Basketball Set Plays vs Man-to-Man: 14 Sets Drawn Step by Step

These basketball set plays vs man-to-man come from several looks. Four start from horns, one from the box, one from a wide box and one from 3-out 2-in, and the other seven have no single named look. Each one is a short chain of screens and cuts: down screens, back screens, cross screens, ball screens and handoffs. This page draws 14 sets, each with its type, its action and every diagram frame in order.

For the principles behind attacking man-to-man, see how to beat man to man defense. For how to call and practice sets like these, see basketball quick hitters. For every kind of set, start at basketball plays.

How to Read These Man-to-Man Set Diagrams

Each set is drawn frame by frame, and the line under each diagram says who moves and where. The basket is at the bottom of every diagram. Sides are named as a player sees them facing the basket, so the left wing is on the right side of the picture. A solid arrow is a cut, a dashed arrow is a pass, a wavy line is a dribble and a line ending in a short bar is a screen. The diagram guide covers every symbol.

Split

Type: Quick hitter | Look: horns | Against: man

1 passes to 5 and screens for 2. 4 down screens for 3. 5 hands it to 2 and then screens. 2 drives the middle and hits 3 on the roll, or swings it to 4.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 5 and screens for 2, who comes up to the wing. 4 down screens for 3, who comes up to the slot. 5 passes to 2.

Frame 2. 5 ball screens for 2, then rolls to the rim. 2 drives middle and hits 3, who looks for 5 rolling or swings it to 4. 1 clears toward the sideline.

3 curl

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

1 passes to 3 and cuts deep. 3 looks for the lob to 2, then looks inside. 3 then down screens for 1. To finish, 5 ball screens for 3.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles to the wing and hits 3, who comes out from under the basket between 2 and 5. 1 cuts to the deep corner. 4 stays.

Frame 2. 2 curls down around 5 and cuts to the basket. 3 looks to lob it to him.

Frame 3. 3 passes to 5 in the post, then down screens for 1 and goes to the baseline. 1 comes up off the screen. 2 spaces out to the corner. 4 stays.

Frame 4. 5 passes out to 1 and goes to set a ball screen for him. 2 and 4 interchange. 3 stays on the baseline.

Frame 5. 3 comes off 5's ball screen looking to score. He can pass to 1 on the baseline or kick out to 2 or 4.

Ball Screen Play 15

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

4 down screens for 3, and 3 pops to the wing. 1 passes to 3, then down screens for 5. 5 comes up and ball screens for 3, and 3 attacks.

Frame 1. 4 sets a down screen for 3, who pops up to the wing. 1 passes to 3 and sets a down screen for 5. 2 cuts along the baseline to the far corner.

Frame 2. 1 has down screened for 5, who sets a ball screen for 3. 3 attacks the basket off it. 1 pops out to the corner and 4 pops out to the wing.

Frame 3. 3 passes to 5.

Ball Screen Play 8

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

4 down screens for 3 coming to the top of the key. 1 hits 3 and down screens for 5. 5 ball screens for 3 and rolls while 4 pops.

Frame 1. 4 sets a down screen for 3, who cuts up to the guard spot. 1 passes to 3, sets a down screen for 5 and pops out to the wing. 5 comes up to set a ball screen for 3.

Frame 2. 5 sets a ball screen for 3 and rolls to the rim. 3 attacks the rim off the screen. 4 pops out to the wing.

Elbow Flip Rip STS

Type: Quick hitter | Look: box | Against: man

4 passes to 5 at the lane line, and 5 flips it back. 3 rip screens for 5, and 5 goes to the block. 2 sets the ball screen, then down screens for 3 coming to the top of the key.

Frame 1. 4 passes to 5 at the lane line extended, and 5 flips it back to 4 as he runs by. 1 clears to the corner.

Frame 2. 3 sets a rip screen for 5 to cut to the block as 2 sets a ball screen for 4. 4 dribbles off it. 2 then down screens for 3, who cuts to the top of the key to catch and attack.

Flex Set Play

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

4 down screens for 2, who comes to the top of the key. 1 hits 5 and cuts to the block. 1 then cross screens for 3. Next, 5 down screens for 3 to bring him up to the top of the key.

Frame 1. 4 sets a down screen for 2, who cuts up to the guard spot. 1 hits 5 and cuts to the low block.

Frame 2. 1 sets a cross screen for 3, then 5 sets a down screen for 3. 3 cuts up to the guard spot and 5 passes to 2.

Hoover

Type: Quick hitter | For: quick basket

5 cuts across the lane. 1 passes to 2 and screens. 4 sets a stagger for 2. 3 back screens for 1, and 5 hits 1 for the layup.

Frame 1. 5 cuts across the lane to the low post on the far side. 2 drops down the sideline.

Frame 2. 1 passes to 2 and sets a screen for him. 4 comes up to set a second screen, a stagger for 2. 3 cuts into the lane and 5 slides toward the corner.

Frame 3. 2 dribbles over the two screens and passes to 5 on the wing. 3 back screens for 1, who cuts to the rim. 5 passes to 1 for the layup.

Thru 1

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

1 passes to 2 and cuts to the wing. 4 pops to the top of the key. 3 cuts low. 3 back screens for 5, and 5 cuts low. Then 4 down screens for 3 coming to the top of the key.

Frame 1. 1 hits 2 and cuts through the lane to the wing. 4 pops to the top of the key, and 3 goes to the low block.

Frame 2. 3 back screens for 5, who cuts to the low block. 2 passes to 4 and 4 passes to 1.

Frame 3. 4 screens down for 3, who comes up to the top of the key. 1 hits 3.

Winner with Wrinkle

Type: Quick hitter | Look: wide box | Against: man

4 sets a ball screen at the elbow, and 1 bends away from it. 1 passes to 4 as 4 breaks out. 3 screens for 5 in the lane, and 2 up screens for 5. 5 gets choices off a baseline screen and a flare screen.

Frame 1. Wide box. 4 sets an elbow ball screen. 1 does not use it and bends the ball the other way to the wing.

Frame 2. 2 up screens for 5, who cuts to the post. 4 circles above the top of the key. 3 walks along the baseline. 1 looks to 5 in the post.

Frame 3. 1 passes to 4. 2 holds, then breaks out to catch the ball from 4. 3 screens for 5 in the lane, and 5 cuts across the baseline.

Frame 4. 2 looks to 5 off the baseline screen from 3. 4 uses 1's flare screen and curls to the wing. 2 has three options as a passer, 5, 4, or 1 slipping after his screen.

43

Type: Quick hitter | Look: 3-out 2-in | Against: man

1 passes to 2. 5 screens for 4, and 4 back screens for 3. 5 flashes high, and 3 cuts back to the rim.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 2. 5 screens for 4, who runs over the top and back screens for 3 on the far wing. After screening, 5 flashes to the high post for 2's pass.

Frame 2. 3 back cuts off 4's screen to the rim for the pass from 5. 2 moves to the corner, and 5 can pass to him there.

BYU Double Post

Type: Quick hitter | Against: man

1 swings it to the trailer. 4 swings it on to 3, and as 4 cuts, 1 slides to the slot. 5 and 2 set a double screen for 4 while 1 dribbles to the wing to feed 4.

Frame 1. 1 dribbles up and reverses the ball to 4, the trailer at the top of the key. 4 reverses it to 3 and starts his cut. 5 steps up the lane and 2 drops in.

Frame 2. On 4's cut, 1 slides up to the slot for 3's pass. 5 and 2 screen 4 into the post, and 1 dribbles to the wing to feed him.

Cross Up

Type: Quick hitter | Look: horns | Against: man

5 down screens for 3, and 3 cuts back to the rim. 4 dives. 5 shows a target. Then 5 cross screens for 4 to the high post, and 4 feeds 3 high-low.

Frame 1. 5 sets a down screen for 3, who back cuts to the block, and 4 dives into the post. 5 shows a target for 1's pass, and 1 clears out to the wing.

Frame 2. 3 cross screens for 4, who cuts to the high post for 5's pass.

Frame 3. 4 looks to 3 sealing inside for the high-low feed.

Horns (Coach Mac)

Type: Quick hitter | Look: horns | Against: man

4 pops to catch the pass. 1 cuts around 5's screen. 1 then back screens for 3, and 3 cuts to the rim. 4 down screens for 1, and 1 comes off for the shot.

Frame 1. 1 passes to 4, who pops out. 1 cuts around 5's screen into the lane looking for the ball. If 1 is not open, he goes on to back screen for 3.

Frame 2. 4 passes to 5, who has popped out. 3 uses 1's back screen and cuts to the hoop. 5 looks for 3 cutting to the basket.

Frame 3. 4 screens down for 1, then opens up to the ball. 1 comes off looking for 5's pass and the shot. 5 can also pass to 4 for the layup or the deep post up.

Horns 5 Iso

Type: Quick hitter | Look: horns | Against: man

The ball goes to 5 at the elbow. The rest clear out. The ball swings to 1. 2 sets a shuffle screen for 5 to get to the block and go one on one. 4 down screens for 2, and 2 pops for three.

Frame 1. 1 enters to 5 at the elbow, then sets a pin down for 4, who pops to the key for 5's pass, then 1 goes out to the wing. 2 cross screens for 3, who runs the baseline to the other side.

Frame 2. 4 reverses the ball to 1 on the wing. 2 shuffle screens for 5, who cuts to the block to isolate. 4 down screens for 2, who pops to the key looking for a three.

The 1-4 high sets against man-to-man have their own page, 1-4 high basketball plays. Horns is covered on its own in horns sets, the screens are taught in basketball screens, and the ball screen reads are in pick and roll. The flex cut in Flex Set Play is drawn in flex basketball plays. More offense guides are under the Offense hub.

More Set Pages

• 1-4 High Basketball Plays: 19 Sets vs Man-to-Man
• Basketball Set Plays vs Zone: 14 Sets for the 2-3 and More
• BLOB Set Plays: 7 Baseline Out of Bounds Sets, Box and Corner
• After Timeout and Continuity Sets: 4 Plays Drawn Step by Step

Back to Basketball Plays and every Offense page.

Keep Building

Related breakdowns

Offense

After Timeout and Continuity Sets: 4 Plays Drawn Step by Step

After timeout and continuity sets: two ATO plays, the Princeton Pearl Counter and the 2-3 low offense, each drawn frame by frame with where every player goes.

Offense

Basketball Set Plays vs Zone: 14 Sets for the 2-3 and More

Basketball set plays vs zone: 14 sets from the high-low stack, 1-4, box, 3-out 2-in and 4-out 1-in, each drawn frame by frame with where every player goes.

Offense

1-4 High Basketball Plays: 19 Sets vs Man-to-Man

1-4 high basketball plays against man-to-man: 19 sets from the 1-4 high and the 1-4 high stack, each drawn frame by frame with where every player goes.