There are 2-3 zones and then there is the Syracuse 2-3 Zone. Coach Jim Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange have been befuddling opponents for decades with their brand of zone defense. Syracuse recruits great players blessed with the length and athleticism to be effective in the zone, but aside from that, the forward play is what…
Breakdown: Kermit Davis Morphing 1-3-1 Zone Defense
Go inside the action of coach Kermit Davis’ morphing 1-3-1 Zone Defense that has led to multiple NCAA Tournament runs. First-year Ole Miss Head Coach Kermit Davis is famous for using an aggressive style of 1-3-1 Zone Defense that helped his Middle Tennessee State squads to multiple NCAA Tournament appearances. This post outlines the principles of…
Middle Tennessee State – 1-3-1 Zone
Middle Tennessee State University has made it out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament as the underdog two years in a row. One of the keys to their success is the unique variations of the 1-3-1 defense that they use. Middle Tennessee State plays a very aggressive version of the 1-3-1 zone,…
1-3-1 Defense Drill Package
Once you have decided to run the 1-3-1 defense with your team, it is important that you utilize drills that reinforce the basic tenants of the defense. In this post I will share with you the drills we use to teach slides, coverages, and rebounding in the 1-3-1 defense. I believe in the “whole-part-whole” teaching…
Complete Guide to the 1-3-1 Defense
This is part 3 of my blog series on the 1-3-1 defense. In the first post we discussed 5 advantages of running the 1-3-1 and why we feel it gives us a competitive advantage. Part 2 looks at the key components and “musts” for the 1-3-1 to be successful. In this post we will cover the…
5 Keys to a Successful 1-3-1 Defense
This is part 2 of a 4 part series on the 1-3-1 zone defense by Coach Rory Hamilton. Read part 1 here: 5 Advantages of Running the 1-3-1 Defense Once you have decided to incorporate the 1-3-1 defense into your playbook for next season, there are several keys to running it successfully. Here are our keys…
5 Advantages of Running the 1-3-1 Defense
This is part 1 of a 4 part series on the 1-3-1 zone defense by Coach Rory Hamilton As we approach the upcoming season, coaches often use the summer months to reflect upon every facet of his or her basketball program. From strength and conditioning programs to combating junk defenses, coaches are always searching for ways…
Final Four #XsOs – Syracuse Orange
The Syracuse Orange have made an improbable final four run this year as a 10 seed. They play a basic style of basketball that involves motion offense on one end and their legendary 2-3 zone on the defensive end of the floor. They run several sets for their best shooter, Trevor Cooney to get an…
NCAA Tournament – X’s & O’s – Baylor
The rules and slides of Baylor’s unique zone defense.