Do you have a “curveball” defense to throw at opponents? Want an complement zone defense to couple with your man-to-man defense?
Covenant College Scots (NCAA D3) head basketball coach, Josh Brown, breaks down his 4-1 umbrella matchup zone defense in this week’s A Quick Timeout podcast episode. Whether you’re new to matchup zones or you’ve been a long-time user of these matchups, you’ll enjoy this interview with Coach Brown. He shares teaching tips, common actions by offenses, and more details about his morphing matchup zone.
Major takeaways from the show:
- How to Guard the High Post. Against a 3-out, 2-in offensive look, the wing player can take the high post to allow the middle player to stay low.
- Ball Screen Defense. When defending ball screens, go under the screen. The opposite top defender covers the next pass, and other defenders protect the basket, prioritizing the high post and preventing high/low passes.
- Defending Inside-Out Threes. When the ball goes inside, perimeter defenders must find shooters on the outside. Deny “preferred shooters.”
- Build Over Time. The effectiveness of a zone defense improves with experience and consistent play, allowing for more complex strategies.
- Communication is Key. Use terms like “stay,” “gaps,” “under,” “box out,” and “find the next guy” to coordinate player movements.
Listen to the full podcast episode now…
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