I'm sticking with a zone defense for a team I picked up, but since the new engine switch it seems most everyone plays M2M. Press & zone are much more rare (or am I wrong?).  Has anyone at any level seen a zone team advance far in the NT since the new engine was implemented? Any strengths/weaknesses that have shown up that weren't there before? For instance, is it much easier to light up a 2-3 from three point range now than before?  Even harder to get rebounds than before with a 3-2 (or the opposite)?  Thanks.

Wooden d3 title was just won using the zone

Posted by brianp87 on 8/3/2010 10:35:00 AM (view original):
Wooden d3 title was just won using the zone

But they were 16-11 in the refular season right? I run zone and my team has been significantly underperforming this year. Man seems to be the new press.

I just made the S16 with my UConn team in Knight.  I personally feel zone is more effective with the new engine than it was in the previous engine.

Has anyone tried running a zone defense with all high defense ratings?

I find that you need high DE ratings on the perimeter for the zone to be really effective.  You can get away with lower DE ratings inside, especially if you have good BLK.

(FYI, I am both srunstro and HalfAstros).

 

Posted by 4green2 on 8/3/2010 12:04:00 PM (view original):
Has anyone tried running a zone defense with all high defense ratings?

I tried to build a defensive minded zone team with this roster.  Worked really well in the NT, not so well in the regular season.

Name	Yr.	Pos.	A	SPD	REB	DE	BLK	LP	PE	BH	P	WE	ST	DU	FT	TOT
Fred Daniel	Sr.	PG	36	73	1	77	13	10	16	79	83	42	78	76	C+	584
John Maio	Sr.	PG	21	45	15	75	17	11	35	82	75	63	94	99	A-	632
Nicholas Spence	Fr.	PG	26	53	14	50	15	10	53	44	70	95	68	48	C-	546
Howard Pendergrass	Sr.	SG	45	63	3	82	15	3	55	54	59	47	95	57	C+	578
Ron Dotson	Jr.	SG	38	58	17	30	19	32	60	88	82	49	79	40	C	592
Quincy Hendrix	Jr.	SG	58	39	12	71	16	13	72	59	51	31	74	27	C-	523
Jason Hodges	Fr.	SG	23	38	20	48	2	15	48	62	55	51	65	86	D	513
Walter Dacus	Jr.	PF	56	25	60	47	42	42	51	13	39	26	80	26	C-	507
Scott Shannon	Sr.	C	51	26	79	43	71	53	42	14	36	46	72	59	D+	592
Everett Hogue	Jr.	C	32	50	86	29	57	62	20	15	26	57	80	81	C	595
Walter Leblanc	Jr.	C	32	27	73	45	71	63	4	1	28	62	96	83	C+	585
Teddy Edwards	Fr.	C	21	33	72	29	61	46	1	14	26	51	66	10	D-	430
Averages	-	-	37	44	38	52	33	30	38	44	52	52	79	58	-	556

i'm still running zone with 3 of my 4 teams.  you have to defend the PER a little more (i.e. where I would run a 2-3 +2 before, i think a 3-2 0 is the way to go now).  once i adjusted to that everything has been pretty good.     

Posted by srunstro on 8/3/2010 11:30:00 AM (view original):
I just made the S16 with my UConn team in Knight.  I personally feel zone is more effective with the new engine than it was in the previous engine.

srunstro, in what ways?  Rebounding better?  Better at guarding the perimeter?  Creates more turnovers than before? 

Posted by tkimble on 8/3/2010 10:46:00 AM (view original):

Posted by brianp87 on 8/3/2010 10:35:00 AM (view original):
Wooden d3 title was just won using the zone

But they were 16-11 in the refular season right? I run zone and my team has been significantly underperforming this year. Man seems to be the new press.

I thought success was defined by championships?

Posted by HalfAstros on 8/3/2010 12:13:00 PM (view original):
I find that you need high DE ratings on the perimeter for the zone to be really effective.  You can get away with lower DE ratings inside, especially if you have good BLK.

(FYI, I am both srunstro and HalfAstros).

 

I couldn't agree more.

I run zone on several of my teams and it works fine in the new engine. Just make sure you have good rebounding skills. It's one of the few defenses that can neutralize outside shooting, which, in my opinion, is way overinflated in the new engine.

Thanks for the input, all.