Our eFG% defense has been really good considering we don't have a real rim protector. In just league games we hold opponents to 32.9% from 3 and league leading 44.3% on 2PT shots. Our block% on 2PT attempts is 10% as well, #4 in the league. Plus we are rebounding good enough to have a slight advantage in OR% which is the most important rebound stat to look at.
The real problem with this team on defense has little to do with the bigs; we've fallen from #2 in the league in TO% forced (21.6%) and #1 in steals (11.0%) to #8 in TOs forced (15.6%) and #10 in steals (6.2%). Granted, part of that could be our guards taking less chances because they know they don't have a rim protector behind them, but more than that I think its younger defenders like Foster, Thomas, and Westicles not being as solid in oscar's help defense scheme resulting in offenses being able to move the ball better. We haven't made up for it enough even with that excellent eFG% defense, especially since we turn it over on offense at a higher clip as well (17.3% last year, 18.1% this year).
A key to #bruceketball is winning the TO% battle and so far in league games we are -2.5% in TO% which is also a major contributor to these close conference road losses. We need to play at least even or gain a slight advantage the rest of Big 12 play to get to 10 or 11 wins.
