Nerlens Noel vs. Ole Miss Second Half

0:00: Noel does not get credited for the block even though he may have tipped it but he definitely altered the shot which he has done so well this game.

0:05: Noel stands his ground and draws the charge. There was a similar play like this against Louisville but he was called for the blocking foul instead of the charge but this time he gets the call.

0:11: Like the announcer said, Jones got a great shot but missed over Noel and even though it didn’t go in, it doesn’t take away the bad defense by Noel. He didn’t have any fouls then so that couldn’t be his excuse but either way Noel has to go up.

0:19: Noel wasn’t sure whether he wanted to draw the charge or go for the block so he did something in between which obviously, didn’t work out.

0:27: Noel forces a very high shot which is missed and after Ole Miss getting the offense rebound, Noel goes right back up and swats the ball away.

0:40: Noel grabs the arm of the Ole Miss player and gets called for the easy foul. Noel gets called for a lot of fouls because of his aggressive defense and stupid fouls like that just can’t happen and will get Noel in foul trouble which is what happens in this game.

0:46: Noel gets called for the cheap foul but it was a bad call. Noel uses his incredible length to great hands to knock the ball away and it should have been a turnover.

0:54: Noel plays absolutely perfect defense going up and somehow barely touches the Ole Miss player. It doesn’t seem like much but it is one of my favorite plays from Noel.

1:02: Noel once again finds a man and boxes him out.

1:10: This isn’t really a notable play I just thought it was awesome. Noel is conflicted which man to box out so, he tries to box out both. I really wish the shot was missed just to see what would have happened.

1:16: I give Noel a lot of criticism for not being able to hold onto the ball so to be fair, here is a play where Noel manages to retrieve the loose ball and hold onto it.

1:24: Noel plays prefect defense by not leaving his feet and keeping his hands straight up so he couldn’t be called for the foul.

1:31: Noel finds a man and boxes out and even though he falls down, he still makes sure his man will not get the rebound.

1:37: Noel forces the bad shot and then gets another foul on a bad call by the officials. To my count, 2 of the 4 fouls called against him weren’t actually fouls.

1:51: Noel doesn’t go up or attempt to draw the charge in fear that he will pick up his fifth foul. He does though, go after and get the defensive board.

1:59: You cannot play better defense than Noel did on that play but the Ole Miss player just made an outstanding shot.

2:07: Noel once again fearful he will get called for the fifth foul and stays lets the Ole Miss player drive right at him and score.

2:12: Nerlens Noel gets fouled going for the rebound but it isn’t called and it leads to an Ole miss and-1.

Side Note: after Noel gets called for his 4^th foul and starts playing a little more conservative, Ole Miss goes on a 16-0 run which just shows how much of a presence is down low.

2:19: This block begins the start of a blocking parade for Nerlens Noel so just sit back, relax, and enjoy the remarkable defense.

2:28: Noel finds a man and was in great position for the offensive rebound if the shot was missed.

2:33: Now back to the blocking parade. This block was the turning point in the entire game. If the Ole Miss player would have made that dunk over Noel, Noel would be out of the game with his fifth foul and Kentucky’s lead may have been down to only one with Ole Miss having all the momentum. Even with 4 fouls, Noel rises up and meets the player at the rim for the gorgeous block.

2:37: Noel once again stops a crazy dunk from happening getting another block.

2:47: And another block of a dunk.

2:55: And another block to seal the game.

3:01: Noel forces a very high shot since the Ole Miss player was terrified of getting blocked but, who could blame him?

3:10: Noel adds one more block just for fun. 

Nerlens Noel vs. Ole Miss First Half

:00: Noel fights for the ball after it being deflected on inbounds pass and proceeds to make a nice pass to his teammate for the dunk. Noel is a very underrated passer which is also a nice tool to have for big men.

:09: Noel finds body and boxes him out getting into perfect position for the rebound and drawing a foul.

:16: Noel makes a very lazy pass which gets stolen and would have been a fast break dunk if not for the foul.

:24: Noel gets into perfect position and gets the block. Noel has very quick reactions and can get up so high so fast that he has to wait for the man to commit to the shot before he jumps.

:31: Noel forces an awful extremely high floater which goes off the top of the backboard. His precence in the paint scares opposing players forcing many bad shots when he isn’t getting blocks.

:38: Noel forces a pass and then rotates perfectly while keeping his hands straight up playing perfect defense.

:48: Noel uses his length to get up and fight for the rebound despite being in bad position.

:58: Noel uses his quickness to get in good position for a shot but misses. He then follows his own shot almost getting the offensive board.

1:09: Noel once again gets into perfect position and gets the block.

1:15: Noel fails to get into position for the rebound yet still is able to reach over his man boxing him out to get the rebound.

1:22: Noel goes over to help but his man sneaks away and gets in good position for a shot drawing a foul. Noel though, somehow makes up the ground and would have had a block if not for the foul.

1:28: Noel boxes out his man and should have had the rebound but it slips in between his legs.

1:38: This play confuses me. Noel just stands there and watches the guard go right by him and makes no effort to block the shot or even contest it.

1:44: Noel gets into perfect position for the block and would have had one if not for the player losing the ball.

1:52: Noel, despite being in awful position, somehow gets the rebound but loses the ball once again.

2:04: Noel gets the steal and is fouled.

2:11: This play perfectly sums up the defense of Nerlens Noel. Noel forces a bad floater, then gets a block, gets the rebound, and loses the ball.

2:36: Noel finds a man and once again boxes him out. One of the reasons I love Noel as a prospect is because he has fundamentals. He always makes sure to find a man to box out which you don’t as much anymore.

2:47: Noel once again plays absolutely perfect defense stopping ball, then trying to get right back to his man and getting the block. Most big men that I have seen stay with their man and gives the other team a wide open three pointer but Noel wisely stops the shot from happening then waits for help before going back to his man.

2:57: Even though Ole Miss makes the shot, you can see that once again Noel finds a man to box out. 

Nerlens Noel vs. Louisville Second Half

Second half:

:00: Not aware of shot clock and gives ball off to a teammate in almost same position as him. Noel seems afraid to take any type of jumper or any contested shot that isn’t a layup. Not knowing how much time is on the shot clock is a simple mistake and it happens to the best of NBA players, not something to be worried about.

:15: Noel can’t get a hold on the pass and lets it be stolen by defender. He does hustle back though and breaks up another alley oop.

:25: Noel plays great defense the entire possession and does everything perfectly. They do score but it wasn’t Noel’s fault.

:39: Noel gets perfect position and should have got the charge call but he is called for blocking instead.

:47: Noel leaves his feet which allows the guard to make an easy pass to a wide open man. That basket was on Noel.

:58: Another bad call against Noel where he displays great hands by poking the ball loose but is called for reaching.

1:02: Noel makes a nice move using all of his length to make the hook shot. This should give you hope for Noel’s offensive game and that he will develop one.

1:09: Noel shows great reaction and once again uses his length breaking up the pass.

1:15: Noel once again displays great hands by knocking the ball loose and after Louisville got possession again, he plays great defense and gets the defensive board.

1:31: Noel stays with the quick guard and blocks his shot without even jumping.

1:38 Off the ensuing inbounds, Noel bats the ball away preventing the easy layup.

1:44: Noel loses his man who goes in for the easy layup. This seems like an unlucky play as Noel was supposed to help and stop ball and he was probably expecting someone to help him on his name.

1:53: Noel hustles and gets the defensive rebound showing off some strength.

2:00: Noel can’t get a hold on the easy offensive board which goes out of bounds off Noel. 

Nerlens Noel vs. Louisville First Half

First Half:
:06: Instead of forcing shot with 3 people on him, Noel wisely kicks out to guard who then swings to open man for shot.
:12: Noel finds a man and boxes out.
:18 Noel dives out of bounds and gives Kentucky an extra possession with his hustle.
:24: Noel shows off his quickness and length as he gets by defender for basket.
:33: After missing rebound, Noel goes back up, gets the block, and goes after the ball and forces a jump ball.
:58: Noel rotates perfect and gets into position for block. His teammate gets the block before Noel can though.
1:08: Noel doesn’t commit to help to keep an eye on man in the corner. Without the foul though, Noel would have given up the easy basket.
1:31: Noel gets rebound knocked away by guard.
1:36: Noel’s quickness gets him a good shot but he misses.
1:47: Noel was in great position for the block and would have gotten one if not for the reach in foul called on his teammate.
1:56: Beautiful sequence of play for Noel getting the block then hustling down floor and making nice move for dunk.
2:11: Noel doesn’t go up to block guard in fear he would get called for a foul. If he would have gone up, it probably would have been an and-1 but still have to go up with him.
2:18: Noel make sure to keep hands straight up and perfectly defends first shot.
2:29: Noel gets called for traveling.
2:37: Noel partially gets the block.
2:43: Noel draws two people to box him out leaving his teammate wide open for the putback.
2:50: Noel goes for steal, doesn’t get it, then gets back up to defend the shot perfectly.
2:58: Noel somehow catches alley oop from free throw line barely jumping while showing off his athleticism and length.
3:02: Noel fights for offensive rebound, gets it, then dunks to finish the play off.
3:07: Noel with great rotations and great D all around.
3:35: Noel once again kicks the ball out which eventually gets his teammate an open shot.
3:44: Noel finds a body and uses length to almost get offensive rebound. With a little more muscle, that’s probably a rebound and dunk for Noel.
3: 54: Noel with a beautiful pass but assist is ruined by nice block. Noel is a very underrated passer which will transalate well to NBA.
4:01: Noel then hustles back down court to get steal.
4:09: Noel shows no fear meeting his man at the rim to stop alley oop. Is called for the foul though.
5:10: Noel had offensive rebound but is fouled going down.

Nerlens Noel's defense in one play

Noel's defense pretty much summed up in one play