Mr. Boeheim’s Opus: It’s been nearly 30 years and opponents still can’t figure out Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 zone defense

Think of Beethoven and you hear his ninth symphony.

Think of Da Vinci and picture the Mona Lisa.

Think of Jim Boeheim and immerse yourself in the 2-3 zone.

Sure, comparing a basketball defense to two of history’s greatest works of art seems over the top. But make no mistake, in his 30 years coaching Syracuse men’s basketball, the 2-3 zone has become Boeheim’s greatest composition.

As one of the few coaches to primarily use the 2-3 in college basketball, Boeheim presides over the zone minority in a land of man to man. But it’s impossible to argue with the results. Check Boeheim’s Hall of Fame rsum to get an idea of how far the zone can take a head coach.



Then ask the coaches he’s matched up against what they have to say about the defense that has become as much a Syracuse institution as the Carrier Dome.

‘I don’t know how to beat it,’ West Virginia head coach John Beilein said. ‘I’m 0-7 against Coach Boeheim and I haven’t found a way to beat him. And it’s so consistent every year. … You can’t beat it.’

On paper, the 2-3 zone looks simple enough – two guards at the top of the key and three big bodies manning the baseline below. The intents of the zone are to limit the offense’s schemes, help what might be a less-talented defense compete against better competition and create easier rebounding and fast break opportunities.

Most teams today play the zone as a strategic change of pace from man to man, either to force a different tempo or to alleviate foul trouble from the aggressive man defense.

But Boeheim has grown the zone into a monster, recruiting long guards and lanky forwards to suffocate opposing offenses.

The zone took Boeheim to his championship games in 1987, 1996 and 2003. It was Hakim Warrick in his zone position that famously blocked Michael Lee’s three-point attempt in the waning seconds of SU’s title win over Kansas.

‘We’re the only team that really uses it on more than a casual basis, so we should be better at it than other people because we do it more,’ Boeheim said. ‘I’ve seen a lot of guys using that 2-3 and it really upsets me. I should be getting some royalties. Guys that don’t even know how to spell zone are using it.’

Boeheim didn’t invent the zone – far from it. The zone has existed almost since the inception of basketball itself. Boeheim simply perfected it, gaining an initial liking for it in his playing days and unleashing it upon the college landscape as a coach.

So when asked to describe his relationship to the 2-3, Boeheim admitted he couldn’t take the title of father of the zone, but said he fit in more like a first cousin or facetiously as a bastard son.

At the very least, call him the preacher of the zone, having passed the scheme on to numerous assistants and admirers. Louisville head coach Rick Pitino coached under Boeheim from 1976 to 1978 and still carries the zone in his back pocket.

‘If it wasn’t for being with him, two of my (five) Final Fours wouldn’t have happened,’ Pitino said. ‘At Providence (in 1987) we would press 40 minutes a game, but drop back into the 2-3 zone. We didn’t play any zone at Louisville for four years. But without it, we don’t go to the Final Four last year.’

The way everyone respects and fears the 2-3 zone begs the question of why more teams don’t use it.

One of the simple answers is that most players don’t play it in high school. Man-to-man schemes are prevalent at all levels of basketball, so to make players adjust for a four-year period requires respect, loyalty and trust from both coaches and players.

Connecticut forward Josh Boone, a perfect fit for the 2-3 with his 6-foot, 10-inch frame, has played against it plenty in his two college seasons and knows players must take a leap of faith to succeed in the zone.

‘Their zone is just so good and coach Boeheim just teaches it so well,’ Boone said. ‘He has guys willing to adapt to it. Not many guys play zone in high school, but they know what they’re getting up there.’

Even after three decades of coaches scheming and players suffering against Boeheim’s zone, teams rarely solve his defensive Rubik’s Cube.

The key, as with beating any zone defense is to open gaps inside, successfully shoot deep three-pointers and master offensive rebounding when those shots fail.

But Boeheim’s zone revolves around long-armed, fluid players at all positions to cut down on those gaps and wipe the defensive boards clean.

‘They’ve played that for years,’ said Georgetown head coach John Thompson III, who heard plenty about the zone from his legendary father. ‘At the end of the day you almost have to just tell your guys to go play. Just go figure it out on your own, go play. They adjust so well, you just have to let your players play.’

And so the story goes. Boeheim draws up the zone and the opposition stands little chance. The wins pour in; the accolades don’t cease. Players grow befuddled, coaches cower in awe – all for two guys at the top of the key and three more at the baseline below.

‘That’s good, I hope they keep talking about it, keep worrying about it,’ Boeheim said. ‘The more they talk about it, the more they’ll worry about it and the better it’ll be against them.’





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