Chris Holtmann's Special Situations
Incredible ATO specials and designs from Ohio State vs Texas Tech.
Even though I am currently traveling for THE GAME, I couldn’t help but get excited watching some of the Maui games but especially the Ohio State/Texas Tech matchup. Perhaps the hardest team in the country to prepare for in 3 games in 3 days setting, Texas Tech’s No-Middle sideline defense is designed to force the offense to the sideline and baseline and then aggressively keep it there with early help.
More film on this defense:
A full breakdown from my friend Jordan Sperber on Baylor’s defense articulates more on this subject:
With that knowledge on Texas Tech’s defense we can now appreciate how incredible Chris Holtmann and Ohio State’s after time out specials and designs were to attack them.
Designed Drive
The very first play of the game Ohio State designed action to punish this defense, with a clearout drive to the baseline starting out with an Iverson cut over the top.
As the player is cutting over the top, on the baseline the opposite block sneaks in to seal his man on the high side leaving the baseline drive open and no help low for the dunk.
They also went to this action again After Time Out late in the first half with the same baseline dunk result, and even though the last time was not executed properly it opened up a baseline drive for a pullup for Sueing.
BOB X vs Zone
Texas Tech plays a 1-3-1 Zone baseline out-of-bounds defense, a defense designed to force teams to shrink their playbook and make tougher plays.
Ohio State had 2 great After Time Out plays against this baseline out-of-bounds defense and the first one did a great job stretching out the defense and creating a wide-open layup. This play started out with all 4 players near the elbows and then 2 outside guards cutting to the corners to spread out the defense. Then the elbows cross or X out with the opposite elbow diving to the ballside.
The ballside elbow then dives in behind the player in the middle and since Ohio State’s best 3-point threat goes to the corner results in the weakside opposite going out toward him.
This opens up the easy layup with the defense reacting to the other threats.
BOB Lob
Another fantastic way that Ohio State stretched out the defense was sending a cutter on the frontside to the basket and continuing opposite taking the attention of the weakside defender.
By taking away the defender’s attention, the player in the middle screens the back of the middle of the 1-3-1 zone and opens up the lob to the rim. Incredible stuff.
Elbow
With Sueing having it going (he went for a career-high 33 points) they elected to get him the ball in the middle of the floor at the elbow - a key vs the Texas Tech scheme.
When he catches it there the wing sets a flare screen for the point guard and the big seals his man high looking for a potential high low. Although it was not there, all of this action allows space for the ISO and no help to come from the middle of the floor.
Roll Replace
Keeping with the theme of staying in the middle of the floor, Ohio State went to this roll-and-replace action several times throughout the game getting the deep seal here for the layup. Another way to not allow the brutal defense of Texas Tech to impact the game.
End of Game Full Court
My favorite part of the game was the After Time Out when Texas Tech was setting up their pressure at the end of the game and the score kept creeping closer. Here we see Texas Tech with a player on the ball and all players denying on the high side or the ballside - a key sign that a home run pass would be an option.
This initially forced Ohio State to call a timeout and then Holtmann setup this beautiful full-court fake screen and slip past the defense for the dunk.
The key here was the two players who were at half court cut hard to the ball drawing their man toward the inbounder and opening up the home run pass.
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An incredible After Time Out & Special Situations performance from Holtmann and the entire Ohio State staff and players executing all of these at a high level. I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving!
Outwork Yesterday
Coach Pyper
Hey Coach. Was wondering what software you use for recording/clipping your videos? I find it tedious clipping games that I'm watching on NBA.com. I screen record with OBS, then upload to Streamable.