Michigan basketball plays in this collection come from the two-guard offense John Beilein ran as Michigan's head coach. Every set starts from the same high 2-3: two guards up top, a wing on each side and 5 at the high post. From there the team calls one of three series, Chin, Shuffle or Basic Motion, and the defense cannot tell which until the first pass. This page draws 10 plays across 42 frames, from the four ways into Chin to the counter for a denied guard. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go. The system itself, with its spacing rules and the post's job, is laid out in the two guard motion offense guide.
Michigan Basketball Plays at a Glance
Three plays walk through Chin Entry #1 and its full cycle, four more show the other Chin entries and the counter for a denied guard-to-guard pass, two cover the Shuffle series and its way back into Chin, and one draws Basic Motion. The source repeats each pattern on the other side and after every reset. Those repeats are left off, and each play stops where it joins a pattern already drawn. The source has no end-of-game or out-of-bounds sets, so none are on this page.
| Play | Family | Frames | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chin Entry #1: Point to High Post | The Chin Series | 3 | The basic Chin start: 5 flashes high for the catch, both slot players sprint backdoor, the ball is swung to the wing and the first cutter goes off 5. |
| The Three Chin Options | The Chin Series | 3 | After the first cut, 5 gives the top guard a flare screen, a high ball screen or a backdoor cut. The same three options come back every time the ball is swung. |
| The Chin Reset and the Second Side | The Chin Series | 7 | The wing dribbles up to reset, the ball is swung to the other side, the next cutter goes off 5 and the three options repeat for the new top guard. |
| Chin Entry #2: Reversal to the Trailer | The Other Chin Entries and the Denial Counter | 4 | When 5 is denied at the high post, the ball is reversed through the trailer instead, and the three options follow with a big-on-big ball screen. |
| Chin Entry #3: Point to Wing | The Other Chin Entries and the Denial Counter | 3 | The point guard passes to the wing instead of the post. Both slot players go to the blocks, the wing resets, and the first cutter goes off 5. |
| Chin Entry #4: Dribble Hand-Off | The Other Chin Entries and the Denial Counter | 3 | The point guard dribbles at the wing and hands the ball off. The wing resets, and the pattern starts with a cut off 5. |
| Counter: Guard-to-Guard Denial | The Other Chin Entries and the Denial Counter | 3 | When the defense denies the pass between the two guards, the denied guard goes backdoor and 5 steps out to take his place up top. |
| The Shuffle Series | The Shuffle Series | 8 | A wing entry from the same high 2-3, a reversal through 5, a shuffle cut, a down screen for the shuffle screener and a high ball screen, then a reset. |
| Shuffle Back Into Chin | The Shuffle Series | 2 | After the Shuffle reset, a swing and a backdoor cut off 5 put the team straight back into the Chin options. |
| Basic Motion Into the X-Cut | Basic Motion | 6 | A wing entry that looks like Shuffle, then a down screen, a back screen for the top guard, a pass to 5 and a crossing cut off him that ends in the Chin pattern. |
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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The Chin Series
Chin Entry #1: Point to High Post
The basic Chin start: 5 flashes high for the catch, both slot players sprint backdoor, the ball is swung to the wing and the first cutter goes off 5.
Frame 1. The offense starts from a high 2-3. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4, the trailer, is in the left slot, 3 is on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 5 flashes up above the free-throw line toward the top of the key and 1 passes to him. On the catch, 1 and 4 sprint backdoor, 1 to the right block and 4 to the left block, and 5 can hit either one. 3 and 2 come up from the wings to fill the two guard spots, 3 in the left slot and 2 in the right slot.
Frame 2. Neither cutter is open, so 4 comes back out from the left block to the left wing and 1 from the right block to the right wing. 5 has the ball above the free-throw line and can pass out to either guard. In this example he passes to 2 in the right slot, 2 swings it to 3 in the left slot and 3 passes on to 4 on the left wing. If 5 passes straight to 3, 3 goes right to 4. The ball can also go the other way, from 3 through 2 to 1, and the same actions follow on that side.
Frame 3. 4 has the ball on the left wing, 3 is in the left slot, 2 in the right slot, 1 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. On 4's catch, 2 cuts hard off 5 on a straight line to the basket, so close to 5 that his defender cannot follow, and 4 looks for him. The layup is often there early. A guard who is good in the post can stay on the left block and seal while 4 waits.
The Three Chin Options
After the first cut, 5 gives the top guard a flare screen, a high ball screen or a backdoor cut. The same three options come back every time the ball is swung.
Frame 1. 2 is on the left block after his cut, 4 has the ball on the left wing, 3 is in the left slot, 5 at the high post and 1 on the right wing. The first option is a flare screen. 5 screens for 3 and 3 fades off it toward the middle of the floor for the pass from 4, then shoots the three or drives if his defender runs at him.
Frame 2. The second option comes once 3's defender has seen the flare a few times and starts playing off it. 4 passes to 3, now at the top of the key just left of the middle, and 5 sets a high ball screen. 3 drives hard to the right off it for the layup, the kick-out to 1 on the right wing for a three, or a dump-off to 2 if 2 is still posting on the left block.
Frame 3. The third option is for a denied guard. If 3 cannot get the ball up top, he cuts backdoor hard off 5, as tight to 5 as he can, and 4 looks for him at the rim. If 3 is not open he clears to the right corner. This option suits a team whose cutter is not a strong post player: 2 does not stay on the block but clears from the left block to the left corner. 1 stays on the right wing and 5 at the high post.
The Chin Reset and the Second Side
The wing dribbles up to reset, the ball is swung to the other side, the next cutter goes off 5 and the three options repeat for the new top guard.
Frame 1. If none of the three options scores, 4 resets the offense. 2 is in the left corner, 3 in the right corner, 4 has the ball on the left wing, 1 is on the right wing and 5 is back at the nail, the middle of the free-throw line. 4 dribbles up from the left wing to the left slot as 1 comes up from the right wing to the right slot, and 4 passes across to 1. 3 comes up from the right corner to the right wing.
Frame 2. Between frames 2 lifts from the left corner to the left wing, a move with no arrow. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 3 on the right wing, 2 on the left wing and 5 at the nail. 1 swings the ball to 3 and 4 cuts hard off 5 to the rim, leaving no room for his defender to follow, and 3 looks for him.
Frame 3. The three options start again on the right side. 4 did not get the ball and clears from the lane to the right corner. 3 has the ball on the right wing, 1 is in the right slot, 2 on the left wing and 5 at the nail. 5 sets a flare screen for 1, and 1 fades off it toward the middle for the pass from 3 and a three or a drive.
Frame 4. If 1's defender plays off the flare, 3 passes to 1 in the right slot and 5 sets a high ball screen. 1 drives hard to the left off it for the layup or kicks out to 2 on the left wing for a three. 4 clears to the right corner.
Frame 5. If 1 is denied, he cuts backdoor hard off 5 and 3 looks for him at the rim. 4 clears to the right corner, 2 stays on the left wing and 5 at the high post.
Frame 6. 3 resets the offense. He dribbles up from the right wing to the right slot as 2 comes up from the left wing to the left slot, and 3 passes to 2. 1 clears out from under the basket to the left wing and 4 comes up from the right corner to the right wing. 5 resets to the nail.
Frame 7. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 3 is in the right slot, 1 on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 5 at the nail. 2 swings the ball to 1 and 3 cuts hard off 5 to the rim, and 1 looks for him. Next come the same three options for 2 up top, the flare, the high ball screen and the backdoor, then the next reset. That is the whole Chin pattern.
The Other Chin Entries and the Denial Counter
Chin Entry #2: Reversal to the Trailer
When 5 is denied at the high post, the ball is reversed through the trailer instead, and the three options follow with a big-on-big ball screen.
Frame 1. This entry is for when 5 is denied at the high post or the trailer is open. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 1 reverses the ball to 4 and 4 passes on to 3. 1 waits until 3 has caught it, then cuts backdoor off 5 toward the rim, and 3 looks for him.
Frame 2. 1 did not get the ball and clears from the left block to the left corner. 3 has the ball on the left wing, 4 is in the left slot, 5 at the high post and 2 on the right wing. The three options follow. First 5 sets a flare screen for 4, and 4 fades off it toward the middle for the pass from 3 and a shot or a drive.
Frame 3. If 4 is not denied, 3 passes to him in the left slot and 5 sets a high ball screen, a big-on-big screen because 4 is the trailing post. 4 drives hard to the right off it for the rim or kicks out to 2 on the right wing for a three. 1 clears to the left corner.
Frame 4. If 4 is denied, he cuts backdoor hard off 5 and 3 looks for him at the rim. If 4 is not open he clears to the right corner. 1 clears to the left corner and 2 stays on the right wing. From here 3 resets the offense and the pattern runs just as it does after Chin Entry #1.
Chin Entry #3: Point to Wing
The point guard passes to the wing instead of the post. Both slot players go to the blocks, the wing resets, and the first cutter goes off 5.
Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 1 passes to 2 on the right wing, then 1 and 4 sprint to the blocks, 1 to the right block and 4 to the left block. These cutters are rarely open, so 2 has to read it rather than force the pass.
Frame 2. 2 resets the offense. He dribbles up from the right wing to the right slot as 3 comes up from the left wing to the left slot, and 2 passes across to 3. 4 and 1 come back out of the blocks to fill the wings, 4 on the left and 1 on the right. 5 resets to the nail.
Frame 3. 3 swings the ball to 4 on the left wing. 2 waits for the catch, because a late cut works better than an early one, then cuts hard off 5 to the rim and 4 looks for him. From here everything runs as in Chin Entry #1: the flare, the high ball screen or the backdoor for 3, then the reset.
Chin Entry #4: Dribble Hand-Off
The point guard dribbles at the wing and hands the ball off. The wing resets, and the pattern starts with a cut off 5.
Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is on the right wing, 4 in the left slot, 3 on the left wing and 5 at the high post. 1 dribbles at 2 and hands the ball off to him. 2 steps in toward the ball to take it and 1 stays on the right wing. 4 cuts to the left block.
Frame 2. 2 has the ball after the hand-off and resets the offense. He dribbles up to the right slot as 3 comes up from the left wing to the left slot, and 2 passes to 3. 4 comes back out from the left block to the left wing. 1 is on the right wing and 5 resets to the nail.
Frame 3. 3 swings the ball to 4 on the left wing, 2 times his cut and goes hard off 5 to the rim, and 4 looks for him. If 2 is not open he clears to the left corner. The flare, the high ball screen and the backdoor for 3 come next, exactly as in Chin Entry #1.
Counter: Guard-to-Guard Denial
When the defense denies the pass between the two guards, the denied guard goes backdoor and 5 steps out to take his place up top.
Frame 1. 3 has the ball on the right side and dribbles up toward the right slot. 2 is high and wide on the left side, between the left slot and the left wing, 5 at the high post, 1 in the left corner and 4 in the right corner. 2's defender overplays the pass from 3 to 2. 2 steps out, reads the denial and cuts backdoor to the rim. 5 steps out from the high post toward the top of the key, and 1 and 4 start up out of the corners.
Frame 2. 2 finished his backdoor cut on the left side of the lane. 3 passes to 5, who has stepped out to the top of the key, then 3 cuts down to the right block. 1 and 4 rotate up out of the corners, 1 to the left wing and 4 to the right slot.
Frame 3. 5 passes to 4 in the right slot and steps back up to the high post. 2 comes out from the left block to the left wing and 3 from the right block to the right wing, and 1 comes up from the left wing to the left slot. The floor is back in the high 2-3 and the Chin pattern runs from here.
The Shuffle Series
The Shuffle Series
A wing entry from the same high 2-3, a reversal through 5, a shuffle cut, a down screen for the shuffle screener and a high ball screen, then a reset.
Frame 1. Shuffle starts from the same high 2-3 as Chin, so the defense cannot tell which series is coming. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 3 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 1 passes to 3 on the right wing and cuts to the right corner, in front of 3 or behind him. 4 cuts across and down to the right block, above or below 5. Whatever the cut, 1 has to reach the corner and 4 the ball-side block.
Frame 2. 1 is in the right corner, 4 on the right block, 3 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is on the left wing and 5 at the high post. 5 pops high to the top of the key and 3 reverses the ball through him to 2 on the left wing.
Frame 3. 2 has the ball on the left wing, 5 is at the top of the key, 1 in the right corner, 4 on the right block and 3 on the right wing. 4 steps up and sets the shuffle screen for 3. 3 can cut under the screen or over it toward the rim, and under is preferred because it keeps him nearer the basket and makes it harder for his defender to recover. 2 looks for 3 on the cut.
Frame 4. 4 holds the shuffle screen and 3 cuts off it into the lane toward the left block, with 2 looking for him. As 3 goes by, 5 comes down from the top of the key to set a down screen for 4. 1 stays in the right corner.
Frame 5. 3 is on the left block after his cut, 1 in the right corner and 2 has the ball on the left wing. 5 sets the down screen for 4 and 4 comes up off it to the top of the key, ready to shoot or to curl into a mid-range jumper, and 2 looks for him. After the screen 5 can slip to the rim for a lob or cut straight across the free-throw line to the left elbow, and 2 looks for him there too.
Frame 6. 5 is back at the nail, a move with no arrow. If 3 did not get the ball, he clears from the left block to the left corner. 2 passes to 4 at the top of the key and 5 sets a high ball screen for him. 4 drives right off it for the layup or the kick-out to 1, who lifts from the right corner to the right wing for a three.
Frame 7. If 4 cannot get to the rim, or the defense guards the screen well, he passes to 1 on the right wing and keeps going to fill the right side below him. 5 is at the nail, 2 on the left wing and 3 in the left corner.
Frame 8. 1 resets the offense. He dribbles up from the right wing to the right slot as 2 comes up from the left wing to the left slot, and 1 passes to 2. 3 comes up from the left corner to the left wing and 4 holds the right side. 5 resets to the nail. From here the team can go back into Chin or stay in Shuffle.
Shuffle Back Into Chin
After the Shuffle reset, a swing and a backdoor cut off 5 put the team straight back into the Chin options.
Frame 1. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 1 is in the right slot, 3 on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 5 at the nail. 2 swings the ball to 3. 1 times his cut and goes hard backdoor off 5, and 3 looks for him at the rim.
Frame 2. If 1 is not open he clears from the left block to the left corner. The three Chin options return for 2 in the left slot. 5 sets a flare screen and 2 fades off it to the right for the pass from 3 and a shot or a drive. If 2's defender plays off the flare, 3 passes to 2 for a high ball screen from 5 instead, and if 2 is denied he cuts backdoor off 5. Only the flare is drawn. 4 stays on the right wing.
Basic Motion
Basic Motion Into the X-Cut
A wing entry that looks like Shuffle, then a down screen, a back screen for the top guard, a pass to 5 and a crossing cut off him that ends in the Chin pattern.
Frame 1. Basic Motion starts from the same high 2-3 with a pass to the wing, so at first it looks like Shuffle. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 3 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 1 passes to 3 and cuts to the right corner, in front of 3 or behind him. 4 makes a shallow V-cut toward the top of the key to get open.
Frame 2. 3 reverses the ball to 4 at the top of the key and cuts to the right elbow, the weak side. 4 dribbles toward the left slot to move the ball. 2 cuts from the left wing to the left block, 5 comes across to set a down screen for him, and 2 comes back up off it to the left wing, where 4 passes to him. 1 fills up from the right corner to the right wing.
Frame 3. 2 looks to shoot coming off the down screen. If there is no shot, 4 cuts backdoor from the left slot across the lane to the right side, and 2 looks for him. 3 pops high from the right elbow to the left slot, the spot 4 has just left, and 2 passes to him. 5 is low on the left side, outside the block, after his screen and 1 is on the right wing.
Frame 4. If 4 is not open he clears to the right corner. 3 dribbles across to the right slot and passes to 1 on the right wing. 5 comes up from the left block and sets a hard back screen for 3 near the right elbow, and 3 cuts off it to the rim with 1 looking for him. 2 stays on the left wing.
Frame 5. Off the hard back screen 5 is often open, because his defender has helped to stop the lob, so 1 passes to 5 at the right elbow. 3 is on the left block after his cut and 2 on the left wing. 1 and 4 then cross off 5. 4 cuts first and high from the right corner, 1 cuts second and low from the right wing, and 5 can hand the ball to either one for a drive to the rim.
Frame 6. Between frames, with no arrows drawn, 1 goes on to post up on the right block and 4 steps out to the top of the key. If neither hand-off was open, 5 can feed 1 for a guard post-up or pass out to 4, then 5 cuts across to the left elbow. 2 sets a down screen for 3 on the left side and 3 comes up off it to the left wing. 4 dribbles toward the left slot and looks for 3 for a shot. If 3 has no shot, the team is back in the end of the Chin pattern, with the flare, the high ball screen and the backdoor for 4.
Ideas That Repeat
- 5 lives at the nail or the top of the key. Almost every cut goes off him, and he is the screener for all three options.
- Cutters shave 5 so closely that a defender has no room to follow.
- Timing beats speed. The cutter waits for the catch on the wing before he goes, because a late cut works better than an early one.
- The reset is always the same: the wing dribbles up to a guard spot, the far guard fills the other one, and the ball is swung.
- A player who does not get the ball clears to the corner, which keeps the lane open for the next cut.
- Chin, Shuffle and Basic Motion all start with the same alignment, and Shuffle and Basic Motion both fall back into Chin.
Speaking to a coaches association in 2007, Beilein put his approach in two lines: do not turn it over, get a shot, and three points are worth more than two.
The full system, including spacing, numbering, his two kinds of backdoor cut and who it fits, is in two guard motion offense. Other ways to run Chin are compared in Princeton Chin series, and the shuffle cut has its own page in shuffle offense. The three options are covered in flare screen basketball, pick and roll and backdoor triggers, and Basic Motion leans on the down screen and the back screen. For a Michigan baseline play on film, see Michigan loop, handoff and flare vs. Maryland. Michigan is one of the programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Install Chin Entry #1 and the three options first, then add one entry at a time.
Questions Coaches Ask About Michigan Basketball Plays
What offense did Michigan run under John Beilein?
A two-guard offense from a high 2-3, with three series called from the same start: Chin, Shuffle and Basic Motion.
What is the Chin series?
The base pattern. The ball is swung to a wing, the guard on the far side cuts off 5 to the rim, and then 5 gives the top guard a flare screen, a high ball screen or a backdoor cut. A wing dribbles up to reset and the same thing happens on the other side.
What are the four Chin entries?
A pass to 5 at the high post, a reversal to the trailer, a pass to the wing and a dribble hand-off with the wing. All four lead into the same pattern.
How does the Shuffle series work here?
After a wing entry, 5 pops high and the ball is reversed through him. The block player sets a shuffle screen for the far wing, 5 screens down for the shuffle screener, and a high ball screen follows before the reset.
What if the defense denies the pass between the two guards?
The denied guard cuts backdoor, 5 steps out to take the pass up top, the passer cuts through, and 5 swings the ball to get back into Chin.
School profile: Michigan Wolverines on College Basketball Recruit.
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See the playbook packsMore College Basketball Plays
- College Basketball Plays: Sets and Systems by Program
- Butler Basketball Plays: Brad Stevens Ball Screen Sets
- Gonzaga Basketball Plays: Flex Quick Hitters
- Kansas Basketball Plays: Bill Self 2-3 Zone Offense
- Michigan State Basketball Plays: Tom Izzo Sets
- Xavier Basketball Plays: Chris Mack Man Offense Sets
- Northern Kentucky Basketball Plays: AI, Delay and Strong Sets
- Pitt Basketball Plays: 1-4 High Sets and Ball Screens
- Davidson Basketball Plays: Motion Offense Rules and Actions
- Belmont Basketball Plays: Backdoor, Chicago, Chin and Nail Sets
- UConn Basketball Plays: 2023 Half-Court Sets Frame by Frame
- Duke Basketball Plays: Motion, Early Offense and Zone Ideas
- Florida Basketball Plays: Billy Donovan Spread Pick and Roll
- Wisconsin Basketball Plays: Bo Ryan Swing Offense Sets
- UCLA Basketball Plays: John Wooden High Post Options
- Memphis Basketball Plays: 2006 Dribble Drive Motion Sets
- West Virginia Basketball Plays: George King's Zone Press
- Villanova Basketball Plays: Jay Wright 4-Out, Perretta Motion
- Seattle U Basketball Plays: The Chin Offense, Read by Read
- UConn Women's Basketball Plays: Auriemma's Strong and Elbow Sets
- BYU Basketball Plays: Mark Pope Pistol, Ricky and STS Sets
- Wichita State Basketball Plays: Shocker, 57 WU, 1-3-1 Special
- Virginia Basketball Plays: Blocker-Mover Sets, Frame by Frame
Back to College Basketball Plays and every Offense page.
Keep Building
Related breakdowns
Two Guard Motion Offense: Chin, Shuffle and Motion Series
John Beilein's two guard motion offense: the high 2-3 set, the post at the nail, Chin entries, the flare, ball screen and backdoor read, and the Shuffle series.
Seattle U Basketball Plays: The Chin Offense, Read by Read
Seattle U basketball plays: the Chin offense, its branches and its counters from a Seattle U women's program clinic, drawn frame by frame.
Belmont Basketball Plays: Backdoor, Chicago, Chin and Nail Sets
Belmont basketball plays from its backdoor, Chicago, Chin, Nail and 4 out families, drawn frame by frame with where every player goes.