Stork asked me about my comment on Spacing
I was not able to get back to the post due to work yesterday, but he noted that I have "pounded the drum" of spacing issues all year and asked whether it was due to coaching, stupid players, or whatever.
First, when I say spacing, these are some of the things that I see that are examples of spacing issues.
Drives:
- There is a "rule" in basketball in which teammates should read what their teammates are doing and react accordingly. Not all teams run on "read and react" principles; they will have set plays of course and these set plays can cause spacing issues. But a basic rule of basketball is if a teammate driives, essentially take your defender away.
- For example, if a player drives from the top of the key, the wing should be pushed/slide to the corner and take the defender with her. if the defender helps on the drive, the corner shooter is open for a pass. If the defender stays with the corner, the lane is there for the driver.
- When it comes to the posts, if a player drives baseline, any post on the block should slide up the lane line or into the lane for a dump pass... Or the player drives from up top, the post should slide down to the short corner. Again, the premise is the ball-handler draws the post defender freeing the post up for a pass. We have seen this at times when Nelson or Wenzel have driven baseline and dropped a pass into the lane.
The spacing issues have come at times when that wing teammate does not move or if a wing drives, the player in the corner is still there, so the drive is against at least two defenders, making it a tough lane to drive into and presenting the potential for a turnover. I have seen guards drive from the top with a forward in the same lane line as the drive, so the drive is against both the guard's defender and the post's defender.
We dont get out of the way a lot of times. We have too many players in the vicinity of the lane. For example, we often have two posts in the lane, especially when Freelon and Baker both flash up to the high post or around the lane when a guard drives. It becomes crowded. Even when Wenzel used screens to pop from underneath into the lane yesterday, there were 6 people in the lane - her, her defender, the two forwards, and their defenders.
Post Play - We have had situations where:
- Last year MIcheaux got the ball on the block and went to turn into the lane (not baseline side) and a teammate had drifted over toward her. She ended up turning into two defenders. This has happened this year to Freelon where she gets a pass inside and another forward is nearby making it hard to do alot. Now, sometimes, with good spacing it has lead to the random pass to the weakside, but that is rare.
- Our standard entry pass is when both forwards come up and we pass to one of them. Having both forwards in that vicinity without one of them vacating or dropping prevents the one who got the pass from pivoting, facing the basket, and driving. THis is not so rampant that it happens all the time, but it limits the options for the player with the ball.
- I have seen forwards (and guards) get a pass and drive in the direction of the help defense versus using an opening where there is only that player's defender. For example, Freelon has gotten the ball at the FT line area and driven left where there was a sagging help defender from the wing when the right side was basically open.
I would do screenshots or videos if I had time.
There are other situations but Stork's real question was whether it is coaching or players. The non-copout answer is both
System:
Even though I say that a "rule" of basket is to slide away from a drive, the players may not be being coached to do that. They have a setup, and when someone drives, the players think they are supposed to stay where they are. You can see some drift because their eyes make them see something or they drift in for an offensive rebound or whatever and that carries them into the way, but on the whole the system may not account for that. The system also at times has both forwards in the lane.
Players:
If there is coaching that instills within the players the mindset of how to read a teammate and play off of her, then if the players are failing to do it, then it is on the players. If a player with the ball drives into the heart of the defense, that is on the players.
Basketball is about making split second decisions with lots of potential chaos around you. You drive thinking you see something, like this nice lane to the basket but then that lane closes faster than you think it will, or a secondary defender comes over to help. Then that layup becomes a forced shot against multiple defenders, but the ball-handler committed and misses it poorly. There are times we see players make a nice pass when drawing the defense, but we often see blinders on or forced awkward shots because the player's brain is committed.
Driving into the direction of the help versus away from the help....sometimes that is a bad decision.Sometimes that is because the player can only drive with one dominant hand....
Coaching:
Presumably coaches are seeing things and talking to players on the bench about adjustments. If a player is barely on the bench because they play 32+ minutes a game, they don't get a lot of opportunities for the coach to be in their ear about tendencies. Even during timeouts or half-time, the coaches may focus on team-oriented stuff. IF the coaches are talking to players about driving into crowds, forcing shots, not moving to give teammates space, and the players are not changing, then that is on both the player and the coach.
So, ultimately, spacing issues are a systemic/coaching adjustment issue. One of the things Oregon did was go 4-out and then bring a post up to screen for Fiso. There was nice spacing for her to drive or to dish to a teammate. Even when they went high-low, there was just two people in the lane area - one up top to get a pass who then looked into Etute, for example. There was not another player on the weakside of Etute that would allow for a quick double team. We might have had a guard go into help, but the guard had to come from the perimeter, not from two feet away.
To me, there are at least four systemic things that need to grow for next year:
- Better spacing on offense
- Dealing with screens on defense better
- Better shooting from more players
- We need more screens that actually free up guards to the basket or passes into the post (more than we do; like every team we play)
I am sure after writing all of this, some may say that was a lot of nothing.
One of the talking points in the pre-season was the leadership that Baker and Wenzel wanted to provide this year. It will be interesting to see their take on their growth and the ways they felt they led. The team experienced improvement and showed resilience, growth, and poise in so many games, especially during that win streak; the pulling out games against Syracuse, Clemson, and UVA; and other areas. How to then avoid those quarter long droughts against good teams will be an off-season talking point as well. I hope to have a chance this off-season to talk to Duffy and company in the off-season about her take on things.
Sorry if I didn't answer you question Stork: To me, the system needs to be tweaked. the coaches need to coach players to adjust, players need to make better decisions, we need more players contributing consistently so the best players don;t feel like they need to force it, players need to listen to any coaching, and then coaches need to figure out how to handle players who dont change their tendencies. The thing is certain good players make enough good plays that you have to live with their mistakes because of what they bring to the table and what your bench does not.... Then it is about coaches' gaining trust in other players to put them on the court more...
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 11:19:33 AM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 11:20:36 AM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 11:21:21 AM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 11:22:31 AM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 1:09:21 PM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 1:17:01 PM
** Edited by VAHokie89 at 3/21/2026, 1:17:36 PM
13 Replies
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Popsof1
4mo
Biggest difference yesterday was Oregon ran simple actions and kept the floor spaced. Out of those actions was open areas to work and get many uncontested looks. We ran multiple actions with crowded half court which led to many many contested shots. Efficiency goes up with open looks and rather quickly. We had to work really hard this year for our looks. Much easier to counter at the rim with room to pivot and move and play off two which helps players slow themselves down. We struggled with that as well because there wasn’t time or room for us to counter bc it was crowded with our own ppl and defenders. A Big that can slide to short corners and move out the way on drives will help as well as players staying in corners and not diving when a ball handler is driving. When Fiso played out of ball screens the mid range area was much more open then when we played out of pick n roll. Also goes hand in hand how we are guarded vs how we guard the pick n roll (as mentioned by others)
As for Carleigh , nobody in the conference can stay in front of her in half court yet majority of her shots were contested bc of spacing. And when she drives and they help she can kick BUT many times those positions were cutting into her area and not waiting or being ready for the kick.
We have work to do defensively as well and a lot of that can improve with effort and “want to” as well as learning and understanding defensive angles and not jumping with ever hesi / head fake. Can’t have mental lapses on either side of the ball. Everyone must know their positions on all plays called and not “forget” or we should do what Oregon did again and play with simple slips, ghost screens, ball screens and wide spacing. SIMPLE WORKS!
A BIG, SPACING AND BEING ABLE TO GUARD THE POSITION(s) you play or want to play as well as KNOWING personnel every game. So many small things can make big differences both ways good or bad. Salute to the athletes juggling this schedule with classes, ongoing daily injuries, and the mental side of P4 hoops. It ain’t easy!!
How we adjust to all of it and how it all plays out will be interesting to see. Was a good year in my opinion BUT we have a lot of work to do in my opinion as well and I’m sure the team will be up for the challenge and I’m sure the coaches are already working their tails off to figure out the plan…..
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
4mo
you posted and you provided some excellent additional detail.
(In response to this post by Popsof1)
4mo
Where baker came over to set a screen for nelson. Baker popped to the three point line. The middle was wide open with freelon in the lane.
Nelson didn't use the screen really.
The pass went to wells in the corner for her 3-pter. Fine.
But it shows what we don't do. Freelon could have been the one to set the screen. It could have been Nelson and freelon screening and rolling into a wide open lane like fiso/etute did.
Agree with everything you said.
Our screens are more so perimeter/oriented screens. And ate often about going through the motions. Wenzel and nelson have done more with freelon flowing alongside. Tight screens with limited room. But we don't do alot that gets sone attacking the basket.
As you said, when we get players shots around the basket or jumpers in the lane, the situation is often difficult.
It is the open easy layups that hurt. Baker missed a wide open underneath in the first half.
Nelson and wenzel both took weird awkward shots that were somewhere between a mini-“jumpshot” or attempt at a layup because they forced it. That lends itself to that inefficiency.
I anticipate continued growth as seniors and juniors with such significant experience under their belt. They need help and hopefully we shape the roster to help take advantage of their experience.
(In response to this post by Popsof1)
4mo
Spacing while running the half court offense has driven me nuts all season. Yesterday, Oregon showed us how it's supposed to be done.
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
4mo
when they got the ball moving in transition they excelled.
When they other team drop back and could stop the initial drive to the basket r, we struggled.
We have a lot of similar players which is great for depth but don't really have a versatile attack.
You brought up Carleigh, her offseason goal should be more efficient. The Oregon guard scored 20 points but did it shooting 75% Scoring 20 points is great but if you shoot under 50% its waste a lot of possession.
** Edited by VermontDDS at 3/21/2026, 11:51:45 AM
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
4mo
Fiso herself is skilled, so i will take nothing from her. But their scheme had their players spread out. She called for a screen from the post or one came up..and when she used it, it was primarily her in a one-on-situation with either the guard or the post switching. Even when she drove, she had a lane.
Oregon did a good job of spreading us out and giving her space.
If we wanted to Carleigh or Nelson to be more efficient at least going to the basket, we would need to spread people out more, have a 4-out-1-in situation and set easy screens for real pick and rolls. Then we have shooters on the edge in case. The efficiency at the 3-pt line is one thing but we don't free people up that well going to the basket.
(In response to this post by VermontDDS)
4mo
Fiso did a terrific job of getting to the rim and finishing. Tech’s done an OK job this year of getting to the rim, but as I noted yesterday, it went 8-for-28 on layups.
The difference in the Tech players finishing around the rim vs. the Oregon players was striking. And from a guard perspective, Fiso’s spacing was so good that she got downhill whenever she wanted and blew by her defender with a great change of pace. Even Suffren and Wells, who have been the team’s best on-ball defenders for much of the year, were easily driven by.
On the other side, Oregon crowded the lane really well (plus Tech’s spacing issues) and there were few open layups. It felt a lot like the Hokies trying to force something and hope for fouls.
But it’s also hard for Tech to space the floor when it doesn’t have many 3-point shooters. All goes hand in hand together.
(In response to this post by VAHokie89)
4mo
from 3-pt land when she’s in the game, that will hopefully open up the floor and resolve *some* of the spacing issues. Amoore, King and Ekh helped that so much while they were here.
** Edited by BackInTheBurg at 3/21/2026, 6:11:42 PM
(In response to this post by David Cunningham)