Notes from the USD coaching clinic

Thanks to Paul Tessaro who forwarded some of his notes from the University of San Diego's recent clinic that featured presentations from USD coaches Bill Carr and Bill Grier (pictured here).

A few highlights:

DEFENSE

-- When conducting defensive drills, make it harder in practice than in games.

-- Off ball: If ball moves, you move. Get your hips to the ball. Don't turn shoulders. Sprint on flight of ball. If you're in help, yell "help."

-- Only time to show chest in help is to take a charge.

-- Get thin going through screens.

USD SECONDARY BREAK

-- Biggest keys to being a great running team is to defend and rebound at the other end...much harder to run if you are taking it out of the net.

-- USD always rebounds with 5 on the defensive end....no one ever leaks out.

WINGS

-- Once rebound is secured, 2 & 3 must get out wide and sprint the floor looking for the ball. Must get to opposite FT line extended in 2.6 seconds.

-- Wings must read on catch whether to attack rim, look for post, or swing to trailer in order to feed post.

-- On reversal to trailer, initial ball side wing should be diving to set up angle for back screen or to receive down screen.

-- After back-screen or down-screen, wing must catch with feet set to rim. Wing then rips and brings ball to post on duck in (especially after back screen).

POINT GUARD

-- PG must get as deep as possible near ball side sideline with his butt to sideline to see whole floor.

-- PG must read if he can hit big or wing over the top or if he must push ball with dribble. Once crossing half-court, PG only throws ahead if if lead post defense is caught on high side.

-- If PG on dribble, push in 3-4 dribbles to top of key. Turn secondary break into primary break. Look for post.

-- It is PG's responsibility to find where to best bring the ball to the post.

-- Best way to feed the post is straight line Point to Post.

BIGS

-- First big out runs right down middle of floor to the rim -- outrun the opponent's bigs. Post in middle of the paint.

-- Can't allow the defense to play them in more than one way.

-- Second big down the floor trails opposite the ball to 3-point line. Don't be late and don't get in PG's way.

-- Trailer must think a pass ahead...survey the post and read the defense.

-- Always look for Hi-Lo situations.

-- On reversal, trailer sets up with his feet to receive a back screen from opposite wing. Take back cut hard to rim.

-- If lob isn't open, drop step hard on defender and duck in, looking for ball from back screener.