Anatomy of a Timeout: Tip #5

One of the toughest places to inbound the ball is from a deep corner sideline.  You can be limited in your options if you don't plan accordingly.  Therefore, at the end of a game, what do you need to cover when you have to inbound the ball from the deep corner?  Personally, I like to have a Zipper action to start of the play because this will get a passing angle for the in-bounder.  Furthermore, I like to have the post player setting the down screen post up hard looking to get a direct pass from the corner man.

From there, you now have a wide range of options that you can use depending on your style of play, your end of game actions and what you have previously practiced.

I have added a couple of sample plays that could be used or modified to fit your players strengths for this situation.

Deep Corner SLOBs

High Low Entries and Sets Playbook

Here is a playbook that I compiled a while back just that just focuses on entries and sets for the High Low offense.  Many other coaches shared a number of these sets and actions with me.  I just simply compiled them into 1 resource for other coaches.

High Low Entries and Sets Playbook

Anatomy of a Timeout: Tip #1

Many games are lost and won with a timeout. There are so many things to consider during timeout situations, so it is vital that you practice different timeout situations during practice. Today, I am going to talk about the advantage of switching defenses after a timeout. Coach Bobby Hurley Sr. mentioned in his defensive DVD that at least 1 time during a game, he will switch defenses after a timeout in order get an advantage for 1 possession. Many times, coaches will design a set or quick hitter during a timeout. Therefore, I love the idea of making a defensive change while coming out of time out. You can make a very subtle change or you can get really creative. The type of change you make should depend on what you have practiced, the time of the game, and the collective basketball IQ of your players. Here are some ideas to consider:


Subtle Changes

1. All out deny the other team’s best scorer

2. Trap the other team’s best player on catch or dribble

3. Switch from man to zone or vice versa depending on what you were playing prior to the timeout

4. Switching all screens to disrupt the flow of a set or quick hitter

Aggressive Changes

1. Box and 1 or diamond and 1 on the other team’s star player

2. Triangle and 2 with chasers on the point guard and best scorer

3. Show zone defense and then match on the first wing pass

4. Show man and then zone on the first wing pass

5. Aggressive trapping scheme such as trapping wings/corners/post entries

As I already noted, there are many variables that play into what a coach should switch to after a timeout, such as your style of play, time and score of the game, your opponents, or what you feel your players are comfortable adjusting to. The last thing you want to do is over coach the kids and have a defensive break down.

2012 NCAA 24 Hour Marathon Schedule

Tuesday November 13, 2012 the NCAA 24 Hour Marathon will begin.  The scheduled games will be as followed:

Midnight: West Virginia at Gonzaga


2 a.m.: Davidson at New Mexico

4 a.m.: Houston Baptist at Hawaii

6 a.m.: Stony Brook at Rider

8 a.m.: Northern Illinois at Valparaiso

10 a.m.: Harvard at Massachusetts

12 p.m.: Temple at Kent State

2 p.m.: Detroit at St. John’s

4 p.m.: Butler at Xavier

7 p.m.: Michigan State vs. Kansas (Champions Classic, Georgia Dome — Atlanta)

30 minutes following MSU/KU: Duke vs. Kentucky (Champions Classic)


This is one of my favorite times of the year as there looks to be some great match-ups.  Last year I compiled a playbook, called 2011-2012 NCAA Marathon Playbook, with different plays used in the games from all of the teams participating in last year's event.  I plan on releasing another playbook this year as well.

4 High Blast Set

Here is a 1-4 High set play that will give your players a variety of different read options including hand-offs, high/low action, and ball screen.

4 High Blast