Gonzaga basketball plays in this collection are quick hitters for the flex offense. There are eleven named entries, and each one runs out of the break or a half-court start and drops straight into the flex, so the team never stops to set up. This page draws 11 of them across 52 frames. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go.
Gonzaga Basketball Plays at a Glance
The collection is titled as twelve quick hitters but has eleven headed plays. Crackdown and its BIG version share one heading. Three plays come off the break, three start from the same 1-4 alignment, and three start with the same drag dribble by 1.
| Play | Family | Frames | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular Break Set | Entries Off the Break | 5 | The normal secondary break, reversed for a post feed, then a back pick that leads into the flex. |
| Double Down | Entries Off the Break | 3 | The same break reversal, then two screeners come down for 2, who takes a jumper or curls. |
| 90 | Entries Off the Break | 6 | A wing entry off the break with a back pick, a cross screen in the post and a down screen, then the flex cut. |
| Crackdown | Crackdown and BIG From a Box | 3 | A box set with the wings low and the bigs at the elbows. The bigs screen down for the wings, the ball goes to a wing and the best big gets a post look before the flex. The same play with the posts starting low is called BIG. |
| 1-4 Post Entry | Three Entries From 1-4 | 6 | The ball goes into the post at the elbow, the wing cuts backdoor, the guard goes around, and a staggered screen frees 2 before the flex. |
| 1-4 Wing Entry | Three Entries From 1-4 | 5 | A wing entry with a back pick for a lob, a down screen, a cross screen in the post, and a screen for the screener. |
| 1-4 High | Three Entries From 1-4 | 5 | Two stacks at the elbows. 1 uses a ball screen, 2 back-picks for 5, and the ball reverses into the flex. |
| High Stack | High Stack | 6 | A stacked double ball screen at the top of the key, a back pick for 5, then the flex from either side. |
| Slice | The Drag Dribble Entries | 5 | A drag dribble, a back pick for 4, then 5 screens the screener and the ball reverses into the flex. |
| UMASS | The Drag Dribble Entries | 2 | The shortest of the drag dribble plays: two down screens and a reversal for a shot. |
| Box Play | The Drag Dribble Entries | 6 | A drag dribble, a cross screen for a post feed, a staggered screen for 2, then a dribble reversal into the flex. |
How to Read These Diagrams
Every play is drawn frame by frame, one diagram for each frame of the original, and the text under each diagram says where every player starts and where he goes. The basket is at the bottom of each 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 the symbols in full. No offensive player starts a frame standing in the lane. Where a source frame had someone there, he is drawn on the nearest lane line or block.
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Entries Off the Break
Regular Break Set
The normal secondary break, reversed for a post feed, then a back pick that leads into the flex.
Frame 1. The break fills the floor. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 trails into the left slot, 3 runs the left wing, 2 runs the right wing and 5 sprints to the right block. Look for a score right off the break.
Frame 2. 1 passes to 4 and 4 swings it to 3 on the left wing. 5 crosses the lane from the right block to the left block for a post feed, and 2 cuts down from the right wing to the right block.
Frame 3. 2 comes up from the right block and back-picks for 4 in the left slot. 4 cuts off the pick to the rim for a lob from 3, and 2 is open for a shot if the lob is not there. 1 moves from the right slot to the right wing and 5 holds the left block.
Frame 4. 3 passes back to 2 at the top of the key and 2 dribbles toward the right slot. 4, who finished his cut on the right block, looks to duck in. 5 steps up the left lane line and 1 drops from the right wing to the right corner.
Frame 5. 2 passes to 5, who has stepped out to the left slot, and 3 drops from the left wing to the left corner. 4 screens on the right block and 1 runs off him from the right corner into the lane. The team is now in the flex.
Double Down
The same break reversal, then two screeners come down for 2, who takes a jumper or curls.
Frame 1. 1 passes from the right slot to 4 in the left slot, and 4 passes to 3 on the left wing. 5 crosses from the right block to the left block for a post feed, and 2 cuts from the right wing in to the right block.
Frame 2. 4 comes down from the left slot and 1 comes down from the right slot, and both screen for 2 on the right block. 2 runs up off the two screens to the top of the key for a jumper, or curls if his defender trails. 3 passes to him from the left wing and 5 holds the left block.
Frame 3. 4 steps out from the right elbow to the right slot and 2 passes to him. 1 goes from the right side of the lane to the right corner, 3 drops from the left wing to the left corner, and 5 stays on the left block. The team flows into the flex.
90
A wing entry off the break with a back pick, a cross screen in the post and a down screen, then the flex cut.
Frame 1. 1 passes from the right slot to 2 on the right wing. 4 comes over from the left slot and back-picks for 1, and 1 cuts off the pick to the rim for a lob. 3 stays on the left wing and 5 on the right block.
Frame 2. 4 steps out to the top of the key and 2 passes to him. 3 screens down for 1, who came through to the left block, and 1 comes out to the left wing. 5 holds the right block.
Frame 3. 4 passes to 1 on the left wing. 3 cross-screens from the left block for 5, and 5 runs under him from the right block to the left block for the post feed. 2 stays on the right wing.
Frame 4. 4 screens down from the top of the key for 3, who is on the right block after his cross screen. 3 comes up off the screen to the top for a jumper and 1 passes to him from the left wing. 5 holds the left block and 2 the right wing.
Frame 5. 3 dribbles from the top of the key to the left slot. 4 steps up the right side from the block, 1 drops from the left wing to the left corner, 2 drops from the right wing to the right corner, and 5 holds the left block.
Frame 6. 3 passes from the left slot to 4 in the right slot. 5 sets the flex screen on the left block, and 1 runs off it from the left corner across the lane. 2 waits in the right corner.
Crackdown and BIG From a Box
Crackdown
A box set with the wings low and the bigs at the elbows. The bigs screen down for the wings, the ball goes to a wing and the best big gets a post look before the flex. The same play with the posts starting low is called BIG.
Frame 1. Box set: 4 at the left elbow, 5 at the right elbow, 3 on the left block, 2 on the right block, 1 with the ball in the right slot. 4 screens down for 3 and 3 pops to the left wing. 5 screens down for 2 and 2 pops to the right wing, where 1 hits him.
Frame 2. 2 has the ball on the right wing and 1 is in the right slot. 3 cuts from the left wing across the lane toward the right block, looking for the ball low. 4 comes out from his screen to fill the left wing and 5 slides out to the right corner.
Frame 3. 2 dribbles up from the right wing toward the top. 1 goes over and screens for 4 on the left wing, and 4 comes off it up to the left slot, where 2 passes to him. 3 stays on the right block and 5 in the right corner. The team goes into the flex.
Three Entries From 1-4
1-4 Post Entry
The ball goes into the post at the elbow, the wing cuts backdoor, the guard goes around, and a staggered screen frees 2 before the flex.
Frame 1. Start with 4 and 5 at the elbows, 3 and 2 on the blocks and 1 at the top of the key. 3 pops out to the left wing and 2 to the right wing. 1 dribbles toward the right slot and passes into 5 at the right elbow. 4 stays at the left elbow.
Frame 2. 5 holds the ball at the right elbow. 2 cuts backdoor from the right wing to the right block. 1 runs around 5 to the right side for the ball. 3 stays on the left wing and 4 at the left elbow.
Frame 3. 1 has the ball and dribbles out to the right wing. 5 pops from the right elbow to the right slot. 2 runs along the baseline from the right block to the left side. 4 comes down the left lane line and 3 comes in from the left wing, and they set a staggered screen for 2.
Frame 4. 1 passes from the right wing to 5 in the right slot. 2 comes up off the staggered screens of 4 and 3 on the left lane line and out to the left wing.
Frame 5. 2 has the ball in the left slot. 3 goes to the left corner and 4 drops to the left block. 5 screens for 1 on the right side, and 1 comes up off it to the right slot.
Frame 6. 2 passes to 1. 4 sets the flex screen on the left block and 3 runs off it from the left corner into the lane. 5 clears to the right corner.
1-4 Wing Entry
A wing entry with a back pick for a lob, a down screen, a cross screen in the post, and a screen for the screener.
Frame 1. From the same start, 3 pops to the left wing and 2 to the right wing, and 1 passes to 2. 4 steps up from the left elbow to screen for 1, and 5 drops from the right elbow to the right block.
Frame 2. 4 back-picks for 1 at the top of the key and 1 cuts off it to the rim for a possible lob from 2 on the right wing. 3 holds the left wing and 5 the right block.
Frame 3. 4 steps out to the top of the key and 2 passes to him. 3 screens down for 1, who finished his cut on the left block, and 1 comes out to the left wing. 5 holds the right block.
Frame 4. 4 passes to 1 on the left wing. 3 cross-screens from the left block for 5, and 5 runs under him from the right block to the left block for the post feed. 2 stays on the right wing.
Frame 5. 4 screens down from the top of the key for 3, who set the cross screen, and 3 comes up to the top for a shot. 1 passes to him from the left wing. 5 holds the left block and 2 the right wing.
1-4 High
Two stacks at the elbows. 1 uses a ball screen, 2 back-picks for 5, and the ball reverses into the flex.
Frame 1. Stacks at both elbows: 3 with 4 above him on the left, 2 with 5 above him on the right. 5 steps up and ball-screens for 1 at the top of the key, and 1 dribbles off it toward the right wing, looking to turn the corner.
Frame 2. 1 has the ball on the right wing. 2 back-picks for 5, the screener, and 5 cuts down the lane to the right block looking for the ball low. 3 pops from the left elbow out to the left wing and 4 stays high on the left.
Frame 3. After his back pick for 5, 2 pops to the right slot and 1 passes to him from the right wing for a shot. 5 is on the right block, 3 on the left wing, and 4 moves over to screen for 3.
Frame 4. 4 screens for 3 on the left wing and 3 comes off it to the left slot, where 2 passes to him. 1 drops from the right wing to the right corner and 5 holds the right block.
Frame 5. 3 has the ball in the left slot and 2 is in the right slot. 5 sets the flex screen on the right block and 1 runs off it from the right corner into the lane. 4 drops from the left wing to the left corner.
High Stack
High Stack
A stacked double ball screen at the top of the key, a back pick for 5, then the flex from either side.
Frame 1. 3 and 5 stack at the top of the key, 3 on the free-throw line and 5 just above him. 1 dribbles from the left slot off both screens toward the right, looking to turn the corner. 4 waits in the left corner and 2 in the right corner.
Frame 2. 1 keeps his dribble toward the right wing. 3 back-picks for 5 and 5 cuts down the lane for an inside pass. 4 and 2 hold the corners.
Frame 3. 3 pops from the free-throw line to the top of the key and 1 passes to him from the right wing for a shot. 5 is on the right block and 4 and 2 hold the corners.
Frame 4. 3 has the ball in the left slot. 5 sets the flex screen on the right block and 2 runs off it from the right corner into the lane. 1 moves from the right wing to the right slot and 4 holds the left corner.
Frame 5. The other option. As the ball goes to 3 in the left slot, 5 crosses the lane from the right block to the left block looking for a post feed. 1 screens for 2 on the right side and 2 comes up off it to the right slot. 4 holds the left corner.
Frame 6. 3 passes to 2 in the right slot. 5 sets the flex screen on the left block and 4 runs off it from the left corner into the lane. 1 goes to the right corner. Running the flex cut from this side is the better choice.
The Drag Dribble Entries
Slice
A drag dribble, a back pick for 4, then 5 screens the screener and the ball reverses into the flex.
Frame 1. Box start: 3 on the left block, 2 on the right block, 4 high on the left and 5 high on the right, 1 at the top. 1 drag-dribbles to the right wing. 2 comes up from the right block and back-picks for 4, and 4 cuts off it down the lane to the right block for a pass from 1. 3 holds the left block.
Frame 2. 5 screens the screener: he picks for 2, who just set the back pick. 5 gets high for a good screening angle and 2 comes off to the right slot. 1 holds the ball on the right wing, 4 is on the right block and 3 on the left block.
Frame 3. 1 passes to 2 in the right slot for a shot. 5 moves over to screen down for 3 on the left side and 4 holds the right block.
Frame 4. 3 comes off 5's screen up to the left slot and 2 passes to him. 1 drops from the right wing to the right corner and 4 holds the right block.
Frame 5. 3 has the ball in the left slot and 2 is in the right slot. 4 sets the flex screen on the right block and 1 runs off it from the right corner into the lane. 5 drops from the left wing to the left corner.
UMASS
The shortest of the drag dribble plays: two down screens and a reversal for a shot.
Frame 1. Box start again. 1 drag-dribbles to the right wing. 4 and 5 screen down from high on each side of the lane, and 2 comes off the right block up the middle between them to the free-throw line. 3 holds the left block.
Frame 2. 2 steps out from the free-throw line to the right slot and 1 passes to him from the right wing for a shot. 4 and 5 hold their screens on the lane lines and 3 holds the left block. The source draws one more step in words only: reverse the ball, and 2 looks for the shot.
Box Play
A drag dribble, a cross screen for a post feed, a staggered screen for 2, then a dribble reversal into the flex.
Frame 1. Box start. 1 drag-dribbles to the right wing. 2 cross-screens from the right block for 3, and 3 runs under him to the right block for the post feed. 4 comes down the left lane line to start the stagger, and 5 stays high on the right.
Frame 2. 2 comes up the left side off a staggered screen: 4 on the left lane line first, then 5, who came over from the right side. 2 finishes at the top of the key. 3 holds the right block and 1 the ball on the right wing.
Frame 3. 1 passes to 2 at the top of the key for a shot. 4 goes from the left block area to the left corner, 5 drops to the left block, and 3 slides from the right block to the right short corner.
Frame 4. 2 reverses the ball with a dribble toward the left slot. 5 ducks in from the left block and 2 looks for him. 1 screens for 3 on the right side and 3 comes off it to the right slot. 4 holds the left corner.
Frame 5. 2 passes from the left slot to 3 in the right slot. 1 goes to the right corner, 5 holds the left block and 4 the left corner.
Frame 6. 3 has the ball in the right slot and 2 is in the left slot. 5 sets the flex screen on the left block and 4 runs off it from the left corner into the lane. 1 waits in the right corner.
Ideas That Repeat
- The break flows straight into the flex, with no stop to set up the half-court offense.
- Crackdown is the simplest entry and the one the team ran the most.
- Back picks and cross screens repeat across the entries, and they produce the lobs, post feeds and shots.
- Each entry gives two to four looks before it reaches the flex cut.
- Screen the screener finishes Slice and the 1-4 Wing Entry.
- One drag dribble starts Slice, UMASS and Box Play.
The flex these entries flow into is drawn in how to coach the flex offense, and flex basketball plays compares this list with the special plays other flex teams carry. The screening technique is in basketball screens and down screen basketball, and the break they start from is in early offense. For calling sets from the bench, see how to run quick hitters. Gonzaga is one of four programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Install one entry at a time and rep it into the flex until the flow is automatic.
Questions Coaches Ask About Gonzaga Basketball Plays
How many flex quick hitters are in the Gonzaga collection?
Eleven headed plays, under a title that says twelve. Crackdown and its BIG version share one heading.
What is Crackdown in basketball?
A box set entry. The bigs at the elbows screen down for the wings, the ball goes to a wing, a wing cuts to the basket for a post look, and the ball is switched to the other side into the flex. BIG is the same play with the posts starting low.
Which Gonzaga entries come off the fast break?
Regular Break Set, Double Down and 90.
What starts Slice, UMASS and Box Play?
The same drag dribble to the right wing by 1.
Where is the flex offense itself explained?
In how to coach the flex offense, which draws the flex cut, the down screen and the counters.
School profile: Gonzaga Bulldogs on College Basketball Recruit.
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See what OBP Pro includesMore College Basketball Plays
- College Basketball Plays: Sets and Systems by Program
- Butler Basketball Plays: Brad Stevens Ball Screen Sets
- Kansas Basketball Plays: Bill Self 2-3 Zone Offense
- Michigan State Basketball Plays: Tom Izzo Sets
Back to College Basketball Plays and every Offense page.
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