Michigan Upsets UCLA
The Bruins probably aren't the top-5 team their ranking coming into this one suggested, but tonight's 55-52 win is a huge step forward for Michigan.
John Beilein-coached teams are always going to be difficult to beat, because of the unique things they do on both ends of the court. The back-cutting offense that requires a full 35 seconds of defense (and ends with a three-pointer at least as often as layup) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Beilein, but I think the 1-3-1 zone he employs on defense is the real innovation.
Beilein didn't invent it, of course, but he's the only major Division I coach that I know of that uses it almost exclusively. That's part of its genius. Breaking the 1-3-1 is different then breaking a more standard 2-3 zone. Against a 2-3, you want to move the ball around the perimeter, then zip it inside as the zone shifts. You can't do that against the 1-3-1, because of all the people in the middle. You have to get it to the baseline -- a dangerous spot against a 2-3 -- and then look to the opposite side of the court for a skip pass, an uncomfortable play for young players who are cautioned from day one against throwing long, cross-court passes.
UCLA, even with seasoned senior point guard Darren Collison, had trouble breaking it.
The Wolverines have another shot at taking down a Top 5 opponent, as they will take on Duke Friday night in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic. Duke overcame a turnover-riddled first half against Southern Illinois' tenacious man defense to win 83-58. Michigan's 1-3-1 will pose a different type of challenge for the Blue Devils offensively. Coach K has named sophomore Nolan Smith his starting point guard, but I think senior Greg Paulus, with his experience, will be key. Smith may not be seasoned enough to effectively defeat the 1-3-1.
-Speaking of Duke-So. Illinois, this marked the first time I've heard Bobby Knight doing color on a broadcast, and I was impressed. Knight, who left Texas Tech in the middle of last season and moved into the ESPN studio, doesn't yet have the annoying qualities that many coaches turned color analysts do.
For one, he keeps his comments focused on the game going on, as opposed to say, Dick Vitale, who I like, but who turns his broadcasts into advertisements for the game of college basketball. Vitale always needs to be reined in by his play-by-play guy; otherwise, he would spend most of the broadcast talking all the players and teams in the nation other than the ones on the court in front of him.
Secondly, listening to Knight you can tell that he still sees the game as a coach. Several times, he referred to a string of possessions: "Three out of the last four possessions, Southern Illinois has gone inside"; "That's five consecutive trips Southern Illinois has only made one pass before their shot." I didn't get a chance to go back to see if he was 100% accurate, but it's clear that he sees the game on a macro level in the way that most analysts don't.
John Beilein-coached teams are always going to be difficult to beat, because of the unique things they do on both ends of the court. The back-cutting offense that requires a full 35 seconds of defense (and ends with a three-pointer at least as often as layup) is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Beilein, but I think the 1-3-1 zone he employs on defense is the real innovation.
Beilein didn't invent it, of course, but he's the only major Division I coach that I know of that uses it almost exclusively. That's part of its genius. Breaking the 1-3-1 is different then breaking a more standard 2-3 zone. Against a 2-3, you want to move the ball around the perimeter, then zip it inside as the zone shifts. You can't do that against the 1-3-1, because of all the people in the middle. You have to get it to the baseline -- a dangerous spot against a 2-3 -- and then look to the opposite side of the court for a skip pass, an uncomfortable play for young players who are cautioned from day one against throwing long, cross-court passes.
UCLA, even with seasoned senior point guard Darren Collison, had trouble breaking it.
The Wolverines have another shot at taking down a Top 5 opponent, as they will take on Duke Friday night in the championship game of the 2K Sports Classic. Duke overcame a turnover-riddled first half against Southern Illinois' tenacious man defense to win 83-58. Michigan's 1-3-1 will pose a different type of challenge for the Blue Devils offensively. Coach K has named sophomore Nolan Smith his starting point guard, but I think senior Greg Paulus, with his experience, will be key. Smith may not be seasoned enough to effectively defeat the 1-3-1.
-Speaking of Duke-So. Illinois, this marked the first time I've heard Bobby Knight doing color on a broadcast, and I was impressed. Knight, who left Texas Tech in the middle of last season and moved into the ESPN studio, doesn't yet have the annoying qualities that many coaches turned color analysts do.
For one, he keeps his comments focused on the game going on, as opposed to say, Dick Vitale, who I like, but who turns his broadcasts into advertisements for the game of college basketball. Vitale always needs to be reined in by his play-by-play guy; otherwise, he would spend most of the broadcast talking all the players and teams in the nation other than the ones on the court in front of him.
Secondly, listening to Knight you can tell that he still sees the game as a coach. Several times, he referred to a string of possessions: "Three out of the last four possessions, Southern Illinois has gone inside"; "That's five consecutive trips Southern Illinois has only made one pass before their shot." I didn't get a chance to go back to see if he was 100% accurate, but it's clear that he sees the game on a macro level in the way that most analysts don't.
Labels: Bobby Knight, Dick Vitale, Duke, Greg Paulus, John Beilein, Michigan, Nolan Smith, Southern Illinois, UCLA
posted by H.S. Slam, Ph.D at 12:06 AM
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