Women's Tournament Teaching Highlights Plus Drill, Set Play, and More

It's the best time of the year, March Madness. Let's learn from what worked and what didn't during a few games so far. Teach players execution excellence. Recognize when poor decision-making happens at every level of play. 

Watching video is integral for game understanding. Here are short clips from the NCAA Tournament showing "everyday principles." 

1. Keep it simple. 

Princeton has four out and brings a backscreen, threatening a lob. But the screener pops for a three. 

2. A better mousetrap creates better mice. 

Holmes (54) is a big threat in the post and Princeton tried to keep the ball away. But if you're going to front (without backside help), maximum ball pressure is needed. Some teams use a call, like "red" or "fire" when fronting the post. 

3. Take away open threes. 

Coach Auriemma can't be thrilled with the collapse into the lane leaving multiple perimeter shooters wide open. 

4. Avoid bad fouls...especially three pointers and jump shots. 

Fouling perimeter shots turns them into higher probability shots - free throws. 

5. Create separation. 

Ball movement forces long closeouts leading to multiple actions and great offense. 

6. Slip, sliding away. 

Creighton uses great spacing and slips the pick for an open layup. Hard to assign an error without knowing the intended coverage...but there is no protection. 

7. "Movement kills defenses." 

Creighton cuts off the high screen and note how the cutter "buries" to keep the lane open. They make a second cut and score at the rim without a travel call. 

8. Be more than just a scorer. 

Caitlin Clark threads the needle with a brilliant pass to the roller. 

Drill. Kirby Schepp runs a drill with a "designated screener."

Screeners, cutters, and passers all learn how to use screens more effectively. 

Set Play. The Pacers leverage ball movement and cutting to score an easy one.

 

Lagniappe. Study the best at creating separation with micro skills.

 

Lagniappe 2. Pascal Meurs shares fine points about the hard work of getting open without the ball...using your whole body.