Baylor Bears Defensive Philosophy Dissected: No Middle Defense

🔒Baylor Bears consistently close out with an inside hand and shade offensive players to their inside shoulder to force them away from the middle.

🔑The defense is focused on preventing paint touches, forcing opponents to drive baseline or take mid-range shots.

🔄Baylor uses ice ball screen coverage, with the on-ball defender jumping to the inside to force ball handlers baseline and the big coming over to trap.

👐Backside defenders play a crucial role by tagging or bumping the roll man on ball screens and closing out on perimeter shooters.

⚡️The X factors of the defense are relentless effort, creating 50/50 balls, and a willingness to take charges.

What is the main focus of Baylor's defensive philosophy?

—Baylor's defensive philosophy focuses on preventing opponents from driving to the middle and forcing them to take low-percentage shots or drive baseline.

How do Baylor players close out on offensive players?

—Baylor players consistently close out with an inside hand and shade offensive players to their inside shoulder to force them away from the middle.

What is the goal of Baylor's ice ball screen coverage?

—The goal of Baylor's ice ball screen coverage is to prevent ball handlers from coming off the screen and getting to the middle of the floor.

What role do backside defenders play in Baylor's defense?

—Backside defenders are responsible for tagging or bumping the roll man on ball screens and closing out on perimeter shooters.

What are the X factors of Baylor's defense?

—The X factors of Baylor's defense are relentless effort, creating 50/50 balls, and a willingness to take charges.

00:00Baylor Bears implement a no middle defense philosophy, focusing on closing out with an inside hand and shading offensive players to their inside shoulder.

02:59Baylor breaks the court into thirds, with the middle third known as the chest Zone, where defenders meet ball handlers with their chest and focus on not giving up direct driving lanes to the basket.

05:53Baylor uses ice ball screen coverage, with the on-ball defender jumping to the inside to force ball handlers baseline and the big coming over to trap.

07:39The X factors in Baylor's defense include relentless effort, the ability to create 50/50 balls, and a willingness to take charges.