The Buzz Defense: Breakdown Drills & Special Situations

with Mike Divilbiss,
former Associate Head Coach at Wisconsin Green Bay & Illinois;
30 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level

The Buzz defense is a fast-paced trapping zone defense that you can use to disrupt your opponents' offensive attack. In this video, Mike Divilbiss teaches the breakdown drills that will help your players master moving, reacting, and rebounding out of the Buzz defense. Additionally, Divilbiss demonstrates how to prepare your Buzz defense for a number of special situations that will arise during games.

Breakdown Drills

You'll get a drill that teaches guards how to move from on-ball defense at the half court line to another "home base" on the court. Defenders sprint from one pass to the next, trying to get deflections and disrupt offensive movement. Your players will practice trapping and also defending with a one- or two-guard front. Coach Divilbiss covers taking away direct passing lanes and pushing opponents out of the middle of the floor.

Another great drill from Divilbiss is the "Inside Drill." This exercise teaches the bottom three players in the Buzz to move and rotate if the ball gets past the two trapping guards at the top. Your players will develop the ability to anticipate where the ball is going to move while also learning what to do when the ball is skipped, enters the corner, or enters the high post.

Rebounding out of zone defenses can be difficult if your athletes aren't trained on what to expect. Coach Divilbiss goes over where players need to rotate and spots on the floor they need to cover as a shot goes up. Guards must take wing shots while forwards have the responsibility of taking corner or short corner shots.

Special Situations

Divilbiss has seen plenty of opponents try to break down the Buzz over the years and discusses plenty of the most common scouting adjustments that teams attempt to use against the Buzz. He covers defending out of bounds situations, adjusting to a 1-4 high set, the best opportunities to trap, and covering in defensive transition.

Much of Coach Divilbiss' success over the past 30 years is due to his Buzz defense. This great video will show you the drills and special situation work that ensure the Buzz is operating at its best. Empower your players and watch your wins pile up while running the Buzz this season!

103 minutes. 2019.

All of Coach Divilbiss' proceeds of this video will go to benefit Lakeland High School Athletics.