Just took over my first Div 1 team in Rupp. Boise State runs a Fastbreak and a man to man defense. I was thinking about changing over to the press defense as I've had a lot of success with it at Div 2. Noticed that no one in div 1 really runs the Press defense. Can it be done in div 1?

0nly just won a title at Utah in Tark running FB/FCP. It's probably a good idea since a lot of teams have multiple walk ons.

It isn't easy. Filling a roster with 12 legit players every year is a task. You have to sacrifice talent for depth and can't maximize your best players.

It is tough. I have three press teams at D1. Penn (Allen), Baylor (Smith), and Southern Mississippi (Wooden) but my M2M team (San Diego State- Rupp) has done the best. If you are good enough you can run the press with 9-10 players with high stamina like hawkfan1991 did in knocking me out of the Elite 8. Here was his UConn team.

https://www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Roster.aspx?tid=4273


I like to run my press teams 10-12 deep. You have to scout wide to get enough players and occasionally have to gamble on one that you haven't scouted past level 2.

Thanks guys. You told me exactly what I needed to know. I think I'm going to give it a whirl after next season.

I've been thinking of trying this with one of my mid-major D1's. (maybe University of New Orleans in Naismith) - it seems like there could be a good alternative strategy with having 12 good players that stick around with good stamina, won't be drafted, against the many big 6 conference teams that are very top-heavy

This is what I've been doing for a few years now and it's worked rather well. Filling holes and making sure you have depth is the key. The new recruiting makes it more difficult, but I love running it.