The Kee to Coaching: Press Virginia
Over the last two seasons, West Virginia has become one of my favorite college basketball teams. I am a big believer in pressure defense, and am a fan of teams that defend all 94 feet. The run and jump press has grown in popularity, over the last few years, and nobody is better at it than West Virginia.
Bob Huggins, the coach of West Virginia, analyzed his roster and realized that he was struggling to get the same caliber of players that Kansas and Baylor were getting. His team's weren't great offensively, but he did have a ton of athletes. From that point, "Press Virginia" was born. I got the opportunity to sit in on a clinic, hosted by Erik Martin, who is an assistant coach at West Virginia. The room was absolutely packed with coaches of all levels. I'm assuming that we will see an even greater increase of teams that press next season. If you don't have a good press break in place, now is the time!
Speaker: Erik Martin
Topic: "West Virginia Pressure Defense"
- Ball Pressure is man-made. Anybody can do it. (Ball Pressure, Ball Pressure, Ball Pressure!!)
- Good ball pressure doesn't allow for the ball handler to survey the floor.
- Can't be afraid to get beat (Work on forwards and centers pressuring guards in practice)
- West Virginia leaves the guy furthest from the ball open in their run and jump press.
- Constant Pressure = Head and hands in the dribblers pocket, pressure more when opponent is in a non-basketball position
- Pressing and playing fast allows you to play more guys. West Virginia will play a 12-man rotation throughout the season. (This will help them wear teams down that don't have great depth)
- Funnel the ball handler up the sideline (Keep the ball out of the middle)
- Close Traps
- Take away a side of the floor
- High hands and mirror the ball
- If non-ball handler is inbounder, let him get the ball back and attempt to beat the press
- Trapping spots in the press are all personal and scout driven (They study the counter moves of opposing guards and sit on those moves. They determine when to jump and trap based on the skill level of the ball handler)
- They work on pressing 30 minutes a day in practice (Separate from time spent on half court defense)
- Take educated risks (If a player gambles for a steal and misses, they know that they're automatically subbed out)
- Don't let the point guard get the ball back (Make him have to work each time to get the ball, and he will eventually wear down and not want the ball)
- When pressing, allow the ball into the 5 man. He won't want to dribble and will look to get the ball back to a guard (This takes up more time on the shot clock)
-Once trap is beat, "Back Flow" is initiated (Sprint back, up the passing lanes and look to get tips from behind)
- Average deflections in a West Virginia win: 43 , in a loss: 30
- Have somebody chart the number of lay ups that you've given up in the press each game
- Chart 5 second, 10 second and 30 second shot clock violations forced each game
- They weigh deflections as being more important than steals, when determining the effectiveness of their press.
- Makes guys press in open gym, so that they are getting in better shape and getting better used to how things are going to be when they play
- They won't trap post players in the backcourt
- When a team is attacking the press, they become very predictable. They don't pass fake or throw no-look passes. They tend to look in the direction that they are throwing the ball.
- West Virginia constantly varies the alignment of their press (can run it out of an even or odd front)
