Tenn-Martin +35.5 at tOSU (ov/un 140.5) Mon 8:30 ET, BTN

[LitlBuck]

The major weakness I see with Minnesota is free throw shooting/3 point shooting. This will cost them multiple B10 games...probably a few they should have won.

I see Wisconsin and Minnesota as equals...different styles in some ways but equal in talent. I expect Minny to beat them at home.

One of the weaknesses I say with the Gophers is their 2 big men really don't know where to play on offense. If they both play down low, it almost seems like one gets in the way of the other. When one of the guys decides to go on the perimeter, they might as well be playing with 4 men on offense. It just seems like their big men really don't know what to do what surprises me with Tubby as their coach. With regard to the Wisconsin game, I think you have to remember that Wisconsin matches them in size pretty equally but the Badger big men can step out and shoot the three whereas the guys from Minnesota cannot do that.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Tennessee-Martin 36 Tennessee 32 Halftime

SEC SEC SEC.......

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

It is my belief that to play good zone defense you have to practice it and in order to play good man to man defense you have to practice it. You have to choose one or the other in order to be good at that one. Just because a player has a high basketball IQ does not mean that he can play in a zone defense. You have to play zone defense as a team and if you take one player out of the mix that will destroy your zone defense.

this is an exceptional paragraph, with the sentence in bold being the take-home point. a successful zone comprises players who move like one organism. watch syracuse. each player knows exactly where to be and when to be there.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Ok announcers we get the freaking point, UTM lost 100-40 against Ohio St

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

the only explanation for this is point-shaving. i think i may be serious. i know tennessee has played poorly as of late, but... c'mon.

 

[buckeyemania11]

Tennessee survives the mighty Skyhawks 68-62

 

[Bill Lucas]

this is an exceptional paragraph, with the sentence in bold being the take-home point. a successful zone comprises players who move like one organism. watch syracuse. each player knows exactly where to be and when to be there.

What's interesting is that in practice Syracuse practices man to man defense primarily. They spend about 15 minutes a practice on the 2-3 zone. When they do work on the zone they implement man to man defensive principles into the zone.

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

What's interesting is that in practice Syracuse practices man to man defense primarily. They spend about 15 minutes a practice on the 2-3 zone. When they do work on the zone they implement man to man defensive principles into the zone.

good point. that being stated, the zone principles are ingrained as soon as the players step on cuse's campus. i wouldn't be surprised if no practice time at all has been spent on the zone this year at ohio state. i still stand by my previous statement that if the team had been working on the zone before the season started, we would have seen it already against lesser competition. then again, the zone is often the most effective when it's least expected.

 

[TDunk]

good point. that being stated, the zone principles are ingrained as soon as the players step on cuse's campus. i wouldn't be surprised if no practice time at all has been spent on the zone this year at ohio state. i still stand by my previous statement that if the team had been working on the zone before the season started, we would have seen it already against lesser competition. then again, the zone is often the most effective when it's least expected.

Love the back and forth between you guys. And as my understanding of the zone is to implement it so it covers up a lack of interior fouls. But in order to get he maximum effect, you have to have the right type of personnel (ie wing span and quickness). And also because it's easier on the fatigue factor.

How difficult would it be for a true freshman player to pick up if they have never been in that type of defense?

 

[OSU_Buckguy]

Love the back and forth between you guys. And as my understanding of the zone is to implement it so it covers up a lack of interior fouls. But in order to get he maximum effect, you have to have the right type of personnel (ie wing span and quickness). And also because it's easier on the fatigue factor.

an interior zone defender can still be targeted for fouls. if the offense has post players who can spot up on the perimeter and drive (via ball screens), then a zone does lessen the likelihood of a particular player accumulating fouls. however, if the offensive post player possesses traditional skill-sets, then, again, the defender in question can be more easily targeted. wisconsin's swing offense is so good at exploiting either defense. their post players are equally adept at playing with their backs to the basket or at stretching the defense to 20 feet.

you do bring up a good point about fatigue. i do worry about sullinger's late-season wall. let's hope he doesn't find it.

How difficult would it be for a true freshman player to pick up if they have never been in that type of defense?

a decent zone isn't hard to pick up. a great zone?

 

[TDunk]

Kind of what I figured. But love the input. Having played CYO ball didn't give me much insight into the depths of basketball. But I love picking up on nuances for the game and how they translate into on the court strategy.

Thanks for the insight and Go Bucks!:osu:

 

[Jake]

Tennessee survives the mighty Skyhawks 68-62

What the hell happened to the Vols?

They beat Villanova and Pitt, then lose to Oakland, Charlotte, and USC, beat Belmont by 1 and Martin by 6?

 

[Meyer]

Tennessee-Martin 36 Tennessee 32 Halftime

SEC SEC SEC.......

Wow. Are we really this good??

Looks like we might be.....

 

[BrutusBobcat]

Wow. Are we really this good??

Looks like we might be.....

Being on top of Pomeroy's ratings after 13 games isn't a fluke. If nothing else, this team is consistent, and brings the same high level of play regardless of opponent (so far). I've seen one "off" half this year (haven't watched every game, just a majority). I'm not sure if we'll know this team's ceiling until March, however I think there's a pretty good chance that it's Matta's best yet.

 

[Steve19]

I agree. The team looks really solid but they haven't really been tested yet. Seven of the remaining games are against teams that have a better Pomeroy rating that the best teams we played so far (Florida State #32, Florida #33). More teams that Ohio State has played are ranked below #200 (6) than above #100 (4). What did our University President say about Sisters of the Poor?

The thing that I like, about the way the schedule sets up, is that Ohio State will now run a gauntlet in the toughest conference in college basketball. Run that guantlet and the team will be very well prepared for March Madness. The schedule has provided a few good tests and the time and space to bed down freshmen and build team cohesion. OK, fine, not the best power teams, but they have looked excellent on defense and are #1 in that category on Pomeroy, which is weighted for opposing team offensive power.

There's a lot be excited about but still reason to be guarded in one's optimism.