Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays

Sean Miller is an excellent coach, but not many coaches can attack any type of zone as well as his Arizona teams have in the past few years. Playing in the NCAA Tournament across multiple years against different teams Arizona has faced multiple styles of defense from 3-2 to 2-3 and 1-3-1 and the Wildcats have scored with success against all types.  You will like the Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays.

Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays: Zone Cross Lob – Against 2-3 Zone

This was by far the most popular set across the entire college basketball world over the last few years and one of the most effective. Starting with 3 guards out on the perimeter and both bigs low on the same side stacked in the short corner, different teams have run it with a pass to the wing first. Arizona just runs it straight with both wings cutting across inside the top 2 defenders and screening the inside of them. This pulls the center in the middle of the zone up, and then the 5 man screens the outside man so 1 can throw a lob to 4.

Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays: Stack Low – Against 2-3 Zone

Any good zone sets force the zone and specific defenders to make a decision on who to guard, and this set does exactly that. The goal of this set is to make x3 decide if he is going to take away the corner, stop the ball or defend inside when 4 cuts behind him. The point guard passes to the wing and then gets the ball back, attacking the outside shoulder of the opposite defender and getting into the gap between x1 and x3. As one attacks 4 cuts under the wing and screens the middle man in the bottom of the zone, and 5 cuts underneath to the ballside block looking for a pass. This play is pretty simple if you can read x3: if he goes to the corner then 5 will be open, if he comes on the point guard then the corner will be open, if he stays then all options are available.

Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays: Lob – Against a 2-3 or 3-2 Zone

Every good team needs a lob set against a zone, and Sean Miller’s go to starts with a little false motion to throw the defense off. 1 dribbles at 2 who shallow cuts and replaces him back on the wing, then the point guard passes to 3. As 1 dribbles over the 4 man cuts from the wing in towards the paint occupying the middle man in the zone and 5 cuts over the top across to the opposite short corner. The ball is then reversed from 3 to the point guard to the guard who shallow cut to opposite wing. While the ball is being reversed the 4 man cuts inside the middle of the paint dragging the middle man up, then the 5 man sets a backscreen on the opposite defender looking to get a lob for the 3 man.

Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays: Double Rip – Against a 1-3-1 Zone

Attacking a 1-3-1 zone can be hard to attack against, but Arizona attacks them with sets versus a typical 2-1-2 formation. This set is simple, the point guard dribble across over the top and the 3 and 4 men set a double cross screen on x4 and x5. At the same time 2 and 5 both cut across, with 2 cutting to the corner and the 5 sitting underneath looking for a layup.

Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays: Double Flare – Against 1-3-1 Zone

Another good set against a 1-3-1 zone after a quick ball reversal is to fake a 2-1-2 attack and then screen the opposite side of the zone. 3 inbounds to 2 who reverses the ball to 1 who then attacks the outside shoulder of the wide man on his side, and 4 slides down occupying the bottom man of the zone. As 1 attacks 5 cuts up and screens the backside of the top man x1 and the inbounder screens the oppsite wide man for 2 to get a shot

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Sean Miller Arizona Wildcats Zone Set Plays