Seattle U Basketball Plays: The Chin Offense, Read by Read
Offense

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.

By · Published October 29, 2026 · Updated October 17, 2026 · 29 min read

: A basketball coach sharing what he has learned with other coaches.

Seattle U basketball plays in this collection are the Chin offense, its branches and eight counters and quick hitters from the Seattle U women's program, and this guide draws every frame of every one.

Seattle U basketball plays in this collection are the Chin offense, a Princeton-style read offense, as a coach from the Seattle U women's program taught it at a coaches clinic. Chin starts with a dribble hand-off and a down screen, and every option after that grows out of one read by the cutter coming off 5's screen. This page draws 15 plays across 40 frames: the base read and its resets, the Corner and Drop branches, and eight counters and quick hitters. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go. The wider Chin family, with the other versions coaches run under the same name, is on the Princeton Chin series.

The cutter reads her defender off 5's down screen: a defender trailing on her heels means curl, a defender going under the screen means pop, and a defender denying means backdoor. Everything else in this Chin is built on that one read.

Seattle U Basketball Plays at a Glance

Four plays make up the base read and keep it running, three are branches that start from the same hand-off, four are counters for what a defense does to Chin, and four are quick hitters run from the Chin look. The same clinic also taught three-player breakdown drills for the cutters, with coaches as passers, and those are not drawn here.

PlayFamilyFramesWhat it does
ChinThe Chin Read and Its Resets7The base read. A dribble hand-off and a down screen get the ball to the right slot, a reversal sets up a shuffle cut, and 5 follows the arc to screen for a cutter who reads her defender.
Chin FinishesThe Chin Read and Its Resets2What 3 does after the read: shoot or drive off the pop, or curl and keep cutting while 1 fills behind her.
5 OutThe Chin Read and Its Resets3When 5 pops after the screen and catches at the top of the key, the team is in 5 Out, with a dribble-at backdoor and a choice of screens to follow.
Chin ResetThe Chin Read and Its Resets2When the wing cannot pass, she dribbles up and the guards reset Chin with a hand-off, a cut to the middle and a trade on the other side.
CornerThe Corner and Drop Branches3A pass from the wing to the deep corner starts Corner: a give-and-go cut, then a two-player game between 5 and the corner while the other three exchange.
Drop 1The Corner and Drop Branches3The hand-off is overplayed, so the receiver cuts backdoor, drives and kicks, with a fill rule for everyone else and a way back into the low post game.
Drop 2The Corner and Drop Branches2When the wing is denied after the crossing pass, she goes backdoor and the same drive and kick follows.
Chin SagChin Counters by Defense2A counter for a weak side that sags: run Chin, then 5 and 4 both screen down on the sagging defender for a three at the top of the key.
Chin ReverseChin Counters by Defense2A counter for a defense that jumps to stop the first shuffle cut: a pass fake, a step over the screen, and a reversal into the post.
Chin GoChin Counters by Defense2A call to attack a matchup after a few runs of Chin: the top guard fakes a pass, and the fake brings 5 out for a high ball screen.
Chin WingChin Counters by Defense2Chin, a curl by the top guard, and then 5 trails the ball to set a ball screen for the wing.
Post RipChin Quick Hitters2A wide pin screen for 2 opens it, the first cutter rip screens for 5 and pops back out, and the ball swings to the wing to feed the post.
Post Rip Option 2Chin Quick Hitters1The same wide pin and rip screen, but 5 posts on the other block and the entry comes from the left wing.
Chin FlexChin Quick Hitters3A hand-off and a swing, a back screen for a layup, then a flex screen and a down screen for a three.
Chin StaggerChin Quick Hitters4The Chin Flex start, but the flex cutter stops on the block and joins 1 in a stagger screen for 2 cutting hard to the corner.

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.

The Chin Read and Its Resets

Chin

The base read. A dribble hand-off and a down screen get the ball to the right slot, a reversal sets up a shuffle cut, and 5 follows the arc to screen for a cutter who reads her defender.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 1: the base spacing
Chin, frame 1: the base spacing.

Frame 1. The base spacing. 5 starts on the right block, the ball side. 2 is on the left wing and 3 on the right wing, each a step above the free-throw line extended. 1 has the ball in the right slot and 4 is in the left slot, both in line with the lane lines and well out past the arc, on the volleyball line if the gym has one. Nobody moves in this frame.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 2: the hand-off and the down screen
Chin, frame 2: the hand-off and the down screen.

Frame 2. Chin itself starts from a slightly different look. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 4 is in the right slot, 2 on the left wing, 3 on the right wing and 5 at the high post, just above the free-throw line. 1 dribbles at 2 for a hand-off, and 2 comes up the left side to take it. As the hand-off happens, 4 screens down for 3, and 3 comes up off the screen to the right slot.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 3: the pass to 3 in the right slot
Chin, frame 3: the pass to 3 in the right slot.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball high on the left wing after the hand-off, with 1 just inside her in the left slot. 3 is in the right slot, 4 inside the arc on the right side after her screen and 5 at the high post. 1 cuts out to the left wing. 2 dribbles in toward the middle, staying close to the channel, and passes across to 3. 4 steps out to the right wing.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 4: the quick reversal or the backdoor
Chin, frame 4: the quick reversal or the backdoor.

Frame 4. 3 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is in the left slot, 1 on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 5 at the high post. 3 tries to get the ball to 4 quickly. If 4's defender overplays the pass, 3 dribbles at 4, which tells 4 to take a step out and cut backdoor to the right block, and 3 hits her on the cut.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 5: the shuffle cut
Chin, frame 5: the shuffle cut.

Frame 5. When the pass to 4 is there, 3 passes to her on the right wing. 2 is in the left slot, 1 on the left wing, 5 at the high post. 5 steps over toward the left side to screen, and 2 makes a shuffle cut off her, down the lane to the right block, the ball side. 3 stays in the right slot and gives her defender a bump, getting ready for the next cut.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 6: 5 follows the arc to screen for 3
Chin, frame 6: 5 follows the arc to screen for 3.

Frame 6. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is on the right block after her shuffle cut, 3 in the right slot, 1 on the left wing and 5 just above the left elbow, where she set the screen. 2 clears out along the baseline to the right corner. 5 follows the three-point line across and screens down for 3 just above the right elbow. 3 walks her defender down into the screen and reads it: a defender riding her heels means curl to the basket, a defender going under the screen means pop, and a defender denying means backdoor.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin, frame 7: the slip or the pop
Chin, frame 7: the slip or the pop.

Frame 7. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 3 has popped to the top of the key, 5 is just behind her after the screen, 2 is in the right corner and 1 on the left wing. 5 slips the screen toward the right block. 4 can pass to 5 on the slip or to 3 on the pop. When the pass goes to 3, 1 fades from the left wing to the left corner.

Chin Finishes

What 3 does after the read: shoot or drive off the pop, or curl and keep cutting while 1 fills behind her.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Finishes, frame 1: the shot or the drive off the pop
Chin Finishes, frame 1: the shot or the drive off the pop.

Frame 1. 3 has caught the pop pass at the top of the key. 1 is in the left corner after her fade, 2 in the right corner and 5 on the right block after her slip. 4 has stepped in from the right wing to just inside the arc after her pass, a move with no arrow. 3 can take the shot, or put it on the floor and score or pass off the drive, and 5 steps in toward the rim. If the timing allows, 4 and 2 trade places: 4 screens down and 2 comes up from the right corner to the right slot. 5 also has the option to set a ball screen for 3 on top, which is not drawn.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Finishes, frame 2: the curl and the fill
Chin Finishes, frame 2: the curl and the fill.

Frame 2. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 3 is in the right slot, 5 just inside the arc above the free-throw line after her screen, 2 in the right corner and 1 on the left wing. When 3 curls the screen, or pops and does not get the ball, she keeps cutting to the basket: here she curls around 5 and finishes on the left side of the rim. 1 fills from the left wing up to the left slot, and 5 slips to the right block. 4 can throw over the top to 3, pass to 1, who fills to the left slot, or hit 5 on the slip (that pass is not drawn).

5 Out

When 5 pops after the screen and catches at the top of the key, the team is in 5 Out, with a dribble-at backdoor and a choice of screens to follow.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of 5 Out, frame 1: 5 pops and catches
5 Out, frame 1: 5 pops and catches.

Frame 1. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 3 is in the right slot, 5 just inside the arc next to her after the screen, 2 in the right corner and 1 on the left wing. 3 does not get the ball, so she keeps cutting, around 5, to the left side of the rim. 5 pops out to the top of the key and 4 passes to her there, and that pass puts the team in 5 Out.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of 5 Out, frame 2: 5 dribbles at 1 for the backdoor
5 Out, frame 2: 5 dribbles at 1 for the backdoor.

Frame 2. Between frames, with no arrow, 3 has gone on from the rim to the left corner. 5 has the ball at the top of the key, 1 is on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 2 in the right corner. 5 dribbles at 1, which is the backdoor signal: 1 takes a step out and cuts backdoor to the left block, and 5 passes to her on the cut. 3 lifts from the left corner to the left wing to fill behind her for the next pass from 5.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of 5 Out, frame 3: 5 screens on the ball or away
5 Out, frame 3: 5 screens on the ball or away.

Frame 3. 5 has passed to 3 on the left wing, a pass the diagram does not draw. 5 is just inside the arc on the left side, 1 on the left block after her backdoor cut, 4 on the right wing and 2 in the right corner. 5 has two choices. She can set a ball screen for 3, or she can screen away for 4 near the right elbow, and 4 cuts off that screen up to the middle of the floor above the free-throw line.

Chin Reset

When the wing cannot pass, she dribbles up and the guards reset Chin with a hand-off, a cut to the middle and a trade on the other side.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Reset, frame 1: 4 dribbles up and 1 comes to the ball
Chin Reset, frame 1: 4 dribbles up and 1 comes to the ball.

Frame 1. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 1 is in the left slot, 3 in the left corner, 2 in the right corner and 5 on the right side of the lane at the mid-post. 4 cannot complete a pass, so she dribbles up to the right slot. 1 moves up and over to get open and 4 passes to her. If 1's defender overplays that pass, 1 cuts backdoor instead. 3 lifts from the left corner to the left wing.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Reset, frame 2: the reset hand-off
Chin Reset, frame 2: the reset hand-off.

Frame 2. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 3 is on the left wing, 4 in the right slot, 2 in the right corner and 5 on the right side of the lane. 1 can reverse the ball to 3 and the team is back in Chin. The reset is the other choice: 1 dribbles at 3 and 3 comes up for the hand-off, 5 cuts up to the middle of the floor above the free-throw line, and 4 and 2 trade places, with 4 screening down and 2 coming up from the right corner to the right slot.

The Corner and Drop Branches

Corner

A pass from the wing to the deep corner starts Corner: a give-and-go cut, then a two-player game between 5 and the corner while the other three exchange.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Corner, frame 1: the pass to the deep corner and the give-and-go cut
Corner, frame 1: the pass to the deep corner and the give-and-go cut.

Frame 1. 4 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is in the right corner, 5 just inside the arc right of the middle, 3 at the top of the key and 1 on the left wing. 4 passes to 2 in the deep corner, which starts Corner, and heads straight to the basket for a give-and-go return pass. With no return pass, 4 keeps going through to the left short corner.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Corner, frame 2: the pass and hand-off between 2 and 5
Corner, frame 2: the pass and hand-off between 2 and 5.

Frame 2. Between frames 4 has moved out to the left corner with no arrow. 2 has the ball in the right corner, 5 is just inside the arc right of the middle, 3 in the left slot, 1 on the left wing. 5 cuts toward the ball and 2 passes to her inside the arc on the right side. 2 comes up to the right wing and 5 hands the ball right back to her. After the hand-off 5 can set a screen and roll for 2. On the left, 3 exchanges with 1 and 4: 3 screens down and 1 comes up from the left wing to the left slot.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Corner, frame 3: the ball screen and roll, and the pin screen
Corner, frame 3: the ball screen and roll, and the pin screen.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball on the right wing with 5 beside her, 3 is at the left mid-post after her down screen, 4 in the left corner, 1 at the top of the key. This time 2 holds the ball and 5 comes to screen for her. 2 dribbles off the screen toward the right elbow and 5 rolls to the right block. On the left side, 4 can step in from the corner and set a pin screen for 3, who dips under it and comes out around it to the left wing, or 4 can simply rotate up.

Drop 1

The hand-off is overplayed, so the receiver cuts backdoor, drives and kicks, with a fill rule for everyone else and a way back into the low post game.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Drop 1, frame 1: the backdoor off the hand-off
Drop 1, frame 1: the backdoor off the hand-off.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is on the left wing, 5 at the high post, 4 out past the arc at the top of the key and 3 on the right wing. 1 wants to hand the ball off to 2, but 2's defender overplays it. 1 dribbles at 2, 2 takes a step out and cuts backdoor to the left block, and 1 passes to her. Once the pass is made, 3 drops from the right wing to the right corner, 4 comes down to the arc at the top of the key, and 5 dives in front of the rim (the dive is not drawn).

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Drop 1, frame 2: the drive and the kick
Drop 1, frame 2: the drive and the kick.

Frame 2. 2 has caught the backdoor pass on the left block and drives at the rim to score. 5 has dived to the front of the rim and sits on the right block, 3 is in the right corner, 4 at the top of the key and 1 on the left wing. If the defense stops 2, she kicks it out to whoever is open: 3, 5, 1 or 4.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Drop 1, frame 3: no backdoor, so into the low post game
Drop 1, frame 3: no backdoor, so into the low post game.

Frame 3. If the backdoor is not open, 1 keeps dribbling on the left wing and the team moves into its low post options. 2 is on the left block after her cut, 5 at the high post, 3 on the right wing, 4 at the top of the key. 2 clears across the baseline to the right corner, 5 drops from the high post to the left block, and 4 slides over at the top of the key.

Drop 2

When the wing is denied after the crossing pass, she goes backdoor and the same drive and kick follows.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Drop 2, frame 1: the crossing pass and the denied wing
Drop 2, frame 1: the crossing pass and the denied wing.

Frame 1. 2 has the ball in the left slot after the hand-off, 4 is in the right slot, 1 on the left wing, 3 on the right wing and 5 just above the left elbow. 2 makes the crossing pass to 4. 3's defender denies the pass from 4 to the wing, so 4 dribbles at 3 and 3 cuts backdoor toward the basket.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Drop 2, frame 2: the drive and the kick
Drop 2, frame 2: the drive and the kick.

Frame 2. 3 has caught the backdoor pass on the right block and drives at the rim to score. Between frames, with no arrows drawn, 2 has gone to the left corner, 1 has come up to the left slot and 5 has dived to the front of the rim and sits on the left block. 4 is in the right slot. If 3 is stopped, she kicks it out to whoever is open: 2, 5, 1 or 4.

Chin Counters by Defense

Chin Sag

A counter for a weak side that sags: run Chin, then 5 and 4 both screen down on the sagging defender for a three at the top of the key.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Sag, frame 1: the Chin start and the sagging defender
Chin Sag, frame 1: the Chin start and the sagging defender.

Frame 1. 3 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 5 at the right elbow and 1 on the right wing. X1, 1's defender, has sagged into the lane on the right block. The play starts as Chin does: 3 passes to 4, and 4 passes on to 2. 5 steps up above the right elbow to screen, and 3 shuffle cuts off her all the way to the left corner.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Sag, frame 2: 5 and 4 double down on X1
Chin Sag, frame 2: 5 and 4 double down on X1.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball on the left wing, 3 is in the left corner, 4 in the left slot, 5 just above the right elbow and 1 on the right wing, with X1 still sagging on the right block. 5 moves across to the left elbow, and then 5 and 4 both screen down on X1. 1 comes from the right wing to the top of the key, just left of the middle, and 2 passes to her for the three. 1 does not need a V-cut to get open, since X1 has already dropped into the lane.

Chin Reverse

A counter for a defense that jumps to stop the first shuffle cut: a pass fake, a step over the screen, and a reversal into the post.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Reverse, frame 1: the pass fake and the step over the screen
Chin Reverse, frame 1: the pass fake and the step over the screen.

Frame 1. 3 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 1 on the right wing and 5 at the high post, with X1 beside her ready to jump the shuffle cut. As in Chin, it opens with a brush and a pass: 3 passes to 4, and 4 fakes a pass on to 2. When 4 fakes, 3 sets her defender up, steps over 5's screen and cuts down to the right block.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Reverse, frame 2: the reversal to the post
Chin Reverse, frame 2: the reversal to the post.

Frame 2. 4 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is on the left wing, 1 on the right wing, 5 just above the free-throw line and 3 on the right block with X1 behind her. 4 reverses the ball to 1, and 1 passes inside to 3, who should have X1 pinned behind her.

Chin Go

A call to attack a matchup after a few runs of Chin: the top guard fakes a pass, and the fake brings 5 out for a high ball screen.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Go, frame 1: the pass fake that calls the ball screen
Chin Go, frame 1: the pass fake that calls the ball screen.

Frame 1. 3 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 5 at the right elbow and 1 on the right wing. 3 passes to 4 and shuffle cuts off 5's screen above the right elbow to the left corner, as in Chin. 4, now the top guard, fakes a pass to 2 on the left wing (the fake is not drawn as a pass). That fake is 5's cue to come and set the ball screen, so 5 steps out from her first screen toward 4.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Go, frame 2: the high pick and the kick-out
Chin Go, frame 2: the high pick and the kick-out.

Frame 2. 4 has the ball in the left slot, 5 is beside her, 2 on the left wing, 3 in the left corner and 1 on the right wing. 5 sets the high ball screen, and 4 comes off it and drives all the way to the rim. 1 drops from the right wing to the right corner. If 1's defender helps on the drive, 4 kicks it out to 1 for a three.

Chin Wing

Chin, a curl by the top guard, and then 5 trails the ball to set a ball screen for the wing.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Wing, frame 1: the curl and 5 following the ball
Chin Wing, frame 1: the curl and 5 following the ball.

Frame 1. 3 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is in the left slot, 2 on the left wing, 5 at the right elbow and 1 on the right wing. 3 passes to 4 and shuffle cuts off 5's screen to the left corner. 4 passes to 2 on the left wing and curls off 5's next screen toward the rim, then clears out to the right corner. 5 then chases the ball and sets a ball screen for 2 on the left wing.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Wing, frame 2: the wing ball screen
Chin Wing, frame 2: the wing ball screen.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball on the left wing with 5 screening beside her, 3 is in the left corner, 4 in the right corner and 1 on the right wing. 2 comes off the ball screen and drives toward the middle of the free-throw line. She can finish the drive, or kick out to 1 on the right wing or 4 in the right corner for a three.

Chin Quick Hitters

Post Rip

A wide pin screen for 2 opens it, the first cutter rip screens for 5 and pops back out, and the ball swings to the wing to feed the post.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Post Rip, frame 1: the wide pin screen and the pass to 2
Post Rip, frame 1: the wide pin screen and the pass to 2.

Frame 1. 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 just outside the right elbow. As in Chin, the first action is a wide pin screen, set by 4 for 2. 2 takes a step in, then comes off the screen up to the top of the key, just left of the middle, and 4 steps back out to the left wing. 1 passes to 2. 1 is the first cutter, and the next frame draws her rip screen for 5.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Post Rip, frame 2: the rip screen, the swing to 3 and the entry to 5
Post Rip, frame 2: the rip screen, the swing to 3 and the entry to 5.

Frame 2. The same action a moment later, with 2 holding the ball in the left slot. 4 is on the left wing after her pin screen, 1 in the right slot, 3 on the right wing and 5 just outside the right elbow. 1 cuts down, rips 5 and pops back out to the right slot, while 5 cuts off the rip and posts up on the right block. 2 swings the ball to 1, 1 swings it to 3, and 3 feeds 5 in the post.

Post Rip Option 2

The same wide pin and rip screen, but 5 posts on the other block and the entry comes from the left wing.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Post Rip Option 2, frame 1: the rip screen and the entry from the left wing
Post Rip Option 2, frame 1: the rip screen and the entry from the left wing.

Frame 1. 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 just outside the right elbow. 4 sets a wide pin screen for 2, 2 comes off it up to the top of the key, 4 steps back out to the left wing, and 1 passes to 2. 1 cuts down, rips 5 and goes back out to the right slot. This time 5 cuts across the lane to the left block. 2 swings the ball to 4, who has stepped out to the left wing, and 4 feeds 5 in the post. 3 stays on the right wing.

Chin Flex

A hand-off and a swing, a back screen for a layup, then a flex screen and a down screen for a three.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Flex, frame 1: the dribble hand-off and the spacing on the left
Chin Flex, frame 1: the dribble hand-off and the spacing on the left.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is on the right wing, 3 high on the left wing, 4 on the left block and 5 on the right block. 1 dribbles at 2 for a hand-off, and 2 comes up from the right wing to take it. 3 and 4 space the floor on the left: 3 comes in to the left slot and 4 goes out from the left block to the left wing. They can also screen for each other or trade spots to get open.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Flex, frame 2: the swing and the back screen
Chin Flex, frame 2: the swing and the back screen.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball high on the right wing after the hand-off. 3 is in the left slot, 4 on the left wing, 1 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 2 dribbles toward the right slot and swings the ball to 3. 5 steps up from the right block to the right elbow and sets a back screen, and 2 cuts off it to the rim looking for a layup.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Flex, frame 3: the flex screen and the down screen
Chin Flex, frame 3: the flex screen and the down screen.

Frame 3. 3 has the ball in the left slot, 5 is at the right elbow after her back screen, 2 on the right block after her cut, 4 on the left wing and 1 on the right wing. 5 steps out to the right slot and 3 passes to her. 2 keeps cutting through the lane under the basket and sets a flex screen on the left block, and 4 cuts off it from the left wing along the baseline to the right block. Then 3 screens down for 2, who comes up off it to the arc on the left side, and 5 passes to her for a three.

Chin Stagger

The Chin Flex start, but the flex cutter stops on the block and joins 1 in a stagger screen for 2 cutting hard to the corner.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Stagger, frame 1: the dribble hand-off and the spacing on the left
Chin Stagger, frame 1: the dribble hand-off and the spacing on the left.

Frame 1. The same start as Chin Flex. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is on the right wing, 3 high on the left wing, 4 on the left block and 5 on the right block. 1 dribbles at 2 for the hand-off and 2 comes up to take it. 3 comes in to the left slot and 4 goes out to the left wing, and they can screen for each other or trade spots to get open.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Stagger, frame 2: the swing and the back screen
Chin Stagger, frame 2: the swing and the back screen.

Frame 2. The same second frame as Chin Flex. 2 has the ball high on the right wing, 3 is in the left slot, 4 on the left wing, 1 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 2 dribbles toward the right slot and swings the ball to 3, then cuts off 5's back screen at the right elbow to the rim looking for a layup.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Stagger, frame 3: the flex screen
Chin Stagger, frame 3: the flex screen.

Frame 3. 3 has the ball in the left slot, 5 is at the right elbow, 2 on the right block after her cut, 4 on the left wing and 1 on the right wing. 5 steps out to the right slot and 3 passes to her. 2 keeps cutting through the lane under the basket and sets a flex screen on the left block, and 4 cuts off it from the left wing along the baseline toward the right block. 1 drops down the right side toward the corner.

Seattle U basketball plays diagram of Chin Stagger, frame 4: the stagger screen for 2
Chin Stagger, frame 4: the stagger screen for 2.

Frame 4. 5 has the ball in the right slot, 3 is in the left slot, 2 on the left block after her flex screen, 4 on the right block and 1 low on the right wing, near the corner. 4 stops when she reaches the right block and turns around, and she and 1 set a stagger screen for 2. 2 cuts hard along the baseline, off 4 and then 1, to the right corner, and 5 passes to her there.

Ideas That Repeat

  • A dribble at a teammate is the backdoor signal, in Chin, 5 Out, Drop 1 and Drop 2.
  • Backdoor against pressure, screen down against a sag. Chin Sag is built on the second half of that rule.
  • 5 rarely stops after one screen. She slips, pops, rolls or follows the ball to set the next screen.
  • In Drop 1 and Drop 2 a completed backdoor pass comes with a fill rule: the corner, the top of the key and the front of the rim.
  • Chin Sag, Chin Reverse, Chin Go and Chin Wing all open with the same pass from the right slot to the left slot and a cut off 5, so the defense sees Chin before the counter shows.
  • The quick hitters finish three ways: a post entry in Post Rip, a three off the down screen in Chin Flex and a corner three in Chin Stagger.

The other versions of Chin, the resets and the counters other coaches use are on the Princeton Chin series, and the whole system is on the Princeton offense. Drop 1 hands off to the Princeton low post series. The reads are covered in backdoor triggers and cut or backdoor, the actions in down screen basketball, dribble hand-off, pick and roll, shuffle offense, flex basketball plays and stagger screen to the corner. Breakdown drills for the cutters are on drills to teach the Princeton offense, and the defensive side is on how to stop the Princeton offense. Seattle U is one of the programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Teach the cutter's read first, then add one branch at a time.

Questions Coaches Ask About Seattle U Basketball Plays

How many Seattle U plays are in this collection?

Fifteen: Chin, Chin Finishes, 5 Out, Chin Reset, Corner, Drop 1, Drop 2, Chin Sag, Chin Reverse, Chin Go, Chin Wing, Post Rip, Post Rip Option 2, Chin Flex and Chin Stagger.

How does this Chin start?

1 dribbles at 2 for a hand-off while 4 screens down for 3. 2 passes across to 3 in the right slot, 3 gets the ball to 4 on the right wing, and 2 shuffle cuts off 5 to the ball-side block.

What does 5 do while the cutter reads?

5 follows the three-point line to set the down screen and then plays off the cutter. When the cutter pops, 5 dives. When the cutter goes backdoor, 5 pops. When the cutter curls, 5 can pop or dive.

What are Corner and Drop?

Corner starts when the wing passes to the deep corner and cuts for a give-and-go, then 5 and the corner player run a two-player game. Drop 1 and Drop 2 are backdoor answers when the hand-off or the pass from the top to the wing is overplayed.

When is Chin Sag called?

Against a weak side that sags into the lane. It starts like Chin, then 5 and 4 both screen down on the sagging defender, and the top guard comes to the top of the key for a three. It can also be run in the middle of Chin once the sag shows.

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