St. Mary's Rotating Pick and Roll Offense

I watched most of the St. Mary's game against Santa Clara tonight, the late game on ESPN2. I thought it was a a really good defensive game all the way through. Both coaches teach good fundamental man defense and their teams reflect the way the game is supposed to be played.

I took this clip of St. Mary's offense. The Gaels use a couple of different sets but they used this rotating PNR set more than a few times. In many ways, it's very similar to Kansas' rotating PNR offense. Here is what it looked live (apologize for the grainy video, having fddshow problems),



Rotating PNR:

The PNR is a very pro-style offense. It works though because of the way the offense can read how the defense is choosing to defend the play.

They start out in a 4-out 1-in look. The first iteration is a PNR from the post to the wing. O5 rolls back to the basket, nothing is there so the ball is reversed to the opposite wing.

O5 comes again to set the screen for O2 this time.

O2 dribbles towards the middle. O5 rolls to the basket, this causes X3 to briefly check down to cover O5. O3 drags the 3-point line to the free-throw line extended. O2 passes it to O3 who exploits X3 who is slightly out of position and hits the 3-pointer.

For a great video on the spread PNR offense, take a look at Billy Donovan's DVD on the Spread Offense. Coach Donovan used it to win back-to-back national championships at Florida. As always, please check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to talk hoops and exchange notes and ideas.