Defensive Concepts to Take Away the 3-Ball & Quick Offensive Actions

with Baker Dunleavy,
Villanova Basketball's General Manager
Quinnipiac University Head Men's Basketball Coach from 2017 to 2023;
Villanova University Associate Head Men's Basketball Coach from 2013 to 2017;
2016 NCAA National Champions;
4x Big East Regular Season Champions;
Villanova Assistant Coach in 2012;
Villanova Director of Basketball Operations from 2010 to 2012;
played college basketball for Villanova

Baker Dunleavy knows what it takes to develop players and win championships. As part of the Villanova program that made six straight NCAA tournament appearances, capped off with the 2016 NCAA Tournament Championship, Dunleavy has the skill set to develop a shut down defense. In this video, Dunleavy breaks down the defensive concepts he uses to force opponents to shoot contested 2-pointers and limit 3-point attempts.

Philosophy

Winning at the highest level requires an exceptional defense. Preparing early and helping your players understand their opponent is half the battle for each game. Coach Dunleavy outlines how to label each player in terms of their shooting ability - cold, straight, and hot. Using these terms, he can focus and build his defensive philosophy around controllable priorities: free throw attempts, 3-point attempts, and assisted field goals with an emphasis on corner 3-pointers.

Dunleavy details what to emphasize while guarding the ball and while in help defense. Chesting the ball handler will allow your players to minimize fouling and thus minimize opponent free throw attempts. Help-side defenders constantly bounce back and forth as they read the driver in an attempt to take away an easy 3-point shot.

Drills

In a basic warm-up drill, Coach Dunleavy has players work 1v1 to get to the shooter on the flight of the ball. Based on personnel, players are also able to gauge how close they will have to get to the shooter, which will help the main outcome of their defense - protect the basket and the paint. As defenders react to shooters, they are able to move into help-side defense if the ball is swung.

Dunleavy uses this as a build-up drill for on-ball and help-side defense. In a 2v2 setting, players read the chest of the driver and react to how much help they have to give. Coach Dunleavy puts an emphasis on not over-helping and leaving a great shooter wide open. Playing 2v2 and 3v3 will help your players get many reps reading the offense before putting everyone into a 5v5 setting.

Ball Screening Action

As the game evolves, so will your defensive philosophy. The ability to guard post-to-guard ball screens and guard-to-guard ball screens is critical to running a successful defense.

You'll see Coach Dunleavy demonstrate how to get through, let through, switch, and make decisions based on what the offense is trying to accomplish. In the 2v2 setting, he moves the ball screen around the court so players will learn to defend screens from the wing, hand-offs from the wing, and quick re-screens.

Offensive Entries

Rounding out his on-court demonstration, Dunleavy goes through six entries into any offense that will lead to paint touches or open 3-pointers. Using a basic dribble drive setup, your point guard can look to attack the middle of the paint and create scoring super gaps for teammates to drive for an open layup, or create a 2-on-1 situation. In Peel, the trail post player will fake a ball screen and peel out to the wing, looking for an open 3-pointer or allowing the point guard to get to the rim. In Chop, the point guard gives a pitch back to the trail post so they can hit an open 3-pointer, get to the rim, or dribble hand-off to the corner for a 2-on-1 situation.

Coach Dunleavy has a great defensive philosophy centered around limiting 3-pointers and forcing contested mid-range jumpers. In this video, you'll get a look at how he teaches his concepts, techniques, and personnel to help his players be successful against the top players in the country!

87 minutes. 2020.