UConn Ball Screens and Pick & Rolls

[oldude]

Setting ball screens and executing the pick & roll off those screens is one of the most basic plays in basketball. While the play may be basic to basketball, it requires precise timing and execution to be successful.

The player with the ball, typically a guard, has to know when to shoot the jumper, when to drive to the basket or when to feed the screener rolling to the basket. The screener needs to set a strong pick and then know precisely when to roll to the basket.

Ball screens have always been a fundamental part of every team’s offense. Last season both Oregon and SC wore UConn out running the pick & roll with Ionescu/Hebard and Harris/Boston respectively.

This season ball screens are a far more prominent part of UConn’s offense. With guards like Paige, Evina and now Nika all able to execute the play effectively and BIGS like Liv & Aaliyah more than happy to set screens and roll to the basket for easy layups, UConn is running ball screens and pick & rolls more than ever before.

The great thing about running ball screens and pick & rolls is that if they are executed precisely, they are virtually impossible to defend. Opponents have to hope somebody misses a shot or they have to go to a zone. Last night, UConn didn’t miss very often so Marquette went to a zone. Paige & Nika promptly buried 3 straight shots from the arc, forcing Marquette out of the zone.

The more UConn’s offense runs ball screens and pick & rolls, the better they will get at it. Of all the the combinations of players to run the play, imo, Paige and Aaliyah will be the most difficult to defend, ultimately becoming a more devastating combination to run the pick & roll than Ionescu and Hebard who were about the best I had ever seen, and the best thing is that we all have another 3.5 seasons to watch them play together.

 

[huskeynut]

To run the motion offense or the Princeton offense or whatever you call it, the pick and roll is the center piece.

Last night you saw Paige directing traffic for it. The scary part is the young ladies are just starting to get the hang of it. Soon, Paige won't be using had directions but it will be all eye contact. At that point, the pick and roll becomes devastating for the opponent.

This is going to be a whole lot of fun to watch.

 

[bluedevil]

I also like watching the back door cuts but haven't seen many of those yet...

 

[LCConnFan]

Setting ball screens and executing the pick & roll off those screens is one of the most basic plays in basketball. While the play may be basic to basketball, it requires precise timing and execution to be successful.

The player with the ball, typically a guard, has to know when to shoot the jumper, when to drive to the basket or when to feed the screener rolling to the basket. The screener needs to set a strong pick and then know precisely when to roll to the basket.

Ball screens have always been a fundamental part of every team’s offense. Last season both Oregon and SC wore UConn out running the pick & roll with Ionescu/Hebard and Harris/Boston respectively.

This season ball screens are a far more prominent part of UConn’s offense. With guards like Paige, Evina and now Nika all able to execute the play effectively and BIGS like Liv & Aaliyah more than happy to set screens and roll to the basket for easy layups, UConn is running ball screens and pick & rolls more than ever before.

The great thing about running ball screens and pick & rolls is that if they are executed precisely, they are virtually impossible to defend. Opponents have to hope somebody misses a shot or they have to go to a zone. Last night, UConn didn’t miss very often so Marquette went to a zone. Paige & Nika promptly buried 3 straight shots from the arc, forcing Marquette out of the zone.

The more UConn’s offense runs ball screens and pick & rolls, the better they will get at it. Of all the the combinations of players to run the play, imo, Paige and Aaliyah will be the most difficult to defend, ultimately becoming a more devastating combination to run the pick & roll than Ionescu and Hebard who were about the best I had ever seen, and the best thing is that we all have another 3.5 seasons to watch them play together.

You're absolutely correct! One thing you forgot to mention though is that the one rolling to the basket has to avoid bumping into others on her way to the basket. Hence, even though it is a basic play, EVERYTHING has to go like clockwork.

 

[oldude]

To run the motion offense or the Princeton offense or whatever you call it, the pick and roll is the center piece.

Last night you saw Paige directing traffic for it. The scary part is the young ladies are just starting to get the hang of it. Soon, Paige won't be using had directions but it will be all eye contact. At that point, the pick and roll becomes devastating for the opponent.

This is going to be a whole lot of fun to watch.

There is another change that Geno has made to the offense. Initially, UConn was running their 4-out offense with Liv in the low post. Liv is not quite as effective down low as Pheesa or Tuck, who were tremendous low post players. The Arkansas game, where defenders swarmed Liv every time UConn dumped the ball into the post, exposed a weakness in UConn’s offense.

As a result, Geno has largely shifted his offense to more of a 5-out offense which accomplished several things. It keeps the lane open, allowing UConn to run the pick and roll until the cows come home. It also promotes more backdoor cuts as well as making it easier for guards to attack the basket.

No player has benefited more from this new offensive focus than Christyn who’s movement without the ball and highlight reel drives to the basket have allowed her to raise her game to another level.

 

[KY Card Fan]

There is another change that Geno has made to the offense. Initially, UConn was running their 4-out offense with Liv in the low post. Liv is not quite as effective down low as Pheesa or Tuck, who were tremendous low post players. The Arkansas game, where defenders swarmed Liv every time UConn dumped the ball into the post, exposed a weakness in UConn’s offense.

As a result, Geno has largely shifted his offense to more of a 5-out offense which accomplished several things. It keeps the lane open, allowing UConn to run the pick and roll until the cows come home. It also promotes more backdoor cuts as well as making it easier for guards to attack the basket.

No player has benefited more from this new offensive focus than Christyn who’s movement without the ball and highlight reel drives to the basket have allowed her to raise her game to another level.

And this, I think, is what separates Geno from the other top basketball coaches, both WBB and MBB. Too many top coaches follow the "I'm gonna put a square peg into a round hole" approach, no matter what. They recruit and coach based on that mind-set. Geno gets great players and then makes it all work. Sometimes it takes a while. I think we'll see the next iteration on Monday night.

 

[bluedevil]

And this, I think, is what separates Geno from the other top basketball coaches, both WBB and MBB. Too many top coaches follow the "I'm gonna put a square peg into a round hole" approach, no matter what. They recruit and coach based on that mind-set. Geno gets great players and then makes it all work. Sometimes it takes a while. I think we'll see the next iteration on Monday night.

If my time machine wasn't broken I would already have seen Monday's game and been the first to pick the b/a winner.

 

[JordyG]

To run the motion offense or the Princeton offense or whatever you call it, the pick and roll is the center piece.

Last night you saw Paige directing traffic for it. The scary part is the young ladies are just starting to get the hang of it. Soon, Paige won't be using had directions but it will be all eye contact. At that point, the pick and roll becomes devastating for the opponent.

This is going to be a whole lot of fun to watch.

Yes, but Geno doesn't run a Princeton offense. He uses aspects of it, just as he uses aspects of the triangle offense.

 

[JordyG]

I also like watching the back door cuts but haven't seen many of those yet...

You saw plenty yesterday. The reason was MU was playing UConn very tight on the perimeter and not collapsing much inside. Since they were overplaying the passing lanes back cuts were open. This hasn't been the case too often with this team. Most teams collapse inside and dare UConn to shoot. When MU stopped their pressure on the perimeter UConn (and Paige of course) started burying 3's, so MU was forced to mix it up. As to why the P+R at this time? Well, Geno has acknowledged that this is not a very good shooting team. The P+R then gives the defense something to deal with. Bringing your bigs out on down screens brings your mark out as well, opening the lanes and preventing teams from collapsing inside. Most WCBB aren't accustomed to dealing with the P+R and it can be very effective against big slow footed teams as well as quick smaller teams.

 

[jabstep]

You saw plenty yesterday. The reason was MU was playing UConn very tight on the perimeter and not collapsing much inside. Since they were overplaying the passing lanes back cuts were open. This hasn't been the case too often with this team. Most teams collapse inside and dare UConn to shoot. When MU stopped their pressure on the perimeter UConn (and Paige of course) started burying 3's, so MU was forced to mix it up. As to why the P+R at this time? Well, Geno has acknowledged that this is not a very good shooting team. The P+R then gives the defense something to deal with. Bringing your bigs out on down screens brings your mark out as well, opening the lanes and preventing teams from collapsing inside. Most WCBB aren't accustomed to dealing with the P+R and it can be very effective against big slow footed teams as well as quick smaller teams.

Some bigs can Switch on the elbow Screen and force the guard to stop but if you set a good screen it's almost impossible to stop. If the big anticipates the play our big must fake screen and start their roll earlier. Paige is smart enough to run it all day by reading the players. Aaliyah does the jump switch very well in defense. Liv is OK at it we will find out how Boston will play it. I think she will stay back and the foul line jumper will be open all day.

 

[Nolefan]

Some bigs can Switch on the elbow Screen and force the guard to stop but if you set a good screen it's almost impossible to stop. If the big anticipates the play our big must fake screen and start their roll earlier. Paige is smart enough to run it all day by reading the players. Aaliyah does the jump switch very well in defense. Liv is OK at it we will find out how Boston will play it. I think she will stay back and the foul line jumper will be open all day.

We need to wear Boston down and drive the ball right at her to try and get her in foul trouble early without Boston USC gets blocked out by UConn

 

[Alydar]

Setting ball screens and executing the pick & roll off those screens is one of the most basic plays in basketball. While the play may be basic to basketball, it requires precise timing and execution to be successful.

The player with the ball, typically a guard, has to know when to shoot the jumper, when to drive to the basket or when to feed the screener rolling to the basket. The screener needs to set a strong pick and then know precisely when to roll to the basket.

Ball screens have always been a fundamental part of every team’s offense. Last season both Oregon and SC wore UConn out running the pick & roll with Ionescu/Hebard and Harris/Boston respectively.

This season ball screens are a far more prominent part of UConn’s offense. With guards like Paige, Evina and now Nika all able to execute the play effectively and BIGS like Liv & Aaliyah more than happy to set screens and roll to the basket for easy layups, UConn is running ball screens and pick & rolls more than ever before.

The great thing about running ball screens and pick & rolls is that if they are executed precisely, they are virtually impossible to defend. Opponents have to hope somebody misses a shot or they have to go to a zone. Last night, UConn didn’t miss very often so Marquette went to a zone. Paige & Nika promptly buried 3 straight shots from the arc, forcing Marquette out of the zone.

The more UConn’s offense runs ball screens and pick & rolls, the better they will get at it. Of all the the combinations of players to run the play, imo, Paige and Aaliyah will be the most difficult to defend, ultimately becoming a more devastating combination to run the pick & roll than Ionescu and Hebard who were about the best I had ever seen, and the best thing is that we all have another 3.5 seasons to watch them play together.

Bueckers spent the last 2 years perfecting that play with Maya Nnagi (No 7 espn '22). They had it down pretty well for HS.

 

[Jingo]

There is another change that Geno has made to the offense. Initially, UConn was running their 4-out offense with Liv in the low post. Liv is not quite as effective down low as Pheesa or Tuck, who were tremendous low post players. The Arkansas game, where defenders swarmed Liv every time UConn dumped the ball into the post, exposed a weakness in UConn’s offense.

As a result, Geno has largely shifted his offense to more of a 5-out offense which accomplished several things. It keeps the lane open, allowing UConn to run the pick and roll until the cows come home. It also promotes more backdoor cuts as well as making it easier for guards to attack the basket.

No player has benefited more from this new offensive focus than Christyn who’s movement without the ball and highlight reel drives to the basket have allowed her to raise her game to another level.

Yesss .. excellent analysis .. and Liv is perfect for this job .. in the 1st half, when the game was decided against Marquette, Liv had 6 assists and 6 points from the pick-n-roll along with 6 rebounds even tho she was playing away from the basket a lot [at the high post] and out on the perimeter a lot on defense, chasing opponents.
Nika and Liv are birds of a feather [both] doing many, many things to help the team win; that's why they are both starters.
For example, both set gr8 screens and Paige is often the beneficiary, esp on her pull-up jumpers.
Remember, the last basket of the 1st half against Marquette was a pull-up jumper by Paige off a hi-post screen set by Liv.
Geno shifted Liv to the hi-post after the TN game, and the offense and ball movement has improved dramatically! Better play not only for Paige but for Christyn as well.

 

[AmeriConn]

Bueckers spent the last 2 years perfecting that play with Maya Nnagi (No 7 espn '22). They had it down pretty well for HS.

I wonder if we have any interest in Maya.

 

[ScottCT]

I wonder if we have any interest in Maya.

She came out with a top 10 list already and uconn didn't make it.

 

[X conn]

This is the most educational BY I can remember. Thanks!

 

[BBallF]

I also like watching the back door cuts but haven't seen many of those yet...

CW ran 2. She uses that move on the baseline to get free. With Paige, Evina and now Nika it's a field day if you know how to move without the ball.

 

[BBallF]

There is another change that Geno has made to the offense. Initially, UConn was running their 4-out offense with Liv in the low post. Liv is not quite as effective down low as Pheesa or Tuck, who were tremendous low post players. The Arkansas game, where defenders swarmed Liv every time UConn dumped the ball into the post, exposed a weakness in UConn’s offense.

As a result, Geno has largely shifted his offense to more of a 5-out offense which accomplished several things. It keeps the lane open, allowing UConn to run the pick and roll until the cows come home. It also promotes more backdoor cuts as well as making it easier for guards to attack the basket.

No player has benefited more from this new offensive focus than Christyn who’s movement without the ball and highlight reel drives to the basket have allowed her to raise her game to another level.

Exactly. Instead of 3 point shots, CW can shoot pull up jumpers in an open lane or baseline or drive left or right from the foul line.

 

[JellyBean]

And the scary part in all of this, they are only going to get better!! I forgot who said it during the post game interview but someone said that Paige is giving them confidence to shoot. Telling players to shoot. Take shots from any where! If the players gain that confidence and learn how to read those screens, we are talking Pick and Pop, Pick and Fade situations. We could be looking at the Splash Sisters the rest of this season or next year!

 

[BBallF]

Setting ball screens and executing the pick & roll off those screens is one of the most basic plays in basketball. While the play may be basic to basketball, it requires precise timing and execution to be successful.

The player with the ball, typically a guard, has to know when to shoot the jumper, when to drive to the basket or when to feed the screener rolling to the basket. The screener needs to set a strong pick and then know precisely when to roll to the basket.

Ball screens have always been a fundamental part of every team’s offense. Last season both Oregon and SC wore UConn out running the pick & roll with Ionescu/Hebard and Harris/Boston respectively.

This season ball screens are a far more prominent part of UConn’s offense. With guards like Paige, Evina and now Nika all able to execute the play effectively and BIGS like Liv & Aaliyah more than happy to set screens and roll to the basket for easy layups, UConn is running ball screens and pick & rolls more than ever before.

The great thing about running ball screens and pick & rolls is that if they are executed precisely, they are virtually impossible to defend. Opponents have to hope somebody misses a shot or they have to go to a zone. Last night, UConn didn’t miss very often so Marquette went to a zone. Paige & Nika promptly buried 3 straight shots from the arc, forcing Marquette out of the zone.

The more UConn’s offense runs ball screens and pick & rolls, the better they will get at it. Of all the the combinations of players to run the play, imo, Paige and Aaliyah will be the most difficult to defend, ultimately becoming a more devastating combination to run the pick & roll than Ionescu and Hebard who were about the best I had ever seen, and the best thing is that we all have another 3.5 seasons to watch them play together.

If run correctly, it is the one indefensible play in basketball. Stockton and Malone ran it to perfection. The key is timing. Even when the defender who is playing the person who was picking jumps out on the screen as AE does to try to stop the dribble of the player with the ball, the player rolling to the basket is still open. Hence, the dribbler in response to this new way of defending now tries to split the defenders with a dribble or passes quickly to the roller or weak side wing who then finds the open roller. Under any scenario, the roller or dribbler has an opening for a shot, a drive, a lay up, or a step back for a 3. Nika, Evina and of course Paige run it very well. Hey, with those 3, why not set a pick? They will find you.

 

[MD#12Fan]

Setting ball screens and executing the pick & roll off those screens is one of the most basic plays in basketball. While the play may be basic to basketball, it requires precise timing and execution to be successful.

The player with the ball, typically a guard, has to know when to shoot the jumper, when to drive to the basket or when to feed the screener rolling to the basket. The screener needs to set a strong pick and then know precisely when to roll to the basket.

Ball screens have always been a fundamental part of every team’s offense. Last season both Oregon and SC wore UConn out running the pick & roll with Ionescu/Hebard and Harris/Boston respectively.

This season ball screens are a far more prominent part of UConn’s offense. With guards like Paige, Evina and now Nika all able to execute the play effectively and BIGS like Liv & Aaliyah more than happy to set screens and roll to the basket for easy layups, UConn is running ball screens and pick & rolls more than ever before.

The great thing about running ball screens and pick & rolls is that if they are executed precisely, they are virtually impossible to defend. Opponents have to hope somebody misses a shot or they have to go to a zone. Last night, UConn didn’t miss very often so Marquette went to a zone. Paige & Nika promptly buried 3 straight shots from the arc, forcing Marquette out of the zone.

The more UConn’s offense runs ball screens and pick & rolls, the better they will get at it. Of all the the combinations of players to run the play, imo, Paige and Aaliyah will be the most difficult to defend, ultimately becoming a more devastating combination to run the pick & roll than Ionescu and Hebard who were about the best I had ever seen, and the best thing is that we all have another 3.5 seasons to watch them play together.

100% old dude
There's a reason the entire NBA runs pick and rolls. Because it's impossible to stop.
Like HS teams in MD, it's dribble-drive kick out. Impossible to stop. (Arkansas)
Prereq: Gotta have good ballhandlers. I think we do. (Just kidding) You have to bring the ball to the defense to run the play. Defense can actually trap the ball if they wanted to. Defense can also hawk the ball for steals when the O brings the ball toward them. We have savvy ballhandlers (E, PB) and would you step in front of Nika. Good luck with that.
My college program did everything with screens away from the ball. So we screen away, player uses the screen and cuts off it, toward the ball. So the ball doesn't go toward defenders.
I'm all in! Wish Liv didn't get it on top, but just nit-pickin. Go Huskies!

 

[JordyG]

This is the most educational BY I can remember. Thanks!

Just think what an actual genius like Geno could tell you. We're morons in comparison.

 

[JordyG]

Some bigs can Switch on the elbow Screen and force the guard to stop but if you set a good screen it's almost impossible to stop. If the big anticipates the play our big must fake screen and start their roll earlier. Paige is smart enough to run it all day by reading the players. Aaliyah does the jump switch very well in defense. Liv is OK at it we will find out how Boston will play it. I think she will stay back and the foul line jumper will be open all day.

Yes. Geno has had his bigs do far more hedging since the ARK game, and from my reckoning they've only been caught a couple of times. Liv may be slower but her long arms make up for it.

 

[JordyG]

Exactly. Instead of 3 point shots, CW can shoot pull up jumpers in an open lane or baseline or drive left or right from the foul line.

The problem with that is CW pull up has mostly been MIA since last year. She's yet to hit one in transition this year. Note as well Geno doesn't have her curling around screens much, and that's ever. He has her mostly in the corner or the weak side opposite (okay, the weak side always has the opposite). CW scores mainly on open shots where her feet are planted, dribble drives or put backs. She hit one pull up last game, but in actuality, she walked and it wasn't called.

 

[Jingo]

Wish Liv didn't get it on top, but just nit-pickin.

Liv is what makes everything go .. she's a savvy hi-post .. since she moved up high after the TN debacle, the offense has improved immeasurably .. everyone sees it!

 

[BBallF]

The problem with that is CW pull up has mostly been MIA since last year. She's yet to hit one in transition this year. Note as well Geno doesn't have her curling around screens much, and that's ever. He has her mostly in the corner or the weak side opposite (okay, the weak side always has the opposite). CW scores mainly on open shots where her feet are planted, dribble drives or put backs. She hit one pull up last game, but in actuality, she walked and it wasn't called.

I just rewatched the first half of the Marquette game and she took two pull up jumpers off the bounce. One was off the curl, went in, may have been a walk, and one didn't. I still think it is her best shot. I also think she shoots better off the bounce than with her feet planted. That's why she is such a poor 3 point shooter. What is happening now with Nika and a pick and roll offense is that the lane is open. CW moves well without the ball and is always looking for it when she cuts and with the emphasis by the defense on Paige and her increased shots, she has a lot of opportunities to score without having to create her own. That is the difference and why her shooting woes from the arc have not been an obvious issue since Arkansas. In my mind, that was a bright line loss. After it, Paige became the primary offensive weapon. Instead of hurting CW, it has actually helped her.

 

[JordyG]

I just rewatched the first half of the Marquette game and she took two pull up jumpers off the bounce. One was off the curl, went in, may have been a walk, and one didn't. I still think it is her best shot. I also think she shoots better off the bounce than with her feet planted. That's why she is such a poor 3 point shooter. What is happening now with Nika and a pick and roll offense is that the lane is open. CW moves well without the ball and is always looking for it when she cuts and with the emphasis by the defense on Paige and her increased shots, she has a lot of opportunities to score without having to create her own. That is the difference and why her shooting woes from the arc have not been an obvious issue since Arkansas. In my mind, that was a bright line loss. After it, Paige became the primary offensive weapon. Instead of hurting CW, it has actually helped her.

When you dribble drive around a defender off a screen that is not off the curl. The curl is moving around a screen, then you take the pass for the shot.

 

[BBallF]

When you dribble drive around a defender off a screen that is not off the curl. The curl is moving around a screen, then you take the pass for the shot.

I know what a curl is and if you watch it she came around the screen, received the ball, walked, dribbled and shot. I also doubt very much that she hasn't hit a pull up in transition all year. I think this new offense takes the pressure off of her and plays to her strengths. I was not a big CW fan last year at all and was very disappointed. I like the way she is playing these last 2 games after the offensive reorientation towards Paige. We clearly see her impact differently. To me, we need her to perform well as a second scorer to go the distance and she can do it more freely now.

 

[MD#12Fan]

I’

Liv is what makes everything go .. she's a savvy hi-post .. since she moved up high after the TN debacle, the offense has improved immeasurably .. everyone sees it!

Of course I’m good with you being happy about it and I’m also good with you saying everyone sees it. IMO they can do everything they are doing well without her ending up with the ball at the top, beyond the 3 point line. Me personally, I don’t want her shooting from there and I also don’t want her attacking the basket from there. Therefore, she should not get it there. We have 3, sometimes 4 guards on the floor that can do damage there. Her defender sluffs off her there and clogs up the middle. She can flash high and set screens and like another good thread is analyzing today, roll to the basket. And get open down low on the blocks and in the middle of the lane. We can agree to disagree.

 

[Cuango]

She came out with a top 10 list already and uconn didn't make it.

Was she even offered?