No. 17 Syracuse (23-6, 13-3 Atlantic Coast) leads the nation in caused turnovers per game with 25.5. Amid a season in which the Orange tied a regular-season record with 23 wins and set a program record with 13 conference wins, SU’s press is a crucial ingredient for its success.

Against then-No. 10 Florida State on Feb. 18, the Orange forced 10 turnovers in the first quarter alone. By applying varied defensive pressures in a short amount of time, SU got off to a strong start and eventually won its biggest game of the season.

Here’s a breakdown of some examples from that first quarter showing Syracuse’s multiple looks:

1-2-2 zone baits Brittany Brown (No. 12) to carry the ball upcourt

Out of Syracuse’s 1-2-2 zone, guard Brianna Butler (white rectangle) allowed Brittany Brown (maroon rectangle) to have space near the sideline. Since Brown was open, she caught a pass and Butler had to recover. Though Brown eventually got the ball over halfcourt, she was rushed and nearly threw the ball out of bounds when passing to a post player. Syracuse sagged off Brown, who eventually had six turnovers by the end of the game, at least twice.

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Light pressure and halfcourt trap off inbounds play leads to turnover

Syracuse guards Maggie Morrison and Cornelia Fondren (white rectangles) close off easier passes after the inbounds pass from the sideline. Florida State’s Ivey Slaughter (maroon rectangle) was open on the far side, but it would take a cross-court pass to get there.

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By the time Slaughter got the ball, Butler (white rectangle) stepped in front of her. Morrison (white rectangle) recovers to also help trap Slaughter near the sideline. With the pressure coming so quickly, Morrison and Butler got in the right position and challenged Slaughter, who then dribbled out of bounds.

ESPN3

2-1-2 zone morphs into trap near halfcourt and forces turnover

Peterson and Morrison set up near Florida State ball-handler Leticia Romero (No. 10) while Fondren was near midcourt. Upon passing to Brown near the sideline, Fondren and Peterson rotated to her as Morrison dropped back into the middle.

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As Peterson and Fondren approached, Brown rushed a cross-court pass over teammate Emiah Bingley’s (No. 3) head and into the stands. Another example of delayed pressure that attacked Brown when she got the ball. Part of Syracuse’s game plan is to identify weak ball-handlers and force them into mistakes.

For more on Syracuse’s dynamic defensive sets, click here.

Published on February 29, 2016 at 8:33 am

Contact Paul: pmschwed@syr.edu | @pschweds