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(11-19-2015 03:30 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  

(11-19-2015 11:05 AM)WesternBlazer Wrote:  Teams feel they can out-quick us, especially at the guard positions. Lots of drives to the basket to either get layups, fouled, and easy assists. Dribble-drive penetration has killed us. When you back off to stop it they shoot the 3...

Alabama state is a really good quick team. Since they were advertized to be primarily a dribble drive team, I watched closely to see how they did against our guards. There were not many times that they were able to get around Norton, Baxter, and Watts. Our guys were able to stay in front of them and I can't remember but a time or two that they were able to drive all the way to the basket. Most of the time they had to pass the ball off or pull up and shoot. They certainly weren't fouled very often. So I don't get why you think other teams believe that can out quick us.

Alabama state got off very few good shots; unfortunately too many of them went in. On the other hand if we had taken care of ball and not had so many turnovers, and not missed so many wide open shots, the final margin could have been 20 points or more.

Per Haase, its no secret that teams will try to take us off the dribble. After the UCLA game when their guards would drive us to the hoop and pass it to a big for an easy basket its something we have been working on. The primary reason Watts plays is his defense. While Nick didn't always get beaten badly he was off balance sometimes trying to guard. When you're off balance defensively you're done. We also went to a lot of zone defense to stop the drives and ASU would hit some tough 3s. Vs Auburn, their drives to the hoop seemed to be more the wing players than the PG. We were often out of position on the back end to stop it.


About Auburn:
UAB didn't play very well defensively, especially in 1-on-1 situations

The Tigers hit 44.8 percent from the floor and got to the line for 31 free throw attempts. "Our inability to guard the basketball, I thought, was a true key to the game as well," Haase said. "It was more 1-on-1 type stuff. It was all five positions. Their bigs would get out in the perimeter and drive, so it wasn't just our guards. I would say really every player on the court had lapses guarding the basketball."