Jay Wright: 1-2-2 and 1-1-2-1 Three-Quarter Court Pressure Defense

with Jay Wright,
Villanova Head Coach;
2018 NCAA Champions!
2018 John R. Wooden Award Legends of Coaching Award;
2x NCAA Championship Coach (2016 & 2018); 2x Naismith College Coach of the Year (2006, 2016);
2x Big East Tournament Champions, 5x Big East Regular Season Champions, 5x Big East Coach of the Year (2006, 2009, 2014-2016), 2x America East Coach of the Year (2000, 2001), NABC Coach of the Year (2006)

Villanova head coach Jay Wright is one of the nation’s top basketball coaches. In this video, you’ll see why he’s also considered one of the best teachers of the game as well. Coach Wright shares his three-quarter court, 1-2-2 defensive pressure scheme. This is the same scheme that aided in the Wildcats’ run to the 2016 NCAA Championship.

Coach Wright shares four base strategies you can use to defend out of a three-quarter court 1-2-2 defense. He runs through additional plays and strategies and shows you how to convert back into a 1-3-1 or 2-3 zone defense. You will also see how to effectively guard ball screens when defending zone offense.

Basic Multiple Defense Concepts

In order to teach a scheme, a coach must first understand the various layers of the underlying philosophy. Coach Wright provides viewers with the complete knowledge necessary for coaches looking to apply the packaged set with their teams.

Coach Wright explains the setup of the 1-2-2 press and, based on the physical traits of certain players, where they should play. He gives five reasons to run a press and emphasizes the one thing the press absolutely cannot give up. He also covers the five rules he uses and the responsibilities each position has.

Defensive Plays

Coach Wright shows what the great teams try to do and how you need to be prepared for it. He shows where they like to trap and how they come out to trap. Ball reversal, skip passes, and back row containment are covered as well. Coach Wright breaks down various defensive scenarios to using the multiple defensive scheme. You will:

• Learn the concept of attack small and retreat big and how to fake trap and trap
• Discover how to keep the ball out of the middle of the floor
• Learn how to get your players to get to ball side of the defense
• See how to convert or get back on defense to avoid giving up an open 3-point shot

1-3-1 and 2-3 Defenses

You’ll see how to convert back into a 1-3-1 and 2-3 zone out of a multiple defense look. Coach Wright shows you:

• How to teach your players to stay aggressive while playing zone defense
• How to “tag” someone so that players know who they’re guarding and boxing out while in zone defense
• How to use man principles to play zone defense

1-1-2-1 Press

Coach Wright shows the 1-1-2-1, which initially looks identical to the 1-2-2 press. This defense is more of a conservative press and it is used whenever they play a half court 2-3 zone defense. He shows how to start in the 1-1-2-1 press and then how to convert to a 2-3 zone. The session then moves into how Coach Wright plays the 2-3 zone with the rules and responsibilities associated for each position. The key for their zone defense is every defender should be matched up with an offensive player on every shot. You’ll see how the zone handles ball screens, overloads, and post ups.

Guarding Against Ball Screens

Learn the concept of spacing when playing against ball screens. Coach Wright shows you how to deny shooters off ball screens. He also gives you how to have a player being screened go under and over the zone depending on the skills of the player they’re guarding.

Coach Wright gives you the complete package to installing the multiple defense with your team. From traps, to fake traps to staying aggressive in multiple defenses, this video is a must have for all defensive minded coaches.

Produced at the Spring 2015 Pittsburgh (PA) clinic.

74 minutes. 2016.