Duke and all of this Zone Defense,

Before you jump too far into your critique, I have plenty of zone defense in my coaching/playing career. I played almost exclusively zone in my high school career and several of the coaches I've worked with had zone looks. During a couple of my most successful seasons as head coach, we played plenty of 3-2 zone and even some complex matchup zone.

Having said that, I think that Coach K is making a mistake by playing this much zone, this early, in the 2017-2018 season. If you are of the mindset that some Joe Blow like me shouldn't dare question Coach K, then stop reading and move along. I'm OK with that. I've read all the reasons that Coach K SHOULD use the zone with this young team with minimal depth. I'm on the other side.

If you are still with me, here's the 4 reasons I think playing zone against Portland State and others is a mistake for the #1 ranked team in the nation and one who has a shot to win it all.

1. They are developing lazy tendencies in half-court defense. Don't even begin to tell me how active and engaged they are in that zone. Guys are not in a stance, they are not jumping to the ball, when dribble penetration happens there is no personal accountability, they are taking mental/physical breaks when the ball is away from them. Watch a possession and you will see it. Sure, those things happen in man. Not as often, I'd contend. When you develop those habits, they aren't easy to turn off. Even for kids at this level.

2. You are telling your kids you can't matchup with Portland State. You aren't always coaching for today when you are in this 5 month grind of a basketball season. I get Portland State plays fast, I know who their coach is, spare me the college basketball 101 rationale. You are Duke. You are ranked #1. You have some of the best and longest athletes in the game. Sprinkle in some man to at least show your guys you aren't scared of playing it.

3. You will need to get stops in half-court man at some point to win championships. As we know, a team has never made the Final Four outside KenPom's adjusted defensive rating. I'm not sure you and your program can never be a zone team and then in one year go all in on the zone, and finish in the top 40. They are 40th, right now. I think somewhere in the midst of this season, for one reason or another, you're going to have to come out of a time-out in man, or pregame prep in man, or a halftime break. You might be on the road in Charlottesville in the middle of an ACC battle. At that point, you're going to have to look into the eyes of a bunch of 19 year-olds you couldn't trust to get stops against Portland State and expect them to lock down Virginia. Not sure it will be that easy.

4. This is not a staple of your program and who you are. Duke is known for getting up into you on "D." This isn't Syracuse. They play in the passing lane and turn you over. 2 passes away they jump to the ball and take charges. You have had unparalleled success with that type of system. Listen, I'm not saying you have to be Tom Izzo and stubbornly refuse to every play a possession of zone. I'm saying that selling out and playing 40 straight minutes of zone is straying greatly from who you are and what's made you successful.

Just a dude on my coach who has coached a little youth, high school, and college hoops. Not Coach K. But not even the greatest of coaches are right all the time. I think K is wrong on this one.