Brad Stevens Butler Bulldog Set Play by Adam Short

Written by Coach Peterman

I have coached at the NCAA Division 2 (Southwestern Oklahoma State University), NAIA (USAO), and JUCO Levels (Blinn College and Carl Albert State College) as well as high school. I just felt that fellow coaches especially young coaches need to constantly work on their “game”. Just like the basketball players that we coach. We as coaches need to improve ourselves. That is my story and why I do this blog.

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Basketball Coaching | Basketball Plays | Basketball Set Plays

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April 1, 2014

Brad Stevens Butler Bulldog Set Play by Adam Short

As I am sitting here watching Stanford play against Dayton, I can’t help but think of the many Cinderella’s teams of the tournament pasts. With me being an Indiana boy, Butler is the team that comes to my mind right away. Brad Stevens is considered a mastermind when it comes to X’s and O’s. The 2010-2011 Butler team ran this play all season that eventually led to a loss in the Championship game against Connecticut. That Brad Stevens Butler Bulldog Set Play is a basic screen the screener play that will either get you a shot at the basket/three point shot.

The Brad Stevens Butler Bulldog Set Play starts with 2 and 5 on the left block and 3 and 4 on the right block. 4 who will start under 3 will pop up to the right wing. 1 will hit 4. 2 will cut to the right corner. 5 will set a flare screen for 1. 4 has the option of hitting 1 coming off the flare screen; IF 1 is open, he will knock down the shot. IF 1 isn’t open from the flare screen, 5 will pop up to the top of the key. 4 will hit 5; 5 will swing the ball to 1. 3 will sprint up and set a back screen for 4. 1’s first look is 4 at the basket. IF 3’s defender helps on the back screen, 3 will be open for the three from the down screen from 5. You can run this play a few different ways. On the initial pass from 1 to 4, you can have 2 cut to the left corner instead of the right corner. This will take away the help side on the back screen/down screen look. Also, you can set the play up the same way where 2 cuts to the right corner. After 3 sets the back screen for 4, 3 and 5 can set a staggered screen for 2.

This Brad Stevens Butler Bulldog Set Play is a simple play where coaches can put different twists in it. I prefer the simple screen the screen action because it puts the defense at a disadvantage.

Adam Short begins his first year as an assistant men’s basketball coach at Cowley College. Short grew up in Indiana and was a First-Team All-Conference selection as a senior at Lake Central High School. He went on to attend Joliet (Ill) Junior College and helped the team to a NJCAA Division III national runner-up finish, while being named First-Team All-Conference and a two-time Region 4 Player of the Week. After Joliet, Short spent his final two years of college basketball playing at NAIA school Avila University in Kansas City, MO. At Avila, he scored more than 1,000 points in his career and earned all-conference honors each year at the school. He graduated from Avila in 2011 with a Bachelor’s degree in English with an emphasis in writing. Short then served as a graduate assistant coach with the Avila men’s basketball team from 2011-2013, and earned a Masters degree in Organizational Development in 2013. He also spent the past two years working with MoKan Nike Elite Youth Basketball League out of Kansas City, MO. His job duties consisted of coaching, scouting, and breaking down film.