Molinari's Defensive Scheme

[NUdiehard]

There has been a lot of talk about Tai's defensive "lapses" and letting his man free, but I think this is more a product of the new defense this year under Molinari than Tai (or any other player) in particular.

 

Molinari runs a "pack the paint" defense.  Ironically, it is very similar to what McD runs against NU (although I don't think it is their standard defense, more of a NU specialty).  In a pack the paint defense, the defender who is guarding the man with the ball extends out to the ball-handler.  Every other defender falls into the paint area in almost a zone type concept.  You might think it of it as having one man on the ball, with the other 4 covering "elbow, elbow, block block".  Doc actually ran a version of this, but he had a slight twist on it. 

 

Anyway, the irony is that a pack the paint defense works best against athletic teams that are not great shooting teams (ie, Nebraska).  It does not work so well against good shooting teams because while it does clog the lane it leaves 3 point shooters open, especially on the weak side (the side opposite the ball). 

 

For instance, if the Ball is on the right wing, and Tai is guarding a CU player who is on the left wing, Tai is taught to fall off his man and "sag" clear into the paint area (probably around the elbow area, maybe even all the way to the middle of the paint).  That is what he is drilled to do day after day after day in practice.  And that is what he did in the game.  The problem is that Creighton is a good passing team and they would either quickly swing it to Tai's side or they would simply throw a long "skip" pass clear across court.  The result is an open 3 with Tai trying to close out the distance but unable to make up the ground b/c he is so far off his man.

 

I am using Tai as an example, but the same principal applies to all the players b/c it is the scheme that Molinari runs. 

 

The problem I have is that Miles and Molinari did not adjust this game plan for Creighton.  As we all know (and obviously Miles and Molinari know full well), CU is not particularly athletic, but they do have a few 3 point shooters.  So why did we stay in the pack the paint concept?  Miles even admitted in his post game comments that he thought we could just do "what we always do" and be fine and he admitted after the fact he was wrong. 

 

It is clear that CU adjusted its defensive scheme to play a style "just for Nebraska".  In fact, McD has done this every year, and he has mastered it.  It almost appears that he knows our team better than Miles knows our team.  I just don't understand why NU didn't adjust its defensive scheme to the personnel on CU's roster rather than just running our standard stuff.  Frustrating.

 

And I won't even get into to our offensive "scheme".

[hhcmatt]

Incarnate Word isn't a great passing team but those guys can shoot.

Let's hope we adjust accordingly.

[FredsSlacks]

Way more concerned about offense than defense. 55 points isn't going to get it done.

[lanigan123]

The sag is usually straddling the lane, however players at, times, like Tai last night don't sprint out when the ball is swung, they jog out. This got Tai pulled.