Basketball Offense - Princeton Offense

Writing an article on the Princeton offense is not an easy task as there is really no set "pattern" per se (such as the flex offense). Instead, it's more of a way of playing offense using certain principles that require the offensive player to read the defense. For the most part, it is unstructured, using screens and cuts, reading and reacting to the defense. The Princeton offense was pioneered by Pete Carril at Princeton some years ago. Variations are used by college teams (Georgetown, Northwestern, Arizona State, Air Force and Colorado) and NBA teams (New Jersey, Washington, Sacramento, New Orleans).

It has been said that this offense might benefit a team whose players are less athletic than most of their opponents. However, I don't think this is correct, as the Princeton offense requires all players to be good passers, ball-handlers (dribbling skills), and good outside shooters (3-point shots), as well as possess a high basketball IQ, or savvy. If you have a bunch of players like that you can probably win with any offense! Since players must have a good understanding of the game and know how to read the defense, this offense would not be an ideal choice for a youth or middle-school level team in my opinion. This offense would fit a team lacking tall post players, but with good, smart perimeter players.

The Princeton offense is a more deliberate offense, oftentimes with many passes each possession. This tends to slow the game down, controlling the tempo, usually resulting in lower game scores. Coaches have to be completely committed to this offense as it is a free-lance offense with less control from the bench. Certainly, however, plays and quick hitters can be called. The Princeton offense can be used against man-to-man and zone defenses. Against zones that pack the paint, open 3-point shots, attacking the gaps in the zone and attacking the baseline are effective techniques.

The hallmarks of the offense are the spread offense and spacing, constant motion, the back-door cut and lay-up, hitting open 3-point shots, flare screens and screens away from the ball. The basic set can be 4-out with 1-in (either at the high post, or low post), a 2-3 high set, or a 1-2-2 (5-out) set. A smart post player with good passing skills is important as the offense will tend to revolve around the center, who is often a playmaker. When in the 4-out high or 2-3 high set (diagram A), you can see that all players are located at or above the free-throw line extended. This creates space underneath for cutting, especially back-door cuts. The high set and constant motion help eliminate the helpside defense inside. A variety of entries are possible... pass with give and go, UCLA cut, dribble-at with back-cut, high post feed, weave-screen, etc.

http://www.coachesclipboard.net/PrincetonOffense.html

John Beilein Two Guard Princeton Offense vs. Duke Blue Devils–Basketball Plays

Posted on March 22, 2011 by Coach Peterman

http://www.mensbasketballhoopscoop.com/basketball-playbooks-john-beilein-two-guard-princeton-offense-vs-duke-blue-devils-basketball-plays/

John Beilein's 2-Guard Offense

"If the Princeton is Japanese, where the Wheel is Chinese, the 2-Guard Vietnamese, and the Triangle might be Korean. They may not be the same languages, but they're similar phonics." --John Beilein, Michigan--

With the recent success of the Michigan basketball program there has been much written about the next great offense: The Michigan 2-Guard Offense. This system which is currently being utilized by John Beilein (Michigan) and his former assistant Jeff Neubauer (Eastern Kentucky), is becoming the most sought after system in the coaching community today.

However, both coaches are very apprehensive about sharing their concepts with fellow coaches. Their system is mixture of the Princeton, Wheel, and Triangle all rolled into one. "If the Princeton is Japanese, where the Wheel is Chinese, the 2-Guard Vietnamese, and the Triangle might be Korean. They may not be the same languages, but they're similar phonics." What I have done is given you the best interpretation of this unique offense and some of the sets we have used at the high school level that have been successful. This is definitely a perimeter dominated offense based on your ability to shoot the 3-pointer and take what the defense gives you. It is a true read and react type of offense where every pass several different counters or options depending on how the defense defends your cuts. If you think this might be a risky system, you might want to take a look at the success programs are having with this offense

May 28, 2011 10:45 PM

http://community.active.com/thread/154716

How to Run the Michigan Two Guard Front Offense

• Control game tempo and cut down on turnovers
• Counter defensive pressure with precision backdoor cuts for easy lay-ups
• Includes 20 quick hitters you can use from the main sets

with Tom Jicha,

Sunset High School, (FL) Head Coach

Level the playing field with a system designed to upset more athletic teams on a consistent basis.

Tom Jicha presents his interpretation of the two guard front offense, which is based on the offensive system made famous by John Beilein at West Virginia and now at the University of Michigan. This perimeter-based offense is designed to provide scoring opportunities for smaller teams that lack a "true post" player.

Coach Jicha introduces his three main sets: motion, shuffle and chin and blends them together to form one of the most difficult to defend offenses in the game today.

Chin Set
Jicha dissects the chin set on the dry-erase board guiding you through its precision movement. Included are the four ways to get into the chin: the middle pass, the side pass, reversal, and the hand-off. Moving to the court, Jicha demonstrates the tremendous spacing and ball movement options that this offense provides. You will learn the bump cut and pull-through techniques to counter intense defensive pressure. Jicha demonstrates the importance of high dribble outs and the hand-off to create back door cut opportunities.

Motion Set
Jicha delivers the primary set he uses on nearly every trip down the floor: the Motion Set. After starting with a quick pass to the wing and a blast cut from the point guard, seven motion options are demonstrated on the court versus defense. The secret to this offense is how smoothly it flows directly into the chin set, frustrating defenders who attempt to guard every v-cut, screen and the lightening quick ball reversal.

Shuffle Set
This unique set provides wing-to-block shuffle cutting action and it also flows directly into the chin set.

In addition to step-by-step breakdown of each set, Jicha teaches 20 effective quick hitters that can be utilized with this offense. Each set has quick hitters designed specifically to take advantage of what the defense is giving. You will see five quick hitters for the chin series, five for the motion series and 10 for the shuffle series. Each quick hitter flows back into the offense and each has multiple scoring options.

Jicha closes with 10 drills he uses to teach the offensive action and to demonstrate how to get game shots from the action.

Coach Jicha has effectively dissected this complex offensive system so that it can be totally effective at any level of play.

250 minutes (2 DVDs). 2010.

http://www.championshipproductions.com/cgi-bin/champ/p/Basketball/How-to-Run-the-Michigan-Two-Guard-Front-Offense_BD-03643.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M3uXuCVfak

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqKJRnPASbo

The Dry Erase Board: John Beilein's "2 Guard-Offense"

The Dry Erase Board: John Beilein's "2 Guard-Offense"

There are two facts all basketball fans should be accepting right now. 1) We won't be watching professional basketball for at least another month or so and 2) No matter how much we love college basketball, it is not as good. Watching two teams play super hard is only fun if they are playing hard AND playing well. Let's face it, there is a ton of ugly, 48-46 college basketball games and that's even at the highest levels. There is excitement for the upcoming college basketball season not only because of the NBA lockout but because the power teams are littered with NBA talent and no matter what "purists'' say that is what we all want to see. Since the large majority of college teams are not blessed with elite physical talent hoops fans have to find some other way to be interested in the product. One of the ways basketball nerds can find enjoyment in college hoops is watching "systems" instead of players.

Basketball systems, or playing styles, are created by the coaching staff to provide the program with an identity. In "The Dry Erase Board" series (who uses chalk boards?) I will breakdown some of college basketball's more unique systems that maximize talent and hide physical shortcomings. And no, the "Pro-Style" or "Dribble-Drive" offense will not be featured. To quote Coach Cal from a Nike clinic I attended the key to the "Dribble-Drive" offense is to "have more talented and athletic players than your opponent"...pure genius. Today we will look at Upstate New York's own John Beilein and his "2 Guard Offense". (Interesting note: Beilein has been a JUCO, D3, D2 and D1 coach for 35 years and never an assistant)

The General Concept An off-spring of the Princeton offense, the 2-Guard offense emphasizes unique floor spacing, back-screening, hard cuts to the basket and perimeter shooting. The 2-Guard is most known for having 4 offense players on the perimeter (2 in the slots and 2 on the wings) and 1 post player that positions himself between the foul line and the top of the key (i.e. Pittsnogle). When spaced correctly the players should form a flat "X" and the deep corners should be left unoccupied for cutters to fill.

The Action The 2-Guard offense is sometimes unfairly labeled as a "continuity" offense where a pattern can be run over and over (i.e. the "Flex" or "Swing") but it's really more of a quick hit motion like the "Triangle". The action is determined by the first pass made and that pass triggers a serious of deep corner cuts, back screens, down screens and pick and rolls. No matter what action is triggered it depends on one important element; shooting. The idea is to get the defense spread out and off the help-line which neutralizes shot-blocking and athleticism.

The Players Many times unique offensive systems are created because not all programs can recruit the elite talent so they recruit the talent that is right for them. John Beilein's programs are a perfect example of this philosophy. I recently had the opportunity to sit-in on two University of Michigan practices. The first thing I noticed was how physically unimposing the roster was as they came out on the court. The second thing I noticed was how unbelievably quick they were to pick-up on everything the coaching staff put in front of them. The number one skill a John Beilein player must possess is basketball IQ. The actual system is not that complicated and it doesn't come attached with 30 set calls but the players must know how to play the game. 18-22 year-olds must know how to play like old dudes at the Y who have lost there athleticism. If basketball IQ is skill 1A) then shooting is skill 1AA) and arguably even more important. The 2-Guard can only operate at full-strength when all 5 players on the floor are knock down shooters. It can be argued that some of Beilein's struggles at Michigan can be attributed to the fact that he hasn't found that guy yet. Since players 1-4 in the 2-Guard are for the most part interchangeable you do not have to have a traditional point guard or power forward on the roster, which are two of the hardest positions to recruit. Ultimately you need to recruit players with versatile skill-sets who are a knock down shooters, are somewhere between 6'2"-6'7" and know how to play. So pretty much Euros...

The Strengths Like all effective "systems" the 2-Guard offense does an excellent job of emphasizing strengths and hiding weaknesses. If your team doesn't feature elite athletes the floor spacing that is created by the 2-Guard generates the space needed to get to the basket for high percentage shots either through cuts, back screens or dribble drives. Of course the 3-point shot is a major weapon and is associated as the vocal point of an offense like this. However, it is the the threat of a 3-pointer in your face that is more important than the actual shot. That threat starts forcing a defender to hug his man and neglect his helpside defensive duties leaving the basket open for uncontested lay-ups. The video above is a perfect example of a more talented Michigan State team uncharacteristically giving up easy buckets and leaving the rim unprotected.

The Weaknesses Smart coaches will stay true to the "live by the 3, die by the 3" philosophy and not panic if a couple of bombs drop in and the building is rocking. For the most part, teams do not lose from 3-pointers. Even if a team goes 12 for 20 from 3-point land that's still only 36 points, so how did they score 80? Teams should stay true to protecting the rim from the weak-side and making the other team contested jump shooters. The trap that 2-Guard teams fall into is too many jump shots, long rebounds and run-outs the other way. However, teams defending the 2-Guard do want to limit corner threes by not helping on dribble drives from the strong-side creating easy drive-and-kick opportunities. Stay at home and force the ball-handler to finish over help. If the center is not a great shooter than the other team can have their 5-man protect the rim at all times which is why it is important for the 5-man to be a shooting threat.

Conclusion Like many systems that are dependent on shooting the 2-Guard offense can be either unstoppable or extremely stoppable, there is no in-between. It looks like Michigan is going to land blue-chipper Mitch McGary, a skilled and athletic 4-man, and it will be interesting to see how an elite-level talent fits into this niche style of play. As a coach, I was on the bench when we whooped teams trying to run this and and I have sat there helpless when it was kicking our butt. Like 99.9% of all other situations in life the key is still talent, both on the court and on the sideline.

Posted by Ryan MahannThursday, November 3, 2011

http://rfhcollective.blogspot.com/2011/11/dry-erase-board-john-beileins-2-guard.html