Iowa's struggling defense faces a 'Swing' game

MADISON, Wis. - Just who you want to play when your defense isn't very defensive.

Bo Ryan's “Swing Offense” has carved up so many opponents over the years. Created during the coach's days at Division III Wisconsin-Platteville, it's a spread-the-floor, deliberate, motion offense in which all five players are expected to be able to play all five positions.

The “Swing” has translated well to D-I, helping Wisconsin become a consistent Big Ten Conference power and the 11th-ranked team in the country this season. And it's what the defensively-challenged Iowa Hawkeyes must face Saturday afternoon (noon at the Kohl Center, Big Ten Network).

“I think what's made (Ryan) successful, that he has a system that has worked for him for a very long time, and he doesn't deviate from it,” Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery said. “If you're going to play for him, you're going to buy in completely. So what he'll do is he'll get you ready. How many times have you seen guys not play one year, then the next year they're leading the team in scoring?”

You know, like Ben Brust. The sophomore guard originally signed with Iowa but was granted a release after Todd Lickliter was fired as head coach.

His appeal to the Big Ten to be allowed to take a scholarship from another conference school was denied, but Wisconsin re-appealed on his behalf, and the Big Ten reneged.

Brust ended up signing with the Badgers (12-2, 1-0), played sparingly as a freshman but is averaging 10.6 points off the bench this season, shooting 45 percent from distance.

“He makes shots,” McCaffery said. “That's what he does.”

Thus far, Iowa (8-6, 0-1) has not prevented many people from making shots. The Hawkeyes rank last in the Big Ten in scoring defense and field-goal percentage defense and are 11th in 3-point defense.

A 79-76 home loss Wednesday night to Purdue came in large part because the Hawkeyes couldn't stop dribble penetration. It'll be interesting to see how they do against the vaunted “Swing.”

“Overall, I think we played some pretty good defense in spurts,” Iowa's Roy Devyn Marble said. “But we've got to be able to play that way all the time.”

“I think it's a combination of things,” McCaffery said. “We have to, obviously, contain penetration. It all starts there. Whether it's with ball screens or whether it's transition or whether it's in the zone, the guy guarding the ball has to keep his guy in front of him. Then we can talk about help recovery and closeouts and post defense and things of that nature. Our breakdowns are right at the beginning, and we just have to do a better job with (that).”