Stopping the Pick and Roll

with Matthew Driscoll,
NC State Assistant Coach;
Kansas State University Interim Head Coach in 2026;
Kansas State University Associate Head Coach from 2025 to 2026;
University of North Florida Head Men's Coach from 2009 to 2025;
3-Time Atlantic Sun (A-Sun) Conference Coach of the Year (2015, 2016 & 2020);
3-Time A-Sun Regular Season Champions (2015, 2016 & 2020);
2015 A-Sun Tournament Champions;
Baylor Assistant Coach from 2003 to 2009;
2008 Fox Sports Top Ten Assistants in the US;
Valparaiso Assistant Coach in 2003;
Clemson Assistant Coach from 1998 to 2003;
Wyoming Assistant Coach from 1997 to 1998;
LaRoche College Head Coach from 1993 to 1997;
Slippery Rock Assistant Coach from 1992 to 1993;
Seneca Valley High School (PA) Assistant Coach from 1991 to 1992;
Butler County Community College (PA) Assistant Coach from 1990 to 1991;
Northgate High School Assistant Coach (PA);
played college basketball at Greensboro College & Butler County CC

Matthew Driscoll knows how to build a program. Coach Driscoll served as an assistant on Scott Drew's staff at Baylor from 2003 to 2009, helping to lead the Bears' back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years (2008). After being hired as the head coach at North Florida in 2009, Driscoll repeated this feat, turning the program around and leading the Ospreys to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance (2014-15).

Ball screens have become a prominent scoring option for teams at all levels across the nation. Well-executed pick and rolls are effective at forcing defenses to break down as they scramble to cover all of the scoring threats.

Using a progression of defensive practice drills, Matthew Driscoll demonstrates four strategies for shutting down ball screens, including the hard hedge, the "blitz" trap, switch, and zoning the ball. Coach Driscoll provides in-depth commentary and whiteboard illustrations to show how your whole team can operate as a unit to lock down scoring options created by ball screens.

Breakdown Drills to Defend the Ball Screen

Learn how to use breakdown stations to teach defensive techniques for players involved in the ball screen. Coach Driscoll explains the teaching points he emphasizes for each of the four defensive strategies.

• Hard hedges by the screen defender disrupts the ball handler's attack while the guard recovers.
• "Blitz" forces turnovers that can lead to fast break opportunities by trapping the ball.
• Switching the ball screen minimizes the amount of help your off-ball defenders have to provide. It also eliminates two defenders being occupied with the ball.
• The "Zone" option allows your post player to pack the paint and force penetrating guards into difficult, contested mid-range shots.

Practice Segments

With his 3-on-3 practice segment, Coach Driscoll begins to reinforce the support needed by help defenders against angled ball screens and the Horns set. A major emphasis for defenders guarding shooters in the corners is to help by "tagging" the rolling big man while recovering on a pass to challenge shot attempts.

Practice progresses into a full 5-on-5 segment where the entire team defense works on shutting down the ball screen. Coach Driscoll also has players learn how to guard additional offensive tactics, such as

• side ball screens
• playing through multiple pick and rolls
• defending the Floppy action
• covering ball screens after a defending a UCLA screen

You'll also see Coach Driscoll use a white board to break down each scenario with diagrams and discussion, which help clarify points that were covered on the court

Coach Driscoll gives you everything you need to know about defending the pick and roll. You will learn the technique, player mindset, defensive rotations and system of communication involved in four different defensive strategies that will render your opponents' ball screens useless.

76 minutes. 2015.