If things like this continue to happen:
http://www.whatifsports.com/hd/GameResults/BoxScore.aspx?gid=6914090

I've been doing this a long time with a FB/FCP team but apparently do not have it figured out since the engine change.  I'd appreciate some insight from any of you who've survived--or even thrived--since the change.

Here's my team: www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx

Up front, I expected this team to struggle a bit given the lack of experienced depth.  But not to the extent of losing like I did last night.  Any thoughts?

Your opponents are attempting 31 FT/game. That's a killer and is probably related to your inexperience. I think inexperience affects press more than other defenses but that could me 'just me'..  I'm not a big fan of the FB/FCP combination but that's based on other coach's comments; I've never used it myself.

4 seasons ago, with the same class distribution, you were 15-14, RPI 107.  Every 4 seasons, you may experience such a downturn

goose - If I were you i'd change your lineup a bit.  I'd set my depth chart as follows:

PG - Kimball, Treadway, Taylor/Crabtree
SG - Treadway, Barragan, Taylor/Crabtree
SF - Gallegos, Ronning, Kimball/Crabtree
PF - Ziebell, Denton, Ronning
C - Mancia, Hayes, Ziebell

My reasoning is as follows:

I ALWAYS want my player with the best BH/P/IQ combo at PG.  Kimball clearly your best PG.  I know you want to play him at SF because he can rebound, but he's your best PG.  Treadway can slide over from SG and Crabtree/Taylor from there.  Crabtree, to me, is a backup PG right now because he's limited offensively but he can distribute okay.

Treadway is your best SG even though he's a defensive liability.  If your opponent has a lethal SG, I might bring him off the bench and start Gallegos, with Ronning and then Barragan at SF.

I like Gallegos as your starting SF.  SFs tend to get a lot of distribution, especially the SIM ones, and he's your lock down defender.   Ronning isn't bad here either because of his rebounding ability.  With Kimball, Treadway & Gallegos starting you have some nice ATH/SPD on the perimeter, which is crucial for a press.

Ziebell and Mancia are your best bigs, but you know that already :-)  I would up Mancia's distribution a bit though.  He's not going to kill you by shooting more and he's okay from the foul line too.

Overall, you are a little thin with your big men, in particular LP.  Fortunately you have guards that can take it to the rim, so you can have them either shoot 3s or go to the basket depending on your opponents tendencies.  I'd also not run uptempo and stick to normal tempo unless you clearly outclass your opponent (you may be doing this already).  Good luck!

Thanks, hassdr.  I've been thinking about moving Kimball--to PG or SG--and have been hesitant because I think he's a matchup nightmare at SF.  But I agree his BH/P/IQ is strongest and has real value at PG.  I may experiment with it.

Do you find that using a 3-deep depth chart as opposed to 4-deep works ok?  And does it work for you to have a starter at one position be second on the depth chart at another position?  I've always operated under the assumption that doing this would be too much for anyone without elite stamina but maybe I'm wrong?

I always use a 4-deep depth chart just to be sure I have everything how I want in case of injuries or foul trouble, but I think some coaches use a 2 or 3 deep instead.  It does work for me to have a starter at one spot be the #2 guy at another position because 1) he's not getting a ton of minutes there, just some based on how you set up your minutes/fatigue and 2) you can have your backup and #3 guy get minutes at the spot when the starter is switching over.  As long as your minutes/fatigue are set up correctly, it should work fine.  I'll admit, it is a little trickier in FCP and I haven't played a straight FCP in a long time (I often use HCP with another defense).

Although Kimball can be a matchup nightmare at SF, I don't think you lose much with Gallegos there.  You'll gain more having Kimball at PG, IMHO.

Posted by alblack56 on 4/26/2011 10:48:00 AM (view original):
Your opponents are attempting 31 FT/game. That's a killer and is probably related to your inexperience. I think inexperience affects press more than other defenses but that could me 'just me'..  I'm not a big fan of the FB/FCP combination but that's based on other coach's comments; I've never used it myself.

4 seasons ago, with the same class distribution, you were 15-14, RPI 107.  Every 4 seasons, you may experience such a downturn

Yea low IQ and/or low defense rating = TONS of fouls in the press especially for guards.

My D3 Bethany team is my first experience with FCP/FB and last season was a friggin' nightmare with a roster full of cruddy SIM recruits and my own freshmen with low IQs.  I came real close to abandoning the FCP for a Man defense,  but decided to stick with it for a couple more seasons until I can manage to recruit better players.

My big problem to date has been BH - this year I'm forcing more TOs than I'm committing, but only barely.  Last year I was puking up the ball too often to win more than 3 games.  

Two more seasons of FCP and if I decide it's all screwed up, I'm going to Man.