ASU Basketball: Romello White is the key to success against the zone

With ASU basketball going up against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone, forward Romello White will be the key to the Sun Devils’ success in their half-court offense.

For almost 22 years, Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim has kept opposing coaches’ heads in a whirlwind.

His matchup 2-3 zone is often regarded as one of the most difficult defenses in college basketball. The presence of lengthy guards and forwards cutting off the paint has stifled teams looking to create low post offense.

This year, the tale is no different. With 6-foot-5 Frank Howard and 6-foot-6 Tyus Battle controlling the perimeter and 7-foot-2 Paschal Chukwu in the paint, the Orangemen have held teams to just 64.6 points per game on just under 40 percent shooting. That ranks as the 16th-best scoring defense in all of college basketball.

Through the brunt of their ACC schedule, the Orange have proven they can lock down great teams. They held then-No. 18 Clemson to 52 points in a win on March 3, and despite a loss to Duke, the Orange held the Blue Devils to just 60 points, almost 25 points below their season average.

So, how do you find holes inside this zone?

Entry passes and offensive rebounding.

It may look simple, but it’s an answer. In 2013, the Orange made the Final Four, as a talented lineup led by Michael Carter-Williams and C.J. Fair executed one of the best Boeheim zones in the past decade.

When they faced Michigan in Atlanta, it looked like Wolverine forward Mitch McGary would be a non-factor. The zone had just forced Indiana All-American Cody Zeller to 3-for-10 shooting in the Sweet 16.

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Instead, Michigan elected to not force the ball to McGary. Trey Burke and Tim Hardaway Jr. patiently swung the ball around the perimeter, found Glenn Robinson III and McGary for a high-low matchup and took what the defense give them.

In what would be a 61-56 win for Michigan, McGary found a way to impact every aspect of his team’s offense. He finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and a team-high six assists.

It wasn’t an effort that required more shots. McGary only took eight of them. The ball didn’t always have to be in his hands for options to open up.

He just had to execute and play off his teammates.

On Wednesday night, the same will be required of Romello White.

In Pac-12 play, White wasn’t the same player he was in his first 11 games in a Sun Devil uniform. His averages of 14.9 points per game and 8.6 rebounds per game dipped to 8.3 and 6.5 against conference opponents.

A huge factor in White’s dropoff came from foul trouble. He fouled out once while averaging three fouls per games in non-conference play, and in 19 Pac-12 games, he fouled out five times while averaging 3.4 fouls per game.

But that doesn’t explain the whole story. White’s confidence had noticeably been lacking down the stretch of the season, a sight that coach Bobby Hurley felt he needed to correct.

“Mello, I had to leave for a long time,” Hurley said after the Feb. 15 loss to Arizona. “[I] gotta look at the film on his fouls and try and work with him so I can get him out on the floor longer.”

Over the final stretch of the season, there were some signs of improvement. White posted a 13-point, 11-rebound performance against Cal, where he impressed with post finishes over taller defenders in Marcus Lee and Kingsley Okoroh.

It gave Tra Holder and Shannon Evans something they could rely on for offensive help.

“He had some nice post moves,” Hurley said about White postgame. “[He was] very decisive with that.”

Tapping into White’s capabilities will be key for the Sun Devils come Wednesday night. With Syracuse likely to key in on Holder, Evans and Kodi Justice on the perimeter, dribble penetration will likely lead to extended opportunities for White on the low block.

As the season has gone on, ASU has seen more and more 2-3 zone looks on defense. Against the best one they’ll see this season, White must be ready to catch passes at the high post, distribute and score when getting opportunities deep in the paint.

With Syracuse having a limited rotation, it’s likely that Hurley will try to confuse the Orange with diversification in his lineups. That means White could see time both at the 4 and 5 positions.

Like McGary, White won’t need to post outstanding numbers for a Sun Devil victory. He won’t need to control touches in the low post and he won’t need to change his game.

He just needs to be a threat.

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If that threat involves converting in the low post, staying out of foul trouble and opening up room for the guards on the perimeter, it’s likely that the Sun Devils will be able to move on in the NCAA Tournament.

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