Defense
Ditch the Packline man defense!
What do Purdue and Virginia have in common other losing to a #16?
The Packline Man Defense!
For those that don't know the Packline man to man defense is a type of man defense where the off ball defenders are in a help position and not denial.
It is passive and generates few turnovers but commits few fouls and can give up 3s. Trying to play the Packline with an immobile center at the 5 is unnecessarily difficult. It also allows a less skilled team to get open shots and is not challenging to play against which significantly increases the chance a less skilled opponent can win.
I firmly believe Purdue is so bad against the press and aggressive man to man defense (Rutgers style) because Purdue's own style of defense is a very passive man to man.
So Purdue's players get used to playing against passive defense in summer camp/other practices and then turn into a panicked mess once they face actual aggressive denial defense or a full court press.
Have a summer camp of pressing and press breaking. Over and over again. All man defense must be aggressive denial defense.
Purdue has let opposing coaches dictate the strategy and tactics of important tournament games and Purdue just reacts.
It's time for Purdue to be proactive and be the aggressor and start forcing the opponent to adapt to Purdue's game.
1. Use zone defense as the primary defense. If you want to have star centers that dominate the post on offense then you should use a zone and put your big man in the center
2. Switch between different zone defenses, aggressive man defense & full court press selectively to constantly keep opponents guessing.
3. Stay aggressive, force turnovers and use the bench to outwork the other team with conditioning.
Offense
1. Find more balance between post feeds and pick and roll or zoom actions.
2. Allow the center at the 5 to take more face up jump shots, free throw line extended. Ideally the center can hit open 3s at 33% or higher. This opens up the pick and pop.
3. Dramatically increase the number of different motion sets, plays and formations. Purdue is too much of a sitting target that's easy to scout.
4. Push the ball in transition when favorable and have the big man run the floor as the trailer. Just because you have a big 5 doesn't mean only slow half court offense. Running the fast break with a large center is nearly unstoppable at times. See Shaq highlights at the lakers.
Recruiting
1. Recruit athletic guards!! Find players that can finish at the rim and have excellent ball handling skills.
2. Have the center practice taking shots faced up to the basket.
3. Less emphasis on three point shooting, when you have a team full of players you recruited because of their shooting and they're not shooting well then you're in trouble.
4. Have 1-3 be able to finish at the rim and mid-range, don't become overly reliant on the 3.
Sometimes the biggest declines cause the most improvement.
Concrete steps
1. Hire a Syracuse assistant to help implement zone defense.
2. Hire a full court press specialist assistant.
3. Find athletic guard transfer or recruit
Ditch the Packline man defense!
What do Purdue and Virginia have in common other losing to a #16?
The Packline Man Defense!
For those that don't know the Packline man to man defense is a type of man defense where the off ball defenders are in a help position and not denial.
It is passive and generates few turnovers but commits few fouls and can give up 3s. Trying to play the Packline with an immobile center at the 5 is unnecessarily difficult. It also allows a less skilled team to get open shots and is not challenging to play against which significantly increases the chance a less skilled opponent can win.
I firmly believe Purdue is so bad against the press and aggressive man to man defense (Rutgers style) because Purdue's own style of defense is a very passive man to man.
So Purdue's players get used to playing against passive defense in summer camp/other practices and then turn into a panicked mess once they face actual aggressive denial defense or a full court press.
Have a summer camp of pressing and press breaking. Over and over again. All man defense must be aggressive denial defense.
Purdue has let opposing coaches dictate the strategy and tactics of important tournament games and Purdue just reacts.
It's time for Purdue to be proactive and be the aggressor and start forcing the opponent to adapt to Purdue's game.
1. Use zone defense as the primary defense. If you want to have star centers that dominate the post on offense then you should use a zone and put your big man in the center
2. Switch between different zone defenses, aggressive man defense & full court press selectively to constantly keep opponents guessing.
3. Stay aggressive, force turnovers and use the bench to outwork the other team with conditioning.
Offense
1. Find more balance between post feeds and pick and roll or zoom actions.
2. Allow the center at the 5 to take more face up jump shots, free throw line extended. Ideally the center can hit open 3s at 33% or higher. This opens up the pick and pop.
3. Dramatically increase the number of different motion sets, plays and formations. Purdue is too much of a sitting target that's easy to scout.
4. Push the ball in transition when favorable and have the big man run the floor as the trailer. Just because you have a big 5 doesn't mean only slow half court offense. Running the fast break with a large center is nearly unstoppable at times. See Shaq highlights at the lakers.
Recruiting
1. Recruit athletic guards!! Find players that can finish at the rim and have excellent ball handling skills.
2. Have the center practice taking shots faced up to the basket.
3. Less emphasis on three point shooting, when you have a team full of players you recruited because of their shooting and they're not shooting well then you're in trouble.
4. Have 1-3 be able to finish at the rim and mid-range, don't become overly reliant on the 3.
Sometimes the biggest declines cause the most improvement.
Concrete steps
1. Hire a Syracuse assistant to help implement zone defense.
2. Hire a full court press specialist assistant.
3. Find athletic guard transfer or recruit
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