Man-to-Man Defense: It's Not What You Do, It's How You Do It

with Vic Schaefer,
University of Texas Head Women's Coach;
2023 Big XII Coach of the Year;
2x Big XII Tournament Champions (2022, 2024);
Mississippi State University Head Women's Coach from 2012 to 2020;
2x SEC Regular Season Champions (2018, 2019);
2019 SEC Tournament Champions;
2018 Naismith Women's College Coach of the Year;
2018 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Coach of the Year;
2018 & 2017 NCAA Championship Runners-Up;
2017 ESPY Award - 'Best Upset' (ended UConn's record 111 game winning streak to go to the National Championship game);
3x SEC Coach of the Year (2015, 2018, 2019);
2018 SEC Regular Season Champions - 16-0 record;
2016 NCAA Sweet Sixteen;
Texas A & M Associate Head Coach from 2003 to 2012;
2011 NCAA National Champions

Coach Vic Schaefer has elevated Mississippi State into one of the best programs in women's collegiate basketball. This success stems from a philosophy of doing the same things that every other team in the country does, but with an attitude that MSU will do it with an uncommon level of excellence. Coach Schaefer demonstrates this approach through nine defensive drills that build his pressure man-to-man defense. In this video, you will gain valuable teaching points to maximize the effectiveness of your drills while also learning the teaching points to develop an aggressive defense.

Core Defensive Drills

Mississippi State prides itself on being a disruptive defensive team. You will see the package of drills that are run every day in Bulldog practices. Coach Schaefer demonstrates a unique approach to guarding the ball with his "Approach Stance" drill. He shows how to improve the lateral quickness of your players with his method of pivoting in a defensive stance. Other tactics, such as identifying the ball handler's pivot foot and the "hot stove," will enable your players to apply maximum pressure on the ball. Additional drills teach defenders to blow up down screens with physicality and alter their routes based on the location of the screen in order to stay "up the line and straight line" in pass denial.

Defending Common Actions

Coach Schaefer shows the "3-Out 1-In" drill, which is a personal favorite that Mississippi State runs daily. This drill puts a premium on ball-pressure while also teaching defenders how to adjust their passing lane denial based on their proximity to post players. This drill also can be used to install your ball screen defense. You will also learn how the Bulldogs attack pick & rolls with a hard show.

The "3-on-3 Rebounding" drill reinforces denial pressure by challenging players to take away dribble hand-offs and guard backdoor cuts while also being ready to put their "butt in the gut" when the shot goes up. In addition to other drills, you will also come away with a perfect defensive drill for teaching numerous phases of your defensive system. The "7-Point Defensive" drill has players deny the wing, take away backdoor cuts, front the posts, find help position, disrupt flash cuts, and dive for loose balls in a single repetition!

This video will show you why Coach Schaefer has won numerous national Coach of the Year awards. There is absolutely something to take away from this video for everyone, regardless of the system you run!

76 minutes. 2020.