Brad Underwood Open Practice: Offense

with Brad Underwood,
University of Illinois Head Coach;
2026 Final Four;
2x Elite Eight (2024, 2026);
2x Big Ten Tournament Champions (2021, 2024);
2023 NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award;
2022 Big Ten Regular Season Champions;
Oklahoma State University Head Coach from 2016 to 2017;
Stephen F. Austin University Head Coach from 2013 to 2016;
2014 Joe B. Hall Award Recipient (Nation's top first-year coach);
3x Southland Conference Regular Season Champions (2014 - 2016);
3x Southland Conference Tournament Champions (2014 - 2016);
3x Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2014 - 2016);
South Carolina Associate Head Coach from 2012 to 2013;
Kansas State Associate Head Coach from 2011 to 2012;
Daytona Beach Community College Head Coach from 2003 to 2006;
Western Illinois Assistant Coach from 1992 to 2003;
Dodge City Community College Head Coach from 1988 to 1992;
Hardin-Simmons University GA from 1986 to 1987;
played college basketball for Kansas State, Independence CC & Hardin-Simmons (guard)

Brad Underwood's spread offense has been one of the most efficient passing and scoring systems seen in the NCAA - the same offense he used during successful seasons at Stephen F. Austin and Oklahoma State.

On the court, you get a front row seat to see how Coach Underwood builds his offense from the ground up with skill drills, offensive breakdowns and controlled scrimmages. You'll learn in-depth nuances of the offense from Underwood and his assistants working with the team, breaking down the offense to develop bigs and guards.

Open Practice - Video1

Coach Underwood shows the importance of teaching immediate flow from transition into your spread offense, individual development drills that prepare players for success within the spread, and how to prepare for an opponent that uses full-court pressure.

Underwood puts his players into intense, game-like practice situations; you'll see:

• Drills to teach the spread offense
• Multiple entries into the spread offense
• An individual development drill designed for the spread
• Instruction on how to defeat full and half court trapping situations

Learn the basics of Underwood's version of the spread offense and the entry flow options that will have transition defenses wondering what hit them.

At the beginning, Underwood goes over the X's and O's of his practice and his philosophies of player development. He emphasizes this individual development section of practice by training his players to complete passes, shots and footwork that the spread offense requires. In these sessions, Underwood teaches:

• Fighting for position on the perimeter
• How to use the high post 2-man game
• Footwork and passing to the post
• Dribbling attacks and techniques for the spread
• How guards and bigs can defeat traps with footwork and sharp passes

Coach Underwood and his unique spread offense create post-up opportunities for every player on the court, while also allowing freedom for players to take advantage of mismatches on the perimeter by creating plenty of space for dribble attacks.

Open Practice - Video 2

This video stresses player development as Underwood offers plenty of ways to develop a fast-paced offense and a press break that is precise, and, fundamentally sound.

Watch as the players warm up using Star Passing. This drill requires concentration, precision and communication. Your team will progress from intense individual skill builders to game-speed drills where players work on their offensive flow options in 5-on-5 and even 5-on-7 scrimmages. Everything focuses on trying to score in seven seconds or less.

Coach Underwood's players break out into position groups. The posts are taught the fundamentals necessary in the team's press break. This progression teaches players the importance of:

• Moving towards the ball to receive a pass
• Catching the ball on balance in a triple threat position
• Aggressively pivoting with purpose to see the floor
• Stepping through the trap to make a pass to the middle or down the sideline

Simultaneously, the guards are drilled on their duties in the press break. The skills taught to guards are:

• Proper cuts to get open for the inbound pass
• Positioning themselves off of the sideline to allow for better passing angels
• Making a middle cut with precision
• Catching and pivoting to see the court
• Retreat dribbling with eyes up to freeze the trap
• Attacking a frozen trap

Following the individual session, Underwood moves on to transition breakdowns. Players are placed in a 5-on-5 scenario beginning with a free-throw. After a make or miss, the ball is pushed up the floor into one of Coach Underwood's flow options and the offense tries to score. This fast paced action lasts for three possessions and is a great tool to teach decision making, transition into the spread offense, and defensive transition.

Learn how to master the spread offense in this in-depth, two-video open practice with Coach Underwood!

182 minutes (2 videos). 2017.