1-2-1-1 (2-2-1) thumbs up
 | 1 This fullcourt zone press traps off the dribble (thumbs up), unlike a regular 1-2-1-1 that traps off the pass (thumbs down), see Defence - 1-2-1-1 Basics, also 2-2-1 Basics. X4 pressures the ball out of bounds, on the inbounds pass he drops below ball level, and can push X3 back. X2-X4-X3-X1 form a box with the ball on the side. Option - X4 traps the inbounds pass if possible (thumbs down), otherwise drops back into thumbs up. Rick Pitino matchup press - 1-2-1-1 - start with pressure on the inbounds passer, looking for a steal, rotate into the 2-2-1 matchup on a completed inbounds pass. Option - if X4 can see an inbounds pass to 1 in the corner, he immediately traps, otherwise he rotates into his box position. Tubby Smith - X4 forces the inbounds pass away from the middle, then gets back to ball level, and X3 can back up. X2 pressures the ball, forces 1 to dribble, trap if he gets out of control. X1 mirrors the ball on ball reversal. Jim O'Brien - match-up press - X4 will immediately trap an inbounds pass to the coffin corner, otherwise he drops back below ball level. See Defences - 1-2-1-1 Kentucky (White), White and Black matchup (White), Florida matchup press, Tar Heels scramble. coachesclipboard.net - 1-2-1-1 press - one fist - immediately trap the first pass - two fist - wait until the first pass receiver puts the ball on the floor and starts the dribble, then trap - side fist - trap the ballhandler along the sideline in the backcourt or frontcourt. Doug Porter - Stay press - the initial trap is delayed, the defender pressuring the inbounds pass looks to trap near a sideline as the ball nears midcourt. Pitino - change your presses, e.g., match-up on a jump shot, 1-2-1-1 on a shot inside the paint, halfcourt trap on a 3-point shot. Also change the press if you knock the ball out of bounds (dead-ball situation). |
 | 2 Variation - start in a 2-2-1 set with the ball out of bounds.If 3 cuts up the weakside sideline to halfcourt, X3 shifts out to cover a skip pass. |
 | 3 X2 pressures the ball straight up, X2 and X4 double team if 1 drives up the middle, X1 and X3 are interceptors, X5 is the safety. If 1 blows by, X2 and X4 sprint to back tip, other defenders retreat (you will get steals from behind). Pitino - on the inbounds pass, X2 plays 1 straight up and close, encouraging the dribble. Any attempt to dribble middle is immediately trapped by X2 and X4, if 1 gets by the defenders, the ball must be tipped from the rear. Dean Smith (2-2-1) - on a slow dribble, X4 would give ground then sprint to double-team, surprising the ballhandler. Walberg - ball pressure is key, make the ballhandler put it on the floor (an attack dribble), they don't care which way you force, X4 always turn into a trapper. If you run the defence right, you will get more steals from behind (back tipping) than from traps. O'Brien - the ballhandler is pressured hard, don't force sideline, a speed dribble triggers a trap with the nearest defender in the direction of the dribble (don't trap a dribbler who is under control). Billy Donovan - on the inbounds pass, apply pressure, play the ball head up, not forcing side or middle. Jim Calhoun - if 1 gets to the middle on the dribble, X2 tries to back-tip from behind, X4 tries to slow him down, the other defenders retreat. See Defence - 2-2-1 UConn. |
 | 4 X1 and X2 trap if 1 drives up the sideline, X4 and X5 are interceptors (X4 covers middle, X5 rotates to cover the sideline, the obvious pass), X3 protects the basket. If 1 spin dribbles, X4 reads it and attacks from behind. Variation - X3 covers the sideline, see Defences - Billy Tubbs fullcourt zone, 2-2-1 Hubie Brown, also White and Black matchup press. Pitino - X4 reads any spin dribble and attacks from behind. Any uncontrolled sideline dribble is trapped aggressively by X2 and X1, X5 rotates ballside, X3 guards long. When a trap is made, rotate over to fill the position vacated. No traps unless the man is in a speed dribble. Options - trap again on a pass up the sideline to 2 - trap if 1 dribbles or passes up the sideline. Greg Kampe - trap if the ball is dribbled or passed into a sideline trap box. See Defence - 2-2-1 Basics, |
 | 5 Bruce Pearl - interceptors X4 and X5 are guarding three attackers, they read the passer to position themselves. Donovan - X4 may be able to steal a pass back to 4, but don't give 3 the middle of the floor. O'Brien - X4 is the key defender, he takes away a pass to the middle, the only pass not denied is backwards, all defenders are below ball level. Walberg - X4 looks to pick off a reversal pass if the trailer leaks up the middle, but can't get to it if 4 stays way back. Pitino - X4 plays the middle for two seconds then gambles back for reversal. When a trap is made, rotate over to fill the position vacated. Calhoun - protect middle and strongside, leave open a skip pass, X4 looks for the nearest defender to take away, it could be 4. |
 | 6 Pitino - if 1 dribbles middle (laterally), X2 stays with him, go from a box to a diamond, if 1 continues to dribble to the sideline, X2 stays with him, get back into a box. |
 | 7 If 1 passes to 4, get back into a 1-2-1-1. Pitino - X1-X2-X2-X4 form a diamond when the ball is rotated to the middle. Fran Fraschilla - look for UConn to go back to the 2-2-1 look it had before the ball was inbounded. |
 | 8 Trap if 4 drives the ball.Tubby Smith - pressure the ball, make 4 put it on the floor, get him out of control. Donovan - if the inbounder can handle the ball they will trap him, if the big is shaky, they want him to dribble and make a play at speed. Pitino - if the inbounder is the other team's center (their 5), the diamond moves back and plays the passing lanes, otherwise the inbounder is pressured, encouraging an uncontrolled dribble. |
 | 9 If instead 4 passes to 3, form another box, X1 has sideline coverage (but may pause to protect middle until bumped by X2). Pitino - a box is once again formed, X3 pressures the ball, X4 helps middle, X1 once again rotates to the sideline and X2 covers mid-court middle. Tubby Smith - on ball reversal, X1 mirrors the ball. If the ball is reversed with only one pass, the box just shifts from one side to the other, see Defences - 2-2-1 Mann, 2-2-1 UConn, 2-2-1 Basics. |
 | 10 Trap if 3 drives middle or up the sideline.X4 can trap if 3 turns his back. Tubby Smith - X1 does not come up to trap unless 3 is out of control. X3 does not guide 3 one way or the other, play him head up, make him put it on the floor. X4 traps if 3 turns his back.  |
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