Storming the Floor

I’m a defense geek. I love the Pack-Line, which is on display right here in my hometown during hoops season.

“The Pack-Line defense is a containment system in which one man pressures the ball and the other four stay in help position within an imaginary 16-foot arc around the basket. Virginia deploys it well enough to rank first in the nation in fewest points allowed per possession (0.87). But what the Cavaliers do, Tony says, isn’t groundbreaking. “It’s just about having an iron will and saying we won’t budge on certain things defensively.”

“Bennett’s situation is slightly different from whatever an “average” transfer issue might be. He’s three years into a rebuilding project. His teams’ distinct style — slow-paced and defensively oriented — necessitate certain types of players that fit better than others. He’s received unexpectedly good play from a handful of players, which relegated Harrell (a promising freshman last season) and Johnson (a little-used forward who would have provided interior depth this season) to the bench. 

Still, the transfers leave Bennett with just nine scholarship players this season. They’ll also force him to play freshman guard Paul Jesperson, who Bennett initially intended to redshirt this season. It’s far from an ideal situation, especially with senior forward Mike Scott leading this Cavaliers team to such a promising start. The timing is harsh.”