In D1 I often run up against teams that only play 7 to 8 players...but they are better than my players...some are pressing teams.

What is the best tempo to use?

I've always thought slow down to shorten the game...but what about uptempo to create more possessions and tire them out more.

Thoughts?

I tend to go uptempo against teams that don't have much depth. I'll often find I have a stronger bench but worse starters and definitely  want to try to get our benches on the floor as quick as possible.

I also only did 2 seasons in D1 I speak much more from D2 and D3

Posted by mjp8 on 11/11/2011 9:38:00 PM (view original):
I tend to go uptempo against teams that don't have much depth. I'll often find I have a stronger bench but worse starters and definitely  want to try to get our benches on the floor as quick as possible.

I also only did 2 seasons in D1 I speak much more from D2 and D3

I agree, but I also do not have as much experience in Division 1. I guess it would depend on the stamina of those 8 guys. In D2 and D3 it is a good strategy to go uptempo if your team is much deeper than other teams. I have a deep team right now at low levels of D1 at Mercer, and I have been using uptempo against les deep teams with good success, but my experience is too limited to really know for sure.

I look at it this way- is my bench better than theirs?  Even if they run 8, are the 5 they put on the floor, even tired, better than the 5 I've had on the floor?

Uptempo for sure. Tire them out and maybe even get 1 or 2 guy into foul trouble, and the team with 8 gets into huge trouble.

That's what I was going to say, particularly if they play press like you said. Decent shot of getting some guys into foul trouble and really shortening their bench, and then you should be able to take better advantage.

I tend to agree with the comments (w/o any dI experience) above but you also have to look @ the tempo the other team is running. If they're running slowdown, your uptempo can blow up in your face, setting up their starters against your back ups.

+1