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bbwvfan
Well-Known Member
In recent days, Anotherwvufan has been challenging me on my opinion that WVU's use of the press this year was a mistake.
WVU did not have the quality of depth this year that it had enjoyed the first 3 years it had been used. Since its installment, Huggs has stated its effectiveness was based on the fact that our 10 were better than your 10.
This year, WVU did not have a quality 10.
So... do I base my opinion on facts? Always...
When you have a bench short on quality, is it preferable to keep your best players on the court? There can be no debate. WVU had a huge drop off at guard and center this year. In Press Virginia, WVU was ranked #341 in fouls/defensive play. Could we afford to have Dax, JC or Sags get in foul trouble this year? No.
Press Virginia did not just stop at midcourt. Huggs has his point man set up traps early in the opponent's possession once the offense crosses. Our trapping defense lead to wide open shooters all season long. WVU's FG% defense was ranked #74. That put us behind our conference rivals... TT, BU, KU and UT. Outside of KU and UT... you won't find a whole lot of 4star and 5star players filling those rosters.
Even worse for our defensive stats this year, our 3pt FG% was ranked #317. Again, easy for teams to break our press and half court traps lead to wide open looks for our opponents all season.
A positive for our defensive pressure... opponent TO's. WVU ranked #5 in the country. WVU's opponents averaged 16.5 TO/gm. This number was down from last year's average of 20/gm. The next best rival... TT... averaged 15/gm. OSU was 3rd in conference at 14.5.
Our scoring defense was not tops in the conference. TT and KSU... teams with similar athletes and composition to ours... finished higher.
Most troubling for me, and one of the clearest facts defining the lack of impact of this year's press... our 2nd half scoring deficit. I was asked if WVU could have won games without the press? I now say... hell yes.
In almost every game WVU lost this year, their 2nd half scoring deficit lead to the outcome. Why was the 2nd half deficit so pronounced this year? Lack of quality depth... WVU starters on the bench in foul trouble... opponents not having to go deep into their bench... WVU wearing down in the 2nd half of the season.
WVU did not have the quality of depth this year that it had enjoyed the first 3 years it had been used. Since its installment, Huggs has stated its effectiveness was based on the fact that our 10 were better than your 10.
This year, WVU did not have a quality 10.
So... do I base my opinion on facts? Always...
When you have a bench short on quality, is it preferable to keep your best players on the court? There can be no debate. WVU had a huge drop off at guard and center this year. In Press Virginia, WVU was ranked #341 in fouls/defensive play. Could we afford to have Dax, JC or Sags get in foul trouble this year? No.
Press Virginia did not just stop at midcourt. Huggs has his point man set up traps early in the opponent's possession once the offense crosses. Our trapping defense lead to wide open shooters all season long. WVU's FG% defense was ranked #74. That put us behind our conference rivals... TT, BU, KU and UT. Outside of KU and UT... you won't find a whole lot of 4star and 5star players filling those rosters.
Even worse for our defensive stats this year, our 3pt FG% was ranked #317. Again, easy for teams to break our press and half court traps lead to wide open looks for our opponents all season.
A positive for our defensive pressure... opponent TO's. WVU ranked #5 in the country. WVU's opponents averaged 16.5 TO/gm. This number was down from last year's average of 20/gm. The next best rival... TT... averaged 15/gm. OSU was 3rd in conference at 14.5.
Our scoring defense was not tops in the conference. TT and KSU... teams with similar athletes and composition to ours... finished higher.
Most troubling for me, and one of the clearest facts defining the lack of impact of this year's press... our 2nd half scoring deficit. I was asked if WVU could have won games without the press? I now say... hell yes.
In almost every game WVU lost this year, their 2nd half scoring deficit lead to the outcome. Why was the 2nd half deficit so pronounced this year? Lack of quality depth... WVU starters on the bench in foul trouble... opponents not having to go deep into their bench... WVU wearing down in the 2nd half of the season.
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