Iowa State men's basketball, known for bruising man defense, finds success with zone, too
AMES – An identity offers a basketball team a lot of things.
It’s a foundation. It’s a constant. It’s a safe harbor.
It also allows for its own subversion.
The 18th-ranked Iowa State men’s basketball team has built its success largely on the strength of its ball-pressuring, harassing, man-to-man defense. But the Cyclones have another card they can play: a surprisingly effective 1-3-1 zone defense.
“It’s a changeup, kind of surprises (teams),” Iowa State senior forward Jaz Kunc said. "If they go on a run or just to stop the bleeding, try something else.
“It’s a changeup when things might not go well or when we need a stop.”
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Why Iowa State switches to 1-3-1 zone defense
Iowa State (17-8, 8-5 Big 12), which plays at No. 14 Kansas State on Saturday (1 p.m.; ESPN), likes to deploy its zone sparingly, usually as a method of confusion (out of an opponent’s timeout) or fortification (when its man-to-man is faltering).
“It helps us to slow teams down, disrupt rhythm,” Iowa State coach T.J. Otzelberger said. “I think with the 1-3-1 it’s one of those defenses you might have an open three early, you’re not sure if you should take it and it might live in your head as you get later in the clock.”
That’s why, despite the Cyclones playing zone on just 5 percent of their defensive possessions this season, Otzelberger believes showing the zone has a long mental tail for opposing offenses.
"For us, we certainly have a brand or style that we like to defend, and we’re really committed to it,” he said, “but at times it’s good to shake up the rhythm of the game. Teams can be doing something that’s working well so we like the 1-3-1 because it creates indecision.
“We can trap out of it if we want to generate more turnovers. We can extend it if it’s something we feel like we want to stretch the court more. A lot of different ways we can play it, and it’s kind of like a changeup for us.”
Inside the numbers of Iowa State's man-to-man and zone defenses
Overall, Iowa State’s strength is without question the man-to-man defense it plays nearly the entire game. The Cyclones allow just 0.793 points per possession this season in man-to-man, ranking in the top 10 percent in the country, per Synergy Sports.
The zone, meanwhile, allows 0.908 points per possession. There is some noise in that number, though, as Iowa State often employs that tactic when it is already struggling defensively, so the raw number may be influenced by a team on its heels rather just than a defensive alignment.
Interestingly, though, the man-to-man and zone share a similarity in Iowa State’s greatest defensive strength – generating turnovers. The Cyclones are second nationally in turnover percentage, per KenPom.com. The man defense turns offenses over on 22 percent of its possessions. The zone, usually regarded as a passive defense, is right behind at 19.5 percent, per Synergy.
“It still incorporates some of the same principles our man defense does,” Otzelberger said.
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In its win Wednesday against TCU, Iowa State used its zone to try to slow the Horned Frogs’ Damion Baugh’s drives to the basket. Not only was it effective, but it turned TCU over on half of its possessions against the zone.
“Where it can be really effective is ... in situations where you’re up,” Otzelberger said, “and teams are trying to drive the basketball at you or run some type of ball screen to get downhill into the paint.”
Jaz Kunc at top of 1-3-1 zone is a big key for Iowa State
Part of the success was Kunc at the top of the configuration, with his 6-foot-8 frame offering the first line of defense – and difficult sightlines – to a point guard. It’s an aspect of the defense the Cyclones weren’t able to capitalize upon for more than a month as Kunc sat with a broken hand. He has played the last four games.
“Jaz has a tremendous natural feel,” Otzelberger said. “He knows personnel. He knows when you’re trying to throw a pass to the elbow, ball screen. He always seems to get a foot, a hand, something (on the ball).
“Once you do that once, now you live in those guys’ head. He’s really good and having him in it certainly is a lot more effective.”
Now with Kunc back – and playing his best basketball of the season – Iowa State’s backup defense is a bigger threat as the Cyclones look to secure NCAA Tournament seeding heading into the season’s most important month.
“At times in the games when you pick your spots – whether they’re in rhythm or you just need to change tempo or you don’t like matchups – it gives us a lot of flexibility,” Otzelberger said. “It’s been really good to us this year.”
Travis Hines covers Iowa State University sports for the Des Moines Register and Ames Tribune. Contact him at thines@amestrib.com or (515) 284-8000. Follow him at @TravisHines21.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa State basketball's 'changeup' gives flexibility, unpredictability
