Butler

[GP1]

We like to talk a lot on this board about how we become a high level mid major. A team like Butler. I've been going on about how important it is for Akron to develop a go to guy in order to become like Butler. Let's look at last night's game as an example of how offense is critical in a big game.

First, let me say this. Florida was the worst coached team that played yesterday, by far. Poor clock management, poor shot selection, rushing offensive trips down the floor and committing bad fouls on defense. It was like watching a MAC team play with the endless whistles. Billy Donovan has no control over his team and the young coach at Butler has complete control over his team.

Butler played their game. They come from a league where good shooters are not the norm so they maul the other team inside and wait for the inevitable bad shooting night on the part of the other team. Sound like a league we all know? Last night was the perfect scenario for Butler.

Our first round game last week played out the same way. What was the difference between us and Butler? A guy like Shelvin Mack. He scored 27 points last night which is around 9 more than his season average. He was their go to guy. Butler has two guys who average more points per game combined than our top three scorers combined. The floor looks so open when Butler plays because they have guys who can score so you have to defend the entire floor instead of mauling and fouling inside all night. Want Zeke and Nik to score more? Develop and outside shooter. Want to watch more entertaining basketball games without the whistle blowing every 25-30 seconds? Develop an outside shooter. Want to see offensive sets that actually look like an offense (our 1-2 pass, fire up a poor shot half court offense needs to change)? Get a shooter.

"But GP1, we are a defensive team and that's how you win championships! Butler is a defensive team and look at them." Wrong, let's look at them in a second. First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. Eventually, the other team will beat themselves. We are good at that. We played just well enough against Can't to allow us to watch them lose the game shooting 47% from the foul line. That isn't a smack at the team, it's reality and it shows KD knows how to win MAC games. It's the winning against high level mid majors and major conference teams where we have a problem.

Let's go back to Butler last night and see whether or not defense won the game for them. Butler and Florida averaged 1.5 points per minute during regulation. I'm not interested in buying tickets to games like that. Florida turned on the offense in OT and averaged 2.2 points per minute so Butler was in fact putting on a worse defensive performance at crunch time. What did Butler do when their defense let them down? Did they fall apart? Hell no, they averaged 2.8 points per minute in OT. This is what the Zips need to be able to do.

I don't think it is possible for Akron to play better defense. I giggle at those who think we need to play better perimeter defense. I understand their frustration, but why should they? Most MAC schools don't have guys who can throw the ball into the ocean if they were standing next to it. I believe KD and the rest of the coaches in the MAC know this so they play the maul inside game and turn everything into a foul shooting festival. I agree 100% with our defensive strategy. We should play exactly the type of defense we do and find an outside shooter who is actally able to make shots and isn't a guy who is rumored to be an outside shooter.

Where oh where is our Shelvin Mack or Matt Howard......... or both?

[ZachTheZip]

Blake Justice is supposedly our "scorer" next season. That kid just loves to put the ball in the hoop.

We had accurate, knockdown shooters on the team this season, but none of them were used in a way that allowed them to become the kind of guy you describe. McNees was spending too much time at PG and not enough time as the catch-and-shoot guy. Roberts never saw an open look that he didn't want to pass out of. McKnight wasn't the shooter he thought he was. Diggs was being used as a wing, like McClanahan. Most of those guys, if allowed, could become our "go to" guy if they weren't busy being role players. Dambrot needs to give our backcourt players more freedom next season.

[GP1]

Blake Justice is supposedly our "scorer" next season. That kid just loves to put the ball in the hoop.

We had accurate, knockdown shooters on the team this season, but none of them were used in a way that allowed them to become the kind of guy you describe. McNees was spending too much time at PG and not enough time as the catch-and-shoot guy.

Every year we hear about a guy who is a great scorer playing at Akron. I guess Blake Justice is the next rumor. Ususally, this is more rumor than fact. I'll believe it and applaud it when I see it. To say we have knockdown shooters just isn't the case. Please take a minute, go on GoZips.com, and look at how bad our guards shoot. Steve M. was a four year letterman rumored to be a great outside shooter when he came to Akron. After four seasons, he averged eight points per game and his FG % is terrible. A four year letterman should be averaging 12-15 points per game at point guard. I hate to pick on Steve because there are others just as guilty, but the facts are the facts.

[skip-zip]

Blake Justice is supposedly our "scorer" next season. That kid just loves to put the ball in the hoop.

We had accurate, knockdown shooters on the team this season, but none of them were used in a way that allowed them to become the kind of guy you describe. McNees was spending too much time at PG and not enough time as the catch-and-shoot guy. Roberts never saw an open look that he didn't want to pass out of. McKnight wasn't the shooter he thought he was. Diggs was being used as a wing, like McClanahan. Most of those guys, if allowed, could become our "go to" guy if they weren't busy being role players. Dambrot needs to give our backcourt players more freedom next season.

I don't recall hearing that our perimeter players are being told not to shoot since Dambrot has been here. Even when Humpty missed 23 3-pointers in a row at one point (or however many it was) I never heard that he didn't have the green light. If you know something I don't, I'd love to hear about it.

[Zipmeister]

We like to talk a lot on this board about how we become a high level mid major. A team like Butler. I've been going on about how important it is for Akron to develop a go to guy in order to become like Butler. Let's look at last night's game as an example of how offense is critical in a big game.

First, let me say this. Florida was the worst coached team that played yesterday, by far. Poor clock management, poor shot selection, rushing offensive trips down the floor and committing bad fouls on defense. It was like watching a MAC team play with the endless whistles. Billy Donovan has no control over his team and the young coach at Butler has complete control over his team.

Butler played their game. They come from a league where good shooters are not the norm so they maul the other team inside and wait for the inevitable bad shooting night on the part of the other team. Sound like a league we all know? Last night was the perfect scenario for Butler.

Our first round game last week played out the same way. What was the difference between us and Butler? A guy like Shelvin Mack. He scored 27 points last night which is around 9 more than his season average. He was their go to guy. Butler has two guys who average more points per game combined than our top three scorers combined. The floor looks so open when Butler plays because they have guys who can score so you have to defend the entire floor instead of mauling and fouling inside all night. Want Zeke and Nik to score more? Develop and outside shooter. Want to watch more entertaining basketball games without the whistle blowing every 25-30 seconds? Develop an outside shooter. Want to see offensive sets that actually look like an offense (our 1-2 pass, fire up a poor shot half court offense needs to change)? Get a shooter.

"But GP1, we are a defensive team and that's how you win championships! Butler is a defensive team and look at them." Wrong, let's look at them in a second. First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. Eventually, the other team will beat themselves. We are good at that. We played just well enough against Can't to allow us to watch them lose the game shooting 47% from the foul line. That isn't a smack at the team, it's reality and it shows KD knows how to win MAC games. It's the winning against high level mid majors and major conference teams where we have a problem.

Let's go back to Butler last night and see whether or not defense won the game for them. Butler and Florida averaged 1.5 points per minute during regulation. I'm not interested in buying tickets to games like that. Florida turned on the offense in OT and averaged 2.2 points per minute so Butler was in fact putting on a worse defensive performance at crunch time. What did Butler do when their defense let them down? Did they fall apart? Hell no, they averaged 2.8 points per minute in OT. This is what the Zips need to be able to do.

I don't think it is possible for Akron to play better defense. I giggle at those who think we need to play better perimeter defense. I understand their frustration, but why should they? Most MAC schools don't have guys who can throw the ball into the ocean if they were standing next to it. I believe KD and the rest of the coaches in the MAC know this so they play the maul inside game and turn everything into a foul shooting festival. I agree 100% with our defensive strategy. We should play exactly the type of defense we do and find an outside shooter who is actally able to make shots and isn't a guy who is rumored to be an outside shooter.

Where oh where is our Shelvin Mack or Matt Howard......... or both?

Congrats to the Grate One for more spot on analysis.

I can only find a single moron who disagrees with you on who was the better coach last night.

To listen to this idiot click on

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310850057

and then click on "Butler on Win" in the Video play list.

[GoZips88]

Shaka Smart's SHOOTERS are taking it to Kansas right now 26-14. Totally agree - we NEED to find some go-to, CONSISTENT shooters.

[GP1]

I can only find a single moron who disagrees with you on who was the better coach last night.

To listen to this idiot click on

I saw the post game interview this morning. Coach Stevens is just being nice. He was by far the better coach yesterday. Saying Donovan out coached comes out a lot better than saying, "I bitch slapped Donovan."

[GoZips88]

What a shame that VCU and Butler have to meet up in the Final Four. Would have been totally cool to see them both reach the final. More proof WE can do it too. Go Shaka!

[MDZip]

Wow, one of the last teams in takes out Kansas. Not a single #1 seed makes it to the final four. If Kentucky beats UNC it will be the first time ever that no #1 and no #2 wil make the Final Four.

Great job, Shaka!

[akronzips71]

A mid major will be playing for the national championship.

There is hope for us and the MAC

And damn it, we should have beat ND.

[bigzipguy]

The Akron connection moves on!!!!

[Dave in Green]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

[GP1]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

You read this board as much as the next person. Reading this board, one would think playing defense is the only way to win. If you notice from my post, scoring points comes before defense and mistakes. A lot of points can cover up mistakes and a bad defense night.

[Dave in Green]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

You read this board as much as the next person. Reading this board, one would think playing defense is the only way to win. If you notice from my post, scoring points comes before defense and mistakes. A lot of points can cover up mistakes and a bad defense night.

You cite 3 major elements of basketball -- scoring points (offense), defense, and mistakes. In reality, mistakes are not a major element in the sense of offense and defense. Mistakes are nothing more than failures to effectively run the offense or defense. The more mistakes that are made on offense or defense, the more the performance in that element declines.

So, in reality, offense and defense are the 2 major elements of basketball. In any given game, performing either of the 2 elements better than average can cover for the other element being under average. The team that wins is the one that has the best combined performance in both offense and defense.

It doesn't really matter if your team either scores a lot of points or defends the other team from scoring a lot of points. All that matters is that your combined offense/defense results in your team scoring 1 more point than the other team at the end of the game.

The best teams are capable of playing a combination of offense and defense that results in them consistently having more points at the end of games than the teams they play. If your shooting is off and you're not scoring, your defense better be capable of stopping the other team from scoring. If you're allowing the other team to score a lot of points, your offense better be capable of scoring even more points.

[UAZipster0305]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

You read this board as much as the next person. Reading this board, one would think playing defense is the only way to win. If you notice from my post, scoring points comes before defense and mistakes. A lot of points can cover up mistakes and a bad defense night.

The best teams are capable of playing a combination of offense and defense that results in them consistently having more points at the end of games than the teams they play. If your shooting is off and you're not scoring, your defense better be capable of stopping the other team from scoring. If you're allowing the other team to score a lot of points, your offense better be capable of scoring even more points.

As a life-long Miami Dolphins fan, just ask Dan Marino how many championships that allowed him to accumulate throughout his career.

[PolyZip]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

You read this board as much as the next person. Reading this board, one would think playing defense is the only way to win. If you notice from my post, scoring points comes before defense and mistakes. A lot of points can cover up mistakes and a bad defense night.

You cite 3 major elements of basketball -- scoring points (offense), defense, and mistakes. In reality, mistakes are not a major element in the sense of offense and defense. Mistakes are nothing more than failures to effectively run the offense or defense. The more mistakes that are made on offense or defense, the more the performance in that element declines.

So, in reality, offense and defense are the 2 major elements of basketball. In any given game, performing either of the 2 elements better than average can cover for the other element being under average. The team that wins is the one that has the best combined performance in both offense and defense.

It doesn't really matter if your team either scores a lot of points or defends the other team from scoring a lot of points. All that matters is that your combined offense/defense results in your team scoring 1 more point than the other team at the end of the game.

The best teams are capable of playing a combination of offense and defense that results in them consistently having more points at the end of games than the teams they play. If your shooting is off and you're not scoring, your defense better be capable of stopping the other team from scoring. If you're allowing the other team to score a lot of points, your offense better be capable of scoring even more points.

I completely agree that the game comes down to offense and defense. To me it seems like the problem comes in when there is too much emphasis on defense. I'm not saying there is such a thing as "too much emphasis on defense," just that there has to be a good balance. A great defense can keep your team in the game to give you the chance to win in the end. But, when the game is on the line at the end, there has to be a closer that you can rely on to carry your offense to a win. McNees gave us some nice game winning shots, but we can all agree he is/was not and should not be our go to guy. We need someone who can open up the defense and be able to win the game in isolation (or even just from a good pick and roll). Someone who can hit that last shot...although I know just about every team in the NCAA wants that same person.

[Blue & Gold]

Congrats to the Grate One for more spot on analysis.

I can only find a single moron who disagrees with you on who was the better coach last night.

To listen to this idiot click on

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/recap?gameId=310850057

and then click on "Butler on Win" in the Video play list.

Wow. What a classy and humble guy. His comments show actually show tremendous self-confidence. I also watched the first video clip where Digger Phelps, Hubert Davis, Reese Davis & Jay Bilas (I think I'm getting those names right) broke the game down during the post-game and they must have mentioned Brad Stevens' name 10 times but didn't even mention Billy Donovan's name a single time.

[Blue & Gold]

I can only find a single moron who disagrees with you on who was the better coach last night.

To listen to this idiot click on

I saw the post game interview this morning. Coach Stevens is just being nice. He was by far the better coach yesterday. Saying Donovan out coached comes out a lot better than saying, "I bitch slapped Donovan."

Right. I think the 'Meister knows that. The only way Brad Stevens makes those comments is if he's an incredibly self-confident guy. He was giving a lot of praise to his team & assistants. He was also being nice to Donovan. Stevens' is truly a class act. The fist interview on the espn sight w/ Phelps, Bilas, Davis & Reese really breaks down just how badly Florida (Donovan) was out-coached by Butler (Stevens) throughout the game - especially after a couple of timeouts & in overtime.

I also like how both Stevens & the espn analysts notice the improvement Butler has made as a team throughout the course of this season. We witnessed a transformation of our Zips' team this year. I think we're going to have to be equally as patient next season as well, with all the new blood coming in.

[Blue & Gold]

What a shame that VCU and Butler have to meet up in the Final Four. Would have been totally cool to see them both reach the final. More proof WE can do it too. Go Shaka!

+1. Wouldn't it have been great to see a Butler -vs- VCU final?!?! Oh, well. I guess I can look at it in this way at least one mid-major is assured of playing for the championship.

[Blue & Gold]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

Well, yes. Very true.

But I think GP1's central point was that in the MAC, you just have to be steady-as-she-goes and wait for the other team to beat themselves.

[Dave in Green]

Just having a little fun with the obvious. There is no one who believes that defense alone or offense alone wins games. The only debate is over the appropriate mix of offense and defense. In reality, the mix is not as important as the sum total of offense and defense.

Historically, there've been teams that have won lots of games and championships with more focus on defense than offense, while other teams have produced similar results with more focus on offense than defense. Variables include individual coaching philosophy, athleticism and skill sets of the players, etc.

For example, if I'm a coach with 10 players on the bench who can reliably shoot better than 50% from the field, I'm not going to tell them to forget about shooting and focus full time on defense. On the other hand, if I don't have a lot of reliable shooters, I may focus more on defense to stop other teams from scoring more points than my guys are capable of scoring in 40 minutes.

Again, the very best teams are the ones that are above average on both offense and defense. They may be better at one than the other, but the key point is that they are consistently better at combined offense/defense than their opponents.

[GoZips]

..... First, the way to win a championship in the MAC is to score points, play good defense and don't make a lot of mistakes. .....

Duh. Who would have ever guessed that's the way to win basketball games and championships?

As the old Meatloaf tune goes ... "two out of three ain't bad". The Achilles heel for

Akron and many other teams is not making few mistakes . It is even more fundamental.

It is called "rebound the damned ball".