Cook - 4 Blocks in 13 games

[DBQHAWK85]

The reason people hate it is because you don't notice the 9 times out of 10 it works. But the times it doesn't work are really noticeable. Without the hedging we would see a lot more guys shooting 3s behind the screen and getting into the lane around the screen.

I'm talking about previous years of course since this year we are seeing all of that anyway.

I agree 100% that the hedge effectively stops the initial ball handlers advance. I was alluding to and am more worried about the other options, some of which are much better for the opponent, that it opens up because of the hedging. The layup or dunk, 2 on 1 unbalance, or the kick out for the uncontested set shot three. I see almost every team trying to entice the hawks into hedging to open up better options. Seems to be the key to beating Fran teams.
IMHO Fran's hedging philosophy is the epitome of penny wise and pound foolish.

 

[PCHawk]

I agree 100% that the hedge effectively stops the initial ball handlers advance. I was alluding to and am more worried about the other options, some of which are much better for the opponent, that it opens up because of the hedging. The layup or dunk, 2 on 1 unbalance, or the kick out for the uncontested set shot three. I see almost every team trying to entice the hawks into hedging to open up better options. Seems to be the key to beating Fran teams.
IMHO Fran's hedging philosophy is the epitome of penny wise and pound foolish.

One thing for sure, it isn't working with this young team. The less far they have to move out of position to hedge, the better.

 

[trj]

The reason people hate it is because you don't notice the 9 times out of 10 it works. But the times it doesn't work are really noticeable. Without the hedging we would see a lot more guys shooting 3s behind the screen and getting into the lane around the screen.

I'm talking about previous years of course since this year we are seeing all of that anyway.

I am thinking Adam Woodbury specifically. He was really good at hedging on ball screens, but the criticism came when he got stuck in no man's land........which given his lack of athleticism was going to happen from time to time.

 

[Hawkfnntn]

I love Fran, but I do hate that hedge defense.

When you have two players that can play it really well like MG and Woody used to it can really work. You also need the other big guy to have his head on a swivel and be ready to help when the other teams big rolls to the hoop. Iowas kids now are just a step slow at executing/reacting to plays. I chalk it up to basketball IQ and they just haven't played much college basketball yet. It's not like MG and Woody are head and shoulders more athletic then who we have now. (Well MG maybe) But that's not what makes playing it more or less effective. It's positioning and knowing how your going to react depending on what the other players do. That just comes with doing it hundreds and hundreds of times.

 

[Robowe]

I agree that it's not always the hedge that's the issue. It's the back half of the defense that doesn't know what to do when the big man hedges and then the rest of the defense has to adjust for the movement off the ball. I don't think the off guard is playing the nail or the other big man is playing the traffic controller correctly (see video below). Teams know once the screen the big man that he has to recover basically by himself.

 

[thedukeofearl]

I agree that it's not always the hedge that's the issue. It's the back half of the defense that doesn't know what to do when the big man hedges and then the rest of the defense has to adjust for the movement off the ball. I don't think the off guard is playing the nail or the other big man is playing the traffic controller correctly (see video below). Teams know once the screen the big man that he has to recover basically by himself.

Should be automatic. Cover the basket when someone commits. That has been a problem a lot of the time. However I have seen rare glimpses of this happening. At times in the comeback against Maryland our D was swarming and helping out very well. Frustrated the terps around the basket over and over again. It must happen all of the time. Too many times we are caught watching a opponent drive unchallenged to the rim.....

The ability is there. Should be instinctual, but can be practiced and learned.....