Pitt basketball plays in this collection come from a long staff playbook with man offense, zone offense and out-of-bounds sections. The man offense sets lean on two tools: a back screen to get a cutter to the rim, and a ball screen with the other big filling behind the roll. Most start from 1-4 high with the bigs at the elbows, a few start from a box, and three come straight out of the secondary break. This page draws 14 of the man offense sets across 36 frames. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go.
Pitt Basketball Plays at a Glance
Four sets are built on a ball screen, five run back screens, a split, a curl and an isolation from the 1-4 high start, two start from a box, and three flow out of the secondary break. The playbook names no coach, so none is named here. Some sets come as a pair run to opposite sides, such as 1 Up and 32/33, and both sides are drawn.
| Play | Family | Frames | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Up | Ball Screen Sets | 2 | From a 1-4 low start, a big sprints up from the block to ball-screen for 1 and rolls, and the other big lifts to fill the spot behind him. |
| 1-4 Wing | Ball Screen Sets | 3 | A wing entry with a flare screen for the passer and a back screen for the post, then a reversal and a ball screen with the other big ducking in. |
| 15 Wing | Ball Screen Sets | 2 | A wing entry and a UCLA back screen for the passer, then a ball screen on the wing while 1 runs the baseline off a double screen. |
| Chicago | Ball Screen Sets | 3 | The wings cross under and over the elbow screens, one big fakes a ball screen and slips, and the other big ball-screens and rolls. |
| 14 Big | Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4 | 2 | The ball goes to a big at the elbow, the guard back-screens for the other big, the wing goes backdoor, and both bigs screen for 2. |
| 14 Option | Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4 | 2 | The ball goes to 4 at the elbow and 5 back-screens for 1. Then 1 screens for 2 and comes off a screen himself, a screen the screener action. |
| 14 Split | Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4 | 2 | The guard passes to the elbow and screens for the wing, the wing reads backdoor or the screen, and the big hands off. |
| 14 Weak | Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4 | 2 | 1 dribbles away to the left wing while 4 screens down for 2 on the weak side, 2 curls and 4 pops. |
| 32/33 | Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4 | 2 | An isolation for the 3 or the 2. The wing pops out for the ball, the passer fakes a hand-off, and the other wing comes off a staggered screen by the bigs. |
| 14 Big/Change | Box Sets | 3 | From a box, the wings pop out, 1 cuts through the middle and back-screens for a big, then a big screens for 1 coming out. |
| Box Double 4 | Box Sets | 2 | From a box, 1 uses a ball screen while two players back-screen for 4, who posts on the ball side. The two back screens give this the name double back screen. |
| Secondary | Secondary Break Sets | 3 | The secondary break: the guards interchange, the trailer reverses the ball, a back screen frees him, and a side ball screen finishes it. |
| Secondary Option | Secondary Break Sets | 4 | The same secondary start, then a hand-off, a back screen, a flex screen and a side ball screen. |
| Ball Side | Secondary Break Sets | 4 | A pass and a cut to the ball-side corner, a back screen for the passer, a hand-off and a staggered screen for 2. |
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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Ball Screen Sets
1 Up
From a 1-4 low start, a big sprints up from the block to ball-screen for 1 and rolls, and the other big lifts to fill the spot behind him.
Frame 1. 5 starts on the left block, 4 on the right block, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 has the ball at the top of the key. 1 takes a dribble toward the right slot while 5 sprints up from the left block and sets a ball screen just right of the top of the key. 1 comes back left off the screen toward the left wing and 5 rolls to the rim. 4 lifts from the right block toward the right slot to fill behind the roll, 3 clears from the left wing to the left corner and 2 holds the right wing.
Frame 2. The same start, run the other way. 1 takes a dribble toward the left slot while 4 sprints up from the right block and sets a ball screen just left of the top of the key. 1 comes back right off the screen toward the right wing and 4 rolls to the rim. 5 lifts from the left block toward the left slot to fill behind the roll, 2 clears from the right wing to the right corner and 3 holds the left wing.
1-4 Wing
A wing entry with a flare screen for the passer and a back screen for the post, then a reversal and a ball screen with the other big ducking in.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 1 passes to 3 on the left wing. 4 steps down from the right elbow and sets a flare screen for 1, who fades off it to the right wing. 2 runs in from the right wing, under 4 on the basket side, and back-screens for 5, and 5 cuts from the left elbow to the right block.
Frame 2. 4 has stepped out to the top of the key after his flare screen. 3 passes to him from the left wing and 4 reverses the ball to 1 on the right wing. 5 is posted on the right block, so 1 looks inside to him first. 2 stays by the left elbow after his back screen.
Frame 3. 4 comes from the top of the key and ball-screens for 1 on the right wing, then rolls (the roll is not drawn). 1 dribbles off the screen toward the top of the key. 5 ducks in from the right block across the lane to the left block. 1 reads three options: his own shot, 4 on the roll or 5 on the duck-in. 3 holds the left wing and 2 the left slot.
15 Wing
A wing entry and a UCLA back screen for the passer, then a ball screen on the wing while 1 runs the baseline off a double screen.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 1 passes to 3 on the left wing. 5 steps up from the left elbow and back-screens for 1, a UCLA screen, and 1 cuts off his outside shoulder toward the left block. 2 cuts in from the right wing toward the right block and 4 stays at the right elbow.
Frame 2. 5 comes out from the left elbow and ball-screens for 3 on the left wing, then rolls down the left side toward the basket, and 3 dribbles off the screen toward the top of the key. On the other side, 2 just above the right block and 4 at the right elbow set a double screen. 1 runs from the left block along the baseline and up off both screens to the right wing.
Chicago
The wings cross under and over the elbow screens, one big fakes a ball screen and slips, and the other big ball-screens and rolls.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 4 and 5 screen for 2, who runs from the right wing under both screens to the left wing, and 1 passes to him there. 3 crosses over the top, from the left wing past the rim to the right corner.
Frame 2. 5 cross-screens from the left elbow for 4 at the right elbow. 4 sprints off it along the free-throw line as if to ball-screen for 2 on the left wing, then slips the screen and cuts down the left side toward the baseline. 1 moves from the top of the key to the right wing, away from the ball, and 3 holds the right corner.
Frame 3. 5 comes from the right side of the free-throw line and ball-screens for 2 on the left wing, then rolls to the rim, and 2 dribbles off the screen toward the top of the key. 4 has finished his slip in the left corner, 3 is on the right wing and 1 high on the right wing.
Back Screens, Splits and Isos From 1-4
14 Big
The ball goes to a big at the elbow, the guard back-screens for the other big, the wing goes backdoor, and both bigs screen for 2.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 1 passes to 5 at the left elbow and runs through to back-screen for 4 at the right elbow. 4 curls tight around the screen to the left block. 3 cuts backdoor from the left wing, under the rim, to the right corner, and 2 holds the right wing.
Frame 2. 1 pops from the right elbow out to the top of the key and 5 passes to him from the left elbow. 4 on the left block and 5 at the left elbow both screen for 2, who runs from the right wing along the baseline, behind 4 and outside 5, to the left wing. 3 waits in the right corner.
14 Option
The ball goes to 4 at the elbow and 5 back-screens for 1. Then 1 screens for 2 and comes off a screen himself, a screen the screener action.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 1 passes to 4 at the right elbow. 5 back-screens for 1 from the left elbow, and 1 cuts off him down the left side of the lane toward the rim. 3 and 2 hold the wings.
Frame 2. 4 has the ball in the right slot and 5 has popped out to the left slot. 4 passes to 5 and screens away toward the right wing. 1, who finished his cut under the rim and is drawn on the right lane line, back-screens for 2 on the right wing, and 2 cuts to the rim. 1 then comes off 4's screen out to the right wing. 3 holds the left wing.
14 Split
The guard passes to the elbow and screens for the wing, the wing reads backdoor or the screen, and the big hands off.
Frame 1. 1-4 high with 1 in the right slot: 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow, 3 on the left wing and 2 on the right wing. 1 passes to 4 at the right elbow and goes to screen for 2. 2 walks his defender down toward the right corner. 5 and 3 hold on the left side.
Frame 2. 4 has the ball in the right slot, 1 is screening on the right wing and 2 is in the right corner. 2 reads his defender: he cuts backdoor along the baseline to the rim, or he comes up off 1's screen. 4 dribbles toward the right wing and hands off to 1 or 2, whichever comes to him. 5 stays at the left elbow and 3 on the left wing.
14 Weak
1 dribbles away to the left wing while 4 screens down for 2 on the weak side, 2 curls and 4 pops.
Frame 1. 1-4 high: 5 at the left elbow, 4 just outside the right elbow, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 1 dribbles toward the left wing. 4 steps out from the right elbow and screens for 2, who walks his defender down toward the baseline, then curls tight around 4 up to the right elbow. 5 and 3 hold on the left side.
Frame 2. 1 has the ball in the left slot and 2 has finished his curl at the right elbow. 4 pops out from the right wing area after his screen, so 1 can hit the curl or the pop. 5 stays at the left elbow and 3 on the left wing.
32/33
An isolation for the 3 or the 2. The wing pops out for the ball, the passer fakes a hand-off, and the other wing comes off a staggered screen by the bigs.
Frame 1. 32: 3 on the left wing, 5 and 4 side by side inside the arc on the right, 2 in the right corner and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 3 walks his defender in toward the lane and pops back out to the left slot, and 1 passes to him. 1 follows the pass as if to take a hand-off and fakes it. 5 and 4 set the staggered screen and 2 comes up off it from the right corner to the right slot.
Frame 2. 33 is the same play for 2: 2 on the right wing, 4 and 5 side by side inside the arc on the left, 3 in the left corner and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 2 walks his defender in and pops back out to the right slot, and 1 passes to him. 1 follows for a fake hand-off. 4 and 5 set the staggered screen and 3 comes up off it from the left corner to the left slot.
Box Sets
14 Big/Change
From a box, the wings pop out, 1 cuts through the middle and back-screens for a big, then a big screens for 1 coming out.
Frame 1. Box set: 3 on the left block, 2 on the right block, 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 3 pops out to the left wing and 2 to the right wing. 1 passes to 2 on the right wing and cuts through the middle of the lane between the bigs.
Frame 2. 1, drawn on the left lane line after his cut, back-screens for 5 at the left elbow, and 5 cuts down the lane to the rim. 4 pops from the right elbow out to the right slot and 2 passes to him from the right wing. 3 holds the left wing.
Frame 3. The ball is shown back with 2 on the right wing, so 4 has no ball when he screens. 4 comes up from the right slot and screens for 1, drawn at the middle of the free-throw line, and 1 comes out off the screen toward the top of the key. 5 is on the right block after his cut and 3 holds the left wing.
Box Double 4
From a box, 1 uses a ball screen while two players back-screen for 4, who posts on the ball side. The two back screens give this the name double back screen.
Frame 1. Box set: 3 on the left block, 2 on the right block, 5 at the left elbow, 4 at the right elbow and 1 with the ball at the top of the key. 5 steps out and ball-screens for 1, who dribbles off it to the left wing. 3 and 2 both back-screen for 4 at the right elbow, and 4 cuts off them toward the basket.
Frame 2. 1 has the ball on the left wing and 4 has posted up on the left block, the ball side, so 1 can feed him. 3 clears from near the right block to the right corner, the weak side. 5, at the top of the key after his ball screen, screens for 2 at the right elbow, and 2 comes off it to the top of the key, where 1 can pass to him instead.
Secondary Break Sets
Secondary
The secondary break: the guards interchange, the trailer reverses the ball, a back screen frees him, and a side ball screen finishes it.
Frame 1. The break arrives with 1 in the right slot, 4 trailing in the left slot, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 4 and trades places with 2, so 1 goes to the right wing and 2 comes up to the right slot. 5 crosses from the right block to the left block, the ball side.
Frame 2. 4 reverses the ball from the left slot to 2 in the right slot and walks his defender down to the left elbow. 5 comes up from the left block and back-screens for him, and 4 cuts off it down the left side toward the rim. 3 holds the left wing and 1 the right wing.
Frame 3. 5 steps out to the top of the key and ball-screens for 2 in the right slot. 2 dribbles off it toward the left wing and 5 rolls to the left block, the ball side. 4, drawn on the right lane line after his cut, flashes up the lane and replaces at the top in the right slot. 3 drops from the left wing to the left corner and 1 from the right wing to the right corner.
Secondary Option
The same secondary start, then a hand-off, a back screen, a flex screen and a side ball screen.
Frame 1. The same start as Secondary, with 1 in the right slot, 4 in the left slot, 3 on the left wing, 2 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 4 and trades places with 2, so 1 ends on the right wing and 2 in the right slot. 5 crosses from the right block to the left block.
Frame 2. 4 dribbles from the left slot toward the left wing and hands off to 3, who comes up around him to the left slot. 5 stays on the left block, 2 in the right slot and 1 on the right wing.
Frame 3. 3 reverses the ball from the left slot to 2 in the right slot. 5 comes up from the left block and back-screens for 3, and 3 cuts off it toward the left block. 4 is on the left wing after the hand-off and 1 on the right wing.
Frame 4. 3, now on the left block, flex-screens for 4 on the left wing, and 4 cuts off it toward the basket. 5 comes over from the top of the key and ball-screens for 2 in the right slot, then rolls down the right side of the lane, and 2 dribbles off the screen toward the left. 1 lifts on the right wing, the side away from the ball.
Ball Side
A pass and a cut to the ball-side corner, a back screen for the passer, a hand-off and a staggered screen for 2.
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 on the right block. 1 passes to 2 and cuts through to the right corner, the ball side. 4 slides over to the right slot and 3 comes up from the left wing to the left slot to fill the top.
Frame 2. 2 passes from the right wing to 4 in the right slot. 5 comes up from the right block and back-screens for 2, and 2 cuts off it to the rim. 1 waits in the right corner and 3 in the left slot.
Frame 3. 4 dribbles from the right slot toward the right wing and hands off to 1, who comes up from the right side to meet him. 2 finished his cut and is drawn on the left block, 5 is on the right block and 3 in the left slot.
Frame 4. 1 has the ball in the right slot. 5, on the right side of the lane, and 4, out by the right wing, set a staggered screen for 2. 2 runs from the left block under the rim and up off both screens to the right wing. 3 holds the left slot.
Ideas That Repeat
- A back screen shows up in nine of the fourteen sets, set by a guard for a big as often as by a big for a guard.
- When a big ball-screens and rolls, the other big lifts or ducks in, so the roll and the second big are both live.
- A screener rarely stops after one job. In 14 Option, 1 back-screens for 2 and then comes off a screen himself.
- A big hands off in 14 Split, Secondary Option and Ball Side.
- Double and staggered screens free the shooter in 15 Wing, 14 Big, 32/33 and Ball Side.
- Secondary and Secondary Option start with the same guard interchange, and Ball Side starts from the same spots, so the defense sees the same first look every time.
One of these actions also has its own page: the Pitt transition side ball screen play, a separate write-up of a side ball screen in transition like the one that ends Secondary here. The screens behind these sets are covered in back screen basketball, flare screen basketball, down screen basketball and the corner stagger. The finishes tie into pick and roll, dribble hand-off and backdoor triggers, the UCLA screen in 15 Wing into the UCLA offense, and the alignment into 1-4 high basketball plays. The break the secondary sets come from is in secondary break basketball. For calling sets from the bench, see how to run quick hitters. Pitt is one of the programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Pick two or three sets that fit your bigs and rep them until the screens come on time.
Questions Coaches Ask About Pitt Basketball Plays
What offense do these Pitt sets run from?
Mostly 1-4 high, with 4 and 5 at the elbows and the wings wide. 1 Up starts with the bigs on the blocks, two sets start from a box, and three come out of the secondary break.
What is 1 Up?
A big sprints up from the block to ball-screen for 1 and rolls, the other big lifts to fill behind him, and the wing on the ball side clears to the corner. It is drawn to both sides.
What is screen the screener in 14 Option?
5 back-screens for 1, 1 cuts to the rim, then 1 back-screens for 2 and comes off a screen from 4 himself, so the player who just screened becomes the next cutter.
What is the double back screen in Box Double 4?
From a box, 3 and 2 both back-screen for 4 while 1 uses a ball screen from 5. 4 cuts to the rim and posts on the ball side, and 5 then screens for 2 coming to the top of the key.
What are 32 and 33?
An isolation for 3 (32) or for 2 (33). The wing pops out for the ball, the passer fakes a hand-off, and the other wing comes off a staggered screen by the bigs.
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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
- 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
- Michigan Basketball Plays: Beilein Chin and Shuffle Sets
- 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.
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