It's the most wonderful time of the year (NCAA tourney, baby!)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by SacTown Chronic

Cause and effect, GD. Full court D forces bad offense and crappy ball handling skills as much as it reveals them. Ever see a full court press fluster John Stockton and force him into turnovers? I have.

Oh sure, it can be a very effective weapon on occasion. But the vast majority of the time, and NBA team is going to blow right past a press. That's why you rarely see it except in just the right situation.

There's a huge difference between going to the press in pressure situations to force a rare mistake vs. pressing the entire game because you know that the few easy breakaways will be far outweighed by the copious unforced errors (yes, I call them "unforced" because a team SHOULD be able to get past a press) that will result.

And it's not just sour grapes re:UCLA. It's prevalent in all of college basketball and one of the main reasons I don't watch the sport, no matter who's playing. I don't really enjoy watching 40 minutes of sloppy passing.