Barry University men's basketball team is well aware of Rollins' patented trapping zone defense. Wednesday, the Buccaneers will have to find a way to attack it.
"Rollins has always done a good job with their zone defense," Buccaneers eight-year assistant coach Ryan Saunders said. "Right now it has them second in the league in scoring defense and third in field goal percentage defense."
Barry (9-1, 2-0 Sunshine State Conference) will see if it can crack the Tars' code when it plays at Rollins (7-5, 0-1) 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Winter Park, Florida.
The Buccaneers, who are ranked No. 7 in the NCAA Division II College Sports Information Directors of America media poll and No. 8 in the National Association of Basketball Coaches poll, have won seven times at Warden Arena in the Alfond Sports Center -- the site of Wednesday's game. The past two wins were decided by two points, including an overtime thriller in 2013.
But the Bucs recall their last meeting with the Tars when they spoiled Barry's Homecoming in Miami Shores last season -- a 75-71 Rollins win. It was an indication of proper execution of an effective system put in place by Rollins' 35-year coach Tom Klusman, who is one of 16 Division II coaches to win over 600 games.
That system hinges primarily around the zone.
"They use it to control tempo and slow teams down," Saunders said. "If you are stagnant offensively and struggle to make shots, you're in for a long night. Our goal is to put five weapons on the floor at all times and attack their zone, whether it be from the inside or outside. We are capable of scoring either way, and just have to take care of the ball and play with confidence, which our guys do."
Barry, which returns home Saturday for a 4 p.m. matinee against Palm Beach Atlantic, is second in the league in field goal percentage defense. That is something Bucs head coach Butch Estes will forever lay his hat on as a necessary staple of producing successful basketball.
"If we can use our defense to create some missed shots and turnovers, then we can get out in transition, where I think we are at our best," Saunders said.
Of course, there was one more important element the Bucs studious assistant wanted to throw in.
"And score before they can set up the zone."
GAME NOTES
LAST TIME OUT: Then-No. 10 Barry beat No. 1 Florida Southern, 107-102, in Lakeland ... Yunio Barrueta had 26 points and 11 rebounds, and Deric Hill finished with 15 points, 12 assists, five rebounds and three steals.
SERIES RECORD: Barry is 18-45 all time against Rollins ... The Bucs and Tars split the season series last year, each winning on the other’s home floor ... Rollins won the last game, 75-71, in Miami Shores on Feb. 22, 2014.
EYES ON OPPONENTS: The Tars are coming off a 71-47 win on Saturday over Florida Memorial ... Rollins has played in three tournaments this year in Atlanta, Charlotte and Las Vegas, going a combined 3-3 ... Alex Blessig leads the Tars in scoring (12.5) ... Chris Uhle, Sharif Almulla and Scott Schuette are all scoring 9.3 ppg ... Uhle, a 6-11 senior, ranks 22nd in the nation in blocked shots.
SSC PLAYER OF WEEK: For the second straight time, Barry has had a player earn the league’s Player of the Week ... Jr. F Yunio Barrueta received the award this week ... Jr. G Anders Haas was the league choice on Dec. 22.
LONG RANGE LONE RANGER: Soph. G Arie Williams, aka “The Lone Ranger,” has made 90.4 percent of his field goals from beyond the 3-point arc ... He is shooting .413 from 3-point range.
TRANSFER PRODUCTION: Five of the Buccaneers’ top six scorers are Division I transfers ... They account for 61.2 ppg and 69.3 percent of the Bucs’ offense (88.2 ppg) ... Soph F Adrian Gonzalez (9.5) is the lone non-transfer among the team’s top six scorers.
SHARING MEANS SCORING: Barry ranks fourth in the nation in assists per game (21.7) ... Sr. PG Deric Hill ranks fourth individually at 7.7 apg.
REACHING FOR REBOUNDS: Barry is 10th in the country in rebound margin, having averaged 10.4 more boards per game than its opponents.
STRIPE SHOOTER: Anders Haas ranks 19th in the country in free throw shooting at 90.3 percent ... He had a string of 20 straight made free throws snapped at Florida Southern Saturday.
MILESTONE MARK: Deric Hill is eight assists away from 300 in his two-year Bucs career ... His 292 assists rank third all-time at Barry.
2014-15 BUCS RECORD WHEN ...
Overtime Games: 0-0
Home Games: 6-1
Road Games: 1-0
Neutral Games: 2-0
Night Games: 8-1
Day Games: 1-0
Leading at Halftime: 9-1
Trailing at Halftime: 0-0
Tied at Halftime: 0-0
After a Loss: 1-0
Scoring 80+ points: 7-0
Scoring 70-79 points: 1-1
Scoring 60-69 points: 1-0
Scoring 50-59 points: 0-0
Games Decided by 2 points or Less: 0-0
Games Decided by 5 points or Less: 1-1
Games Decided by 10 points or Less: 3-1
Games Decided by 11-20 Points: 0-0
Games Decided by over 20 Points: 6-0
Outrebounding Opponents: 9-1
Opponents Outrebound Bucs: 0-0
Matching Opponents in Rebounds: 0-0
Committing 15 or Fewer Turnovers: 5-0
Committing over 15 Turnovers: 4-1