I run zone with my Jacksonville State team, and we've done pretty well. Rebounding is an absolute necessity, but it's definitely able to be run successfully.

i think it was fussyd who had an insanely successful zone program not that long ago. can't remember if it was d2 or d3, but i think it was d2. i think they had like 3 or 4 titles in a pretty short span, it is very possibly the greatest accomplishment i have ever seen in HD outside of pressing teams.

coach_billyg here... OP, take a look at my team under this account. they are not a great team by any stretch of the imagination. but look at their team this year and some of the top 25 d1 teams in your world.

the point being, the jump-out-and-bite-you strength of the zone defense seems to be, you can do more with less. this team has 5 freshman and is noticeably outmatched talent wise by probably just about every top 40 team. i don't think i would have come close to 17 rpi with the press, which is by far my most familiar and best defense, so usually i would expect to do way better with it than zone, considering i have made it past the 1st round once with the zone and have won 16 titles with the press. this team's upperclassmen were recruited on D range prestige, so with 5 freshman, they have absolutely no business being a top 20 rpi team. i think i would really, really, really struggle to win a NT even with a much more talented zone team, i just don't think that is zone's forte. but because i get almost 30 minutes a game out of all my core players, i hardly have to play those 5 freshman at all. its a huge advantage! more with less... and less with more :)

I've done pretty well with it at NYU in Smith.

In D-3 I've won a NT, been to multiple Final 4s and Elite 8s at Middlebury in Smith using only a zone. Though I have started practicing the press as well recently.

http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx?tid=5775

My D2 team in Allen runs a zone quite well. I took a team that had been to the NT once in history to 4 straight toruneys, and will be disapointed in anything besides a final 4 in the season after the one just starting.



I recruit great rebounders and Shot blockers so coming inside on me is very hard. A key thing as well is if you get players with great stamina they can play forever. I was able to do good last season despite having a very young team just by running a 3 guard rotation in the 2 guard spots giving everyone 30 minutes a game.