Beilein VS his Hometown Syracuse Orange

Submitted by Michigan Arrogance on

Very interested in the storyline of this game. Beilein has to be one fo the coaches who knows this zone inside and out.

 

Also, I'd love to read some early analysis of how Cuse stuffed the IU offense - seemed like Yogi Ferrell was lost out there against the vaunted 2-3. Lots of TOs forced, but it was interesting that that Cuse stopped any Hoosier transition game as well.

MichiganTeacher

March 31st, 2013 at 8:18 PM ^

He went to high school in Lockport. It's very close to Niagara Falls, and there are about a zillion schools between Lockport and Fredonia. I think one of his favorites growing up was Canisius, actually, and he had the chance to coach there in the 90s.

But what's relevant for the Syracuse game is that Beilein also coached at LeMoyne in the 80s and early 90s. LeMoyne is in Syracuse, and Boeheim helped get him the job. A coaching friend of mine had some nice stories to tell about Beilein and his time at LeMoyne and after (my favorite is that they had an equipment manager with Down's syndrome or some similar disability, and whenever Richmond or West Virginia had a game in Syracuse or anywhere in upstate NY, Beilein would send a driver to take the former equipment manager to the game). I'll save my personal coaching story about Beilein for fear of venturing too far, if I've not already, into Cool Story Bro territory.

The upshot is that Boeheim is basically Beilein's mentor, guru, and master jedi. Let's hope next Saturday it's Episode V and not III.

Hill.FootballR…

March 31st, 2013 at 6:17 PM ^

Yeah I fear the team we play next most. And 'Cuse looked great against IU. I think Belein is a much better coach and will have our guys much better prepared for their zone than Creen did, but their length scares me. 

I guess the fact that you feared FLA more than KU is very odd to me. KU was our worst possible matchup.

rlcBlue

March 31st, 2013 at 9:09 PM ^

Their roster lists nobody taller than 6'10"

 

Starters:

Carter-Williams 6'6"

Triche 6'4"

Fair 6'8"

Christmas 6'9"

Southerland 6'8"

Bench:

Keita 6'10"

Coleman 6'9"

Grant 6'8"

 

KenPom says their effective height is 29th in the country. Michigan is 138th. We probably won't see the Burkenspike combo for very long - that's one of the ways Crean lost the Sweet16 game.

rlcBlue

March 31st, 2013 at 5:55 PM ^

Same system.

For those who aren't down with Ypsi sports, EMU's head coach Rob Murphy was an assistant at Syracuse for 7 years; he has run the Syracuse 2-3 zone as Eastern's primary defense since he got the job there before the 2011-2012 season.

WolvinOhio

March 31st, 2013 at 6:07 PM ^

Every team Michigan has played has been one if the top teams in the country at this or that, or several things. Florida was no exception. Just read the pre- game analyses here and on UM Hoops. Michigan either is just that much better than all of those teams, or is much better coached. Or both.

UMfan21

March 31st, 2013 at 5:50 PM ^

Watched the Syracuse game the other day. Really solid rotation and great athleticism and length. I don't think UofM has played a zone D nearly this good.



Marquette seemed to want to feed the post in order to get the "soft spot" in the zone. Im curious how UofMs side ball screens will work against this zone instead.



We really need Hardaway to bust out of his slump for this one.

goblue1213

March 31st, 2013 at 5:54 PM ^

Syracuse is a scary matchup. They're long, play D, and score in transition. If we can get Timmy a few early/easy buckets I'll be a little more comfortable. Not a basketball guru, but isn't attacking the foul line the best way to break the zone?

I feel that McGary emerging is our key. With him being reliable on the interior it gives us five good options, and that is why we are rounding into an elite team. There seems to be.a vibe coming from Michigan that we're "that team." The one who's hot, and seems destined to win. 2 more to go. Michigan by 8 over 'Cuss

UMfan21

March 31st, 2013 at 6:06 PM ^

I don't think feeding McGary is going to work because posting up with his back to the basket is not his strong suit.



I think we try to put 3/4 guys on one side of the floor to outnumber them, then run the side ball screen and pick and rolls. Maybe Stauskas is the lone guy on the far side to kick out/spot up.

buddhafrog

March 31st, 2013 at 5:58 PM ^

YES!  Beilein a week to prepare is a VERY GOOD thing.

Best way to attak a 2-3 zone is free throw line flashes, and passes from there, and always the 3 point shot.  But SYR plays the 2-3 extended with length making the 3 more difficult.

Getting to our wings slashing to the middle, and getting Burke into the lane with the assist is the way we will win.

M_Jason_M

March 31st, 2013 at 6:01 PM ^

Can someone with a better knowledge of basketball than myself explain what makes Syracuse's 2-3 zone different from just about every other team's 2-3 zone?

UMfan21

March 31st, 2013 at 6:09 PM ^

Just that Boeheim is fanatical about teaching it. Syracuse has a lot of length and athleticism.



Many times against a zone crisp passing and ball reversals will eventually break it down. Syracuse is so well schooled on the 2-3 that their rotation is amazing. If, by chance you beat the zone, they can still block/alter shots with their length.

Farnn

March 31st, 2013 at 6:02 PM ^

Beilein is 0-9 against Syracuse, though usually as the underdog when he's faced them.  Will be an interesting game since he is certainly familiar with the Syracuse system. 

Gus_possessive…

March 31st, 2013 at 6:22 PM ^

 

Beilein vs Cuse

2007 - DNP

2006 - 0/1. Lost by 2 on road.

2005 - 0/2. Lost by 8 on road, 9 in BE tourney. WVU made Made elite 8.

2004 - 0/1. Lost by 13 at home. WVU finished 15-13.

2003 - 0/2. Lost by 14 at home, 38 on road. WVU finished 14-15.

2002 - 0/2. Lost by 14 and 12. 

joeyb

March 31st, 2013 at 6:29 PM ^

From what I saw in the Marquette game and our game against Florida today, I think we'll keep Mitch down low and get someone (THJ) at the top of the key. Burke will pass to THJ and we'll high-low their post guy. If they start rotating so the big comes to stop the shot and a corner defender comes in to guard Mitch, we'll get it to the outside for an open 3 look. If they start bringing one of their guards in to stay at the top of the key, Burke will start driving the lane.

AlwaysBlue

March 31st, 2013 at 8:30 PM ^

Exactly.  In Crean's post-game comments he said that their decision making wasn't always the greatest (paraphrasing).  Burke will make better decisions, Beliein will have a better game plan (particularly with the opportunity to look at how Indiana was shut down).

96goblue00

March 31st, 2013 at 7:49 PM ^

Right now Syracuse is playing lights out. The zone is working so well because Boeheim has the right  kids in there, all quite big and tall, long arms. When they set up a perimeter and they hold, it is very hard to penetrate inside to the basket (because the perimeter is made up of a lot of big athletic bodies with a long range) which leaves you with outside shots. If Michigan is not successful penetrating and driving to the basket, they'll have to set up picks and give guys like Stauskas, Burke and Hardaway opportunties to make long range shots. Offensively, I think Syracuse is so so. The strength of this Syracuse team is really its defense. This is not the best Syracuse team Boeheim has had but it is one of the best defensive teams, when playing well. I think Michigan has a decent chance to pull out the W but they will have to be aggressive at the line of scrimage, and pound the zone with guys like McGary without drawing too many fouls.

You look at the key guys on Syracuse's 2003 championship team and other than McNamara, it's all guys in the 6'8" range, with a 7'1" and two 6'9" guys. 

 

Muttley

March 31st, 2013 at 7:56 PM ^

and won going away with Isiah Thomas roaming the foul line on offense vs UNC in 1981.

I'd like to see Beilein get the ball to Trey at the foul line to watch the havoc Trey could wreak.

MGoBender

March 31st, 2013 at 8:38 PM ^

The key to beating Syracuse's zone next Saturday is not letting them set it up.  Defend, and run, run, run.  Just like today.  If we defend like we did today and can get out and run, Syracuse won't have the chance to settle into their zone.

 

MichiganTeacher

March 31st, 2013 at 8:39 PM ^

One thing that both Indiana and Marquette tried to do against Cuse was use the short corner. I don't like short corner offenses to begin with, and beyond that, it seems pretty clear to me that Boeheim has his kids very well schooled on how to defend it.

I'd rather see us run zone ball screens up top, let Trey penetrate on his own, or run a bit of shuffle even against a zone.Getting the ball on a reverse to Trey at the high post would be a super tactic too, I think. Of course Cuse is good at preventing quick reverses.

Whatever it comes down to, I think dribble penetration is going to be key. Cuse has everything else covered. Spike and Trey might share some more time on the floor.

AlwaysBlue

March 31st, 2013 at 8:43 PM ^

I think when I was watching the Syracuse game they were talking about Boeheim going to the zone exclusively.  He said something about a college team not having enough shooters was a factor in that decision.  Michigan has enough shooters, everyone except McGary is a 3P threat.  They are going to have to hit them though.  Hulls and Sheehey were 0-9 against Syracuse and Ferrell didn't even attempt a 3.