NC State struggles against the zone, there is no debating that. The Wolfpack shoots exactly 30% as a team from 3pt range, and outside of Ralston Turner, doesn’t have a single player who shoots over 30%. So why is there any reason to think that this team has what it takes to beat the best zone defense in the nation?

I’m not going to sit here and say State has a good shot at a win on Saturday afternoon at Syracuse, but I’m also not going to say that it’s impossible. Syracuse is known nationally for having one of the toughest zones in the nation. They’ve beaten great shooting teams like Duke and just beat a very physical Pitt team. So what does it take to beat the Orange? To answer that question I think it’s important to understand why their zone is so good in the first place.

Jim Boeheim consistently gets some of the longest, most athletic players in the country and then teaches them how to use that to their advantage in the zone. By doing this, they cut down the passing lanes and make it tougher to get 3s off for the opposition. Most zones you see are in place to make up for a weak link on defense, or because a team is too small to defend man to man. In The Orange’s case, the zone is in place to play to their strengths. They don’t sit back and wait for you to shoot. They pressure the ball, extend their zone and make every pass tough. They also like to trap in the corners when the ball is swung there.

So what can State do to beat this zone? Well, for starters they’re going to have to throw it off balance. The way to do this is by throwing in tons of pass fakes and shot fakes, combined with quick, crisp ball movement. Syracuse is very good at anticipating passes, which help them get out on shooters and close driving lanes before the player even catches the pass. This type of anticipation also makes them susceptible to good ball fakes and misdirection. Well sold pass fakes and ball reversals will open up these lanes and give State some daylight.

But that’s only step one.

Once you get them off-balance and late on a rotation, you have to know how to attack. Hesitate for a second and they’ve recovered. Quick ball movement and a decisive attack will be the only way to get open looks. Now, you can’t just bulldoze into the middle of this zone and think you’re getting a good shot. They are too long and too athletic. They can close in on you fast and get you trapped in the middle. If you’re going to attack the gaps you need to be react quickly when their bigs step up. Usually the entire zone collapses at this point and you can find an open man for 3. But with the way State shoots, this might not be the best way to beat Syracuse. The Pack is going to need to get Warren the ball in the middle. Against most zones, that’s an easy task, but against this one it’s going to be tough. As I said, they’re are going to need to first catch Syracuse in the middle of a rotation, then sneak it into Warren around the free throw line and let him work. He might get some easy shots early on, but Boeheim’s group will adjust and either start reeling in their guards and not extending them as much, or cheating their middle big up to the high post.

When they do this, State will need to start adjusting. This is when Vandy becomes a good option for the lob. As the bigs cheat up to get on Warren they leave the rim unguarded and State needs to make them pay. Getting the ball in the middle to TJ also likely opens up the shooter on the opposite side. By moving the ball quickly to the middle, then opposite to someone like Lee or Turner, you now have the zone flustered and working hard to recover. A shot may be open, but with a guy closing out hard, a shot fake and drive may be just as open.

The real key here is not being slow and not hesitating with the basketball (as State usually does against zones). Quick ball movement from side to side, pass fakes, shot fakes then immediately either attack or pass. Standing around or dribbling side to side is only going to hurt you against Syracuse. This is a team reliant on team defense and State needs to play very together on offense if they want to beat it. Again, getting Warren the ball in the middle of the zone is also huge. He has a dangerous mid-range game and is also usually smart with the basketball. If everyone on this team can be smart, quick, aggressive and decisive with the basketball, they could have a shot to topple #1…but it’s going to take a near perfect effort.