Princeton Offense: 4 Components of the Basketball Strategy

Basketball coach Pete Carril developed the Princeton offense—a particular offensive strategy—in 1967. During his nearly thirty-year tenure as head coach of the Princeton University men’s basketball team, Carril used the Princeton offense to amass thirteen Ivy League championships and several trips to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.

The Princeton offense involves a wide spacing of the perimeter players around the three-point arc plus a high post player (also known as the pivot player) positioned near the free-throw line, also known as the top of the key. The high post player is an integral component to this offense. Their position near the free throw line can draw defenders away from the basket, thereby creating open space around the hoop for an easy backdoor cut—a type of maneuver by a player not in possession of the ball—or a layup, which can result in a score.

The Princeton offensive system is a fluid strategy that can allow a basketball team on offense to react to the actions of the set defense. In this way, it differs from many other half court set plays with strict rules and guidelines. Teams can adjust the main components of the Princeton offense to address man-to-man or zone defenses at any level of play, from high school to the National Basketball Association (NBA).

1. 1. Ball movement: The Princeton offense is also a motion offense strategy, involving the players passing the ball from one side of the floor to the other. This frequent passing and wide spacing of the guards and wings around the perimeter of the half court can exhaust the energy of the defense by requiring constant movement. The defensive team must operate a zone defense to rotate toward the ball side, which can leave the weak side vulnerable to a basket cut or an open three-point shot from the opposite corner.
   
2. 2. Pass and cut: The point guard initiates the play, but it begins to take shape once the high post player receives the ball in the “chin series” or “point series” position at the top of the key. A point guard can also begin the play with a bounce pass to the wing player, which will free up the passer to perform a “UCLA cut” toward the basket. A back screen from the high post can assist this type of maneuver.
3. 3. Dribble handoff: If the defensive team is playing an aggressive man-to-man defense, the offensive team’s ball handler can initiate the Princeton offense by a dribble handoff (DHO) to the wing player. The guard will dribble in the direction of the wing player and hand the ball off to their teammate outside the reach of the wing player’s defender. The guard can then stand their ground and create a down screen for the wing player so they can get around the defense.
4. 4. Screens: The Princeton playbook uses different screens (also called picks or blocks) to free players up for open dribble drives to the hoop or outside shots. The high post player can rotate to the top of the key to perform a flare screen or initiate a “pick and roll” ball screen with the ball-handling guard. The ball handler can utilize the space the screen provides to attack the hoop or pass out to open shooters.

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