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Archives by Tag 'Jim Boeheim'

2-3 Zone Defense: 4 Effective Drills to Prepare for Game Situations

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Pick up four essential defensive drills that have become staples for Jim Boeheim and the Syracuse men’s basketball program. The following drills focus exclusively on the 2-3 zone and place a particular emphasis on the footwork, movements, and techniques of the top two guards in the alignment based on different offensive schemes.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 1

This is a great drill for the guards to learn how to play the wing players and not give them easy access to the high post. The drill will have three offensive players going against two defensive players. The ball comes all the way down the court and the players must get into their typical positions in this defense.

The emphasis here is square on the top two defenders making the right reads and adjustments based on the schemes of the offensive guys. The high post offensive player is often played by a coach and he’s just there to make it realistic. The ball does not get entered to the post player yet.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 2

Now every play is going to end with a shot. The defensive players must work on positioning and boxing out based on where the shot takes place. For instance, one player must bust it across the lane to the other side while his teammate must get to the middle. Positioning is very important and players must run to their spots.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 3

Next, the players must react and move based on the high post player receiving the ball. Eventually a shot will go up. This is basically combining the two drills above.

2-3 Defensive Zone Drill No. 4

Finally, the defenders work on how to defend a backscreen set at the foul line by the offense. Players must anticipate this and get over the top. To help, look to get a hand in on top. Coaches, be sure to place a major emphasis on footwork and technique.

The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice with Jim Boeheim.” To check out more videos in our All Access library, click here.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: 2-3 Zone Defense, All Access Basketball Practice, BasketballCoach Newsletter, Drills, Issue #50, Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Men's Basketball, Zone Defense, Zone Defense Drills

All Access Syracuse Basketball: Zone, Rebounding, and Screening Drills

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, July 11, 2012

In the latest edition of All Access, we take you Syracuse, New York for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at a Syracuse men’s basketball practice. Follow along as head coach Jim Boeheim and his coaching staff leads the squad through high-intensity zone, rebounding, and ball screen drills.

Learn the effective drills that help put the Orange at the top of the college basketball polls every season. Then look for ways to incorporate these drills and strategies with your own squad this year to encourage development in offensive and defensive skills.

2-3 Zone – Guarding the Perimeter and High Post

This game-like zone drill starts in transition and designed as a 3-on-2 drill with three offensive players (one PG and two perimeter guys) and two up-top defenders. The defenders are working on defending the perimeter and high post as the ball is worked around the edges. As the ball is moved, they too must move and change positioning based on where the ball is located on the floor.

After several reps, the players switch out. Notice how the hands of the offensive players are always up. These players are also constantly moving. Meanwhile, teammates are communicating nonstop. Eventually, the coaching staff gets into how to play proper angles and how to force the offensive players into a trap versus wide open looks or open drives to the basket.

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Rebounding Drill

In this particular rebounding drill, a player starts out in the middle of the lane facing the basket. Next, a coach takes a ball and slams it up against the glass. The player, already in ready position, rebounds the ball strong and makes a power move to the hoop and finishes with a layup or dunk. On the third rep, players then grab the rebound and race the other way as if going from defense to offense on the trasition break.

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Ball Screen Drill

Players are now working in a 4-on-4 setting. This effective drill all starts with a ball screen up top. The defense must play it right and communicate while the offense must look for balance and a drive to the hoop.

After the man with the ball goes off the pick, he then immediately heads to the basket down the lane. In the lane, two defenders are awaiting must step up and play him. Additional offensive players on the wing are now open for a shot as well.

You’ve got a ton of real game situations occurring at once here. The offense can implement a lot of give and go’s, pick and rolls, and drive and dish plays. Meanwhile, the defense can practice how to defend ball screens and other offensive strategies effectively.

Also, notice how the offensive players not involved in the screen balance the floor and look to get into open spaces. This way, they can always be threats or help for teammates.

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The previous clips can be seen on Championship Productions’ DVD “All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice with Jim Boeheim.” To check out more videos in our All Access library, click here.

Filed in Basketball Newsletter • Tags: All Access Basketball Practice, Issue #40, Jim Boeheim, Syracuse Men's Basketball, Zone Defense

New Release of All Access Basketball DVDs featuring Jim Boeheim and Steve Prohm!

By nate.landas - Last updated: Tuesday, March 27, 2012

New to our Basketball DVD collection are two All Access sets featuring Jim Boeheim and Steve Prohm. Coach Boeheim is the Syracuse Men’s Coach and 4x time Big East Coach of the Year. Coach Prohm is the Murray State Men’s Coach and 3x Ohio Valley Conference Champions. The titles of these recent Basketball DVDs are:

All Access Syracuse Basketball Practice

Learn the drills and principles you need to defend using Jim Boeheim’s 2-3 Zone Defense
Improve your team’s quickness and agility while warming up
Learn man-to-man drills and concepts to build your team’s overall defensive awareness
Develop the ability to score on offense versus both man and zone defenses

All Access Murray State University Basketball Practice

Maximize practice time by breaking down your offensive system into drills for to get more quality shots in practice
Prepare your team for game day by breaking down your opponent’s favorite actions into 3-on-3 and 2-on-2 drills
Limit turnovers, focus on shot selection, run offense, and focus on transition defense through the use of Murray State’s Cincinnati Drill
Get the most of your offensive sets and secondary break by using various 5-on-0, 4-on-0, and 5-on-5 breakdown drills that emphasize fundamentals within your offensive sets

For other high quality Basketball instructional DVDs, check out the products below:

Building Blocks of the Pack Line Defense
Mike Anderson: Building an Aggressive Transition Offense
Frank Allocco: Developing the Complete High School Player
The Coach’s Plan for Building a Championship Team
Agnus Berenato: Man-to-Man Defensive Breakdown Drills
Don Showalter: Continuity Ball Screen Offense
Mike Dunlap: 1-1-3 Man Zone Defense
Mike Rice: Warm Up Drills for Practice

Filed in Basketball • Tags: All Access, Basketball DVDs, Jim Boeheim, Murray State, Steve Prohm, Syracuse

Chalk Talk: Key Concepts and Tips to the 2-3 Zone Defense

By adam.warner - Last updated: Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Follow along as Syracuse head men’s basketball head coach Jim Boeheim highlights some key concepts and overall tips for the 2-3 Zone Defense. With whiteboard diagrams, Boeheim illustrates player responsibilities, reads and rotations, plus specific scenarios concerning recovery off the press, corner traps, and rebounding.

Key Principles of the 2-3 Zone

There are a few overall principles that every player must keep at the forefront when implementing the 2-3 Zone. First, it’s the traps made off the zone that really keys the defense. Also, it’s vital to contest the three-point shot and always have five players moving on every offensive pass. Remember, this is not a stationary zone, and players must be active in order to be effective.

Getting Back on Defense Off the Press

When in engaged in a full-court trap, let’s say a simple 1-2-1-1, it’s important to get back to our spots on defense quickly and hard. Never run with your back to the basket. Rather, sprint back to the three-point line and then find your normal spots to get into position. For many teams, the whole key to a particular offense is the fast break. With that said, defenders must bet back and locate the shooters. If the best shooter is at the top of the key, the guard must find him and go to him. The other guard will be responsible for the high post area.

When it comes to traps in the 2-3 zone, when we get beat, we typically get beat in the short corner. If that’s the case, the forward from the weakside must come across the lane and take the high post and take the post rolling down. The goal is to get the opposition to throw the ball out of the short corner, then we can react back to our normal positions.

Corner Trap

When the ball comes from the wing to the corner, the forward should be ready to attack the ball. We must come down and trap the corner forward with a guard and a forward. The weakside forward cuts the passing lane back to the wing and the center fronts the low post. The high post is played by the weakside forward coming up hard. He must get into the passing lane to take away that pass, leaving the furthest offensive guy from the ball open on the opposite wing. Keep in mind, the corner trap is designed to keep the ball out of the corner, and if it does go there, we can get a steal or deflection or passing lane steal.

Rebounding

The 2-3 Zone can have some disadvantages when it comes to rebounding. Whenever a shot is taken from the wing, the opposite forward is caught with two potential offensive rebounders. He must get in position for the rebound but can only choose one player to block out. The weakside guard must get back to help out in this scenario. Weakside rebounds will be a battle and the goal here is to tip the ball back into the center where the center or guard can get to it. However, if you are rebounding at a disadvantage on the weakside, then your opponent is not attacking as much on the ball-side, which can help your defense.

The following segments can be seen in Championship Productions’ DVD “Jim Boeheim’s Complete Guide to the 2-3 Match-Up Zone Defense.” To check out more defensive-oriented videos in our extensive video library, click here.