Digital Playbook: Defensive Philosophy

Teaching our teams to be strong defensively is the foundation of our basketball program. Regardless of how our teams are playing offensively, we know that our defense will always be there for us. We must work on the fundamentals of our defensive system on a daily basis and emphasize behaviors that make us strong in that regard.

To ensure defensive success, we must:

1. Communicate on every possession. 

2. Be committed to getting back and not giving up easy baskets. Make them face our set defense. 

3. Be able to pressure the ball.

4. Be ready off the ball.

5. Allow no middle seam penetration.

6. Fight to keep the ball out of the post.

7. Help early on all dribble penetration.

8. Be in position early. Don’t react , instead anticipate on defense. 

9. Challenge all shots. 

10. Rebound the basketball.

11. Know our assignments and coverages against opponent actions. 

12. Dodge and defeat screens.

13. Make toughness and hustle plays (i.e. loose balls, taking charges).

14. Force opponents to take contested mid-range shots. "Force tough twos."

We will work on individual and team defensive fundamentals on a daily basis at all levels in our program. We fully subscribe to the concept that offense may win games, but defense wins championships.