After looking at most of the top teams here I was wondering if anyone has had good success just playing a straight up zone. I noticed most of the top teams use man to man or some type of zone/press. I'm curious about running a zone with players with extremely high  Def values in DIII.

I've been content with the zone with my squad. As far as success, I've never made it past the Elite 8, but my team has always performed as well or surpassed my expectations based on the talent I've had. I just always make sure my team has good defenders and solid rebounding. Zone doesn't seem to be very popular though so I'll be paying attention to others responses.

I run a straight zone defense in Wooden D3. But, I haven't coached this team long enough to really answer your question. Here's my team: www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx

However, Tianyi's team in Wooden demonstrates that success is possible with the zone: www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx

As does zbrent's team in Tark: www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/History.aspx

So, yes I definitely think consistent success is possible with the zone in D3, but I think most good coaches just don't run that particular defense.

Thomas in Allen has shown pretty good success:

http://whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/History.aspx?tid=7834

Zone def is weaker than m2m from my experience. oppfg% for my zone team is higher than the oppfg% for my m2m, even though I think my zone team has better players. 2-3 zone also suffers against 3pt shooting. You can go to 3-2 zone, but then you are giving up alot of inside positioning. This is a little problematic when a good team goes an inside out attack. 

People have also said zone suffers a reb disadvantage, but I personally haven't seen much of that.

Advantage of zone is that you can run a short bench. This offers some strategic advantage in recruiting. You can take on a couple of stars and potentially battle for them and be willing to take on a mediocre backup or 2, with the goal of your studs going for 30 mpg. 

Def matters in zone. Any given shot in near the perimeter, your guards have an equal opportunity to be the defender, so all around great defense is still good. 

Thank u guys for all ur responese.

Posted by tianyi7886 on 7/22/2011 12:41:00 AM (view original):
Zone def is weaker than m2m from my experience. oppfg% for my zone team is higher than the oppfg% for my m2m, even though I think my zone team has better players. 2-3 zone also suffers against 3pt shooting. You can go to 3-2 zone, but then you are giving up alot of inside positioning. This is a little problematic when a good team goes an inside out attack. 

People have also said zone suffers a reb disadvantage, but I personally haven't seen much of that.

Advantage of zone is that you can run a short bench. This offers some strategic advantage in recruiting. You can take on a couple of stars and potentially battle for them and be willing to take on a mediocre backup or 2, with the goal of your studs going for 30 mpg. 

Def matters in zone. Any given shot in near the perimeter, your guards have an equal opportunity to be the defender, so all around great defense is still good. 

Agree with the point about a short bench, that is a clear advantage. Also agree about having good all-around defense however a great advantage of running the zone is you can afford to sign a tempting recruit with great offensive skills but terrible DEF that the majority of M2M/press teams shy away from. He can't be singled out by a great scorer like in M2M and what would be a foul machine in a press is helped greatly by the zone's tendency to produce the fewest fouls of any defense. Surround him with good defenders and he can score 15 PPG for you and not be a major liability on defense. Although I personally would not have more than one of these types getting big minutes at a time.

I was very successful with a fastbreak zone team in D3.  They even won a NT after I left :)

http://www.wisjournal.com/hd/TeamProfile/History.aspx?tid=8653

I think FB/zone is very effective because zone mitigates the fatigue issues with fastbreak, and it also keeps you from fouling.  My strategy was to draw a ton of fouls and not commit many.  We some athletic, fast FT shooters the offense is good, and with a few dominant shot blockers, the defense is good.  This team had the D3 career leader for Crum in blocks during its NT run.