[h=5]Coach Patsos likes man-to-man, but foul trouble and his players' success with zone alter approach[/h]
Siena junior guard Rob Poole assumed the days of playing zone defense were over when Jimmy Patsos took over as head coach this season.
Poole reasoned that Patsos was known for an aggressive, man-to-man approach during his days at Loyola (Md.), which meant the zone that former Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro preferred was doomed to go the way of the Blackberry.
Instead, Patsos has been more than willing to try both systems as the Saints (6-9 overall, 2-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) enter their home game against Marist (5-9, 2-2) on Friday night.
"Very surprised," Poole said. "I was thinking the same thing. I was like, 'He's a really good man guy.' At Loyola, I don't ever remember them playing zone versus us, ever, and he always said he's never played zone in his life that much."
Siena employed zone in the second half against Rider last Saturday, even though the Broncs entered the game ranked tops in the country in 3-point accuracy. Rider shot only 25.9 percent from the field in the second half, including 2-for-9 from behind the arc, and finished with a season low for points in Siena's 62-47 victory.
Patsos said he stuck with the zone at times this season because the returning players are comfortable with it.
"I don't mind playing zone," Patsos said. "They know it. They're good at it because they've played it so much. Look, if they're good at it, I'm not here to say, 'Oh, we'll never play zone because you guys played zone (before Patsos arrived).'"
There's another obvious reason: The Saints have spent much of the season in foul trouble, averaging 23.7 personals a game, the 14th-most out of 351 Division I teams. Patsos has switched to the more passive zone during games to keep his players from fouling out.
"When we have foul trouble, we've got to play it," he said.
Besides, Siena does have the personnel to play an effective zone with tall athletes who can disrupt passing lanes and close quickly on shooters. This is especially true when 6-foot-3 guard Ryan Oliver checks in for the 5-8 Evan Hymes, or 6-9 freshman forward Michael Wolfe comes in the game.
Poole, who is 6-foot-5, acknowledges that the zone probably helps cover his defensive shortcomings.
"Maybe because I'm out there and I'm not the quickest or fastest guy (to) guard the other (team's) quickest guy," Poole said. "Maybe he's trying to help us out and keep us in the zone so we can stop the drive and stop the 3 (pointers)."
Marist enters Friday's game on a five-game winning streak after starting 0-9.
"I think our shooting and offensive production has gone up," Marist first-year coach Jeff Bower said.
The Red Foxes are led in scoring by junior Chavaughn Lewis, a slashing, 6-foot-5 swingman who averages 16.7 points per game. Marist's top big man is 6-foot-10 senior Adam Kemp, who averages 7.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. However, his availability is questionable, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Kemp suffered an undisclosed injury in Monday's win over Canisius.
Notes: Hymes limped off the court after injuring his left leg in Thursday's practice. Patsos said he thinks Hymes will play. ... Patsos said freshman guard Maurice White (knee) and sophomore guard Rich Audu (ankle) will both be available against Marist. ... Siena junior forward Marcus Hopper, who is redshirting this season, announced he plans to transfer after the season. He averaged 3.4 minutes over 27 games his first two seasons.
Siena junior guard Rob Poole assumed the days of playing zone defense were over when Jimmy Patsos took over as head coach this season.
Poole reasoned that Patsos was known for an aggressive, man-to-man approach during his days at Loyola (Md.), which meant the zone that former Siena coach Mitch Buonaguro preferred was doomed to go the way of the Blackberry.
Instead, Patsos has been more than willing to try both systems as the Saints (6-9 overall, 2-2 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference) enter their home game against Marist (5-9, 2-2) on Friday night.
"Very surprised," Poole said. "I was thinking the same thing. I was like, 'He's a really good man guy.' At Loyola, I don't ever remember them playing zone versus us, ever, and he always said he's never played zone in his life that much."
Siena employed zone in the second half against Rider last Saturday, even though the Broncs entered the game ranked tops in the country in 3-point accuracy. Rider shot only 25.9 percent from the field in the second half, including 2-for-9 from behind the arc, and finished with a season low for points in Siena's 62-47 victory.
Patsos said he stuck with the zone at times this season because the returning players are comfortable with it.
"I don't mind playing zone," Patsos said. "They know it. They're good at it because they've played it so much. Look, if they're good at it, I'm not here to say, 'Oh, we'll never play zone because you guys played zone (before Patsos arrived).'"
There's another obvious reason: The Saints have spent much of the season in foul trouble, averaging 23.7 personals a game, the 14th-most out of 351 Division I teams. Patsos has switched to the more passive zone during games to keep his players from fouling out.
"When we have foul trouble, we've got to play it," he said.
Besides, Siena does have the personnel to play an effective zone with tall athletes who can disrupt passing lanes and close quickly on shooters. This is especially true when 6-foot-3 guard Ryan Oliver checks in for the 5-8 Evan Hymes, or 6-9 freshman forward Michael Wolfe comes in the game.
Poole, who is 6-foot-5, acknowledges that the zone probably helps cover his defensive shortcomings.
"Maybe because I'm out there and I'm not the quickest or fastest guy (to) guard the other (team's) quickest guy," Poole said. "Maybe he's trying to help us out and keep us in the zone so we can stop the drive and stop the 3 (pointers)."
Marist enters Friday's game on a five-game winning streak after starting 0-9.
"I think our shooting and offensive production has gone up," Marist first-year coach Jeff Bower said.
The Red Foxes are led in scoring by junior Chavaughn Lewis, a slashing, 6-foot-5 swingman who averages 16.7 points per game. Marist's top big man is 6-foot-10 senior Adam Kemp, who averages 7.9 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. However, his availability is questionable, according to the Poughkeepsie Journal. Kemp suffered an undisclosed injury in Monday's win over Canisius.
Notes: Hymes limped off the court after injuring his left leg in Thursday's practice. Patsos said he thinks Hymes will play. ... Patsos said freshman guard Maurice White (knee) and sophomore guard Rich Audu (ankle) will both be available against Marist. ... Siena junior forward Marcus Hopper, who is redshirting this season, announced he plans to transfer after the season. He averaged 3.4 minutes over 27 games his first two seasons.
