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Johnny Tauer's 6 Principles for More Efficient Basketball Offense

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Coach Tony Miller
Jul 01, 2026
∙ Paid

Since completing their transition to Division I, Coach Johnny Tauer’s St. Thomas Tommies have built one of the most uniquely efficient offenses in college basketball, routinely hovering around the top 10 nationally in offensive rating. What makes their system so effective is a disciplined approach to shot selection—leading the country in 2-point field goal percentage while simultaneously ranking top 15 in turnover margin. The Tommies maximize points per possession (PPP) by playing fast without playing reckless. To help you build in your team that same level of efficiency, here are Coach Tauer's 6 foundational principles for offense.


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This month, if you sign up for A Quick Timeout+ annual subscription ($45/yr), I’ll send you the on-court coaching clinic, 5-Out and Princeton Offense with Furman’s Coach Bob Richey. In it, Coach Richey shares sets and actions within the Paladins' offense from Furman's championship season.


Coach Tauer’s 6 Principles for Offense

1) Sprint the Floor

  • Stretch the defense for easy buckets.

  • Get the behind the defense.

  • Hunt number advantages.

  • Put immediate pressure on the defense as we get into the halfcourt.

2) Spacing & Play Advantage Basketball

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