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Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:14 pm EDT

Durham freezes over? Duke may play zone defense next season

By Chris Chase

Mike Krzyzewski is as known for his man-to-man defense as Jim Boeheim is known for his zone. But with only two true guards on his roster for 2010 Coach K might be abandoning his pressure-filled man-to-man in favor of the zone he has long disdained.

Kyle Singler spoke of the possible strategical shift last week to ACC Now:

"What we've been talking about... is we might be playing a little more zone this year than in years past. That might not be the way Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] wants to do it, but with the personnel that we have, we are a big team."  

There were a number of times last year when Duke clearly would have benefitted from a playing a zone to force teams to the perimeter (most notably in a February loss to Wake Forest when Jeff Teague was driving at will). As Ken Tysiac notes, the Blue Devils did throw in a little zone against Tyrus Rice and Boston College, but only for brief stretches.

The obvious angle here is that Coach K is adapting to new things. However, it could be more a case of Coach K being forced to go against his defensive coaching philosophy because his roster is as thin as it's been since 1995 (when Krzyzewski abandoned a losing team took medical leave to have back surgery).

Duke playing a zone defense. What's next: A Michael Bay movie getting good reviews? Iran and Iraq holding hands at a picnic? A Blue Devil point guard not slapping the floor? Well, let's not get crazy, folks.

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  1. Baggs
    1. Posted by Baggs Mon Jul 06, 2009 1:39 pm EDT

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    they were 9 and 2 when he went out in 1995 if that is losing i would love to see what winning is. You must be a tarheel with that math get a real education.
  2. Chris C
    2. Posted by Chris C Mon Jul 06, 2009 2:34 pm EDT

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    Baggs,
    A good sailor knows to jump off the boat before the ship sinks completely.
  3. Rodolfo
    3. Posted by Rodolfo Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:46 pm EDT

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    sounds like a tarheal wrote this piece....
  4. Nathan
    4. Posted by Nathan Mon Jul 06, 2009 3:59 pm EDT

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    Coach K is the man but he can't recruit anymore.
  5. Trivo
    5. Posted by Trivo Mon Jul 06, 2009 7:17 pm EDT

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    Baggs,
    They were 9-3 when K went out so maybe you are the one lacking math skills. The only reason they were 9-3 at that point was because they played the usual Duke cupcake schedule pre-ACC. K must have realized how bad he was going to get embarassed in the ACC.
  6. Stephen W
    6. Posted by Stephen W Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:00 pm EDT

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    doesnt matter if they run man to man or zone, they will still fall short again in ncaa tournament. coach k better play more than six or seven players or at the end of the season they will all be give out like his back does
  7. William R
    7. Posted by William R Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:03 pm EDT

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    Slowly the NCAA will loose its showcase of basketball rising stars. We can see how many leave after the first year for the NBA, some skeeping it all together for the Europe League. Going to college to play basketball will default to those players who that lack marketability and need the NCAA to get a chance at NBA draft. We might be witnessing the beginning of a decline of quality NCAA basketball players. March Madness might as well become March Sadness!
  8. William R
    8. Posted by William R Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:10 pm EDT

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    This has nothing to do with coach K,. The NCAA is loosing its recruiting market. For long term fix maybe lowering the criteria on recruitment because let be real a big majority of this players lack or can't meet the academic requirements to even make it to college LOL maybe just a community college.
  9. Duke4ever
    9. Posted by Duke4ever Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:35 pm EDT

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    Chris Chase why don't you do a story about yourself, being such a devoted, and completely biased, duke hater. That is exactly what being a Duke fan is all about. We love every ounce of hate you critics can work up. Keep it up Chris. Adds more fuel to the fire. Watch Kobe or Lebron talk about Coach K on Youtube. The greatest basketball players in the NBA recognize the talents of the greatest basketball Coach of all time. Oh yeah, and Chris. I had to really look hard to find this article. Thought your hard hitting work would make the first page. Yea Right!
  10. Shy Guy
    10. Posted by Shy Guy Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:38 pm EDT

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    don't be racist man
  11. Shy Guy
    11. Posted by Shy Guy Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:41 pm EDT

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    yeah
  12. murdoch
    12. Posted by murdoch Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:08 pm EDT

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    I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Poster #1 is the variety of Duke fan that didn't even finish HS...and watches NASCAR avidly.
  13. William R
    13. Posted by William R Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:56 pm EDT

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    This being a long time coming (to keep in perspective I am on my 40s). I remember a great number of NCAA players good enough to play professional but instead played through their Senior Year. Then NBA was the ABA and the contracts offered where in the hundreds of thousands, not the millions of today. The NCAA recruiting criteria is outdated, it needs to open so many good players can get the opportunity and benefit of playing in the NCAA before moving on to the Pros. I understand $$$ is at stake, an injury can derail potential income, but the NCAA must open the door to anyone that is less fortunate of going through the best schools to have a chance at success in a good college program. It is said that scholarships are given based on merits (grade and athletic potential), the goal of today's athletes is not to be lawyers, doctors, computer techs but to have a platform for the career they choose since grade school...to one day play in the NBA. it is all about market and money so please re-evaluate the recruitment criteria and open your doors! There will be plenty others that will get a 4 year degree and be part of society in other ways!
  14. jim m
    14. Posted by jim m Mon Jul 06, 2009 11:42 pm EDT

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    Adjusting to kind of players recruited makes perfect sense... wooden always played man to man with zone principles.... what not zone with man to man principles...? Coach K is clever guy... match up zones are popular with several coaches... not understood by basketball fans.... seems to me with the shot clock a good zone for Duke could be a very wise move... we will see... wonder why NBA rules against playing a zone... maybe because it works to hold scores down ... zones seek to keep big men in the lane ... one problem in a zone is blocking out for rebounds.... but in a match up zone.... no problem.... aha takes special scouting to prepare for match up... some coaches have a lot of trouble putting a positive offensive set against zones... however Note: team with excellent 3 point shooters can be a problem .... unless the coach matches up very very well... ciao
  15. Craig R
    15. Posted by Craig R Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:04 am EDT

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    Wow, a Duke hater trots out the usual "Coach K ducked a losing team" drivel. What a shock. Obviously an internet blog hack like you has no insight into the character of Coach K, or you would know he's not afraid of adversity. It speaks volumes to Coach K's drive to excel that Kobe Bryant lobbied furiously to get him to come to LA to coach the Lakers, but of course it's a waste of breath to remind a Duke hater like you of that. I'm guessing that this hack blog is the pinnacle of your achievement in life, but I'm also guessing nobody is lobbying furiously to bring you on board for your astounding college hoops insights. And assuming I'm right that this IS your crowning achievement in life so far, I'm also guessing that you've crumbled under far less strain than a herniated disc and mental exhaustion, or this hack blog WOULDN'T be your crowning achievement in life.
  16. koolaid
    16. Posted by koolaid Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:09 am EDT

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    Please guys, spell correctly. Lose is not "loose" and it is "losing, not loosing." We lose a game, but the knot is loose. Get the picture. See post #7 and #8. And, it is "Tarheel" not "Tarheal." Post #3.
  17. Lobsters Go Pinch Pinch
    17. Posted by Lobsters Go Pinch Pinch Tue Jul 07, 2009 12:46 am EDT

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    i'm @ duke, can say with all honesty that coach k needs to change his recruiting philosophy if he wants us to get back to our salad days (wtf does that mean, btw?) fewer can't-jump plodders, more athleticism. even if that means some of those players are less "coachable" and don't completely buy-in to coach k's system. a few skilled athletes with attitudes can complement the "yes-sir" types. if coach k can't adapt to today's players, i'm worried we'll be stuck in the florida state / penn state situation: a legacy coach we can't get rid of, regardless of his team's performance.
  18. Chrisj
    18. Posted by Chrisj Tue Jul 07, 2009 8:56 am EDT

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    Well at least he is not Al Davis and drafting some of the worst draft picks in history.
    Let's dont talk about Duke lets talk about the stupid Raiders.
  19. Lobsters Go Pinch Pinch
    19. Posted by Lobsters Go Pinch Pinch Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:57 am EDT

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    Seamless segue, well done. Yes, let's hijack this thread and talk about Al Davis instead.
    Not sure where to begin, but wouldn't mind ending with him on an ice floe, slowly drifting out to sea. Oh, and the ice floe has a hole. And it's headed for a whirlpool. Filled with sharks. And angry pirates. And (presumably) ninjas.
    Ah, very therapeutic. Muchos merci.
  20. dukezx
    20. Posted by dukezx Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:30 am EDT

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    After seeing the success of the game strategies of Boeheim and D'Antoni during the recent Olympic games, Coach K. finally has had to examine some of his long held philosophies. That's a good move. Now he needs to look closely at three other areas. 1) Develop the strength of the bench by giving them more playing time, especially against cupcake teams early in the season. And don't substitute them as a unit. Let each of them get game experience and learn how to contribute when inserted individually to play with the starters. As parity has increased among the top 25 teams, we've seen a decrease in Duke's ability to make a long run in post season play, because the bench is inexperienced and the 6 or 7 starters are tired. 2) Add pick and roll to the team's vocabulary. Get the ball to the big men inside and stop being a one dimensional team. 3) Wojo is a great guy, but the team needs a BIG man to coach the big men, preferably someone with NBA experience. Go Duke!
  21. Damian C
    21. Posted by Damian C Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:32 am EDT

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    i even think Chris Chase's editor (of course Chris needs one) wanted to omit the "abandoned a losing team" part bc we all know coach K wouldnt abandon any team period and the fact they werent losing made the comment even more ignorant on Chase's part. But stubbron, thick headed, tar heel loving Chris Chase still left the error and comment in his piece. Another typical Duke hater, poor guy proabably couldnt even write for the Duke student paper.
  22. Damian C
    22. Posted by Damian C Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:39 am EDT

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    been a duke fan all my life...heres the down right honest truth, we need athletes from the hood period! of course duke and coach K want students to excell on AND off the court but come on!! We need to lower our high standards at Duke if we are ever going to win another title. We need a BIG black guy in center with quick guards. Give me sheldon williams, elton brand, gerald henderson, corey maggette, jayson willilams and some others please. having the occasional white guy that can shoot the 3 or slap the floor is great but give me some hard core, dudes from the hood with attitude that will make UNC choke on their balls and get duke at least into the elite 8.
  23. loakdingy56
    23. Posted by loakdingy56 Tue Jul 07, 2009 10:53 am EDT

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    Coach K is one of the greatest coaches in the game. Who cares about 1995 it's 2009 going into the 2010 season. Duke has plenty of weapons on this years team and can contend for a title. All the pieces are in place to do just that!! The loss of Henderson hurt more than anything but I still think we have a great shot at a title.
  24. A Yahoo! User
    24. Posted by A Yahoo! User Tue Jul 07, 2009 11:00 am EDT

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    Why are you called a racist when you tell the truth?

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