Quentin Hillsman: The 2-3 Zone Defense with Pressure Variations

with Quentin Hillsman,
Ole Miss Assistant Women's Coach;
Syracuse University Head Women's Coach from 2006 to 2021;
2016 NCAA National Runner-Up;
2008 Big East Coach of the Year
all-time winningest coach in Syracuse Women's basketball history

If there is one thing that Syracuse University is known for it's the 2-3 Zone Defense. Both the men's and the women's programs at Syracuse have developed a reputation for a smothering, trapping, aggressive style that has proven to be as hard to contend with as any man-to-man defense.

Quentin Hillsman provides a toolbox full of variations to use while running his version of the 2-3 zone. From sideline traps to full court pressure to dealing with screens, this video is the complete package for implementing various strategies to take your opponent out of its comfort zone.

The fundamentals of the 2-3 zone are covered in this unique look from the women's side of the Syracuse zone defense tradition. Coach Hillsman has learned to use subtle variations on the standard 2-3 zone to put his players in position to win games.

He begins the session by sharing his "Rules for Success" verses the ball screen offense. Ensuring the ball handler can't get a shot, preventing splits, and defending against the first pass are just a few of the keys he stresses when faced with a ball screen.

He covers many of the basic 2-3 concepts to establish the foundation for the real treat of this video. With his "ICE" call, Hillsman puts his players in a trapping situation that can easily force turnovers. With his "23 J" coach gets aggressive on the ball handler and allows his players to take a chance. The "23 J" will help you get a hot opponent out of rhythm without compromising the principles of the zone. These and other strategies in this video will surprise your opponents and keep them off-balance throughout a contest.

Coach Hillsman adds two valuable tools to this defensive package.

• 21 Press (2-1-2 full court press) - This press easily morphs back into the 2-3 zone, so your players won't have to scramble to find their positions in the zone after pressing. By looking for traps on the sideline or forcing a non-ballhandler to bring it up, you will see why the Orangemen are successful.
• "Diamond" Defense - The Diamond can be used as a surprise attack verses sideline in-bounds. Just as your opponent gets comfortable with the standard 2-3 zone, they have to face this aggressive, attacking installment.

Produced at the Spring 2011 Verona (NY) clinic.

"I am convinced that I need to incorporate part of this video into my coaching philosophy. Coach Hillsman brought out a great point early in the video that made me realize how this would work for me." - J. Allen, Varsity Girls' Basketball Coach at Forsyth Country Day School in Lewisville, North Carolina, 20 years of combined AAU and High school coaching experience

73 minutes. 2012.