Freeze Frame: How South Carolina Broke Georgia’s Zone

Posted by Brian Joyce on February 3rd, 2015

The Gamecocks entered Saturday having dropped six of their last seven games, including the last four. Georgia came in on the opposite end of the spectrum, riding into Columbia on a five-game winning streak and feeling good about its NCAA Tournament chances. So it stands to reason that South Carolina’s defense (11th nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency) completely shut down the surging Bulldogs, holding Georgia to 22 percent shooting for the game. After an early 13-9 deficit, Georgia turned to a 2/3 zone with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Frank Martin’s squad lacks a legitimate outside shooting threat, but he used screens and quick ball movement around the zone to propel his offense to its most efficient output (1.04 points per possession) since January 13 (a win over Alabama). In this edition of Freeze Frame, we review how South Carolina was able to break down the Bulldogs’ zone and notch an important conference win.

Frank Martin picked up a big win over Georgia with an efficient zone offense.  (rantsports.com).

Frank Martin picked up a big win over Georgia with an efficient zone offense. (rantsports.com).

The first play we will examine came with 9:42 left in the first half. Georgia had recently switched to the 2/3 zone and the Gamecocks used screens on the perimeter to free up their shooters off the dribble. In this play, South Carolina’s Sindarius Thornwell works the ball into the middle of the zone where Michael Carrera has set up shop.

Michael Carrera has plenty of room to operate in the middle of the zone (screen grab from ESPN).

Michael Carrera has plenty of room to operate in the middle of the zone (screen grab from ESPN).

Carrera has enough to space to draw attention from several defenders, including Thornwell’s man. Thornwell then slides over to the open space in the zone where he there’s an open three if he wants it.

X marks the spot (screen grab from ESPN).

X marks the spot (screen grab from ESPN).

Thornwell received the ball in the right spot, but he is only a 25 percent shooter (19-of-76) from beyond the arc on the season. He is far more comfortable putting the ball on the floor and driving into the lane. Carrera sets a high screen for him to free up space for his drive to the left.

Thornwell puts the ball on the floor and drives (screen grab via ESPN).

Thornwell puts the ball on the floor and drives (screen grab via ESPN).

Georgia’s JJ Frazier fights through the screen from Carrera to meet Thornwell at the foul line. Thornwell drives, runs Frazier into the screen, and pulls up for an open mid-range jumper. In this possession, South Carolina worked the ball into the middle of the zone, played to its strengths by not settling for the open (sucker) three, and used a simple but key screen from Carrera to free up his penetration and open jumper. The following video shows the full play.

In the next play, we see some different screening action from the Gamecocks to force the defender into a key decision. Here Mindaugas Kacinas sets a pick for Thornwell and the sophomore wing drives toward the lane.

SC again uses screens to get penetration into the heart of the zone (screen grab via ESPN).

SC again uses screens to get penetration into the heart of the zone (screen grab via ESPN).

Kacinas, a capable outside shooter for a big guy, pops out and draws the defender out just slightly. Thornwell’s drive then forces Georgia guard Kenny Gaines to step in to cut off penetration, leaving seldom used junior Brian Steele standing all alone on the perimeter.

Thornwell causes the defender to make a choice (screen grab via ESPN).

Thornwell causes the defender to make a choice (screen grab via ESPN).

A semi truck could fill the void between Steele as he receives the pass and the nearest Georgia defender. Steele has plenty of time to load up the shot and knock it down.

Look at that space (screen grab via ESPN)!

Look at that space (screen grab via ESPN)!

On this possession, a solid screen by Kacinas forced defender Taylor Echols away from Thornwell on the drive. With Echols then out of the play, Gaines was forced to step in to cut off Thornwell’s drive. As both perimeter defenders where then occupied, Steele was left wide open for the three. Here is a video of this play in real time.

South Carolina used its screens effectively to free up space on the perimeter. In this final example, the Gamecocks used quick and efficient ball movement to prevent Georgia’s defenders from settling into the zone. Thornwell skips the pass over the defense to Duane Notice standing in the corner.

Thornwell has two options and opts for the skip pass to the corner (screen grab via ESPN).

Thornwell has two options and opts for the skip pass to the corner (screen grab via ESPN).

The Georgia zone shifts over to cover him leaving Notice the option to work it back out to the perimeter or down low to Carrera. He chooses to find Carrera on the baseline.

Carrera gets the ball on the baseline (screen grab via ESPN).

Carrera gets the ball on the baseline (screen grab via ESPN).

The defense collapses on Carrera, so he quickly works the ball back out to Thornwell.

The defense abandons its shape to collapse down on Carrera (screen grab via ESPN).

The defense abandons its shape to collapse down on Carrera (screen grab via ESPN).

Thornwell again plays to his strength, driving the ball left past the sprinting defender and loading into a step-back jumper.

Thornwell has an open lane (screen grab via ESPN).

Thornwell has an open lane (screen grab via ESPN).

Here is the full video demonstrating how quick and effective South Carolina’s ball movement was on this play. Notice how many screens the Gamecocks set on the perimeter even though they don’t use them in this particular set.

Don’t let the Gamecocks’ 2-6 SEC record fool you — Martin’s squad is no cupcake destined to finish at the bottom of the league standings. South Carolina’s defense is its calling card, but when shots fall like they did in Columbia on Saturday (and they occasionally will), Colonial Life Arena becomes a very tough place for a visiting team to leave with a win. It says here that the Gamecocks will string together significantly more wins in the second half of the SEC season than it has to this point, and Martin’s team won’t be near the bottom of the standings for very long.

Brian Joyce (333 Posts)

Brian Joyce is an advanced metrics enthusiast, college hoops junkie, and writer for the SEC basketball microsite for Rush the Court.


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