Open Practice with T.J. Otzelberger: Offense

with T.J. Otzelberger,
Iowa State University Head Coach;
2024 Big XII Tournament Champions;
UNLV Head Men's Basketball Coach 2019 to 2021;
South Dakota State University Head Coach 2016 to 2019;
2018 Summit League Coach of the Year;
2x Summit League Regular Season Champions (2018, 2019);
2x Summit League Tournament Champions (2017, 2018);
Iowa State Assistant Coach from 2015 to 2016;
University of Washington Assistant Coach 2013 to 2015;
Iowa State Associate Head Coach from 2010 to 2013;
Iowa State Assistant Coach from 2006 to 2010;
Chipola College (FL) Assistant Coach from 2004 to 2005;
Burlington Catholic Central HS (WI) Head Coach from 2001 to 2004;
played college basketball for Wisconsin-Whitewater (point guard)

Up-and-coming head coach T.J. Otzelberger implemented a fast-paced style of play at South Dakota State. Through his coaching philosophy, his players learned to play at an up-tempo pace on both offense and defense.

In this video, you'll get an inside look at how Coach Otz teaches transition play into an attacking half court offense. Additionally, you'll learn how to craft a competitive practice session that gets players focused on one possession at a time.

Transition

A staple of Coach Otzelberger's offense is transition and getting the ball into the scoring area as quickly as possible to put pressure on the defense. He details how to push the ball up and down the floor and use your fast break to attack gaps in the defense. Using various transition drills, Otzelberger outlines how he creates a culture of playing fast with the goal of scoring at the rim as quickly as possible.

Skill Development

During the skill development portion of this video, you'll see two opportunities where players are broken out into two different groups. Each session is centered around creating driving angles in a gap or a double gap setting. Posts learn to rotate as the drive comes toward the basket while guards learn to attack and recognize gaps as the ball is moved around the court. In the second session, guards and posts learn to take pride in their defense.

Half Court Play

Once in the half court, Otzelberger demonstrates various actions he likes to use to open the floor up for driving angles or create downhill action as fast as possible. In the 6 Possession game, players get up and down the floor in transition and utilize dribble hand-offs, step up screens, and flip actions to get the offense going.

This open practice video gives you a detailed look at a fast-paced style of play. Coach Otzelberger does an excellent job of breaking down the actions that will lead to open gaps and driving angles for your players to attack.

183 minutes. 2018.