Interesting read / take - https://www.cbssports.com/college-b...erwood-admitted-defeat-and-changed-his-style/
Underwood changes his style
I read that yesterday. I find it refreshing to have a coach who is so open about what he wants to do and the type of player he is wanting to run it. And humble enough to openly state that the way he wants to play doesn't seem to work at this level. And then smart enough to make adjustments.
JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
The turnaround in the identified stat categories and the impact it has had on overall performance is staggering.
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During this last run, we've reached a good balance of playing close pressure, but not over denying as we did last year. We started the season playing so soft in this new D our guys fell asleep.
I Bomb
Stylin' and Profilin'
As a basketball stat specialist myself, I agree that rebounding more, not fouling as much, shooting more free throws, reducing turnovers, and shooting 3s better are legit stats to improve upon. 
Anyway, j/k. If only it were that easy. I'm enjoying the season; props to the staff.
Anyway, j/k. If only it were that easy. I'm enjoying the season; props to the staff.
I agree that all the many changes are positives. But if we had played this year's defense last year (with last year's roster), how many wins would it have bought us? With a foul-prone freshman Giorgi, De La Rosa, and Kane as our post defenders of size, i hesitate to say it would even have been a net positive. Roster construction and youth put a lowish ceiling on last year's team, no matter what defense they were playing.
With this year's roster it makes sense and has been working better and better as the season goes on, but if Kofi goes pro, and Hamlin isn't ready next year (who am i kidding - OA will make him a most improved player!), i can easily imagine us changing things up to fit the roster once again. As it should be.
With this year's roster it makes sense and has been working better and better as the season goes on, but if Kofi goes pro, and Hamlin isn't ready next year (who am i kidding - OA will make him a most improved player!), i can easily imagine us changing things up to fit the roster once again. As it should be.
Kofi would probably make a difference of 6 himself under either defense. Also Giorgi catches criticism but if there had been two Giorgis last year it would have been much different. Every opposing coach has mentioned the problem with dealing with our size. The two together are a huge advantage.
People said it wouldn't work, but I remember too many times that had two bigs we couldn't deal with. Well, that's other people's problem now!
Any gurus out there want to comment on this? I believe I heard Underwood say something like "It has definitely shrunk the court." I can't remember if he said or someone commented that the reason is that the shooting is worse so people aren't necessarily guarding the line as much, thus compacting the lane and shrinking the court...? Is that right?
I believe most thought it would open things up since players already shot many, many 3s from that distance anyways, and it would pull the defense out just a bit more.