More on the article by JOC.
“We switch an awful lot and it can put you in a difficult situation,” Mooney said of the UR defensive tactic during which the defender guarding the screener picks up the man for whom the screen is set. “The positive of switching, you might take way the edge of the ballhandler and take away some other things.”
Richmond’s defensive philosophy can play out with the Spiders switching and preventing an opposing guard from driving directly to the basket, which causes extensive chaos, because a Spider is waiting to stop that offensive player as he comes off a screen.
The offensive player can’t penetrate UR resistance for a layup, or draw interior defensive help, freeing an opposing big man for a pass that leads to a layup.
Richmond’s defensive philosophy can also play out with Argabright, a 5-foot-11 Spiders freshman, trying to hold off 6-8, 220-pound VCU junior Michael Belle three feet from the basket in a mission-nearly-impossible assignment. UR opponents seem to regularly unlock those desirable matchups.....
Richmond’s staff assessment of cost-benefit associated with switching on screens has led Spiders' coaches to believe it’s a sound defensive system. Mooney was hired by Richmond in 2005 and his first teams featured tall guards, all in the 6-4 range, to go with taller forwards and centers. Part of the advantage to being tall in the backcourt, he explained, was the ability to switch on screens and not get overpowered when opponents’ big men were covered by UR guards....
Richmond defeated St. Bonaventure 99-94 last Saturday at the Robins Center. Frank Mitchell, the Bonnies’ 6-8, 270-pound senior, made 8 of 9 inside shots and scored 16. He also committed 5 turnovers as Richmond guards forced to cover him via switching raked the ball from his grasp for some of them.
“That’s a tall order and something that we’re working on.”
richmond.com
