I recently got back into HD after several years away from it. I took over my Seattle team this year. As there were only 5 returning guys, and only two upperclassmen, I knew I had my work cut out for me. However,  didn't think it would be this bad. We're 0-9 playing mostly crappy SIM AI teams, and most of the games aren't close.

The biggest issue I can see is that we are fouling 26 times a game. While I am playing a press, I still feel like this is a huge number.

If you have a chance, please look at my roster. Is this just a case of having a lot of young guys and eventually they will pick up on the press? Or do I simply not have the ATH/Speed/Defense numbers and should I switch to zone? I don't expect to be good for another two years anyway so I have plenty of time to switch.

Thoughts on this or any other aspect of my team would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Youth definitely has a lot to do with the fouls. Without knowing the potential of the ath/spd in your freshmen, it's tough to say whether they'll develop into the type of players that can be successful in the press system. One thing I can say is that if you plan on sticking with this team for the next couple of seasons, go ahead and start your freshmen to give them a maximum amount of playing time (and thus a max amount of improvement). If you've surrendered this season already, you might as well play your freshmen as much as possible. I'm using the same strategy with my Occidental team, and I plan to reap the rewards 2 seasons down the road.

I used that strategy a long time ago, before potential was introduced.   I started 5 freshmen and finished 2-25 with a 24-game losing streak.  When they were juniors we made the NT and defeated the #1 team twice in conference play.  I think we made the Sweet 16 as seniors.

My center missed his first 27 (!) shots that season. He couldn't even hit a lay-up or a rebounded shot.  He was All-Conference before he graduated.