Connect with us

NC State Basketball

Zone Problems: How State Should Attack the Syracuse Zone

Published

10 years ago

on

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.

Related Topics:
Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

NC State Basketball

ON3’s Jamie Shaw Puts in a Prediction Georgetown SF Transfer Dontrez Styles will Land at NC State

Published

6 hours ago

on

April 15, 2024

By

ON3’s Jamie Shaw put in an RPM earlier today for Georgetown Small Forward Transfer Dontrez Styles to land at NC State. All-time, Shaw’s prediction accuracy is 87%.

I spoke with a source, and it seems like this prediction has some merit.

ON3 ranks Styles as the #66 overall prospect in the Portal.

Styles was the 2nd leading scorer for Georgetown this season, averaging 12.8 points per game, while grabbing 5.8 boards. He shot 36.8% from three.

Originally, Sytles was a consensus 4-Star prospect in UNC’s 2021 recruiting class. 247Sports ranked him as the #62 overall player nationally, and the #2 player in the state of North Carolina, playing for Kinston High School.

After two seasons with the Tar Heels, Styles entered the Portal, and took an Official Visit to NC State and Georgetown, and ultimately chose the Hoyas.

With his final year of eligibility, maybe he’ll make the right choice this time.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

Tennessee Guard Freddie Dilione V is Visiting NC State Tomorrow

Published

18 hours ago

on

April 15, 2024

By

Tennessee Transfer Guard Freddie Dilone V (6’5″/195) is visiting NC State tomorrow.

Dilone V just wrapped up his Redshirt Freshman season with the Volunteers, averaging 1.7 points in 5.2 minutes of play per game (18 games).

In 2022, Dilone V was a consensus 4-Star prospect, and the #33 overall prospect nationally according to Rivals. ON3 and 247Sports both ranked Dilone V as the #1 player in the state of North Carolina, playing right down the road at Word of God Academy in Raleigh.

Currently, 247Sports ranks Dilone V as the #71 overall player in the Transfer Portal, and the #10 Combo Guard. He played his first three seasons of high school ball down in Fayetteville at Trinity Christian.

Dilone V has 3 more years of eligibility.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by ELITE MIXTAPES (@elitemixtapestv)

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

PI EXCLUSIVE: 2024 4-Star Signee Paul McNeil Breaks Down His Thoughts On NC State’s Miraculous Run

Published

21 hours ago

on

April 15, 2024

By

The run the NC State Men’s Basketball team went on in March had the whole country watching, but what was it like to watch through the eyes of an incoming Freshman who will be joining the team next year? 4-Star 2024 Shooting Guard Paul McNeil shared his thoughts with me on the Wolfpack’s unforgettable run.

What was it like for you to watch NC State as the #10 seed in the ACC Tournament win 5 games in 5 days to win the Title?

What we did this year shows seeding doesn’t matter. What our guys did was just another level, and when you get between those lines, it’s a different type of static. I believe it took a lot of discipline and focus to win five games in five days. I also feel like the fan base played a huge part to the team by bringing extra energy and not making them feel alone.

What do you think happened to turn this team around?

You have to give God all the glory because without Him guiding us, we wouldn’t have made it how we made it. Also, it’s about the jersey you put on and the pride of it all. It’s like there’s no way we go out this way and they clicked at the right time. The team was just rolling and I also think the mentality of all the players changed.

As a player signed with NC State, how proud were you to see NC State go on this run, from the ACC Championship, to the Final Four?

I’m very proud of the guys. They deserved to win it all, but it just didn’t happen that way. I’ve been saying they were the best team in the ACC and I always knew we had the right pieces to be the best.

What does it mean for you to see Coach Keatts get the recognition he’s getting?

Oh man, he deserves it, especially coming from where he comes from and all the things he dealt with. With all the media attention, he still stayed focused and locked in towards the team. Coach Keatts is very blessed and very humble.

How do you think this run will help the future of NC State basketball?

It will put more eyes on us and teams know now to not overlook us and underestimate us ever again. It was never a Cinderella story — it was never ‘oh they just got lucky.’ This run will definitely help us a lot and I’m forever grateful for what the boys did.

_______

McNeil (6’7″/185) led Richmond to the semifinals of the NCHSAA 4A State Playoffs this season, before losing to #1 Hanover 55-53.

As a Senior at Richmond (Rockingham, NC), McNeil averaged 31.7 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists and 2.6 assists per game.

ON3 ranks McNeil as the #49 overall player in the 2024 recruiting class, the #15 Small Forward, and the #6 player on the state of NC.

McNeil is a part of a 2-man 2024 Freshman Class that includes 4-Star Guard Trey Parker.

Continue Reading

NC State Basketball

NC State Has Shown Interest in Oregon Transfer Forward Grace VanSlooten

Published

2 days ago

on

April 14, 2024

By

NC State has shown interest in Oregon Transfer Forward Grace VanSlooten (6’3″).

VanSlooten is one of the top players in the Transfer Portal, averaging 15.0 points and 7.1 rebounds as a Sophomore this past season for the Ducks, earning All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention. In her first year, she was a member of the Pac 12 All-Freshman Team, averaging 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds.

NC State is returning all three starters in their backcourt, but are losing both starters in their frontcourt in River Baldwin and Mimi Collins.

Continue Reading