Running & Defeating the 1-3-1 Zone Defense

with Bob Huggins,
West Virginia University Head Coach from 2007 to 2023;
2022 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame inductee;
935 career wins (#3 all time for Division I coach);
2015 Big-12 Coach of the Year;
2015 Jim Phelan National Coach of the Year;
2010 Final Four;
2010 Big East Tournament Champions;
Kansas State Head Coach from 2006 to 2007;
Cincinnati Head Coach from 1989 to 2005;
C-USA Coach of the Decade (2005);
3x C-USA Coach of the Year;
1992 Final Four;
8x C-USA Regular Season Champions;
Akron Head Coach from 1984 to 1989;
1986 OVC Coach of the Year;
played collegiately for West Virginia

and Dave Odom, former Head Coach at the University of South Carolina and Wake Forest;
406 Career wins, 9x NCAA Tournament Appearances, 3x ACC Coach of the Year

In this combination DVD Coaches Bob Huggins and Dave Odom give you a detailed insight to teaching and attacking the 1-3-1-zone defense.

Philosophy of the 1-3-1 Zone Defense
Hall of Fame coach Bob Huggins introduces a zone defense that makes ball reversal difficult by preventing direct passes. Coach Huggins discusses the role and positioning of each individual player, how to funnel the ball to the middle of the floor where it can be surrounded by help defenders, and stop all direct passes by the offense to get great looks at the basket.

With all five defenders performing their duties, this 1-3-1 defense forces longer passes and makes good spacing much more difficult.

Coach Huggins explains his concept of help, recover and rebound. He concludes by explaining how this defense can be utilized as a late-game defense when your team has a lead and wants to force a team to be patient and "burn" valuable clock time.

Attacking the 1-3-1 Zone Defense
On the offensive side Coach Dave Odom gives his perspective to attacking the 1-3-1 zone. This offense is successful because it does not start with the typical wing entry. Instead, this simplified offense attacks the 1-3-1 zone up the middle. While this attack is unconventional, it basically provides multiple 1-on-1 opportunities.

Coach Odom, both on the court and on the dry-erase board, demonstrates how he wants to exploit the back side of the defense where most teams place a smaller, quicker guard. Odom explains how the strength of the 1-3-1 is above the free-throw line. For this reason, he prefers to keep a post player up high, utilizing him as a passer which in turn, allows him to attack the defense below the free-throw line. Coach Odom also demonstrates the use of two baseline post players if your team has trouble getting the ball in the middle of the floor.

With insights from very successful coaches, this video will help you improve how you attack or defend using the 1-3-1 defense.

76 minutes. 2011.