It is probably easier to let people see it than the amount of typing that would be required to attempt to cover it. However, for lack of a concise manner to attempt to describe the 4 or so seconds each time it appeared Purdue was not guarding a all the people. I wouldn’t call it a zone, man or a junk defense in a similar understanding of a man and zone being used at the same time such as a box and 1, diamond and 1 and or triangle and two. In man it can be quite common to not defend a certain player over most the court and only worry about that person in certain locations, but much more rare to not cover 2 in college.
Since I don’t know who will read this I’ll make some fairly common understandings since zone concepts and people placement have maybe been areas not really considered and those that know these things…sorry for what may be boring for you. 😉 Each type of Zone alignment is a function of a coaches thoughts on his players and what he can do. In a pure zone you are defending an area and so space and time to cover the space like man D is still important, but in a zone you place your people where their abilities might be best used on the court with location being important. Most offenses start on the right side (looking towards the basket being defended) and generally a pass to a wing against a zone. Generally, that side is more the defensive side and the opposite is the rebounding side and so many teams will place their players accordingly in a pure zone…again exceptions happen for certain reasons
When you first get to the time you will see Fletch raise his arm (around 1:14 to go in half) and point to it to signify a change from the man usually played. The first look gives the appearance of a 1-3-1. Fletch is on top on Boo. Zach is on Nicholson at the FT line. Mason is more on the defender side FT line extended (not guarding anyone) and Braden is opposite Mason on more of the rebounder side FT Line extended and not guarding anyone. Out of the 1-3-1 Braden and Mason would be the ones to drop down when the ball is on the opposite wing to the blocks and defend underneath. Normally where Braden was would be that location and then it would be Mason if the pass was made and Braden’s side defended the ball. Cam is on the bottom a step of so high on Langston. Nicholson drops and Zach follows down to the arc while Barnhizer is crossing the lane and going up on top. Berry is sitting in the corner all alone and Matt is starting to panic and signaling for Braden to drop closer so he can try to cover Berry. This all took place in about 4 seconds.
Seconds later Purdue is in man again. When Langston comes up from the baseline on top Fletch is defending him as he sets a screen for Boo who Braden has, but then again you see Matt signal with his arm and the other three players drop a bit but still around the players except Cam who is still a bit in space with Berry in the corner who gets the pass with nobody around and buries another.
I just caught these and haven’t rewatched the game, but it appears to me that Matt was trying to cover the elbows due to some action there possibly due to the mid range game NW had going as well? Anyway, both times accounted for about 8 seconds total. Was it an odd zone? Was it an odd man? I do NOT think it was a combination D. The second time of the half it looked like a function of where the NW players were as to when Matt wanted to do whatever action Matt was trying to defend? 😉 Watch it a few times if interested.
Since I don’t know who will read this I’ll make some fairly common understandings since zone concepts and people placement have maybe been areas not really considered and those that know these things…sorry for what may be boring for you. 😉 Each type of Zone alignment is a function of a coaches thoughts on his players and what he can do. In a pure zone you are defending an area and so space and time to cover the space like man D is still important, but in a zone you place your people where their abilities might be best used on the court with location being important. Most offenses start on the right side (looking towards the basket being defended) and generally a pass to a wing against a zone. Generally, that side is more the defensive side and the opposite is the rebounding side and so many teams will place their players accordingly in a pure zone…again exceptions happen for certain reasons
When you first get to the time you will see Fletch raise his arm (around 1:14 to go in half) and point to it to signify a change from the man usually played. The first look gives the appearance of a 1-3-1. Fletch is on top on Boo. Zach is on Nicholson at the FT line. Mason is more on the defender side FT line extended (not guarding anyone) and Braden is opposite Mason on more of the rebounder side FT Line extended and not guarding anyone. Out of the 1-3-1 Braden and Mason would be the ones to drop down when the ball is on the opposite wing to the blocks and defend underneath. Normally where Braden was would be that location and then it would be Mason if the pass was made and Braden’s side defended the ball. Cam is on the bottom a step of so high on Langston. Nicholson drops and Zach follows down to the arc while Barnhizer is crossing the lane and going up on top. Berry is sitting in the corner all alone and Matt is starting to panic and signaling for Braden to drop closer so he can try to cover Berry. This all took place in about 4 seconds.
Seconds later Purdue is in man again. When Langston comes up from the baseline on top Fletch is defending him as he sets a screen for Boo who Braden has, but then again you see Matt signal with his arm and the other three players drop a bit but still around the players except Cam who is still a bit in space with Berry in the corner who gets the pass with nobody around and buries another.
I just caught these and haven’t rewatched the game, but it appears to me that Matt was trying to cover the elbows due to some action there possibly due to the mid range game NW had going as well? Anyway, both times accounted for about 8 seconds total. Was it an odd zone? Was it an odd man? I do NOT think it was a combination D. The second time of the half it looked like a function of where the NW players were as to when Matt wanted to do whatever action Matt was trying to defend? 😉 Watch it a few times if interested.
