Mike Brey Notre Dame Irish “Circle” by Adam Spinella

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 Set Plays

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December 21, 2014

Mike Brey Notre Dame Irish “Circle” by Adam Spinella

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a veteran squad that is finally healthy, and Mike Brey has them back in the Top 25. A lot of it has to do with their offense, averaging 85 points per game, good for 6th in the nation. Brey has combined a lot of sets for shooters like Connaughton at the 4, as well as guard-related sets that allow his combo guards of Demetrius Jackson and Jerian Grant to get somewhere off the bounce. For inspiration, Brey has instituted the “Circle” motion set, taken from the Portland Trail Blazers from last season.

notre dame irish

1 holds the ball up top, and 4 sets a down screen for 3 in the corner. 2 cuts along the baseline as 3 raises. 1 passes to 3, then cuts off a back screen from 5. This will be open frequently. If not, 2 is coming off a screen from 4 to the corner. This type of motion can continue: 3 can pass to 2, 1 can cut along the baseline and out, and 3 can come off a flare or a backscreen from 5.
The motion breaks when 5 decides to set a ball screen in the middle of the floor, and he rolls. 4 can then raise and replace.

Essentially this is a very simple play, with 4 and 5 acting as screeners and then reading the defense for a potential slip to the rim or a ball screen up top. The guards are coming off screens looking to score, and the motion always moves in the same direction, hence the name “Circle”.

Here is a video of the action being run by the Portland TrailBlazers. Check out the timing and movement they put into this play:

Here’s another 3 out 2 in motion offense play from Notre Dame and coach Brey.

Coach Adam Spinella is entering his first season as an Assistant Coach at Culver Academies in Culver, IN. Spinella spent the three years prior as a Student Assistant Coach at Division III Dickinson College. The Dickinson Men’s Team advanced to two NCAA Tournaments and accumulated an overall record of 59-26 (.694) during the three-year span, with the 2013-2014 season ending in the Division III Elite Eight. A native of Bow, New Hampshire, Spinella has a keen interest in X’s and O’s, particularly in professional basketball, and skill development.

notre dame irish

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