Hedging

[rivergopher]

How can a national championship coach not hedge on ball screens or is that part of his defense.

 

[andy]

How can a national championship coach not hedge on ball screens or is that part of his defense.

My understanding was that we switch on all picks, at least on the perimeter... Which is also why our big guys get stuck guarding little guys on top all the time.

 

[rivergopher]

Wow, is that a coach that won't adjust to his athletes or does he feel that his is the best way to defend the ball screen irregardless. Just frustrated that two of the last 3 coaches have figured out the Ralph has no prayer versus a guard.

 

[CP Gopher]

Having been to a few of Tubby's practices, I can tell you they switch or hedge depending on the situation and the opponent. Unfortunately, "today's player" has little interest in doing this. It's one of the drawbacks of the modern game. The athletes are more spectacular but the fundamentals of defense are disappearing more and more each year. Watch Rodney Williams and Sampson play defense. It's comical if you're a student of the game.

 

[tikited]

Watch Rodney Williams and Sampson play defense. It's comical if you're a student of the game.

If possible, watch around the 2:30 (left) mark of the second half and see what Ralph did. He was so clueless to what was happening that he didn't even know that he lost his man, missed on the help side defense, and didn't see that the ball had been shot. Ironically, he ended-up with the lose ball only because he was so far removed from the play that the lose ball came his way. Pretty funny...or sad.