DCWildcat
05-28-2006, 06:19 PM
This point is probably already common knowledge for many, but if not, read on.
From Ken Pomeroy's blog after our NCAA tournament loss:
Connecticut 87, Kentucky 83 [74] - I know Kentucky fans feel kind of blah about this team. But they had no right to expect their offense would be so good this season. One of the most underappreciated stories of the season was how effective the Wildcat offense became towards the end of the season, so it was good to see them go out in such an obvious blaze of offensive glory. Who knew that Azubuike and Hayes meant so much defensively?
I've seen a lot of criticism about Tubby over the years about how he reigns offenses in too much. And I agree with most of it; it wouldn't be a tough argument to make that between 2000-2005, we've had the best overall defense in college basketball, and that more often than not, it was our defense holding us back when we lost.
Last season changed that. Pomeroy's adjusted offensive efficiency rating--points per 100 possessions, factoring in opponent's rank, home court advantage, etc., had us at 14th in the country, not bad at all and much improved from 2005's 25th and 2004's 16th rank.
What killed us last year was defense. Again using Pomeroy's ratings, we were 11 in 2004, 6th in 2005, and....53rd in 2006. Effective field goal percentage (values 3 pointers as more to compensate) had us at 35th in 2004, 47th in 2005, and 109 in 2006.
Next year?
Looking up, the possibility of a larger backcourt with Jasper/Bradley-Crawford-Perry replacing Rondo/Sparks/Crawford could very well pay large dividends. As maligned as our interior defense was, in my opinion it was our atrocious perimeter defense that lead it to happen. People must realize, Tubby's ball line defense revolves first and foremost around the defense of the perimeter. THe concept is to deny entry passes to the inside, and when those happen, a sort of "panic-lockdown" mode occurs. Due to height, insufficient athletic ability, lack of motivation, etc., there were far too many looks given on the inside this past season, putting undue pressure on Morris and whoever was playing the 4 at the time. Their sub-par defences didn't exactly help, but they shouldn't have had to.
Losing Rondo will be a big loss. However, the possibility of a taller, stronger, more athletic backcourt could pay much bigger dividends than most realize. In addition, experience--which past teams has shown to be very valuable to Tubby teams--should help a lot. Offseason workouts will likely help teach Ramel to cut down on susceptibility to ball fakes, Morris to stop fouling, Crawford to play his man stronger, and numerous other intagibles.
But there's one last factor I want to highlight (that's why I put it in red). I look for more fire from this team. No one who has ever spent significant time playing or observing basketball can deny the importance of fire to a defense, something we sorely lacked last year. I can't imagine a backcourt of colder personalities than Rondo, Sparks, and Crawford, who (combined) might have shown emotion once every 3 games. Ramel Bradley is the most enthused player on the team, Crawford will likely be more energized given an increased offensive role and the ability to guard players his size, and Perry should be able to export his workhorse attitude to the 3 where he belongs.
The additions of Stevenson, a defender by trade, and Jasper and Meeks, who proved to be two of the most athletic guards in the country during the Roundball classic, can only help. I've gotten on Tubby before for targetting very offensively oriented players in recent years; this year seems to be a good counter to that. They will prove tough.
I think we'll be a great team next year.
From Ken Pomeroy's blog after our NCAA tournament loss:
Connecticut 87, Kentucky 83 [74] - I know Kentucky fans feel kind of blah about this team. But they had no right to expect their offense would be so good this season. One of the most underappreciated stories of the season was how effective the Wildcat offense became towards the end of the season, so it was good to see them go out in such an obvious blaze of offensive glory. Who knew that Azubuike and Hayes meant so much defensively?
I've seen a lot of criticism about Tubby over the years about how he reigns offenses in too much. And I agree with most of it; it wouldn't be a tough argument to make that between 2000-2005, we've had the best overall defense in college basketball, and that more often than not, it was our defense holding us back when we lost.
Last season changed that. Pomeroy's adjusted offensive efficiency rating--points per 100 possessions, factoring in opponent's rank, home court advantage, etc., had us at 14th in the country, not bad at all and much improved from 2005's 25th and 2004's 16th rank.
What killed us last year was defense. Again using Pomeroy's ratings, we were 11 in 2004, 6th in 2005, and....53rd in 2006. Effective field goal percentage (values 3 pointers as more to compensate) had us at 35th in 2004, 47th in 2005, and 109 in 2006.
Next year?
Looking up, the possibility of a larger backcourt with Jasper/Bradley-Crawford-Perry replacing Rondo/Sparks/Crawford could very well pay large dividends. As maligned as our interior defense was, in my opinion it was our atrocious perimeter defense that lead it to happen. People must realize, Tubby's ball line defense revolves first and foremost around the defense of the perimeter. THe concept is to deny entry passes to the inside, and when those happen, a sort of "panic-lockdown" mode occurs. Due to height, insufficient athletic ability, lack of motivation, etc., there were far too many looks given on the inside this past season, putting undue pressure on Morris and whoever was playing the 4 at the time. Their sub-par defences didn't exactly help, but they shouldn't have had to.
Losing Rondo will be a big loss. However, the possibility of a taller, stronger, more athletic backcourt could pay much bigger dividends than most realize. In addition, experience--which past teams has shown to be very valuable to Tubby teams--should help a lot. Offseason workouts will likely help teach Ramel to cut down on susceptibility to ball fakes, Morris to stop fouling, Crawford to play his man stronger, and numerous other intagibles.
But there's one last factor I want to highlight (that's why I put it in red). I look for more fire from this team. No one who has ever spent significant time playing or observing basketball can deny the importance of fire to a defense, something we sorely lacked last year. I can't imagine a backcourt of colder personalities than Rondo, Sparks, and Crawford, who (combined) might have shown emotion once every 3 games. Ramel Bradley is the most enthused player on the team, Crawford will likely be more energized given an increased offensive role and the ability to guard players his size, and Perry should be able to export his workhorse attitude to the 3 where he belongs.
The additions of Stevenson, a defender by trade, and Jasper and Meeks, who proved to be two of the most athletic guards in the country during the Roundball classic, can only help. I've gotten on Tubby before for targetting very offensively oriented players in recent years; this year seems to be a good counter to that. They will prove tough.
I think we'll be a great team next year.
