Why doesn't ISU press much?

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:17 PM

I'm sure this may have been brought up in some other threads, but I am just wondering, with the guards that we have, why does ISU not press more?

If you want to control the tempo of a game and speed it up, especially against a team that likes to slow it down, one way to do that is with a full-court press. Personally, I would have liked to see that from the very beginning of the game last night so that maybe ISU could have set the tempo. ISU jumped out to a 14-5 lead. No better time to try a full court press and completely take UNI out of their game.

I just think it would work with the guards that we have, and the overall athleticism of this team.

Now, one danger of pressing with this ISU team is that the bench is thin, so you risk wearing players out, but still...isn't it worth a shot against a team like UNI?

Thoughts?

**IcSyU** · 12-02-2010, 02:20 PM

The drop off from the starters to the guys on the bench is huge. Additionally, who is at the back to prevent easy dunks when the press is broken?

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

The drop off from the starters to the guys on the bench is huge. Additionally, who is at the back to prevent easy dunks when the press is broken?

Well, yeah, the drop-off is huge in terms of experience from most of the starters to the bench, but still. As far as someone back to prevent dunks, it depends on what type of press you use. Likely it would be Melvin or Godfrey. Personally, I would put JVB on the guy throwing the ball in. Then DG and Jake up front with Scotty in the center of the court.

Sure, there are going to be times when the other team might break the press, but there are also going to be times that it works for easy baskets and drawing fouls. More than that, it can frustrate the hell out of another team.

If it does not work, it can always be taken off. I just thought it might work with this team, especially against a team like UNI.

**Clone5** · 12-02-2010, 02:25 PM

Originally Posted by IcSyU

The drop off from the starters to the guys on the bench is huge. Additionally, who is at the back to prevent easy dunks when the press is broken?

I agree but how much can it hurt? We saw how bad we are at the slow down game last night we need to try to create turnovers and fastbreaks somehow right? I'd rather take my chances with UNI having a few 3 on 2 or 2 on 1's than them slowing the entire game down.

**chrishull14** · 12-02-2010, 02:25 PM

Depth and Conditioning

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:32 PM

Originally Posted by chrishull14

Depth and Conditioning

I agree, the depth could be a problem, but the conditioning really shouldn't be, especially on a team that supposedly is built to play an up-tempo game. In fact, if that is indeed the kind of tempo ISU is going to run, the depth should not be much of a problem either.

**wartknight** · 12-02-2010, 02:32 PM

DEPTH! You are asking guys to defend another 47 feet of floor. That's a lot.

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by wartknight

DEPTH! You are asking guys to defend another 47 feet of floor. That's a lot.

But it is supposed to be an up-tempo team, so in theory, they are running up and down the full length of the floor anyway. Besides with a good press, a lot of the turnovers will come in your end of the court.

**clone11** · 12-02-2010, 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by Dryburn

But it is supposed to be an up-tempo team, so in theory, they are running up and down the full length of the floor anyway. Besides with a good press, a lot of the turnovers will come in your end of the court.

Depth. End this thread, you don't know basketball. Maybe see some next year.

**Frak** · 12-02-2010, 02:39 PM

Originally Posted by Dryburn

But it is supposed to be an up-tempo team, so in theory, they are running up and down the full length of the floor anyway. Besides with a good press, a lot of the turnovers will come in your end of the court.

DEPTH! Come on, man! Everyone is saying it and you refuse to believe it. To really press, you need to rotate in waves of players. Going 8 deep (9 if you count Phillips) doesn't cut it.

**nickwc** · 12-02-2010, 02:41 PM

It's not like you have to do it the whole game. I would have liked it once or twice coming out of timeouts.

**wartknight** · 12-02-2010, 02:41 PM

RUnning up and down the court on offense is a lot different than defending the whole court. Full court press creates a lot more turnovers in Jr high and HS bball than college and I'm not sure the tradeoff is worth it for this team.

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:42 PM

Originally Posted by Frak

DEPTH! Come on, man! Everyone is saying it and you refuse to believe it. To really press, you need to rotate in waves of players. Going 8 deep (9 if you count Phillips) doesn't cut it.

If depth is the issue because they will get worn out, then why push the up-tempo?

**Dryburn** · 12-02-2010, 02:44 PM

Originally Posted by clone11

Depth. End this thread, you don't know basketball. Maybe see some next year.

Nice, smart-*** answer. Grow up!

**heitclone** · 12-02-2010, 02:49 PM

I think he OP answered his own question with the line "with the guards we have". I'm a little confused as to why people say we don't have the depth to press but yet have we have depth to play a fast paced offense? Pressing can actually help hide problems with depth by forcing the opponent to be more deliberate with the ball. Dana Altman used this method to perfection at Creighton, his bench routinely went 8-10 deep even though he probably didn't have much quality in the depth he was able to get good minutes out of his bench. He didn't press the entire game but would throw it on after a time out or some subs, it causes your opponent to use more of the shot clock, thus gaining extra rest for your starters.Pressing, if only for a few minutes is a great way to force your opponent to make adjustments and slow down what they are doing and buy extra rest time for your starters. IMO any decent coach has 4 or 5 different presses they can throw on at various times during the game. Maybe those are things that Freddie will add over time.