Doherty and his staff will have a more difficult time/easier time implementing and demanding the discipline to this system?

Obviously there was a reason why the players signed/transferred here. Kids like to to run up and down the floor. And I'm not familiar with the backgrounds from where they came only their HS.

There's just a part of me that thinks that if Princeton is what we're doing in 2011-12, it's going to be like starting all over again because of all of the precise movements required within it and the massive roster turnover.

Thanks.

[Stampede]

Actually, I am in Princeton for the past two games and have watched them beat Harvard and Dartmouth. Last night, Dartmouth shot 61% in the first half but Princeton came back strong in the second to win by 15.

I also saw Princeton beat Tulsa in overtime earlier this year in Tulsa. It does seem that the defense gets better as the game wears on and as the offense gets better and better looks to score.

That being said....Princeton is still not where they want to be with regard to talent level but look for that to change as Sydney Johnson continues his winning ways. This is his third year (second year of recruiting) and they are on top of the Ivy League now.

[CalallenStang]

I'm asking this off of the points that have been raised. Since it appears the athleticism will be far better in 2011-12, do some of you believe Doherty and his staff will have a more difficult time/easier time implementing and demanding the discipline to this system?

Obviously there was a reason why the players signed/transferred here. Kids like to to run up and down the floor. And I'm not familiar with the backgrounds from where they came only their HS.

There's just a part of me that thinks that if Princeton is what we're doing in 2011-12, it's going to be like starting all over again because of all of the precise movements required within it and the massive roster turnover.

Thanks.

They have been practicing it all year.