(05-07-2021 06:44 PM)bearcatmark Wrote:  

(05-07-2021 06:13 PM)Foreverandever Wrote:  They're claim to fame on defense is low shooting percentage from the opposition, largely because they alter shots because they are out athleting the opposition 95% of the time. There defense is exactly what I said it was and similar defensive efforts and results can be found on most playgrounds across the country.

There are very few team principles that are established in the Memphis defensive "system" its largely based on man defense with over help against drives, which is why Houston cleaned house off of rebounds on them. Look this is John Cheney's match up or the hardcore man to man one foot in the lane help of a Bobby Knight. It's a ball pressure defense that depends on having athletes to rotate over, often with no defensive balance or rotation behind that to cover break downs of the dribble or cuts.

It is what it is, what it isn't, is a display of Penny coaching prowess.

This is just a bonkers post. Their "claim to fame" on defense is being number 1 in kenpom adjusted defense. You don't do that by being good at one thing. Teams shoot a low percentage against them, they block a ton of shots, they get a ton of steals, they're great on the defensive glass. They basically do everything at an elite level defensively except they foul at a higher than average rate (a side effect of how aggressive they are).

To be as aggressive as they are and still play elite field goal percentage defense requires a great understanding of rotations and recovery. They are elite at help and recover. That's coaching.

Wait. They block a ton of shots. They are super aggressive. People miss against them a lot.

Did you just repeat exactly what I said? They aren't elite defensively from coaching. They are elite because they out athlete the teams they play in 3, 4 or sometimes all 5 positions.

Also, if they were so good at proper help defense their foul rate wouldn't be so high. Stats are nicely proving my point but you could just watch those games I mentioned and how often a basket was scored against memphis after an altered shot because their help has no balance and the rebounds are easy picking put back baskets. You can also watch in particular the W. Kentucky game for what happens when Penny's only plan gets shut down.

Memphis is all gusto and no plan, and that's why we'll all be thinking how come this team didn't play better to position themselves for a bid, just like we have the last few years.

They block shots