Inside March Madness: Sweet Sixteen Xs & Os
Sets from KSU, UConn and FAU
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The madness picked up right where it left off on the first night of the Sweet 16. We had the tournament’s first overtime game, another dramatic finish, and more great Xs & Os!
Kansas State Wildcats’ Weave Chin Lob
The Wildcats started off the night with this exciting alley-oop play for Keyontae Johnson. (Side note: It was assist #1 (of 19 - a tournament record!) for March Madness’ darling, Markquis Nowell.)
Things start with a weave to shift the defense (Frame 1). The 5 moves towards the elbow when Johnson passes back to Nowell. It finishes with a back screen at the elbow for the lob over the top (Frame 2).
![[video-to-gif output image]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc24376de-0c73-4484-ace2-7a3cd8444b0f_600x338.gif "[video-to-gif output image]")
Kansas State Wildcat's’ Iverson Middle PnR
I’ve talked all tournament about the inventive ways teams are getting to a middle ball screen. This is yet another example of using creative pre-actions to finish with that PnR.
The 3 cuts over top of the 5 and 4. Then 4 moves over the top of 5 to the corner (Frame 1). 5 then sets a middle ball screen for 1. On the roll by 5, 2 lifts behind the drive for a kick back pass from 1 (Frame 2).
![[video-to-gif output image]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9cde03f8-cb04-4898-9b9e-b2229c3be9c3_600x338.gif "[video-to-gif output image]")
If you’re wanting more 4-high ideas, here’s a look at more sets out of the Wildcats’ series…
UConn Huskies Zipper Zoom
I love the dynamic nature of Dan Hurley’s set plays. With so much movement, the Huskies negate help defense as individual defenders are too busy chasing their matchups around the court. It’s very similar to a lot of European teams.
This set starts with two pin downs. Player 2 catches the ball off the zipper then immediately gets into zoom action with the 4 for a DHO to 3 (Frame 1). Player 4 moves to the opposite corner to set up for a possible shot while 5 comes to screen the ball. 1 moves under the screen to clear space and 3 drives to score, kick to 4, or drop it off to 5 (Frame 2).
![[video-to-gif output image]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fa6c11915-bb2a-4b73-a48f-200e9230640e_600x338.gif "[video-to-gif output image]")
FAU Owls’ Zoom Grenade
A big part of the Owls’ second-half comeback against the Vols was their ability to make 3’s down the stretch. Some of those 3’s came simply off great individual shot-making ability. A few were the result of some inventive sets, including this one.
It looks like a basic pin down for a shooter (Player 2). Instead, the pass goes to 5 (Frame 1). Player 1 comes back around to set a screen for the shooter who then takes a handoff from 5 (Frame 2).
![[video-to-gif output image]](https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb1a86be0-0c46-4d7c-a5d5-70b7d91fa1e3_600x338.gif "[video-to-gif output image]")
Follow along all March for looks inside the madness…