Surprised it’s been so bad all year long. Todd’s calling card is defense.
Maybe we should mix it up and throw some zones every once and awhile
Just an observation but our guards tend to get lost on the high picks and either as a result or just by inattention or laziness give up a penetrating drive that puts the post players at a disadvantage of having to step out to defend and leave their guys open at the post or sit back and let the penetrator take the open shot/layup. To your point about playing a little zone from time to time, the USCe coach essentially cut our throat with his 1-3-1 late. We couldn’t get the O started against it. Todd had no answer and a winnable game ON THE ROAD against a RANKED SEC OPPONENT evaporated into thin air.
There’s two lessons for Todd as a result. Let’s see if it sinks in and affects his game strategy moving forward. We’ve got talented guys, but several are young and not as physically mature as they will be. They could use a little schematic help, especially at crunch time. I will say this for Todd…he’s at least stopped trying to sit on a lead late, dribbling the clock down and settling for just any shot, usually low percentage, and allowing the opposition to hang around or get back in it. Still got a lot to do to get to the upper echelon of the conference, much less those that are factors for a serious run in the tournament (not NIT) imo.
* Will also add that w/o Pullin we probably don’t win 10 games this year. His ability to penetrate and make the mid to close jumpers kept us going until we started making some perimeter shots and getting the ball inside to Samuel (getting the ball to him cutting down the lane is an effective play for us, especially after a TO).