princeton basketball offense

Offense Princeton

1 The Princeton offense has essentially two sets: "high" and "low". The offense also has two lesser sets: "open", and top flare situations. In "low" and "high", the post's position determines which set is run. Top flare situations and "open" act as bridges between sets.

"Low" is shown here. This set usually begins each possesion. In this set, the guards are high and are one step outside the lane-line extended. The off-guard stays one step behind the guard with the ball. The wings are free-throw line extended and are one step from the sideline. The post is in the midpost.

2 In "high", the post has moved from the midpost to the ballside elbow. The spacing and positions of the other four players remains the same.

3 "Open" acts as a bridge between sets and usually occurs as a result of a top-flare situation, if the man using the flare cuts to the basket.

Created with basketball playbook from www.jes-soft.com

Offense Princeton

4 In a top-flare situation, a back-cutting, or flared player has posted up, while the post screens to get the top man (2) open.

Both "open", and top flare situations will be discussed in greater detail later.

5 A reminder that other than the post, all other players are interchangeable. Numbers are used here to track players' movements.

In "low", when 1 passes to 3, he cuts through to the opposite corner. If the ball can be passed quickly into 5, 5 may look to pass to 1 as he cuts to the basket. 2 moves to the midline.

6 If 3 passes into the post, he has three options. He may 1) screen at the elbow for 2, 2) he may move to the ballside corner, or 3) he may cut to the basket.


Offense Princeton

7 In this option, 3 elects to screen at the elbow for 2. 5 looks to score first, then he looks at 2 coming off of the screen.

5 must read the defense on the catch. If he receives the ball and the defense is behind him, 5 dribbles to the midline, where he can attack the basket or pass out if help doubles down from the perimeter.

8 If 5 doesn't have a move to the basket, he can pass to 2 coming off of the screen, or to 3 who has popped up after his screen. If he passes to 2, 2 looks to shoot. If 5 passes up to 3, 5 moves up to the elbow, and "high" is run. Of course if 3 is a shooter and is open, he may shoot after receiving 5's pass.

9 If 3 chooses to cut to the corner, 2 sees this and sets a pinscreen on 4's man. 4 comes to the top. If 5 passes to 4, 5 moves to the ballside elbow to begin "high". If 4 passes to 5 at the elbow, 2 would cut to 1's corner, 1 would move up, and "high" away, under, or over would be run(explanation later).


Offense Princeton

10 If 3 chooses to cut through, 5 first looks to pass to him on the give-and-go. 2 sees that he is not getting a screen from 3, so he again sets a pinscreen for 4. In this case, rather than come to the top, 4 curls hard around the screen, looking to get a handoff from 5. If 4 gets the handoff, he goes hard to the basket using 5 as a screen. If 5 hands off, he seals and drop-steps to the lane.

11 If 3 is unable to enter the ball into 5 and passes it up to 2, 5 moves up and begins "high".

12 If 3 cannot get the ball into 5 and 2 is being denied, 3 dribbles at 2. Whenever a player is being denied and a teammate dribbles toward him, the denied player cuts hard backdoor.

In this case, if 2 is denied, he cuts to the basket on 3's dribble.


Offense Princeton

13 If 2 doesn't get the backdoor pass from 3, he cuts through to the ballside corner. 4 and 1 have moved up on 3's dribble.

14 If 3 passes to 4, 3 makes a diagonal cut to the basket looking for a return pass. If 3 doesn't get a return pass, he cuts to the opposite corner. On 3's pass, 5 moves to the elbow and 2 moves up. "High" begins with a pass to 5.

15 3 has dribbled up and 2 has cut backdoor. 3 looks to pass to 4. However, if 4 is denied, 3 dribbles at him and 4 cuts backdoor. If 3 can't pass to 4, 3 passes to 1. 4 has posted up and 5 moves to set a flare screen for 3. This is now a top flare situation which will be discussed in more detail shortly.

When 3 dribbles across the midline, a backdoor/fill or flare situation is created. Before we continue with the offense, it is important to discuss the backdoor/fill or flare concept. The top flare concept will also be shown.


Offense Princeton

16 Any time that the ball is dribbled from or across the midline, a backdoor/fill or flare is created.

In this diagram, 4 is denied, so as 3 dribbles at him, he cuts backdoor. 1 steps up and fills the spot as the receiver. If 4 doesn't get the ball on the backcut, he posts up. 1's first look is to get 4 the ball on the block. 5 has come up to set a flare screen on 3. This is now a top flare situation.

A good rule of thumb is that if someone dribbles at you and the defense is between you and the ball, or if you can touch the defense, you backcut.

17 If 3 dribbles across the midline and 4's defender is sagging to the middle, 1 sets a flare screen for 4. 3 passes to 4. 1 would now roll to the block on 3's pass to 4. 5 comes up, and now the offense is in the same top flare situation.

18 A top flare situation occurs in several cases. One common occurence is a result of a backdoor/fill or flare situation.

Here, 3 has dribbled across the midline and 4, who is denied, has cut backdoor. The backdoor pass isn't there, so 3 passes to 1, and 5 has moved up to set a flarescreen for 3.

Again, 1 looks at 4 in the post first. If 4 isn't open, 1 dribbles up and passes to 3 who flares off of 5's screen.

It is important for 1 to dribble up toward 3. First, it creates a shorter pass. It also flattens the angle between 1 and 3, making the flare screen more effective.


Offense Princeton

19 As 1 dribbles up, 4 moves out of the post. If 3's defender gets screened by 5, or goes under the screen, 1 passes to 3. 3 could shoot the three-pointer, he could drive to 2's side, or he could pass to 2 and cut to the basket. 5 would pop up top, and "open" would begin.

If 3's defender fights over the screen, 3 cuts to basket, 5 steps out, and "open" begins.

On any cut to the basket in this situation, if 3 doesn't get it, he will fill the corner on 2's side.

A top flare will always move into "open" unless a shot is taken.

20 Now, we move into the "open" set. "Open" typically results from a cut off of the top in a top flare situation. There is momentarily a 5 around 0 look.

Looking at the previous digram, 3 has cut off of 5's flarescreen. 5 has popped up top and receives the pass from 1. 5 reverses the ball by dribbling at 2 for a backcut/fill or handoff situation. In this instance, 2 cuts and 3 has moved up. 5 passes to 2 if he is open on the cut. If 2 is not open on the cut, 5 passes to 3.

21 In "open", the backcutter (2) doesn't stay in the post after his backcut. As soon as 2 hits the block, he moves up to set a backpick on 5's defender. 5 makes a UCLA cut to the block and 2 pops out. 3 looks at 5 cutting into the post.

On the backcut, 1 and 4 move up. 2 would cut through if after popping up he doesn't receive theball, and the offense would now be in "low".


Offense Princeton

22 In "open", if 5 dribbles at 1, yet 1's defender sags rather than overplay, 1 reads his defense and takes a handoff from 5. 1 then turns the corner and looks to attack the basket.

This action runs contrary to previous situations whereby 2 would have set a flarescreen for 1 had 1's defender sagged. In "open", there are no flarescreens, only handoffs. This is to exploit the spacing and attack the basket.

23 If, upon receiving the handoff from 5, 1's path to the basket is blocked, he continues his dribble, going straight at 3. If 3 is overplayed, he runs a backdoor/fill. 5 would set the flarescreen on 1 after 1's pass.

24 If 3's defender sags, then 3 would take the handoff and attack the basket. If in this case, 3's path was blocked, he would dribble to the next man. In this example, that man would be 5. If 5 was denied, he would run a backdoor/fill. The offense would now be in "low".


Offense Princeton

25 In "high", the post moves to the elbow. One effective play out of "high" is the "chin" series. When the chin is tapped, 5 moves to the ballside elbow. 1 passes to 2 and uses 5's screen for a shuffle cut. 2 passes to 4, who looks at 1 underneath.

26 After setting the backpick for 1, 5 headhunts 2's man for a flarescreen. If 4 cannot get the ball to 1 underneath, he dribbles up and looks to pass to 2 coming off of 5's screen. 1 moves out to the wing. If 2 catches it, or if 2 cuts and 5 steps out, it is a top flare situation that could phase into "open".

27 If 4 dribbles up, and doesn't pass to 2, 5 will not pop up, but will stay put. 2 backcuts, interchanging with 3. 4 could pass to 3 and use 5's backpick. "Chin" has switched sides of the floor, its continuity still intact.


Offense Princeton

28 If while running "chin", 5's man looks to help on the shuffle cut, 5 might choose to flash to the ball after setting the backscreen, rather than set the flarescreen. This often sets up a good 1 on 1 situation for 5.

29 Unless "chin" is signalled, "high" usually begins when the guard with the ball waves the other one through. 5 rubs off of the cutting guard to the elbow. 1 passes to 5.

30 After passing to 5, 1 has three options. He may 1) screen away, 2) backcut, or 3) screen over the ball.


Offense Princeton

31 If 1 chooses to screen away, on 1's screen, one player always cuts to the basket and the other one cuts to the ball. For example, in the diagram, 4 reads the defense and curls to the basket. 1 therefore comes back to the ball.

If 4 had come off the screen straight at the ball, then 1 would have cut backdoor.

The opposite wing (3) has moved to the block to set a screen.

32 The player coming back to the ball (in this case, 1) receives a pass from 5 then dribbles off of his screen. Meanwhile, as 1 is coming off of 5's screen, 4 is coming off of 3's screen on the block. 1 passes to 4 who can shoot if he is open. 4 may also look at 3 posting up.

When 1 passes the ball, he receives a flarescreen from 5 as a top flare situation is created.

33 On the pass into 5, 1 may elect to cut backdoor. 5 looks at 1 cutting, then looks at him again as he comes off of 3, who has again set a screen on the block.


Offense Princeton

34 5 might also turn and dribble at 4 who executes a backdoor/fill or flare situation. If this occurs, 1 moves to the midline, and 3 pops out. 5 headhunts 1's man and a top flare is created.

35 If 3 passes to 5 in "high", he may choose to screen away. Again, depending upon the defense's reaction, either 1 or 3 will be cutting to the basket, and the other player will come back to the ball.

In this instance, 1 uses the screen, and upon receiving a handoff from 5, looks to drive to the basket.

If 1 drives, or penetrates and pitches to 4 or 2, 5 will pop out and "open" will begin.

36 If 1 is unable to drive, he dribbles at 4 who executes a backdoor/fill or flare. 3 pops out and to the wing and 5 sets a screen for 1. Top flare situation begins.


Offense Princeton

37 If the guard waves 2 through to bring the post to the elbow to begin "high", 1 doesn't always have to pass to 5. He may choose to spin and dribble instead at 4 to initiate a backdoor/fill or flare option. If 1 passes the ball, he uses 5's flare screen. Top flare situation begins.

38 SET PLAY

This is a possible quick-hitting play out of "high".

1 waves 2 through and 5 moves to the elbow, just like "high" is normally run. 5 receives the ball, but in this play, he looks low at 2. 2 appears to be cutting to the corner as always, but here, he buttonhooks back under the basket looking for a high-low feed from 5.

2 could also cut through and simply push his defender down, then seal, looking for 5's pass.

39 SET PLAY

This set play begins in a similar fashion to "high". 1 has waved 2 through. In this play however, 5 cuts to the top of the key rather than the elbow. 1 passes to 5 then cuts in front of him.


Offense Princeton

40 As 1 cuts by 5, 1 gets a return pass and dribbles at 4. This sets up an exchange with 4 receiving a dribble handoff from 1.

After passing back to 1, 5 moves to the opposite block, setting a doublescreen for 2 with 3.

41 4 has taken the handoff from 1 and has dribbled across the floor. 2 has come off of the doublescreen and 4 passes to him on the wing.

42 If 2 doesn't have a shot, he dribbles back at 4 who cuts to the basket. 1 moves up to the top. If 4 doesn't get the backdoor pass, he loops to the opposite wing.


Offense Princeton

43 2 passes to 1. On the pass, 3 cuts to the free throw line and receives 1's pass. 5 pins at the basket and looks for a feed from 3. After 1 passes the ball, he sets a screen for 4 to occupy the defense.

44 SET PLAY

4 (the opposite wing) flashes to the top of the key. 1 floats to the wing. 2 dribbles in front of 4.

45 2 reverses his dribble as 5 cuts to the elbow. 2 passes to 5.


Offense Princeton

46 When 2 passes to 5, he and 4 move to set a staggered screen for 1.

5 gives a hard look to 3 who cuts backdoor.

47 If 3 doesn't get the pass from 5, he cuts back to the corner. 5 dribbles at him and 3 backcuts again.

This is the play that beat UCLA in the NCAA tournament in 1996.

48 LOOP ENTRY

When coming down the floor against a set defense, entries can be used to move the defense to help free open the first pass into the offense.

In "loop", 1 passes to 3, then 1 and 2 cut to the inside. 5 pops up to the top of the key on 1's pass.


Offense Princeton

49 3 passes to 5 then moves with 4 to set screens on the blocks.

50 5 passes to either wing. In this case, 1 dribbles at 5 who cuts backdoor. 2 has cycled back up top, and 4 and 3 pop back to the wings.

If 5 doesn't get the backdoor pass, the players are back in their original positions, and 1 can wave 2 through to begin "high", pass to the wing and cut through to begin "low" , or run another play.

51 CROSS ENTRY

Exactly like the previous entry. The only exception is that 1 and 2 cross underneath before using 3 and 4's screens.


princeton basketball offense

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