Open Practice with Chris Crutchfield: Lock Down Defense, Taking a Charge, Pick & Roll Coverages, Free Throw Box Outs

with Chris Crutchfield,
University of Nebraska Omaha Head Coach;
2025 Summit League Regular Season Champions;
2025 Summit League Tournament Champions;
2025 Summit League Coach of the Year;
University of Oregon Assistant Coach from 2021 to 2022;
East Central University Head Coach from 2020 to 2021;
Arkansas Assistant Coach from 2019 to 2020;
University of Oklahoma Assistant Coach from 2011 to 2019;
2016 NCAA Final Four
Was an Assistant Coach at Oral Roberts, TCU, New Mexico State, Tyler Junior College, UTSA from the span of 1996 to 2011;
Played college basketball and football at Omaha

Master Defensive Fundamentals & In-Game Execution
In this excellent Open Practice video, you’ll experience firsthand how Omaha’s Chris Crutchfield trains his team to excel on the defensive side of the ball.

With an emphasis on game-speed execution, this video is packed with drills and team-focused strategies designed to elevate your players’ defensive intensity and IQ!

What You’ll Learn

• Defensive Fundamentals: Begin with proper charge-taking techniques and vertical jumps to neutralize offensive threats.
• Pick-and-Roll Defense: Learn hard show coverage and trapping mechanics for effective defense against ball screens.
• Transition Defense: Watch as Coach Crutchfield teaches how to defend in transition and avoid easy fast-break points.
• End-of-Game Scenarios: Improve your team's focus and communication with key drills like free throw box-outs and defensive rotations.
• Live Scrimmages & Adjustments: See real-time corrections and coach-player discussions during 5-on-5 half-court play.

Defensive Drills and Team Stations:
Throughout practice, Coach Crutchfield leads the team through individual drills and team stations, focusing on both perimeter defense and rebounding techniques.

You will see the players trained in defensive slides, 3-on-3 rebounding and closeouts, while building the mental toughness needed to excel defensively.

If you want to build a tough, defensive-minded team, this is the video for you!

With proven methods and drills that challenge your players to improve and compete, Coach Crutchfield will help you instill a winning defensive mindset into your practice and game-day routines.

86 minutes. 2025.