[81alum]

I've been trying to square something odd that has implications for how we defend South Carolina.

After Tennessee lost to South Carolina in their first game, the Tennessee coaches acknowledged that they "were not ready to defend their athleticism."  Then in the 2nd game Tennessee came out and played exclusively zone despite the fact that this left South Carolina mostly open to shoot their 3s. 

I did not see the first game.  Did Tennessee try to guard South Carolina in man in the first game, get burned so badly that they decided they could not guard South Carolina in man, and then switch to a zone for the second game?  Or is Tennessee always playing zone now no matter what...

I wonder if we will also play mostly zone against them, fearing that otherwise at least one of the three South Carolina Eeshas will be free to run loose?

It is odd because one does not normally think of the zone as the best way to defend against the three point shot, but it may be that coaches fear the speed of the 3 Eeshas more than their three point shooting?

***
This in from Dawn Staley:

Coach Staley says her strategy for Saturday is simple.

"Pretty much just stick with what got us there from a defensive standpoint," said Staley.  "We have to disrupt. We got to them make them think about our pressure rather than fluidly running their team and getting shots where they are comfortable."

http://www.wistv.com/story/17233357/%75s...wn-sendoff

Staley said the key to giving Stanford just its second loss of the season will be taking advantage of her team’s quickness.

“They have a height advantage, probably at every position. For us, we have a speed advantage. So we’ve got to use it,” Staley said.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-bask...taleysteam

[81alum]

I've been trying to square something odd that has implications for how we defend South Carolina.

After Tennessee lost to South Carolina in their first game, the Tennessee coaches acknowledged that they "were not ready to defend their athleticism."  Then in the 2nd game Tennessee came out and played exclusively zone despite the fact that this left South Carolina mostly open to shoot their 3s. 

I did not see the first game.  Did Tennessee try to guard South Carolina in man in the first game, get burned so badly that they decided they could not guard South Carolina in man, and then switch to a zone for the second game?  Or is Tennessee always playing zone now no matter what...

I wonder if we will also play mostly zone against them, fearing that otherwise at least one of the three South Carolina Eeshas will be free to run loose?

It is odd because one does not normally think of the zone as the best way to defend against the three point shot, but it may be that coaches fear the speed of the 3 Eeshas more than their three point shooting?

***
This in from Dawn Staley:

Coach Staley says her strategy for Saturday is simple.

"Pretty much just stick with what got us there from a defensive standpoint," said Staley.  "We have to disrupt. We got to them make them think about our pressure rather than fluidly running their team and getting shots where they are comfortable."

http://www.wistv.com/story/17233357/%75s...wn-sendoff

Staley said the key to giving Stanford just its second loss of the season will be taking advantage of her team’s quickness.

“They have a height advantage, probably at every position. For us, we have a speed advantage. So we’ve got to use it,” Staley said.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/womens-bask...taleysteam