NCAA Basketball: 5 most watchable defenses for 2019-20 season

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Bruce Pearl of the Auburn Tigers reacts in the first half during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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GREENVILLE, SC – MARCH 17: Head coach Mike Anderson of the Arkansas Razorbacks calls out in the first half while taking on the Seton Hall Pirates in the first round of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 17, 2017 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No. 4 – St. Johns

Yes, I know its extremely surprising to see a team that just saw it’s head coach quit and star player leaves for the NBA in the offseason on anybody’s top five anywhere, but hear me out. Though seeing program legend Chris Mullin vacate his head coaching position was a gut punch for the Red Storm, they are arguably in even better hands now with new head coach Mike Anderson.

Anderson, who was dismissed by Arkansas in the offseason, has had a long and prosperous coaching career which includes 18 years as a head coach and 20 more as an assistant. Anderson has succeeded at every program he’s headed, with nine tournament appearances including an elite eight appearance with Missouri back in 2009.

All of this can be credited to Anderson’s infamous “40 Minutes of Hell” defense. Originally invented by legendary head coach Nolan Richardson–who Anderson assisted for 20 years and won a national championship within 1994–40 Minutes of Hell is the mother of all full-court presses and is one of the most exciting and successful defenses to ever come out of college basketball. Anderson has installed it at every coaching job he’s had since leaving as an assistant at Arkansas.

Although Anderson’s team wasn’t very successful last year, his defense was still very fun to watch, finishing inside the top 30 in every defensive Watchability category, including 11th in block percentage. Much like last season, Anderson’s new St. John’s squad probably won’t be very good, but with team leaders Mustapha Heron and LJ Figueroa returning from last year’s tournament squad, they should be able to pick up Anderson’s defense pretty quickly and produce watchable basketball.

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