Chris Mooney: Match-Up Zone Defense

with Chris Mooney,
University of Richmond Head Coach (since 2005);
2x A-10 Tournament Champions (2011, 2022);
winningest basketball coach in Richmond history;
2010 Sporting News Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year;
2010 Richmond's 'Voice of the University' Award;
Air Force Head Coach from 2004 to 2005;
Air Force Assistant Coach from 2000 to 2004;
4 year starter for Pete Carril at Princeton University (was a 2x All Ivy League player)

With any defense, getting the best possible match-up is always ideal. Chris Mooney of the Richmond Spiders takes the time in this on court instructional video to show how he is consistently able to put his guys in the best defensive spot for their skill set. Coach Mooney teaches you a basic understanding of how to install a match-up zone along with how to keep you man-to-man principles so that your players can make an easy transition into the match-up zone.

Coach Mooney shows you the responsibilities that each player on the court needs to follow to be successful in the match-up zone. He teaches you how to build the match-up zone from the inside out by baiting teams to throw the ball into the post for easy steals. He emphasizes how to be physical and keep the ball out of the post where most teams will try to go to beat your match-up zone. You will learn how to create an illusion that there are no dribble penetration angles so that you opponents must settle for outside jump shots.

As Coach Mooney guides you through the basics of the Richmond Match-Up zone defense, he uses on court demonstrators to go through 2v2, 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 buildup drills. Particular emphasis is put on defending transition offense, because teams will attempt to attack the zone early. The breakdown drills he then demonstrates are:

• 3v3: Switching cutters
• 4v4: How to defend the low post
• 4v4: How to defend down screens
• 5v5: Defending "pass-and-cut" transition
• 5v5: Defending "roll and come high" transition
• 5v5: Defending "same side corner cut" (bumping the cutter)
• 5v5: Defending "motion offense"

Each of the drills detail how to move when the pass is reversed around the perimeter or skipped over the top as your opponents try to create scoring opportunities on the backside of the zone. Your players will benefit from the easy to understand man-to-man concepts you can incorporate to teach the match-up zone. Your opponents will be second guessing with what offense they should be running as you bait them into contested jump shots and bad passes into the post.

To complete the match-up zone defense, Coach Mooney guides you through three popular transition sets and how to defend their actions. Mooney demonstrates how to switch off of cutters/screens, pass and cut actions, and high pick and roll scoring options. He teaches you how to keep you post players inside and perimeter players on the outside to frustrate your opponents as they try to create mismatches off of screening action within the zone defense.

Even if you believe that man-to-man defense is the way to go, you must look at this video. The Match up zone has so many man-to-man principles that it can easily translate and your players will still be able to use all of the techniques that they have been taught through the years.

Keep your best players in the best defensive spots on the court to assure them success with this dominant defense. If you are a high school coach that is looking to add another defensive scheme to your bag of tricks, then the Richmond Match-Up Zone defense is a perfect fit for you.

Produced at the Fall 2012 Wilmington (NC) clinic.

73 minutes. 2013.