EricLA
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- Aug 24, 2011
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I watched most of the sweet 16 games and came away with a not surprising, but to me, somewhat interesting set of observations.
There IS obviously truth to the fact that UCONN generally gets many of the top players - ones that they want and are willing to play more "team" and less "me" ball. But the thing that stood out to me when watching Texas especially...
There were several UCONN offensive possessions where Texas really played terrific defense. On ONLY a few of them, UCONN did look discombobulated. The reason it was so easy to spot was because UCONN usually looks so good on offense and if they miss a shot, generally it's not a forced shot, but a good one that is just missed.
My point is that during the times Texas played their best defense, UCONN continuously moved the ball, probed, passed, and moved their bodies. They continued with the motion offense until someone from Texas got slightly out of position and BAM - whoever had the ball took a shot. We would try screens, back cuts, you name it - whatever it took to get a player open.
Unless someone like Moriah had a completely open lane to the basket, there was approximately zero one on one play.
I then payed attention to every other team out there - even Notre Dame, who I think runs better offense than anyone not named UCONN. All of the "top" teams, to a greater or lesser extend (ND was the "least" extent), WOULD do some passing of the ball. But usually after a few passes, one player would dribble the ball around the perimeter, try to penetrate and jack up a shot, or dump the ball into the post and hope that they could manufacture a shot.
I know this is not a great revelation to most UCONN fans, but I really payed attention to the entire UCONN team when on offense (not just the ball) and saw how hard they worked to get someone open for the best shot. I think this is the main reason why our offense is the best in the nation and "looks" the best to any casual observer who watches UCONN play vs. anyone else.
It goes back to the way Geno teaches offense. I'm not sure that he has too many "set" plays per se. What I think he does do is teach them HOW to run offense - setting screens, ball movement, back door cuts - all those things aren't plays per se, but ways of playing offense that gets the best chance for an open shot.
Again, not a surprising revelation to most probably, but to me it really highlighted why UCONN is usually so much better than everyone else...
There IS obviously truth to the fact that UCONN generally gets many of the top players - ones that they want and are willing to play more "team" and less "me" ball. But the thing that stood out to me when watching Texas especially...
There were several UCONN offensive possessions where Texas really played terrific defense. On ONLY a few of them, UCONN did look discombobulated. The reason it was so easy to spot was because UCONN usually looks so good on offense and if they miss a shot, generally it's not a forced shot, but a good one that is just missed.
My point is that during the times Texas played their best defense, UCONN continuously moved the ball, probed, passed, and moved their bodies. They continued with the motion offense until someone from Texas got slightly out of position and BAM - whoever had the ball took a shot. We would try screens, back cuts, you name it - whatever it took to get a player open.
Unless someone like Moriah had a completely open lane to the basket, there was approximately zero one on one play.
I then payed attention to every other team out there - even Notre Dame, who I think runs better offense than anyone not named UCONN. All of the "top" teams, to a greater or lesser extend (ND was the "least" extent), WOULD do some passing of the ball. But usually after a few passes, one player would dribble the ball around the perimeter, try to penetrate and jack up a shot, or dump the ball into the post and hope that they could manufacture a shot.
I know this is not a great revelation to most UCONN fans, but I really payed attention to the entire UCONN team when on offense (not just the ball) and saw how hard they worked to get someone open for the best shot. I think this is the main reason why our offense is the best in the nation and "looks" the best to any casual observer who watches UCONN play vs. anyone else.
It goes back to the way Geno teaches offense. I'm not sure that he has too many "set" plays per se. What I think he does do is teach them HOW to run offense - setting screens, ball movement, back door cuts - all those things aren't plays per se, but ways of playing offense that gets the best chance for an open shot.
Again, not a surprising revelation to most probably, but to me it really highlighted why UCONN is usually so much better than everyone else...