Open Practice with Greg McDermott

with Greg McDermott,Creighton University Head Coach from 2010 to 2026;
2020 Big East Coach of the Year;
2020 Big East Regular Season Champions;
2020 NABC Division I All-District Coach Award (District 5);
2018 NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Champions Award;
2013 MVC Regular Season Champions;
3x MVC Tournament Champions;
2011 CBI Championship Runner-up;
Iowa State Head Coach from 2006 to 2010;
Northern Iowa Head Coach from 2001 to 2006;
North Dakota State Head Coach from 2000 to 2001;
2000 NSIC Regular Season Champions;
2000 NSIC Coach of the Year;
Wayne State Head Coach from 1994 to 2000;
2022 Cascade High School (Iowa) Athletic Hall of Fame;
played collegiately for Northern Iowa

Greg McDermott lets you peek behind the curtain and witness a typical Creighton practice in this 80-minute, on-court demonstration. You'll see how Coach McDermott addresses every major aspect of the game in balanced fashion as he prepares his team for the season ahead.

Focusing on the defensive end of the court, this practice includes a series of drills that build from basic concepts to larger team strategies. He also has his players demonstrate individual skill drills that are essential to their overall development. Along the way Coach McDermott interacts with the coaches in the audience and gives them his thoughts on some of the drills.

Two great drills launch the defensive segment of this presentation:

• Slide, Run and Pivot Drill: In this drill, players work on their defensive slides as they also learn to explode into a move. Balance and footwork are the keys to success both in this drill and in the game of basketball.
• Ranger Drill: This breakdown drill teaches proper defensive rotations in a baseline drive-and-kick situation. Players learn to get into their correct defensive positions, take charges and hustle to a block out.

Coach McDermott then works extensively on closeouts. Integrating closeouts into your bigger team defensive concepts is critical as you help your players develop. Two drills are key to his team's success in this area.

• Three Line Closeouts: Coach McDermott demonstrates the three types of closeouts his players must execute in order to be successful. The Kobe, Korver and Rondo closeouts are all different but each has a place in Creighton's defensive schemes and should be part of yours as well.
• Berlin Closeouts: In this drill, players must not closeout to their man, but rather to the correct defensive position.

Team defense is then emphasized in the shell drill. Coach McDermott and his staff discuss each component of the screen defense. Knowing how to deal with down screens, flare screens and stagger screens is essential in helping your team achieve success against screening offenses. Finally Coach McDermott runs some 5-on-5 where we not only get to see the defensive concepts as a whole but also get a peek at some of Creighton's offensive sets and concepts, including multiple set plays that feature a screen-the-screener action.

On the offensive side of the ball, Coach McDermott shares offensive breakdowns and shooting drills specifically for perimeter and post players. The offensive breakdown stations include:

• Guards: One More drill / Shots out of the offense / Game speed cuts.
• Forwards: Flips / Figure 8 shooting / Walling up and boxing out.

Coach McDermott's practice is a great example of how to run a fast-paced, effective and well-balanced practice. You will be inspired to implement several of these defensive drills because they address so many crucial aspects of the game without creating a lopsided practice. In only 80 minutes, virtually every important aspect is covered - from 5-on-5 strategy to a variety of shell drills to individual workouts and more.

Produced at the Fall 2014 Omaha (NE) clinic.

81 minutes. 2015.