If we are going to continue with three guard lineups...

[SLUDrew]

which I think we should because that is where our talent is, I would like to see more full court pressure. With Bryant, Drejaj, Fischer, Clarke, Hunt, we have enough quality depth to be able to sub frequently. I am not saying we have to do the forty minutes of hell like the old Arkansas teams under Nolan Richardson, but when we have the three guards on the floor, we are hopelessly weak underneath so trying to stop teams in the halfcourt is going to be very difficult.

I know Brad loves his man-to-man halfcourt D, and so do I, but when are playing small we have to utilize our quickness and force some teams to turn it over with fullcourt pressure.

[davidnark]

It is not likely to happen. Brad has stated that the only time he allows his players to catch their breath on the court is when they get into their half court defensive set after a SLU basket. This helps keep the guards fresh for most of the game.

[SLUDrew]

I see what he is saying, but wouldn't you agree that if we are going to go small we have to defend in a way that will maximize what we have on the floor which is quickness? Like I said, we don't have to do it the whole game, just when we go small.

[3star_recruit]

Compared to the guards that Georgia Tech and Arizona have, our guards aren't quick. Those guys would eat up our press.

[aj_arete]

Yes, they have three solid guards in Bryant, Fisher, and Drejaj, but I wouldn't count on Clarke being a significant contributor this year.

This team will win by dictating the pace, valuing the ball, and use their one skill: defense. There are plenty of teams in the NCAA, who aren't fundamentally sound. I expect SLU to be one of the exceptions and that should count for at least a .500 record this year.

[billiken_roy]

contrary to what many believe, an effective full court press is not designed to steal the ball, but rather wear the other team down, and create general havoc and confusion. the by products are steals, turnovers, and tired players. of course the pressing team will also get tired. louisville plays 12 players thus they shuffle and switch off defensive positions and personell to make that press work.

as davidnark mentioned, brad demands his players never get beat down the floor, he demands total denial in your face defense on the defensive end, and with the motion offense, the guards and wings are constantly moving thru the picks that the bigs are constantly setting away from the ball. i.e. give them a break.

second, as 3 star points out, while our guards are solid players, they arent exactly iverson or marque either. if you remember marque, tore through opposing presses. most good quick point guards would do the same to us in a spread out full court defense.

last, the fact is, that the team uses that half line to their advantage defensively. sure there isnt a full court pressure defense, but once they get across, the billiken guards are pushing the offense out and using the over and back line almost like another defender. there is a reason the west virginia team ran the shot clock down as far as they did tuesday. some of it might have been by design, but a lot of it was also the great pressure d the billiken guards played which delayed the mountaineers from getting started in their offensive sets imo.

this team is not a pressing team and probably as long as brad is our coach, i would bet it never will be.

[tseugnekillib]

I agree that we won't see Coach Soderberg playing a man-to-man full court press, or a full court zone press, this year and perhaps never. His "pak" defense is pretty much his trademark. However, I do think if any Billiken is going to rest or catch his breath for a moment, it will be done on the offensive end. This would be a good question for Coach Soderberg at next Billiken/Tip-Off Club meeting he attends.

Just thinking about it, who was the last Billiken coach to consistently employ full court defensive pressure? Not Soderberg, not Romar, and I don't recall Spoon coaching that way. Grawer, Ekker?