Tom Izzo Michigan State Spartans  
Basketball Playbook & Clinic Notes 
 
“Players Play, Tough Players Win.” 
 

 
 
 
 
 Tom Izzo Michigan
State Playbook

Table of Contents

1. Early Offense 2

2. Half Court Sets 7

3. Horns 29

4. Baseline out of Bounds 35

5. Sideline out of Bounds 45

6. Zone Offense 46

7. Specials 51

pg. 1
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Running Principles
Early Offense

2 1
5

Kick to Wing
Early Offense

2
5

Early kick ahead to the wing in transition looking to attack.

pg. 2
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Kick to Wing Ballscreen Kick to Wing Ballscreen
Early Offense Early Offense

3 3 2
5

2
5
1 4
4

1
1 kicks ahead to 3 and 3 passes back to 1. 1 attacks off ballscreen from 5.

Point Cross
Early Offense

2
3

4
1

In transition point guard crosses over and looks to score off layup.

pg. 3
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Drag 4
Early Offense

2 3

1
Drag screen in transition offense.

Secondary
Early Offense

1
4

1 hands off to 2. 4 sets pindown screen for 3.

pg. 4
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
21 (Keep)
Early Offense

2
4
5

1
1 passes to 2 and cuts to the corner.
5 follows into ballscreen for 2.

21 (Double)
Early Offense

3
2 5
4

1
1 passes to 2 and cuts to the corner.
4 & 5 follow into double ballscreen.

pg. 5
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
21 (Double/Flare) 21 (Double/Flare)
Early Offense Early Offense

3 3
2 5 5
4 4 2

1
Can also run as a late game quick hitter with small at 4 spot. 4 cuts off flare screen from 5.
2 passes to 4.

21 Chase 21 Chase
Early Offense Early Offense

1
3

3
2
5 5 4
4 2
1
1 passes to 2. 4 sets flare screen for 2 then follows with a ballscreen for 1.
2 flips/hand offs back to 1.
1 attacks the rim.

pg. 6
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
4 ICE
Half Court Sets

2 3
5 4

Isolation set for 4.

AI Double AI Double
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 2
1

3
5 4 5
4 3

3 cuts off Iverson screen from 4 & 5. 1 passes to 3 and cuts off 4 & 5 set a double down screen side by side for 2. 3 passes to 2.
him to the corner.

pg. 7
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
AI Point
Half Court Sets

5 4

1
2

1 Iverson cuts off 4 & 5. Lob for 1.

AI Slip AI Slip
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 2

3 5
5
4 3 4
1

3 cuts off Iverson screen from 4 & 5. 1 passes to 3 and cuts to the 4 sprints to set a PNR for 3 and slips to the rim. First look is to
opposite wing. look to pass to 4. Second option is attacking off of ballscreen from
5.

pg. 8
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Box Flare STS Box Flare STS
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 3 2 3

1
5 4 5
4

1
1 passes to 5. 3 sets cross screen for 5 and comes off down screen from 4.
4 flares 1.

C Motion C Motion
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 1
4 4
1
3
5
5
2

3 passes to 2. 5 sets a flare screen fro 3. 4 sets a pindown for 1 2 passes to 1 who makes the post entry to 4.
and seals his man.

pg. 9
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest Chest
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

1 2
4 5 4 5
3

1 2

3 pops to the top of the key. 1 passes to 3. 1 and 2 cut through off 1 & 2 have options to cross (stay to the right of each other) or cut
4 & 5. back and come off screens from 4 & 5. 3 reads the defense and
passes to open man. after 1 & 2 cut off them 4 & 5 look to seal
their man and post up.

Chest (Down) Chest (Down)

Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2
3 5 4 5
4
3 2
1

1 executes a DHO with 2, 4 sets a pindown for 3. 2 passes to 3. 5 sets a backscreen for 2 who cuts to the rim and clears to the
corner. 5 then steps up and sets a ballscreen for 3.

pg. 10
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest (Down Quick) Chest (Down Quick)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2
3 5 4 5
4
3 2
1

1 executes a DHO with 2, 4 sets a pindown for 3. 2 passes to 3. 5 sets a backscreen for 2 who cuts to the rim and clears to the
corner.

Chest (Down Quick)

Half Court Sets

2 1

4 5

pg. 11
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest (Down Quick ISO) Chest (Down Quick ISO)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2
3 5 4 5
4
3 2
1

1 executes a DHO with 2, 4 sets a pindown for 3. 2 passes to 3. 5 sets a backscreen for 2 who cuts to the rim and clears to the
corner.

Chest (Down Quick ISO)

Half Court Sets

2 1

4 5

pg. 12
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest (Down Pop) Chest (Down Pop)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 4
3 5 5
4
3 2
1

1 executes a DHO with 2, 4 sets a pindown for 3. 2 passes to 3. 5 sets a backscreen for 2 and then turns and rescreens in a
pindown for 2 to get an open 3.

Chest (Up) Chest (Up)

Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

1 2

4 5 4 5
3

1 2

3 pops to the top of the key. 1 passes to 3. 1 and 2 cut through off 1 & 2 cut off screens from 4 & 5.
4 & 5. 4 & 5 slip to rim.

pg. 13
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest (Up Cross) Chest (Up Cross)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

1 2

4 5 4 5
3

1 2

3 pops to the top of the key. 1 passes to 3. 1 and 2 cut through off 1 & 2 cut across and exit to the wing.
4 & 5. 4 & 5 slip to the rim.

pg. 14
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Chest (Up Cross/ISO) Chest (Up Cross/ISO)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

1 2

4 5 4 5
3

1 2

3 pops to the top of the key. 1 passes to 3. 1 and 2 cut through off
4 & 5.

Chest (Up Cross/ISO)

Half Court Sets

4 5

2 1

Isolation for 3.

pg. 15
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double Fan Double Fan
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

3 3

2 1 2
5 4 5
4

1 hands off to 2, 4 & 5 follow into double ballscreen. 4 & 5 continue into stagger screen for 1.

Double Fan
Half Court Sets

5
2
4

5 fans 4.

pg. 16
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double Rip Double Rip
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

4 1 4
5

3 3
2

1 2

1 passes to 3 and cuts through. 2 cuts to the elbow and 5 cuts to 1 cuts to the wing and 5 passes to 1. 3 & 2 both cut together and
the top of the key. 3 passes to 5. set a double cross screen for 4.

Dribble
Half Court Sets

3
4 2

1 dribbles at 2.
2 zipper cuts off 4 & 5.
Isolation for 2.

pg. 17
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Elbow Rub Elbow Rub
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 3 5

2
3
5 4 4
1

1 passes to 4 and cuts through the key and sets a rub screen for 5 If covered 4 passes to 1. 2 then cuts off a triple screen from 3/5/4.
who cuts to the rim. First option is to look for 5 on the cut. 1 passes to 2.

Elbow Rub Elevator Elbow Rub Elevator

Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 3
5

2
3 4
5 4
1

1 passes to 4 and cuts through the key and sets a rub screen for 5 2 screens 3 and then leaks out and runs through an elevator
who cuts to the rim. First option is to look for 5 on the cut. screen from 4 & 5. 1 passes to 2.

pg. 18
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Fist
Half Court Sets

3 2

5
1

1 comes off ballscreen from 5.

2 cuts off 3 & 4 to opposite wing.

Fist Up Rip
Half Court Sets

3
5
4
1

4 sets ballscreen for 1.

2 cuts off stagger screen from 5 & 3.
2 sets backscreen for 4.

pg. 19
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Fist Up Rip (Overplay)
Half Court Sets

3
5
4
1

1 comes off ballscreen from 4.

2 rejects backscreen from 3 & 5 and cuts off stagger for shot.

Post Down (Double) Post Down (Double)

Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 2
3 3 5
5
1
4
4

3 cuts to the wing. 1 & 4 cut into paint, 4 screens down for 2.
1 passes to 3 who drops to 5 in the post.

pg. 20
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Post Down (Single) Post Down (Single)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 2
3 3 5
5
1

4 4

3 cuts to the wing. 4 screens down for 1 for a shot.

1 passes to 3 who drops to 5 in the post.

Rice Rip
Half Court Sets

2 3

4 5

2 screens across for 3.

2 sets backscreen for 5 and then comes off down screen from 4.

pg. 21
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Single Double (Wide) Single Double (Wide)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2
3 5 3 5
4 4

1 1

Floppy Wide.

STS
Half Court Sets

2
3

4
5

1
Michigan State usually runs 2 off a double screen and instead 2
screens 4 and 5 screens down 2. 1 reads the defense and
chooses best option.

pg. 22
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Thru Detroit Thru Detroit
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

5 4 5 4

2 3 2
1

1
3

3 passes to 2 and cuts through to opposite wing. 1 replaces and 2 4 & 5 sprint up and each set a ballscreen for 3. 3 chooses with
passes to 1. 1 reverses to 3. side to attack off of.

pg. 23
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Thumbs Down Thumbs Down
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 4 5
5 3
4
3
2

1 1

2 exits off 5's screen and cuts to the wing. 1 passes to 2. 5 steps up and sets a UCLA screen for 1.

Thumbs Down
Half Court Sets

3
4
5
2

5 sets a PNR for 2. 1 comes off double screen from 4 & 3.

pg. 24
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Thumbs Down (Miami) Thumbs Down (Miami)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

1 3
5
4
2 4 5 3

2
1

1 passes to 2 and UCLA cuts in the paint. 1 uses single side.

2 attacks off ballscreen from 4.

pg. 25
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Thumbs Down (Quick) Thumbs Down (Quick)
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

2 4 5
5 3
4
3
2

1 1

2 exits off 5's screen and cuts to the wing. 1 passes to 2. 5 steps up and sets a UCLA screen for 1.

Thumbs Down (Quick)

Half Court Sets

3
4
5
2

5 sets a PNR for 2. 1 comes off double screen from 4 & 3.

pg. 26
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Thumbs Down (Rip)
Half Court Sets

2 4 5 3

1 passes to 2 and UCLA cuts in the paint.

2 attacks off ballscreen from 4.
1 sets backscreen for 5.

Weave Weave
Half Court Sets Half Court Sets

5 5

2
2 1
4 3
3
4

Weave action into ballscreen.

pg. 27
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Zipper
Half Court Sets

2 3

4 5

Zipper action for quick shot.

Zipper 3 Down
Half Court Sets

4 2

3 5

Post up for 3.

pg. 28
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Horns Fade Horns Fade
Horns Horns

3 5 4 2 5 4
1 2

1 passes to 2 who cuts off flare screen from 5. 3 switches to 1.

1 looks to attack, if nothing there then 5 drops into post.
4 sets pindown for 3.

Horns Lift Sting Horns Lift Sting

Horns Horns

2 3 2 3

5
5 4
1

4
1

1 comes off ballscreen from 4. 5 sets pindown for 2.

4 lifts.
1 passes to 4.

pg. 29
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Horns Rice Horns Rice
Horns Horns

5
2 4 5 3 2 3

4
1

1 passes to 3 and cuts off backscreen from 4. 1 sets cross screen for 5 and then comes off down screen from 4.

Horns Rub
Horns

4 5 2
3

1 passes to 4 and then rub screens 5.

pg. 30
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Horns Rub Trips Horns Rub Trips
Horns Horns

5 3

1
4 5 2 4 2
3

1 passes to 4 and rub screens for 5. 2 cuts off triple screen for a shot.

Horns Shuffle Horns Shuffle

Horns Horns

2
3

2 4 5 3
1
4
5
1

3 cuts off 5, 5 opens up. 1 comes off ballscreen from 5 and 3 cuts off double screen from 3.
1 passes to 5. 2 cuts off 4.

pg. 31
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Horns Shuffle Horns Shuffle
Horns Horns

2 3
4 3 4
5

5
1
1

3 cuts off 5, 5 opens up. 4 sets backscreen for 1.

1 passes to 5. 2 cuts off 4. 5 passes to 4 who opens up.

Horns Shuffle
Horns

1 3

5
4

4 reveses and follows into ballscreen for 1.

pg. 32
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Horns Shuffle Stagger Horns Shuffle Stagger
Horns Horns

2 4 5 3 5
1
4

3 cuts off 5, 5 opens up. 2 sets slice screen for 5 and 2 & 4 set stagger screen for 3.
1 passes to 5. 2 cuts off 4.

Horns Twist Horns Twist

Horns Horns

2 3 2 3
4

5 4 5 1

1 comes off ballscreen from 4. 1 comes off rescreen from 5.

pg. 33
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Mix Double Mix Double
Early Offense Early Offense

3 2 2
1

3
5 4 5
4

1 hands off to 3 who attacks off double ballscreen from 4 & 5.

Mix Double Mix Double

Early Offense Early Offense

2 2
1
5
4
5
4 3 3
1

pg. 34
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Atlanta
BLOB

5
4
2

1 sets backscreen for 2 and then cuts off double screen from 4 &
5. 3 reads the defense and chooses best option.

Atlanta Counter
BLOB

2
5

4
1

Instead of screening up for 1, 2 fakes it and screens for 4 and

then comes off screen from 5. 3 reads the defense and looks for
best option.

pg. 35
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Give Back (Soft D)
BLOB

5
4
2

If defender is sagging off of 3 he inbounds it quickly and gives it

back to 3 for a quick shot.

Lob
BLOB

1 2
4 5

5 & 4 screen across for 2. 5 then turns and comes off screen from
4 for a lob.

pg. 36
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Down Down
BLOB BLOB

4 4
3
5 3 5
1

2 1
2

3 screens across for 5, 2 cuts to the wing. 1 screens down for 4 and then comes off down screen from 5.
4 passes to 5 who passes to 2.

Down (Lob) Down (Lob)

BLOB BLOB

4
4
5 3 3 5
1

2 1
2

3 screens across for 5, 2 cuts to the wing.

4 passes to 5 who passes to 2.

pg. 37
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Pinwheel
BLOB

2 4
3

3 comes off screen from 4 & 5.

2 cuts off screen from 4 & 5.

Wizard Stagger Wizard Stagger

BLOB BLOB
4
1 2 2
4 3
5
5

5 screens up for 3. 3 cuts off double screen from 4 & 5.

5 opens up and receives pass from 4.
5 hands off to 1 on the wing.

pg. 38
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
3 Sit (Wizard Counter)
BLOB

4
3 1
5

Normally looking for 5 to open up, 3 dives in to the post to seal his
man looking for quick post up.

Pindown
BLOB

1 5 2
4

4 pops, 5 pops. 3 passes to 4.

5 turns and sets pindown for 1.

pg. 39
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Punch (Post Up)
BLOB

2 5 4 1

5 and 4 dive down into the post and look to seal.

Punch Quick (Overplay)

BLOB
4

2 5 1 3

5 fakes diving down and cuts to the post looking to seal.

pg. 40
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Flares (vs 2-3)
BLOB

4
x4
x3
x5 5
2
x1
x2
3
1

vs 2-3 zone, x2 and x3 get sucked in on the weakside, 5 and 3 set

flare screens for 2 weakside.

Hawks America Hawks America

BLOB BLOB

5
5
4 3 4 3

1
2 2
1

5 passes to 4 who passes to 1. 5 steps in and comes off screen from 4.

Set for a big man who can shoot.

pg. 41
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Special (Single) Special (Single)
BLOB BLOB

2
5 4 4
5
3

3
1

5 pops. 2 passes to 5, 5 passes to 1. 3 dives down. Floppy for 2.

pg. 42
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Special (Double Rip) Special (Double Rip)
BLOB BLOB

2
5 4 4
5
3

3
1

5 pops. 2 passes to 5, 5 passes to 1. 3 dives down. 2 cuts off double screen from 3 & 4. 1 passes to 2.

Special (Double Rip)

BLOB

4
5
3

3 & 4 continue and set double rip screen for 5.

pg. 43
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Special (Reverse) Special (Reverse)
BLOB BLOB

2
2
5 4 5

3
4
3
1

5 pops. 2 passes to 5, 5 passes to 1. 3 dives down. 2 cuts off double screen from 4 & 5 vs zone.

pg. 44
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double Double
SLOB SLOB

2 2

1
3 4 5 4 5
1

1 cuts up, 3 passes to 1. 3 dives down, 2 hesitates and then cuts off stagger screen from 4
& 5.

pg. 45
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
13 13
Zone Offense Zone Offense

5 5

x5 x4 x5 x4
x3 3 x3

3
4
x1 x2 x1 x2
2 2
1
4
1

1 passes to 2 and clears, 4 cuts up. Basic principles of Zone O.

13 Down
Zone Offense

4
x5
x3 x4

2 5 3
x1 x2

1 passes to 2 who passes back to 1.

5 screens down in the middle of the zone and opens up.

pg. 46
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double
Zone Offense

5
x5

x3 x4
4 2 3
x1 x2

1 passes to 3 who passes back to 1.

2 cuts to short corner and then off double screen form 4 & 5.

Double Flare Double Flare

Zone Offense Zone Offense

3 5 3 5
x4 x5 x4 x5

4 x3
2 4 x3 x1
2
x1

x2 x2

1 1

1 passes to 2 who passes back to 1. 1 passes to 4 and cuts off him at the elbow. 2 & 5 set flare
screens on x1 & x5 and 3 cuts underneath and to the wing. 4 has
option to drive or pass to 3.

pg. 47
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double Rip Double Rip
Zone Offense Zone Offense

3 3
2 5 5
x5 x4
x3 x5
x4
x3
4 2
4
x1 x1 x2
x2

1
1

1 dribbles over and passes to 2. 3 & 5 set double rip screen for 4.

Overload
Zone Offense

4 5
x5
x3
x4
2
x2 x1
1

3 passes to 1. 3 & 2 cut to corner to overload zone.

pg. 48
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Ram Ram
Zone Offense Zone Offense

4 4
5 x5 5 x5
x4 x3 x4
x3
2
3 x2 x2
x1 x1 2
1
1 3

Baseline low screen for 4 to get a quick shot.

Regular Regular
Zone Offense Zone Offense

4 1 4
x5 x4 x5 x4
x3 x3

5 3 3
2 2
x1 x2 x1 x2

1 5

Normal Zone O

pg. 49
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Zone Cross Lob Zone Cross Lob
Zone Offense Zone Offense

4 5 4 5
x3 x3
x5 x5
x4 x4

3 3
2 x1 x2 2 x1 x2

1 1

1 passes to 3, 3 passes back to 1. 2 & 3 cross under the top 2 zone defenders and screen off the
opposite guard on the inside. 5 screens x4 and 4 dives to the rim
for a lob. 1 passes to 4.

Zone Cross Lob

Zone Offense

4
x3
x4
5 x5

1
x1 3
2 x2

Key here is isolating x5 and drawing him towards 1 handling the

ball to open up baseline for 4.

pg. 50
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Fist Up Away
End of Q/H/G

4 2

End of half 5 sets high ballscreen for 1 and then continues into
pindown for 3.

Middle ISO Middle ISO

End of Q/H/G End of Q/H/G

2 5 1
3

4
5
3
4 2
1

1 and 2 cut off of 5. 5 turns and sets pindown screen for 3. Middle ISO for 3.

pg. 51
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Need a 3 Need a 3
End of Q/H/G End of Q/H/G

3 4 3

5 5

4 2 2
1
1

4 passes to 1 and clears. 2 sets ballscreen and cuts to wing. 5 follows into ballscreen.

Seal Seal
End of Q/H/G End of Q/H/G

1
1 2
5
4 4
5

3 3

1 cuts to the corner. 4 rubs 5 man, 5 seals.

2 cuts off 4 & 5.
4 curls off 5.

pg. 52
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
STS
End of Q/H/G

5 2

1
4

2 sets backscreen for 4 and then cuts off screen from 5.

Zipper Go
End of Q/H/G

1
3 2

5
4

2 cuts off 3 to the corner.

3 cuts off zipper screen from 5.
4 passes to 3 who attacks.

pg. 53
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
EOH Slip
After Time Out

2 4 5

Normally at end of half, the 4 man sets a ballscreen for 1 and 5

screens away for 3. 4 slips to the rim looking for lob, 1 attacks.

pg. 54
 Tom Izzo Michigan State Playbook
Double Flare Double Flare
After Time Out After Time Out

3 1
5
4
5
4
1
2 2
3

3 zipper cuts off 4 & 5. 2 sets ballscreen for 3 and then cuts off double flare screen from 4
1 passes to 3. & 5 looking for shot.

Set run at the end of games and half.

pg. 55
 Clinic Notes 
­Have your staff take ownership 
­Study football staffs for examples 
­On any Double Screens 
­Inside guy slips 
­Outside guy spaces 
Special Teams (Steals Points) 
­FT Shooting situations (win the battle) 
­Jump Balls (aggressive approach, plays) 
­BLOB’s (win the battle, sprint to your spots) 
­SLOB’s (sprint to your spots) 
*Alert every minute on the court* 
Rebound every day! 
 
Tom Izzo Defensive Anticipation 
• Believes in playing man head up 
 • The most important thing in man to man defense is to keep your body between your man and 
the basket  
• On the ball  
◦ Shoulder to shoulder and feet to feet  
◦ Does not believe in dropping a foot and opening up to force a man left or right  
◦ Instead, stay squared up and split the man in half to force him one way  
◦ To force him left, split him with your right foot  
◦ To force him right, split him with your left foot  
◦ Pressure the ball with one hand, hand opposite the ball is down  
◦ Mirror the ball with the hand that is up  
• Off the ball  
◦ Get in help position, not denial  
◦ Help defender should be one big step off the line of the ball (straight line between passer and 
receiver)  
◦ Step at the man to stop dribble penetration, as he starts to pick up his dribble release back to 
your man  
• Move on the pass, not on the catch  
• All 5 defenders should be moving on the pass  
• On closeouts the feet should be moving, choppy steps to ball – not a jump stop  
• Should be able to move from help to ball in 2 steps and from ball to help in 2 steps 
 
 
 Rebounding Principles 
1. In the Michigan State Basketball program, rebounding, without question is a top priority. 
From the season's’ beginning until it’s end, rebounding is a big point of emphasis each day 
throughout the entire duration of our practice sessions.  Everything we do either begins or ends 
with the rebound or attempt to rebound the chance (made shot). 
  
2.  We coach rebounding on every shot taken in practice. One of our staff members and 
sometimes two assigned to coach rebounding only during practice.  Which phase of rebounding 
he will coach is usually determined before practice an will change in accordance to what we are 
working on during a particular drill or scrimmage situation offensively or defensively. 
3.  Important point­  we grade our players rebounding performance on effort not the number of 
rebounds they get in a game session. 
● Offensive rebounding­we chart the number of time a player makes an all­out effort to get 
to the offensive boards (attempts) against the number of chances he actually had to do to 
the boards.  The percentage basis calculated by dividing the number of ​chances​ to go to 
boards into the number of times a player attempted to get to the boards. 
● We also do the same collectively as a team the same way.   
● Our is to be 90% or above in our effort. 
● We want to get back 50% or better of our missed shots 
Defensive rebounding­ we chart defensive rebounds in a similar manner except we calculate the 
number of chances to cutout (block out) by the number of time a player individually or our team 
collectively actually did cut out his offensive player when show was taken. 
·         Our goal is  90 % 
·         We don’t ever penalize a player for not making an unnecessary cut out (we actually 
discourage the unnecessary cut out.) 
  
  
Offensive Rebounding 
  
1. At Michigan State we believe the misses shot is our best defensive play. 
2. We tell our players to always assume the miss when the shot is taken either offensively or 
defensively. 
·         We tell our players to pursue the ball (Al Anagonye) 
·         Don’t go to a back­avoid contact 
·         Keep hands above the shoulders (don’t get arms pen down) 
·         IF you can’t get the rebound try to tip it to someone else or keep the ball alive­ get a hand 
on the ball or a finger­whatever­keep the ball alive­ we do a better job of this that nay team in the 
country (War Drill) 
  
  
I.                    Rebounding 
a.  Weight lifting is big part of rebounding 
b.  Send 4 to the boards 
            ­Guys are constantly going (gives your players mental edge, keeps them aggressive) 
             ­PG goes back to halfcourt 
              ­If you send 4 and they don’t get boardàyou lose (players must fight for every board) 
              ­Forces other teams to adjust 
c.  DRILL: 1 v 1 Rebounding—Block out drill 
              ­Coach throws ball at rim 
               ­Defense has to hit, find, and get the ball 
               ­No matter how much you block out the athlete will still get it 
1.  Because of this we hit, find, and get 
2.  Not waiting for ball to hit ground 
d.  DRILL: 2 v 2 Rebounding—Block out drill 
            ­Same drill as above except 2 defenders and 2 offensive players 
            ­Working on hit, find, and get 
            ­Make sure players go after ball with 2 hands 
1.  Grab ball above your head=good rebound 
2.  Get aggressive (practicing hit, find, and get) 
            ­Coaching offensive and defensive rebounding at the same time 
            ­Offensive rebounder tries to get even footing with the defender 
1.  Don’t just lean on defensive guy 
2.  Knock someone down 
e.  DRILL: 5 v 5 War 
            ­Can do as a game, fastbreak, etc. àmany variations to do it 
            ­No fouls­be aggressive 
            ­Defense starts under hoop, shot goes up they all find someone to hit, find, and get 
            ­Defense has got to make first contact outside the paint and then go get it 
1.  (don’t lunge at them, stay low & make contact) 
2.  Low man usually wins 
            ­Play to 3; defense gets it they become offense—if offense gets rebound put it in for 1 
point 
f.        SUMMARY:  Do those 3 drills religiously everyday (takes about 10 minutes) 
          ­Step in, hit them, and find ball immediately 
          ­Most basketball players don’t enjoy contact—tougher team usually wins 
          ­Go after ball instead of letting it come to you 
          ­Players should be grabbing board around rim height 
II.                  Pass Defense 
a.  Correlation between defense and rebounding 
                ­If you take away penetration, you get more boards because big guys don’t worry 
about helping as much 
b.  Izzo doesn’t usually front post (guards high ball side ¾) 
                 ­Once you front, takes away rebounding 
                 ­Keep elbow in backside (chicken wing)—elbow behind, arm in front 
c.  Man Philosophy 
                 ­Pressure ball 
                 ­1 pass away—1 big step off direct line of pass 
1.  Stops penetration 
2.  Benefits rebounding 
                 ­Always jump to ball 
                 ­1 hand always up on ball 
                 ­Deny post (chicken wing) 
     ­Move on the pass not on the catch! –Once ball leaves  person’s hands 
                 ­Weakside defenders: 2 feet in paint 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Zone Offense 

 
­Point Guard must offset after making pass. 
­When ball goes high post, guards get to deep corners. 
­It is ok to be unconventional. 
 
1­3­1 Series (Regular, Special, Double)