This is not a bash. And he has vision. he could easily have thoughts that it should look uniquely like something in his head (though very little is unique). But when he looks around at programs, does he say "we need to be like " And this is more than just about identity but it incorporates it.

For example,
Syracuse - they play their 2-3 zone and they always have someone who will shoot fearlessly from the outside. a gunner. They may or may not have a speedy PG but they play defense with length and they can gun.

North Carolina - pushes the tempo. They have athletic basketball players but one thing they do, they crash the offensive glass, they will shoot 3s, they will score around the basket. The quality I will pull out is the really active on the offensive boards.

Duke - they do a lot of dribble drive penetration and kick to shooters, score layups. The kill closeouts alot when people are closing out on them at the 3 pT line. Their bigs look to score.

UVA - not even talking about the pack line defense identity. They push you out and are in your face. They aggressively help early especially on drives. They have good ball movement and kill closeouts also with passing and putting the ball on the floor. They will shoot 3s quickly and easily. The defense intensity is there.

I could look at schools and try to highlight that 1 or 2 things that you could see making them good.

I ask because I was thinking about Clarke in another post. Clarke defers alot. he doesn't look to shoot. He is good in transition mainly as the passer. IMagine if he was at UNC. If he played, he would be told to get on the offensive glass, he would be driving to score, he would be using his length to harass. Clarke is our swiss army knife but he has not reached his potential and he may not - and it is not because of his knee.

Hill was Buzz's favorite player around when he got hurt. Why? Because he worked hard. This is not criticism. What did he work hard on? His shot? His handle? His defense?

The gist of my question, and it is a question. Do we see Buzz envisioning his team identity being:
1. Great ball movement, great player movement
2. Great 3-pt shooting, shooters without a conscientious
3. Being able to put the ball on the floor to threaten the defense, threaten the middle to score or draw the defense and kick
4. Intense half-court defense, in your face defense with great ball awareness, great people awareness so the help and rotation can get players moving on the pass and get stops.
5. Offensive rebounding to get second chance scores, keep possessions alive and get fouls on the defense.
6. Hard working mentality with constant pressure whether full-court, half-court, whether man or zone.
7.The ball is precious. Take care of it and minimize careless turnovers.

He has his type of player. We know he emphasizes wings and guards who can handle the ball, shoot, and play defense. His favorite players are Hill and Robinson. But what is the "end result", the "vision" he has for his program. If he had his players, his philosophy and approach instilled and it was about instilling this into new players, what is it.

- We don't get on the offensive glass - and the reason can't be to avoid getting beat in transition because we have players who don't do either.

- Our ball movement goes from good at times to non-existent at times. We get away from the 1-on-1 mentality but occasionally get away from team basketball.

- He wants paint touches and we do go into the post to score alot in certain games

- Our two other primary guards/small forwards don't put the ball on the floor alot. Bibbs and Hill dont' drive much. So the main threats to drive are Robinson and maybe Clarke from the FT line. The main threats to score other than 3s or in transition is Blackshear? I know this is simplifying it but if Bibbs or Hill don't get their points in transition, it will basically be off of 3s either from that one inbounds play we run or swinging the ball to the weakside. This is not in response to last nights loss. This is just about tendencies and no matter who we recruit, what is the type of team or program that Buzz wants his players to be in. The boot camp is supposed to instill team bonding, hardwork, sweat, etc.







[Post edited by VAHokie89 at 01/05/2018 11:20AM]