Preamble: Defense is the reason MBB is where it's at thus far.
Using Barttorvik data this is the most efficient offense and least efficient defense in the Pikiell era.
We've never had a defense ranked lower than 72nd, so being 50+ spots lower is the shock here.
Fix #1: Change Screen Coverages
For the past several seasons, Rutgers has traditionally hard-hedged over screens with their big men. This is most effective when the Big is long, athletic, and the off-ball defenders rotate appropriately to play help side defense temporarily while the Big recovers. Cliff was very good at this.
Our big men are not equipped for this. We've seen Ogbole and Somerville get picked apart in pick and rolls and Martini getting switched onto guards that he can't stay in front of.
Recommendation: We should be playing more drop coverage, especially with Ogbole. This is how we utilized Myles Johnson and how tall but immobile centers like a Zach Edey defend. It allows the big to defend the rim and requires the guards to chase over screens.
Fix #2: More Full Court Press
Not every possession, but for a few stretches - and not just one possession out of a timeout.
Press to Maximize Strengths
1. JMike, JWill are high energy on ball defenders who can apply ball pressure
2. Bailey and Harper have shown they can use their length to get in passing lanes, along with Derkack
3. We are utilizing a 10 man rotation and depth/fresh legs is an asset for pressing teams
4. Turn defense into offense - our offense thrives in the open floor so generating more turnovers and transition opportunities will help.
Fix #3: More Zone
Zone to Hide Deficiencies:
1. We don't have a true rim defender, which teams are exploiting when winning 1v1 on-ball matchups. We saw it with Derkack having no help on that last possession. Even JMike, who is good at applying ball-pressure, is too small to contest shots when his man gets to the rim. Cliff would clean that up in years past. Zone would compensate for that and allow someone like Bailey to be more of a factor in help-side rim protection.
2. Our best shooters (Hayes, Martini and Acuff) have all struggled with on ball defense. To get them on the court and maximize their strengths, we need to "hide" their weaknesses. Zone would do that.
3. The rebounding issues. Zone can help with team rebounding and keeping our better rebounders close to the basket.
Bonus: Derkack was a DPOY in a zone defense. He's good at reading passing lanes, getting steals and drawing charges, all of which fit in a zone. Bailey and Harper's positional length would benefit in a zone.
Overall, my view is Pikiell has been running the defense that worked the last few years with a dominant rim defender (Cliff) and premiere on-ball defenders (McConnell) when that's just not our personnel. He's going to need to adjust to what this team does well and hide the things we don't do well if we're going to turn things around.
We're the 52nd best offense so far and if we can figure out how to get Hayes, Martini and Acuff more minutes while improving the defense, there's no reason why that can't go up.
Using Barttorvik data this is the most efficient offense and least efficient defense in the Pikiell era.
| Count | Year | OFF | DEF |
1 | 2017 | 224 | 72 |
2 | 2018 | 283 | 22 |
3 | 2019 | 151 | 50 |
4 | 2020 | 76 | 8 |
5 | 2021 | 94 | 20 |
6 | 2022 | 92 | 64 |
7 | 2023 | 151 | 8 |
8 | 2024 | 300 | 5 |
9 | 2025 | 52 | 125 |
| AVG | years 1-8 only | 171 | 31 |
We've never had a defense ranked lower than 72nd, so being 50+ spots lower is the shock here.
Fix #1: Change Screen Coverages
For the past several seasons, Rutgers has traditionally hard-hedged over screens with their big men. This is most effective when the Big is long, athletic, and the off-ball defenders rotate appropriately to play help side defense temporarily while the Big recovers. Cliff was very good at this.
Our big men are not equipped for this. We've seen Ogbole and Somerville get picked apart in pick and rolls and Martini getting switched onto guards that he can't stay in front of.
Recommendation: We should be playing more drop coverage, especially with Ogbole. This is how we utilized Myles Johnson and how tall but immobile centers like a Zach Edey defend. It allows the big to defend the rim and requires the guards to chase over screens.
Fix #2: More Full Court Press
Not every possession, but for a few stretches - and not just one possession out of a timeout.
Press to Maximize Strengths
1. JMike, JWill are high energy on ball defenders who can apply ball pressure
2. Bailey and Harper have shown they can use their length to get in passing lanes, along with Derkack
3. We are utilizing a 10 man rotation and depth/fresh legs is an asset for pressing teams
4. Turn defense into offense - our offense thrives in the open floor so generating more turnovers and transition opportunities will help.
Fix #3: More Zone
Zone to Hide Deficiencies:
1. We don't have a true rim defender, which teams are exploiting when winning 1v1 on-ball matchups. We saw it with Derkack having no help on that last possession. Even JMike, who is good at applying ball-pressure, is too small to contest shots when his man gets to the rim. Cliff would clean that up in years past. Zone would compensate for that and allow someone like Bailey to be more of a factor in help-side rim protection.
2. Our best shooters (Hayes, Martini and Acuff) have all struggled with on ball defense. To get them on the court and maximize their strengths, we need to "hide" their weaknesses. Zone would do that.
3. The rebounding issues. Zone can help with team rebounding and keeping our better rebounders close to the basket.
Bonus: Derkack was a DPOY in a zone defense. He's good at reading passing lanes, getting steals and drawing charges, all of which fit in a zone. Bailey and Harper's positional length would benefit in a zone.
Overall, my view is Pikiell has been running the defense that worked the last few years with a dominant rim defender (Cliff) and premiere on-ball defenders (McConnell) when that's just not our personnel. He's going to need to adjust to what this team does well and hide the things we don't do well if we're going to turn things around.
We're the 52nd best offense so far and if we can figure out how to get Hayes, Martini and Acuff more minutes while improving the defense, there's no reason why that can't go up.
