College basketball's sharpest defensive masterminds: T.J. Otzelberger, Steve Pikiell top the charts

[Tango Two]

College basketball's sharpest defensive masterminds: T.J. Otzelberger, Steve Pikiell top the charts

With offenses putting up historic numbers, defense-first college basketball coaches are facing a fascinating dilemma in the chase for stops.

www.cbssports.com

 

[DirtyRU]

Great little piece, love this. Everything spot-on except for calling Mag a "stud". I always liked his game, but a stud is pushing it. Maybe defensively. Anyway:

"This past season might have been Pikiell's best-ever defensive coaching job. Sure, shot-swatting big man Cliff Omoruyi was on the floor, but the rest of Rutgers' personnel wasn't all that special defensively. Rutgers had multiple small guards. Stud defensive wing Mawot Mag missed 15 games. Jeremiah Williams, another plus perimeter defender, played in just 12 of 32 games. And yet, Rutgers finished with the fifth-best defense in the country and the second-best defense in Big Ten play.

Absurd."

 

[LotusAggressor]

If he becomes an offensive mastermind with the talent on this roster, we'll have something.

 

[ScarletLongIsland]

Mastermind? If he becomes decent offensively, we’ll have something. The O has been putrid

 

[IMARUFAN]

Ace scored 40 points vs Camden H.S. I guess that makes his high school coach an offensive genius?

People give too much credit/blame to coaches. Bill Belichick was a genius ... until Tom Brady left.

Pikiell is a very good coach ... period. Give him a bunch of guys who can't throw the ball into the ocean but are athletic? He'll teach them to play D. With the talent on this team, all Pike needs to do is show up for the game.

 

[Tango Two]

Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell is ‘defensive mastermind,’ analyst says

A national college basketball writer listed Rutgers coach Steve Pikiell among the "defensive masterminds" in the sport.

www.nj.com

 

[hinson32]

Ace scored 40 points vs Camden H.S. I guess that makes his high school coach an offensive genius?

People give too much credit/blame to coaches. Bill Belichick was a genius ... until Tom Brady left.

Pikiell is a very good coach ... period. Give him a bunch of guys who can't throw the ball into the ocean but are athletic? He'll teach them to play D. With the talent on this team, all Pike needs to do is show up for the game.

True to some extent, but there are coaches that run beautiful, effective offensive sets. Watch Nebraska or UConn on offense, it is a thing of beauty. Our offense is not that.

 

[Yeah Baby]

True to some extent, but there are coaches that run beautiful, effective offensive sets. Watch Nebraska or UConn on offense, it is a thing of beauty. Our offense is not that.

Our Offense was great a few years ago. When your best players are good enough to score but willing to pass and do the little things the offense will be just fine. We have that again this coming year. Iowa runs great sets but play little D or not enough obviously.

 

[LotusAggressor]

True to some extent, but there are coaches that run beautiful, effective offensive sets. Watch Nebraska or UConn on offense, it is a thing of beauty. Our offense is not that.

Those teams have people who can shoot, which makes those beautiful sets so effective.