Basketball Drills

Tennessee & Villanova Passing Drills

By Brian Williams on September 2, 2026

Robi Coker, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, McNeese State

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OVERVIEW

This clip covers two passing drills borrowed from other coaches (Rick Barnes and Jay Wright/Villanova) that emphasize crisp, game-realistic passing as the foundation for good shooting.

DRILL 1: TENNESSEE PASSING (RICK BARNES DRILL)

Setup: 12 players in four lines (two corners, two slots).
Players fire hard, accurate chest passes at each other for two minutes — “knock them down with it,” hitting the receiver in the shooter’s pocket.
After each rep, players rotate to the next line; a group that passes poorly gets sent again.
Purpose: expose players who can’t make a solid chest pass and build passing toughness/accuracy.
Progression (minutes 2–4): same passing pattern, but now players must add a shot fake or pass fake before passing — “shot fake, jab” repeated rapidly.
Coaching cues: catch the ball “shot ready,” knees bent, ready to make a play.
Frequency: run one to two passing drills like this every practice, about four minutes total per day.

DRILL 2: VILLANOVA PASSING (JAY WRIGHT DRILL)

Focus: shot fakes, pass fakes, playing off two feet, and creating scoring angles — hallmarks of Jay Wright’s Villanova teams.
Pattern: shot fake → drive middle → shot fake → pivot → drive baseline → drift pass → drive middle again, chaining actions to generate multiple shots (up to four) off one possession.
Even with less help/personnel, coaches can run a simplified version for at least one quality shot per rep.
Scoring target: roughly 100 shots taken in four minutes, aiming for 50% makes (two of four per rep).
Variation shown: drive, pass to corner, drive middle, pass back out to the three-point line to also build the corner three look.

KEY COACHING PHILOSOPHY

Great shooting teams are built on great passing, not just great shooters (citing Steve Kerr).
Design drills to mirror actions players will actually see in games — don’t drill actions that won’t show up in your offense.
As a coach, don’t only watch the shot — watch and coach the pass, since a late or off-target pass lets the defense recover an advantage you just created.
With so much coaching content available today, be selective: you can do anything as a coach, but not everything (citing John Beilein).

Teaching Weak-Hand Finishing | Basketball Drills

By Brian Williams on August 26, 2026

David Martinez, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Atascocita HS, TX

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Building a Modern Positionless Offense

DEVELOPING THE WEAK HAND

The segment focuses on helping coaches develop players who can finish effectively with their non-dominant hand. Purposeful weak-hand repetitions give players another option around the basket instead of allowing them to rely exclusively on their dominant hand. The objective is to make weak-hand finishing a comfortable and dependable part of a player’s offensive skill set.

TEACHING FINISHES FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES

Coaches can develop the weak hand by having players finish from different locations and angles around the basket. Varying the approach requires players to adjust their body position, footwork, and use of the backboard. This creates a more complete finishing workout than repeatedly practicing the same shot from the same location.

EMPHASIZING FOOTWORK AND BODY CONTROL

Weak-hand finishing should include attention to the footwork and body control that lead into the shot. Coaches can use repetitions to reinforce balance and coordination as players approach the basket. The goal is for players to become comfortable combining proper footwork with a controlled weak-hand finish.

USING REPETITION TO DEVELOP TOUCH

Players need consistent repetitions to develop feel and touch with their non-dominant hand. Coaches should emphasize control and quality of the finish rather than simply completing a prescribed number of repetitions. Repeated work around the rim helps weak-hand finishes become more natural and reliable.

DEVELOPING MORE VERSATILE FINISHERS

A player who can finish with either hand gives the offense more options around the basket. Developing the weak hand allows players to respond to the angle of the drive, the position of the defender, and the available space instead of forcing the ball back to their dominant hand. Coaches can use this type of finishing work to develop players who are less predictable and better equipped to score in different situations.

4 Zone Offense Quick Hitters That Destroy Any Zone Defense

By Brian Williams on August 14, 2026

Robi Coker, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, McNeese State

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OVERVIEW

This transcript covers a series of zone offense actions designed to create numbers advantages (2-on-1 or 3-on-2 situations) against 2-3 and 3-2 zone defenses. The core philosophy running through every play: identify the defender who ends up “guarding nobody” (guarding wood) and attack away from him to manufacture an outnumbered scoring situation, whether that’s a post touch, a driving lane, or an open three.

PLAY 1: HUGGINS ACTION (CINCINNATI)

A set with a point guard, two wings, and a post on the block, designed to spring the “5” player for a right-hand layup. Point guard enters to the left wing and cuts through to the opposite corner; the weak-side wing dribbles up top and reverses the ball. This creates a 2-on-1 against the low zone defender — a cross screen frees the post player for the layup. The coach notes this was used to start a game and later re-run in a tie-game, late-game situation with the same success.

PLAY 2: DOUBLE-GUARD SAME-SIDE SET

Both guards line up on the same side with the post on the blocks, which tells the defense the weak side is empty. This forces the bottom defender to guard the ball while two screens are set on the bottom defenders, creating a numbers advantage and an easy “5-man” layup. The coach cautions that a well-coached defense may bump/adjust to cover it, so the play needs to be run quickly. Rated as good for roughly one basket per game.

PLAY 3: DAYTON ACTION (VS. NORTH CAROLINA)

Borrowed from a Dayton game (the game after they upset the coach’s team, later playing UNC in the NIT championship). A stack look with block-block screening action outnumbers the defense 4-on-3. The ball is dribbled over to spring a shooter, forcing the defense to help and opening a numbers advantage.

PLAY 4: MISSISSIPPI STATE “TILT” ACTION (VS. SYRACUSE ZONE)

Credited to Rick Stanbury’s Mississippi State teams; used to overload one side of the floor via a ball screen. Once the screener’s defender is engaged with the ball, the offense “ducks in” a post player while playing 2-on-1 with the corner and wing shooters against the remaining defender. Key coaching points:

Against long/athletic zones (like Syracuse) that take away the corner three, the ball can be swung to run the identical action on the other side.
The action essentially creates a 3-on-2 (or effectively a 2-on-1) read: if the post defender extends to help, a shooter (even a 6’8″ post) should be ready to shoot the open three.
Emphasis on players catching the ball “shot ready” so they can capitalize immediately when the defense fails to guard someone.
Shown working versus a 3-2/1-2 zone in a state tournament game, where screening the top defender isolates the post player one-on-one for a hook shot.

COUNTER FOR A SHOOTING BIG (“TILT” VARIATION)

Because one team’s personnel included a post player who could also shoot, the coach flipped the alignment — moving the post player to the ball-side block and placing a shooter on the opposite block — while keeping the same overall action. The screener rolls to occupy the middle defender, again creating a 2-on-1 with the backside wing for a three-point look. The same “make him guard wood” principle applies.

KEY COACHING PRINCIPLES (RECURRING THROUGHOUT)

Against zone defense, the constant goal is manufacturing a numeric advantage (2-on-1 or 3-on-2) somewhere on the floor.
Identify which defender will be left “guarding wood” (guarding no one) and attack that gap.
Ball reversals, cross screens, and ball screens are the primary tools to shift and confuse zone coverage.
Personnel matters — actions can and should be adapted based on whether the roster’s post players can shoot, allowing counters to the same base action.
Speed of execution matters, especially against well-coached teams that may adjust or “bump” their zone matchups.

5 Transition Offense Drills That Score Easy Buckets

By Brian Williams on August 6, 2026

Noah Katz, Asst Men’s Basketball Coach, North Carolina – Pembroke

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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The full video that this clip came from is available on Glazier Drive: Transition Offense & Early Scoring Opportunities

OVERVIEW

This transcript is a coach walking through five transition drills used in practice, explaining how each one is run and why. Note: due to a lost footage account, the clips shown are from the women’s team, though the coach explains some differences in how the men’s team runs them.

DRILL 1: CIRCLE TRANSITION

A twist on the classic drill. Instead of 5 bodies circling the coach, this version puts all 10 players in the paint (5 vs. 5) around the coach. The coach throws the ball off the backboard, and it’s a live rebounding battle — guards sprint to 15 feet and half court while bigs crash the glass. Whoever secures the rebound immediately pushes in transition (no alternating “red ball, blue ball” turns). The emphasis is tying transition offense directly to rebounding, since that’s the program’s core advantage.

DRILL 2: BLITZ BREAK

The first drill of every practice. Five players start with a foot in the paint off a made basket. Each player must get a layup in sequence: guard pitch-ahead same side, guard pitch-ahead opposite side, guard push-and-finish, rim runner, then trail man. The catch: there’s a 30-second clock, and the ball can never touch the floor — meaning the trail player has to sprint to secure every rebound before it hits the ground. If the ball hits the floor or time runs out, the drill repeats until it’s done clean.

DRILL 3: BUILDUP DRILL (“HOGS”)

A variation on the standard 1-on-1, 2-on-2, 3-on-3 buildup drill. Instead of starting at the free-throw line, it begins full court with two guards going 1-on-1 in transition, then builds to 2-on-1, 3-on-2, 4-on-3, and finishes with a full 5-on-5 possession. Defenders can’t leave the baseline until the ball is secured (violations cost a point). The philosophy: “take pride in beating the guy across from you.”

DRILL 4: TAG THE LINE / FULL-COURT CUTTHROAT

Framed here as a transition defense drill rather than offense, though offensive transition principles are still coached throughout. One player tags half court and sprints back on defense while the team plays at a numbers disadvantage, following the program’s “defensive commandments.” Scoring on the defense sends them off the court; stopping the play earns them a chance to score. Even though the focus is defense, players are still expected to execute transition offense principles (rim runner, filling corners/slot, playing until whistle).

BONUS ACCOUNTABILITY TOOL: THE TURNOVER BOARD

Not a drill, but a practice habit: 12 numbers are posted on the bleachers. Every live turnover in practice removes a number; hitting zero means conditioning. Aggressive-but-missed passes (good decision, bad execution) are not counted against players — the goal is to protect risk-taking on the right reads.

DRILL 5: HEAT TRANSITION

No footage available (drawn up via Fast Draw instead), from the coach’s time at FAU. Setup: 4 offensive players in the paint tap the ball off the backboard for 5–6 seconds while 3 defenders wait at the top of the key and 2 more under the basket. On the whistle, the ball is outlet to a guard at the wing and the offense breaks into transition spots (rim runner, wings, trailer) while defenders sprint back — but two defenders are held for a 2-second delay before joining, creating an early 5-on-3 advantage that evolves into 5-on-5.

2 Drills That Fix Sloppy Closeouts & Late Switches

By Brian Williams on July 22, 2026

Justin Leith, Head Girls’ Basketball Coach, Bullis School, MD

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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OVERVIEW

This is a basketball practice film session focused on defensive fundamentals, using two core drills: a 3-on-3 vs. coaches drill and a “Four Corners” drill. The coach walks through terminology, defensive positioning, and common player mistakes, with a brief Q&A from a viewer mixed in.

DRILL 1: 3-ON-3 VS. COACHES

Setup: Starts at the baseline, three coaches on the outside acting as offense (used instead of extra players since the team is short on numbers), creating a competitive, game-like disadvantage for the defense.
Purpose: Reinforces defensive points of emphasis in a condensed format, used even more than 5-on-5 shell work.
Key coaching points:
- Closing out — elbow above shoulder on the player one pass away.
- Denial defense — staying attached to the passing lane.
- Two passes away — defenders should sag to the middle of the floor (help position) since a skip pass takes time to develop.
- Stop the ball — the top priority; whoever is closest must stop dribble penetration, even if it means switching.
- Close the door — bringing the feet together to cut off dribble penetration.
- Not losing sight of your man — a common mistake is ball-watching, which opens up back-door cuts.
- Meeting baseline drivers outside the lane — both heels outside the lane, hands straight up to draw a charge instead of fouling.
- Cut the floor in half — team’s term for help-side positioning; defenders should be able to cover ground on anything two passes away without needing lane-line tape as a reference.
Live examples: The coach highlights both good possessions (seamless switching, good communication, hands up) and mistakes (losing sight of a man, late closeouts, poor communication between two defenders on one attacker).

DRILL 2: FOUR CORNERS

Setup: Two offensive players up top, two defensive players on the bottom; ball starts on one side and is reversed to the other, and the drill goes live from there.
Focus: Closing out (elbow above shoulder), help defenders sprinting to the middle of the floor, and executing “show and switch” or “show and stay” coverages depending on the day’s game plan.
Coaching approach: The coach stops the drill immediately when technique is wrong (e.g., a player not sprinting to elbow-above-shoulder or failing to get a hand up), insisting on doing the rep correctly rather than moving on.
Mindset: Live-drill mistakes (like a blown coverage leading to a layup) are treated as acceptable teaching moments, since real games will have additional weak-side help not present in this smaller drill.

BIG-PICTURE TAKEAWAY

The consistent theme is that disciplined, live, competitive reps in small-sided drills (3-on-3, 4-corners) build habits — closing out properly, communicating, stopping the ball, and maintaining help-side awareness — that translate directly and “seamlessly” into full 5-on-5 team defense.

2 Drills to Build Relentless Man Defense FAST

By Brian Williams on July 15, 2026

Emund Prichett, Head Boys Basketball Coach, Mansfield Summit HS, TX

This video is a segment from one of the 120 Videos in Glazier Drive Basketball.

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OVERVIEW

This video breaks down two 3-on-3 live drills that Summit Jaguars uses to install their man-to-man defensive system, with game film examples showing the concepts translating to real possessions, including a state semifinal and state championship game.

DRILL 1: THREE-ON-THREE BASELINE DRIVE

The ball starts with a player driving baseline, and the defense is coached to give heavy help on the ball. The core teaching points:

On the catch, the on-ball defender should immediately take away both driving gaps so the offensive player never sees a clean lane.
Defenders are taught a “foot to foot” positioning cue — staying tight to the hip of the ball handler.
Help defenders react to the baseline drive, sink low, then sprint out to close out with high hands.
Defenders should be closing out under control, aiming for a blockout on any shot.
Coverage priority is emphasized: the first spot that must be covered is the baseline, and the second spot is under the rim. If a mistake happens (like the wrong player taking baseline), the next defender should react and rotate to the next open spot rather than freezing.
The larger goal is turning the ball handler into a passer, then swarming/walling up to force a tough shot.
Game film from a state semifinal against Colleen Ellison is used to show these exact rotations happening live, including a defensive breakdown where the correct rotation still bailed the team out.

DRILL 2: THREE-ON-THREE JUMP TO THE BALL

This drill emphasizes closeouts and communication, tied to the program’s “TOUGH” acronym — Through Our Unity Greatness Happens — the philosophy that one defender guards the ball while four others are always helping.

Key coaching points:

The goal is to create “long closeouts” by jumping to the ball and communicating, rather than reacting late.
Defenders should avoid running directly at their assigned man (which risks getting screened or beat) and instead run through the gap to their help spot.
Baseline defenders are coached to hold their position until the defender rotating down verbally confirms “I’ve got baseline,” then sprint up into the gap.
Body positioning cue: butt to the rim, chest to the ball, staying reactive to baseline drives.
Because it’s non-contact, the drill is used purely to sharpen technique — closeout angles, communication timing, and helping without over-helping (getting caught on screens or gambling for steals instead of playing the gap).
Game film from a state championship game shows this drill in action late in the first half, with the defense successfully closing out on a series of down-screen actions and forcing a bad pass, though one clip shows a defender chasing his man instead of playing the gap and missing a steal opportunity.

KEY TAKEAWAY FOR COACHES

Both drills are built around the same core defensive principles: aggressive baseline containment, clearly defined rotation priorities, verbal communication on closeouts, and disciplined gap play over chasing individual matchups. The “TOUGH” philosophy reinforces that this is a five-man, unified defensive system rather than isolated man-to-man matchups.