Florida is shredding everybody. How?

[akaGatorhoops]

"....Erik Murphy to rise to primary scoring threat level. He's easily the Gators' best perimeter shooter, and now contributes shot-wise on par with the two heavy-shot taking guards. Mix in a heavier dose of Will Yeguete this season, and the Gators have a nice inside-outside mix working."

This, to me, is the most visible difference.

[HALLGATOR]

I don't think we can underestimate the importance of experience on this team when it comes to defense. Not only do we have the players to make it work but Billy has the added benefit of guys who have played within his system long enough to make switches without a lot of thinking about it and resultant confusion or missed assignments.

[rserina]

Originally Posted by chompalot

rserina, I posted, on the Full Court Press board, an excerpt from ESPN insider about Zona's deft 3-pt shooting. How do you think we'll handle this? I was trying to find out how much of a 3-pt FG% this team allows, but I couldn't find anything on it. I figure with as much zone as the Gators play, that would be one of its vulnerabilities.

I've been going back and forth over this the last few days. Yes, zone can be vulnerable to good three point shooting teams, but the big question is whether they can get the shots they want against the zone, not so much whether they can hit them. Can the kid from Xavier penetrate and dish? Will Hill be the guy flashing to the high post and kicking it back out to the perimeter? Will it be Parrom? Penetration off the dribble and passing out of the high post to my mind are the most important things when it comes to scorching a 2-3 from the arc and I just don't know how they will handle that because I haven't seen them much against zone.

If they execute well, I have no doubt Donovan comes out of the zone quickly. The only matchup that doesn't favor us defensively is maybe their length at the three when we have Rosario or Frazier there. This will be a real test for Wilbekin cutting off dribble penetration from their point guard.

[jhbyrd]

Arizona ranked #6 in scoring per game

[rserina]

Originally Posted by regurgigator

Actually, I would put much more emphasis on the possible impact of Yeguete on the team than these writers do. They're giving him a bit of a short shrift if you ask me.

As many of us said last season, losing Yeguete was a huge loss for us going into the tournament. I was very surprised we made the Elite 8 without him (although we got robbed by the refs in that loss). WY's Rodman-esque talents and impact on this team are quite unique (and, risking redundancy, rare).

This is another one I go back and forth about. On the one hand, we were a terrible defensive team the better part of the year and Yeguete was without question our best defender, so losing him made a weakness even greater.

At the same time, we thrived last year down the stretch because of both our offensive and defensive effectiveness in those small lineups. Murphy was very good in stints at the five, Prather was able to contribute both offensively and defensive at the four, and Beal and Wilbekin each had some minutes at the four when we were able to put four guards around Young in the post. Those were important lineups for us come March.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

It's worded a little wonky but he said maturity led to increased physical strength and better shot selection.

Wonky is a good term to describe the description, but yes, that is what he said, and not that physical strength led to better shot selection.

Although, that certainly might help when one is moving an opponent out of your path and dunking over the top of them.

[GatorPlanet]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

. Boynton will get his share and even Griffin is a rebounder.

Yes, Griffin has been incredible on the boards. Wait...who's Griffin?

[Lawdog88]

Originally Posted by madgator

my mistake, although the "it" clarification didn't help. I always knew what "it" was referring to.

the word "also" with the comma usage threw me off. That and the term "level of maturity." Which in my mind speaks to emotional maturity more than physical growth. Sorry, but never heard of a player needing to improve his "level of maturity" in regards to physical growth.

As the statement is, it read to me like emotional maturity and physcial strength has led to better shot selection.

again, my mistake.

My participles are dangling too. Happens all the time.

[themistocles]

Originally Posted by GatorPlanet

Yes, Griffin has been incredible on the boards. Wait...who's Griffin?

I think he might have meant Dillon Graham, but he rarely sees the court, perhaps he is speaking of the mystical Griffin who haunts various fairy tales.

[Go2gtr]

How did I get Griffin out of Frazier? If you are not ready to focus, you are not ready to post.

[corpgator]

Pomeroy points out that 3pt FG% defense is irrelevant. It's how many you give up that counts. % always regresses to the mean.

[Go2gtr]

Originally Posted by corpgator

Pomeroy points out that 3pt FG% defense is irrelevant. It's how many you give up that counts. % always regresses to the mean.

The better you defend the fewer you give up, I would think.

[corpgator]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

The better you defend the fewer you give up, I would think.

Yep, whereas the % they hit is a matter of random variation. It also opens up the inside the more a team hits.

[Go2gtr]

Originally Posted by corpgator

Yep, whereas the % they hit is a matter of random variation. It also opens up the inside the more a team hits.

Ok, so we shouldn't defend the perimeter?

[madgator]

Originally Posted by Go2gtr

Ok, so we shouldn't defend the perimeter?

If I had to choose an either or....it would be to protect the basket first.

[Go2gtr]

Originally Posted by madgator

If I had to choose an either or....it would be to protect the basket first.

Don't think it's necessarily an either/or situation. I would not neglect either the perimeter or the basket.

[g8rboy]

Exactly what the problem is with an extremely balanced team. I always figured the best way to defend our title teams was stop the bigs and hope the shooters are off. It is a great problem to have.

[Go2gtr]

I remember during the championship seasons when we beat supposedly better teams (that went on all the time in the dance) the talking heads would observe that those "better" team's three-point shooters had "off" nights. It became one of the refrains during both tournaments.

Fact is they were rushed, further out, not in rhythm as we took their usual options away and forced them to shoot.

[tegator80]

Originally Posted by HALLGATOR

I don't think we can underestimate the importance of experience on this team when it comes to defense. Not only do we have the players to make it work but Billy has the added benefit of guys who have played within his system long enough to make switches without a lot of thinking about it and resultant confusion or missed assignments.

This is the one that gets my vote. I think Billy likes to recruit offensive minded players out of HS and then teach them how to play team ball, especially getting your offense around your defense. A lot of these players don't want to change (Parsons until his senior season). This year all of these pieces have come together all at once. Add in at least one freshman who can make significant contributions and we have a final four potential team.

My only concern is a team that can put pressure on our ball handlers (Kenny or Scottie) and they begin to fall into bad habits, especially throwing up 3s.

[609gjk]

Guards so far this year have not been penetrating the paint. Wilbekin and Boynton are very good on the ball defenders. Guarding the 3 for th 'zona game will be an emphasis.

We will be fine with our zone as we are anticipating instead of reacting and both Wilbekin and Yeguette are beasts in it. They cause a lot of the turnovers. Then, you have 2 shot blockers at the rim in Young and Murphy. All the rest are getting in great position and they are long and quick. When they are clicking with zone it is something very special.

And Rosario has made great strides defensively and in rebounding (and playing in control and making good decisions). Lots of good things to talk about with all of the players.

I don't think we have ever had a defense this so stifling. This is