Film Room with Coach Theo
Coach Theo is a Providence alum, who has been a coach at the Division 1 high school level and was employed by two D1 college programs. Here is what he saw:
What does the tape reveal about Jared Bynum on defense? Why has the offense been so good? Why has the defense struggled?
Bynum must be on the floor
The 2021 Covid team that finished 13-13 certainly weren’t world beaters, but I believe that had Bynum not gotten hurt, Providence would have made the NCAA Tournament. It was so much harder to score when Bynum was out; David Duke wasn’t nearly as effective as a scorer when he was forced to be ball dominant. Bynum was indispensable to that team’s success - and that hasn’t changed.
Last year, Al Durham was able to cosplay point guard. But this year, no one else can direct the offense at that level. Providence has a number of players that can shepherd the ball in transition or break the press, but that’s a different skill than facilitating in the half court.
Bynum does a number of things related to ball movement and pace that stand out. And he’s again shooting exceptionally well. Even with intermittent defensive lapses, you’ll take it.
Bynum is a valuable player and he needs to be on the floor. Upon further scrutiny, many of the defensive criticisms are analytically incorrect and unwarranted. I’ll explain in more detail below.
The defense
I don’t have a smoking gun reason why the defense has deteriorated recently. Providence has had some difficult matchups, and to a lesser extent, inattentiveness.
First of all, there is nothing outrageous or egregious. This isn’t Keno ball. However, the off-ball defense isn’t as connected or engaged as I’d like. There have been instances of “standing around” or not reacting quickly enough. I’ve noticed more missed switches and assignments this year than last.
There have been some good defensive performances recently however, including against Villanova.
What happened against Xavier
Xavier is a tough draw for Providence, up and down the lineup. Jack Nunge is strong and he plays to the perimeter. He was successful at pulling Croswell away from the basket, which opened the gates for Colby Jones and Souley Boum. Boum was exceptional at attacking off the screen and roll, but this is not on Bynum. Croswell wasn’t hard hedging because to do so would leave Nunge open on the perimeter. And because the screen was effective, it allowed Boum to slingshot his way to his spots on the floor. There were some individual missed opportunities, a number of lapses in the first half. But generally that was not the case with Bynum.
I acknowledged that due to Bynum’s size, he has difficulty walling off and keeping bigger guards from finishing over him. And that may stand out to an observer - you see a ball handler go down the lane, and then score over the guy who’s ostensibly guarding him. But the hedge and the help defense simply wasn’t there. Boum owned everyone and Colby Jones will be in the league next year. I find very little about the defensive performance against Xavier attributable to Bynum.
What I see in each player defensively
Lock hasn’t been as active defensively as I think he can be. Sometimes there are mental lapses where he loses his man, and his tape from previous seasons reveals a more consistent defender on the ball. But I think he does a good job of leading ball handlers into the help defense or into difficult shots.
Hopkins plays a step slow on defense. He simply hasn’t learned to play at an accelerated pace like he does on offense. I believe he will get there. His ceiling is so high, he does everything well.
Carter has been an excellent on-ball defender or in one-on-one situations. Positionally, he’s exceptional. But the comparisons with Minaya are lacking for me. As good as Carter is at what he does, Minaya could, without question, guard from 1 to 4 and even guard the post. He had more length and size to recover and show help. For example, in the Sweet 16 game against Kansas, Minaya shut down Ochai Agbaji, who’s been playing good rotational minutes in the NBA this season. I wouldn’t like this matchup for Carter.
I can’t say enough about Croswell. He has far exceeded expectations. He has very active hands and he walls off really well. But because he’s not quick laterally, and because he doesn’t have great size, some matchups are just going to be more difficult for him. 5s are often shot blockers that have more presence above the rim. That isn’t who Croswell is as a player, but that he’s assumed the position with such little difficulty is impressive.
Offense
Providence dictates more on offense this season. Their style fits their personnel and they’ve been successful playing with more pace.
In the past, the offense has been more calculated, administered. Like when Durham used to manufacture points, it was formulaic. Set a screen at the top of the key, recognize when Nate had his man sealed, and go to the basket. But this is a more talented and deeper team offensively. It’s fair to say that the roster has upgraded offensively at nearly every position. While Providence doesn’t have the same true inside-outside game proffered by Nate, the ball also isn’t getting stuck inside against a double team which could happen at times.
This offense is playing as well as any Ed Cooley has ever had. They have multiple players that can move with the ball, get a shot, and make a tough shot.
Hopkins
When Hopkins receives the ball at the three-point line or the elbow, he often appears determined to score. Consequently, his teammates then have a tendency to ball watch. Hopkins is thus left to confront a crowded defense, which leads him to be less decisive with the ball. I think that’s one reason why he’s not getting as many fouls called. Regardless, he's a sensational offensive player and even the toughest of shots can look effortless.
That’s the indication of a truly gifted player, when it almost looks like they're not trying but they’re still making winning plays.
I’ve also seen an alarming trend that when the Friars don’t score many points or are out-scored by their opponents they tend to lose the game. For example during the Xavier game the Friars only scored 89 points whereas the Musketeers scored 94. 94! And what happened? The Friars lost. Same trend with the recent Connecticut game too. If the Friars want to win they need to outscore their opponents.