Coaching Advice, Part VI

When attacking a good defense, NBA Analyst Hubie Brown says to reverse the ball, then leave the area and replace.

Kentucky head coach Tubby Smith wants his players to look to trap when the ball-handler cannot see them coming.

When practicing free throws, Georgia head coach Jim Harrick wants the non-shooters to work on blocking out.

When his team shot the ball, Hubie Brown put one guard on the elbow and the other guard on the sideline to stop the fast break.

Bowling Green head coach Dan Dakich wants to over-coach simplicity.

Paul Niland, head coach at Mission Valley High School (KS) subs a player in the game after the second shot when his team is shooting a free throw. This allows his team to set up their press.

Wisconsin-Green Bay head coach Mike Heideman works on digging the ball out of the post with a four-on-five drill. The fifth player on offense is an unguarded post, and the defense must allow the first pass to go into the post and then try to stop the score inside and recover on the pass out.

In his full court man defense, Tubby Smith has two automatic trap areas: in the dead corner and at mid-court along the sidelines.

Jim Harrick wants his team to always shoot 20 free throws at a time. He wants to build the muscle memory and confidence through repetition.

When contesting the pass, Dan Dakich teaches his players to keep their head on a swivel. They are to constantly look at ball and man.

Socatee High School (SC) head coach Dan D’Antoni runs something called “Spring Sacrifice” every year. style="mso-spacerun: yes">He brings rising eighth graders into the gym for a camp every day after school for two weeks. It is during this time that these post players learn his system and style of coaching.

Alabama-Huntsville head coach Lennie Acuff tells his players that they cut to score or to create help.

East Carolina head coach Bill Herrion defends back screens in the following manner: the man on the screener must call screen and cover the hoop; the man on the cutter must jump to the ball and force the cutter to go behind the screen.

If you are out of time-outs and have not been accessed a delay of game warning, Paul Niland suggests having your players hold the ball after they score. The official has to stop the clock to access you the warning.

To work on post defense, Mike Heideman will have four players play two-on-two in the post while there are four offensive players on the perimeter feeding the post.

Dan Dakich runs “Contest the Pass/Driving Line” drill every day. The defense will contest the pass and then play one-on-one when their man catches the ball. He will also change positions of the floor frequently.

When facing a serious disadvantage on the tip, Paul Niland will have his team make a violation on the toss. style="mso-spacerun: yes">The other team would get the ball anyway, but now they cannot run a play.

Mike Heideman will run a four-on–five drill with five offensive players on the perimeter. The defense must work on getting to the next pass and contesting any shots.

When the defender is playing below you in the post, Florida head coach Billy Donovan teaches his players to shoot a jump hook. The teaching points are: step into the lane with top foot keeping parallel to the baseline, turn non-shooting shoulder to the rim, elevate off both feet, and follow your shot.

Grinnell College head coach David Arseneault wants his players to go hard for one minute and then he will bring a new five on the floor.

Cincinnati head coach Bob Huggins does not like the bounce pass into the post because it forces the offensive player to break contact with the defense.