Missouri head coach Frank Haith has never been noted for being an exceptional defensive teacher. In his career he’s had one top-50 defense (2009, 47th in defensive efficiency). This year the Tigers are 78th, and they’re 7th in the Big 12.
In Saturday’s final running of the Border War, Mizzou built a 12-point lead at the half, and stretched it to 19 early in the 2nd. And they did it largely with defense. In the first half Kansas scored just 32 points on 35 possessions, or 0.91 per possession. This from a team that has a national top-10 offense. But in the 2nd half, and overtime, KU was able to shred Missouri’s zone. This was due to three things: late foul trouble for the Tigers, crisp execution by the Jayhawks, and poor fundamental defense by Missouri.
Here are three plays from the 2nd half which demonstrate how effective KU’s offense was. The Jayhawks scored 55 points in 38 2nd half (and overtime) possessions, an astonishing 1.45 per possession. This was a 59% increase from the first half.
In this first play the Jayhawks are trying to lob the ball into the post.
Tyshawn Taylor (cirlced) wants to go into the post for Thomas Robinson, but Ricardo Ratliffe (arrow) has textbook denial position with his right leg outside of Robinson’s and he’s 3/4 covering him up. The other Missouri defenders along the baseline are sagging enough to keep a lob from happening.
So Kansas resets the same play on the left side.
Now Elijah Johnson (cirlced) is trying the same pass (red arrow), only now KU has Missouri out of position. Kim English (green arrow) has sagged back as if he were fronting Robinson, while KU is clearly going over the top. This allows a diagonal passing lane from Johnson to the far corner. English should be up on the cutter while simultaneously taking away the cross-court diagonal. This would allow Marcus Denmon (#12) to sag into the lane taking away the lob. Instead, this happens:
This next play is the final Kansas possession of regulation. Down three, with about 20 seconds left, Tyshawn Taylor (circled) has the ball and KU is setting screens at both elbows (arrows) to free up a shooter to tie the game.
But Mizzou gets through the screen on time.
Unfortunately Michael Dixon runs to the shooter’s elbow rather than setting good position in front of Elijah Johnson (circled). Johnson pump fakes and goes right by, the defense has to step up to cut off the drive (arrow) and this allows a simple pass to Thomas Robinson.
Here it is at full speed:
Our final play is probably the simplest. It starts with Kansas spreading the floor and Tyshawn Taylor (circled) with the ball.
Travis Releford (#24) is in the center of the zone and receives the ball.
But rather than facing the basket or looking to the corners, he simply resets to Taylor (circled) and steps forward to set a screen. The Missouri defense (arrows) clearly sees what’s coming next.
But seeing it and defending it are two different things. Michael Dixon (#11) is late getting to the spot and Tyshawn Taylor (circled) goes right by him for the easy runner.
The video:
