John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High Playbook by Wes Kosel

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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March 2, 2014

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High Playbook by Wes Kosel

Here are six 1-4 high plays from Kentucky coach John Calipari. The Wildcats are currently second in the SEC standings, and are 1 of only 2 teams in the conference with 20+ wins (Florida has 26). Kentucky’s offense has been strong this season. In the SEC, the Wildcats rank second in points per game, second in field goal percentage, and first in 3-point field goal percentage. Coach Cal does a great job of using plays that have more than one scoring option. Having multiple options helps against teams that have scouted your plays.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: 1 Up

5 steps up and sets a ball-screen for 1. 3 sets a cross screen for 2 who moves to the corner. If 2 isn’t open, 4 sets a screen for 5 who flares to the wing. 4 then down screens for 3.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: Across

1 dribbles toward the wing. 2 sets a diagonal up screen for 5 who cuts to the ball-side block. The first option is to pass to 5 at the basket. The second option is to pass to 2 cutting off of a down screen from 4. 4 can also get a shot at the elbow after screening for 2.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: Down

5 and 4 start on the wings, and screen in for 3 and 2. This can make the post defenders uncomfortable, and create open space for 2 and 3 on the wing. 1 dribbles toward the wing and passes to 2. 1 then makes a UCLA cut off of 4 to the ball-side block. 4 pops after screening and receives a pass from 2. 5 sets a down screen for 3 who cuts up for a shot.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: Double Down

1 passes to 3 on the wing, and then cuts through to the ball-side corner. After 1 clears, 5 pops out and receives a pass from 3. 5 then passes across to 4, and 5 and 3 move down to set a double screen for 1. 1 cuts up for a shot and 5 steps toward the basket after setting the screen.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: Point

1 passes to 2 on the wing then cuts to the ball-side block. 5 steps out as if screening for 3 then dives to the weak-side block. After screening, 4 steps out to receive the pass from 2. 2 then sets a down screen for 1 who pops to the wing.

John Calipari Kentucky 1-4 High: Post Play

1 passes to 4 at the elbow. 5 then screens across for 4, and 4 looks to drive to the basket. If 4 doesn’t have a shot, he looks to pass to 5 rolling to the basket or to 3 diving to the corner.

Wes Kosel is an assistant coach for men’s basketball under Head Coach Tommy Jones at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, TX. 2013-2014 marks the second year for Kosel at TLU. Prior to arriving at TLU, Kosel served as a student assistant coach under Head Coach Chad Killscrow at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, KS. Kosel has an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from the University of Kansas, and is pursuing a Master’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Houston. The Bartlesville, OK native is also a NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and teaches weight training and aerobic fitness courses at Texas Lutheran. He has coached AAU programs, volunteered with elementary and middle school basketball teams, and has worked basketball camps for various programs including the Houston Rockets, University of Houston, Texas State, and Texas A&M Corpus Christi

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Click on the pdf link to download the basketball plays: