Craig Doty: Offensive Success vs a Switching Man-to-Man Defense

with Craig Doty,
Houston Christian University Head Coach;
Emporia State Head Men's Basketball Coach from 2018 to 2024;
Graceland University Head Coach from 2016 to 2018;
2018 NAIA National Championship;
2018 Don Meyer Award;
2018 NAIA Coach of the Year;
2018 IBCA Coach of the YEar;
2018 Heart of America Tournament Champions;
Rock Valley College Head Coach from 2012 to 2016;
2x NJCAA Division III National Champions (2014, 2016);
2x Spalding NJCAA Division III Coach of the Year (2014, 2016);
2016 NABC National JuCo (all levels) Coach of the Year;
2015 NJCAA National Runner-up;
4x Don Klaas NJCAA Region IV Coach of the Yearplayed college basketball for Morningside (guard)

For many teams, defenses they're not accustomed to seeing can become a nightmare. For coaches who go up against man-to-man defenses that switch constantly, this change-up can cause problems. In this video, the 2018 NAIA Championship-winning Coach of the Year, Craig Doty, demonstrates ways in which his teams gain advantages against this different type of man-to-man defense.

Doty passes on useful plays that will help your team not only verses switching defenses, but also with straight up, man-to-man and zone defenses. With each play, he explains the exact timing and spacing required for these plays to be successful. Throughout the video, Doty emphasizes the mismatches that occur when teams switch and how each of his plays take advantage of these mismatches. He also shares how his program uses analytics to improve in games and practices.

Regular Man-to-Man vs. Switching Man-to-Man

Coach Doty shows how he takes advantage of defenses that like to switch by first showing a variety of plays against straight man-to-man defense. Then, he demonstrates what the offensive set looks like against a switching man-to-man defense.

Out of a Horns set, the play "Pro 1" starts with a pass to the post and a dive to the basket by the point guard. Against a regular man-to-man defense, the play typically ends with either an open jump shot for the point guard or a feed into the post. However, the switching man-to-man defense ends with a seal by the post for a high-low duck-in pass.

Another Horns set, "Pro 3" is used to set up a help-side down screen on an entry to the elbow. Against a regular man-to-man defense, the wing uses a screen to get a jumper. With a switching man-to-man defense, a high-low entry to the screening post man against the wing's defender creates an interior mismatch that leads to many easy baskets.

Utilizing Early Offense

When attacking in transition offense, a switching man-to-man defense can cause problems. To get around this, Coach Doty shows maneuvers using post and wing interchanges and dribble hand-offs to create mismatches and exploit switches.

Also demonstrated are "Harvard" and "Cross." Both actions lead to opportunities to use cutting actions by the wings that lead to easy baskets in transition.

Sets vs. 2-3 Zone

When facing a 2-3 zone, switching principles still apply, as screened zone defenders are oftentimes replaced by other zone defenders having to come out and guard the basketball on the perimeter. You'll see how using down screens and flare screens on the top of the zone create open 3-point shots.

Running Bulldog against a 2-3 zone leads to many open opportunities to get the ball inside to a post player who can score. Flood is also demonstrated as a zone offense designed to take advantage of the zone.

Using Analytics

Doty invests some time to talk about his program's use of analytics. Using analytics can help you determine who should and should not be on the court. However, Doty also uses analytics to show players why they are successful and why others are not.

The actions and techniques shown in this video create opportunities for offenses to attack switching and zone defenses. Coach Doty's principles are a must for anyone looking to expand their playbook to better handle uncommon defenses.

Produced at the Nike Championship Basketball Coaches Clinic - Indianapolis (IN); Fall 2016 .

71 minutes. 2018.