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#4 Syracuse +5.5 vs #1 Indiana (ov/un 135.5) Thurs 9:45 CBS

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Part of the article on what Indiana must do it in order to beat the Syracuse zone.
So how do you beat the zone? Coaches have asked themselves that question for years. IU coach Tom Crean is 0-2 against Syracuse from his Big East days at Marquette.

You can't just dribble and look at the zone. Well, you can, but it won't end well. You can try launching three-pointers, but that's fool's gold against Syracuse.

You have to cut without the ball, reverse the ball, pass or drive into the middle, and ball fake. Repeat. Ball fake. As quick as Yogi Ferrell is, he will struggle to drive into the lane. Figure forward Cody Zeller will spend time flashing to the high post for passes so he can pass to someone cutting toward the basket along the baseline or drive himself.

If you move, cut and pass well enough, if you're patient and disciplined, gaps in the zone will open. That finally happened for California with its inside players. It must happen for IU, either with Zeller or Christian Watford or both.

And then, as is always the case, the Hoosiers have to make shots, no matter how physical it gets.

Syracuse, of course, has to deal with IU's defense, which has been solid all season. The Orangemen's Achilles' heel is their offense. They shoot just 44.1 percent from the field (that ranks No. 128 nationally) and 33.7 percent from three-point range. Indiana can exploit that. It MUST exploit that.

The Hoosiers must force turnovers -- look for some full-court pressure -- and get transition baskets so they don't have to mess with the zone. The better they play defense, the more they can run, the more effective their offense will be. This isn't new, but it is necessary.

Sleep, at least for this week, is not.
Click to expand...
http://www.news-sentinel.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130326/SPORTS/130329719/1007
 
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I think they can pick the zone apart, frankly. Team's loaded with shooting at essentially every position, as well as coming off the bench. Moreover, given Syracuse's streaky nature and I think IU eventually pulls away. Zeller can't sleepwalk though.
 
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