Running a High-Powered Offense: Spacing, Sets & Inbound Plays

with Kelvin Sampson,
University of Houston Head Men's Coach;
2025 NCAA National Runner-Up;
2025 CBS Sports National Coach of the Year
2025 Sporting News National Coach of the Year
2025 NABC Division I Gulf Region Coach of the Year
2025 Big XII Coach of the Year
2025 Big XII Regular Season Champions
2025 Big XII Tournament Champions
2024 NABC Division I Coach of the Year;
2024 Henry Iba Award;
2024 Big XII Regular Season Champions;
2024 Big XII Coach of the Year;
4x American Athletic Conference (AAC) Coach of the Year (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023);
2022 Ben Jobe Award;
2022 CBS Sports National Coach of the Year;
2021 Coach John McLendon Award;
2021 NCAA Final Four;
2021 & 2022 AAC Tournament Champions;
4x AAC Conference Regular Season Champions;
Houston Rockets (NBA) Assistant Coach from 2011 to 2014;
Milwaukee Bucks (NBA) Assistant Coach from 2008 to 2011;
Indiana Head Coach from 2006 to 2008;
Oklahoma Head Coach from 1994 to 2006;
2x Big XII Regular Season Champions;
3x Big XII Tournament Champions;
2002 NABC Division I Coach of the Year;
2002 NCAA Final Four;
1995 AP Coach of the Year;
1995 Henry Iba Award;
1995 Big Eight Coach of the Year;
Washington State Head Coach from 1987 to 1994;
1991 Pac-10 Coach of the Year;
Montana Tech Head Coach from 1981 to 1985;
2x Frontier Regular Season Champions;
3x Frontier Tournament Champions;
2x Frontier Coach of the Year;
Michigan State Graduate Assistant Coach from 1979 to 1980 (under Jud Heathcote);
played college basketball for UNC Pembroke

Coach Kelvin Sampson has turned the Houston Cougars into a championship-caliber team in large part due to proficiency of his teams on offense. In this video filmed at a University of Houston practice, you will see how the Cougars prioritize spacing and ball movement to break down defenses. Additionally, you'll get multiple baseline and sideline inbound plays with various options that Sampson has used to help establish Houston as one of the top teams in the nation for scoring on out-of-bounds plays.

Offensive Approach

Coach Sampson introduces the essential components to his base offense before hitting the practice court. You'll learn how to maximize your spacing with four perimeter players. Effective concepts such as ghost screens and scrapes will help you create player movement that can spread defenders out. The discussion also includes how to incorporate weak-side screening to occupy help defenders. Sampson also explains how you can teach lesser athletic players to beat their opponent on the catch to create driving opportunities.

Next, you'll get a series of plays from the Cougar playbook. Learn how to execute the Loop series through whiteboard lecture and on-court demonstration. This effective play begins with a 1-4 high set and creates easy backdoor opportunities for layups. You will also learn how to create backup plans for defenses that overplay the passing lanes.

Coach Sampson breaks down an additional set from the 1-4 high alignment that will screen your post player into an ideal position to score. You'll also see two options out of the Floppy action that continues movement after post feeds into two effective attacks. Chicago creates a wide-open jump shot for a post player, and Detroit creates a difficult ball screen situation to defend off the Floppy action.

Sampson also shows how he teaches his athletes to play with pace and space in their offense with the "After Free Throw" controlled scrimmage segment of practice. You will see how players push the ball up the court while flowing through half court offensive attacks with this drill.

Inbound Plays

If you need some great inbound plays, Coach Sampson has you covered. He first covers baseline inbound sets, including:

• 21 - A box set screen-the-screener to get an outside shot and a post-up.
• 51 - 3 seconds or less for a quick shot on the weak-side and a player rolling towards the basket.
• Quick - A play to get a cross screen post-up, a shot at the top of the key, and a pick & roll option to follow.
• 52 - A play for a quick high-low to a post player off a tight back screen.
• Thumb Down - An elevator screen play for a 3-pointer.
• Thumb Down Counter - A rip screen counter.
• Slice Weak - A misdirection play for a quick pin down jumper run from a box set.

The next portion of practice is devoted to running sideline inbound plays. Many of the plays ran to execution from the baseline can also be run from the sideline, making it easier for your team to remember. Plays include:

• Slice Weak - The same concept as the baseline inbound version, ran from a zipper screen.
• Quick - The same play as from the baseline, except now from the sideline in a box formation.
• Loop 2 - A pick & roll play with an empty corner.
• Barber Pole - A great play to get action going toward the rim with a back screen and a cleared out side.
• Slice Pick - A set that runs right into a middle pick & roll.

Rounding out the practice, Coach Sampson has his players run through a game of execution from sideline and baseline inbound situations. Using the same plays covered earlier in 5-on-0 practice, two teams are created, and the first one to five scores wins.

Go inside Coach Sampson's practice and learn some of his best offensive strategies! He'll show you how to space the floor and move the ball to shred the defense in addition to some fantastic inbound plays. You will not be disappointed with the amount of offensive ideas you get in this video!

98 minutes + 42 minutes of bonus material. 2020.