Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense

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 Coaching Clinic Notes | Basketball Defenses

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January 20, 2014

Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense

1. Philosophy | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Be who you are and not someone else
– Coach what you need to and what you know

2. Vision | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Vision away from the ball is very important
– Vision adds to anticipation
– Vision leads to quickness
– See the ball and your person at all times.

3. Weakness of on the line, up the line. | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Easy to get beat off the dribble.
– Help is usually late.
– Long way to help in the post.
– Help and recover is hard.
– If you get beat on the baseline, it is hard to help.
– Weak side rebounding is harder for the sink person.

4. Gap Positioning | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense

– The paint is bottled up
– No help and recover. Only recover. The help is already there.
– You will be quicker closing out to the shooter.

5. Defensive Goals | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Pressure the ball and contest every shot
– Keep the ball out of the paint
– No second chance opportunities
– Do not foul unnecessarily.

6. Post Defense | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Marriage between post defense and ball pressure.
– You can’t front the post unless you have great ball pressure.
– Post defense is hand to hand combat. Do not fight the offense. Feel what they are giving you and use it. ¾ high, ¾ low, front
– If they step away from the block, do not try to front.
– If they try to push you under the basket. Fight to get around.
– Fight to get your top leg around and extend your arm.

7. 2 on 2 Gap Defensive Drill | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense

– Gap Help
– ½ court
– Offense must attack the gap and pitch
– Defense must be in the dribble gap and then recover on the pass.
– Force the dribbler to the help
– Make the defense call out ball and gap

8. Three Tears to your defense.
– Ball pressure
– Gap help
– Post help
– All together equals a great team defense.

9. 3 on 3 Close- Out Drill ( Coach in the post) | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense

– Offense stays in spots. They may pass the ball or take a two dribble attack to the gap.
– Defense works on positioning
– If they pass it into the post, everyone choke down. When the coach kicks it out, get into position.
– Play on the live call

10. 5 on 5 is an advantage for the defense
– If you have good help side defense, you are essentially playing 5 on 3.
– 1 on 1 up to 4 on 4 is an advantage to the offense

11. 4 on 4 Change drill | Jack Bennett Gap Man Defense
– Same as mine.

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes: