Running the Princeton 2-Guard Offense

with Josh Loeffler,
Loyola Maryland Head Coach;
University of Cincinnati Assistant Coach from 2023 to 2024;
Johns Hopkins University Head Coach from 2017 to 2023;
3x Centennial Conference Regular Season Champions;
3x Centennial Conference Tournament Champions;
2x Centennial Conference Coach of the Year;
2x NABC Region Coach of the Year;
Loyola Maryland Assistant Coach from 2013 to 2017;
Lafayette Assistant Coach from 2008 to 2012;
Stevens Tech Head Coach from 2006 to 2008;
2008 Empire 8 Coach of the Year;
2007 Skyline Regular Season Champions;
2007 NABC Middle Atlantic Region Coach of the Year;
2007 D3hoops.com Coach of the Year;
played college basketball for Swarthmore

The Princeton offense is a tried-and-true classic that will never fade away. It can make average athletes and teams good, and good athletes and teams great because it teaches players how to play.

In this presentation, Loyola Maryland head coach Josh Loeffler shows his version of the Princeton 2-Guard offense. He shares his philosophy on teaching progressions of the offensive set he calls "Triangle", all the options that come with it, breakdown drills, 5-on-5 play, and a special set play when you need a 3-pointer in crunch time.

Triangle Action

Coach Loeffler kicks off the clinic with his coaching background and why he likes the Princeton style of play. His presentation focuses on the action "Triangle" and the multiple reads and options that come out of it. You can run it out of the Princeton offense as a standalone play, or as something to finish up Princeton actions such as "Chin."

The teaching progression that Loeffler uses to build the offense flows from 5-on-0 instruction, to small group breakdowns, and back up to 5-on-5. After describing how he implements the offense, Loeffler goes into detail on all the options and reads that come out of Triangle and follows his method of teaching the offense. The 3-on-3 breakdowns will give your players a better understanding of what to look for as you practice simple reads and allow players to make plays within the drills. From there, Loeffler goes back to 5-on-0 and 5-on-5 to help players see the big picture and become even more successful running the offense.

Game-Winning Play

Coach Loeffler ends his presentation by sharing a set play that the Blue Jays used to win back-to-back games from different options in the play.

Even if you don't run the Princeton offense, this video provides a great outline of how to teach new plays and offenses, in addition to providing sound principles and teaching points that will help fine tune whatever offense you run. The Triangle action will add potency to your system and help raise your players' basketball IQ!

62 minutes. 2020.