University of North Florida Head Coach;
2015 Atlantic Sun Champions; 2015 Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year
Matthew Driscoll knows how to build a program. Coach Driscoll served as an assistant on Scott Drew's staff at Baylor from 2003 to 2009, helping to lead the Bears' back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years (2008). After being hired as the head coach at North Florida in 2009, Driscoll repeated this feat, turning the program around and leading the Ospreys to their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance (2014-15).
Ball screens have become a prominent scoring option for teams at all levels across the nation. Well-executed pick and rolls are effective at forcing defenses to break down as they scramble to cover all of the scoring threats.
Using a progression of defensive practice drills, Matthew Driscoll demonstrates four strategies for shutting down ball screens, including the hard hedge, the "blitz" trap, switch, and zoning the ball. Coach Driscoll provides in-depth commentary and whiteboard illustrations to show how your whole team can operate as a unit to lock down scoring options created by ball screens.
Breakdown Drills to Defend the Ball Screen
Learn how to use breakdown stations to teach defensive techniques for players involved in the ball screen. Coach Driscoll explains the teaching points he emphasizes for each of the four defensive strategies.
- Hard hedges by the screen defender disrupts the ball handler's attack while the guard recovers.
- "Blitz" forces turnovers that can lead to fast break opportunities by trapping the ball.
- Switching the ball screen minimizes the amount of help your off-ball defenders have to provide. It also eliminates two defenders being occupied with the ball.
- The "Zone" option allows your post player to pack the paint and force penetrating guards into difficult, contested mid-range shots.
Practice Segments
With his 3-on-3 practice segment, Coach Driscoll begins to reinforce the support needed by help defenders against angled ball screens and the Horns set. A major emphasis for defenders guarding shooters in the corners is to help by "tagging" the rolling big man while recovering on a pass to challenge shot attempts.
Practice progresses into a full 5-on-5 segment where the entire team defense works on shutting down the ball screen. Coach Driscoll also has players learn how to guard additional offensive tactics, such as
- side ball screens
- playing through multiple pick and rolls
- defending the Floppy action
- covering ball screens after a defending a UCLA screen
You'll also see Coach Driscoll use a white board to break down each scenario with diagrams and discussion, which help clarify points that were covered on the court
Coach Driscoll gives you everything you need to know about defending the pick and roll. You will learn the technique, player mindset, defensive rotations and system of communication involved in four different defensive strategies that will render your opponents' ball screens useless.
76 minutes. 2015.