Virginia Basketball Plays: Blocker-Mover Sets, Frame by Frame

Virginia basketball plays: the blocker-mover setup, its actions, four half-court sets, one full possession and two inbounds plays, drawn frame by frame.

Virginia basketball plays in this collection come from the blocker-mover offense Tony Bennett's Virginia teams ran as their base offense, and this guide draws every frame with where all five players go.

Virginia basketball plays start from the blocker-mover offense, the motion system Dick Bennett built and Tony Bennett ran as Virginia's base offense. Two players, the blockers, do the screening. Three players, the movers, cut off those screens and keep a top, side and side spacing. This page draws 12 plays across 36 frames: the setup, four mover-blocker actions, four half-court sets, one possession of the motion against man-to-man and two baseline out-of-bounds plays. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go. The rules of the system itself, and how to teach them, are on the blocker-mover offense.

The blockers set the screens and the movers read them. A mover who comes off a screen goes where his defender lets him, and the blocker steps back in to screen again.

Virginia Basketball Plays at a Glance

The setup and the four actions show the blockers at work, low and on the lane lines. The four sets add ball screens, an elevator screen and two staggered screens. The possession follows one trip down the floor from the first pass to a rejected ball screen, then adds a post option from a fresh alignment. The two inbounds plays come last. The same clinic also drew Exit and Flare reads against different defensive coverages, two-player versions of Exit and Flare, an after-timeout play, isolation sets, more Thumbs Up and Elevator options, several other sets and a 1-4 set against zone. Those are left off to keep this page to the clearest complete plays.

Play	Family	Frames	What it does
Mover-Blocker Setup	The Mover-Blocker Setup	3	Three movers and two blockers. The movers start at the top and low on the blocks, the blockers a step above them.
Diamond Entry	Mover-Blocker Actions	3	The point guard passes to the wing and cuts to the middle, and the two low movers then come off the blockers on opposite sides.
Exit Punch	Mover-Blocker Actions	3	A corner mover runs the baseline off one blocker while the point guard cuts off the other, and the ball goes to the post.
Flare	Mover-Blocker Actions	2	A baseline run and a back cut in the first frame set up a flare screen for the point guard in the second.
Flare Rescreen	Mover-Blocker Actions	3	It starts like Flare, but 1 cuts low instead of fading, and 5 screens a second time to bring him back up for the ball.
Euro	Half-Court Sets	4	A ball screen at the right slot, a swing to the left side and a second ball screen there, with the ball reversed back for a third.
Elevator	Half-Court Sets	2	The shooter runs the baseline and comes up through two screeners standing side by side, who close the gap behind him.
Thirds	Half-Court Sets	4	Two staggered screens in one possession: the first frees a mover across the lane, the second brings him up to the left slot for the shot.
Thumbs Up	Half-Court Sets	4	Both low movers curl out to the wings off the blockers, then the ball is reversed into a ball screen on the left side.
One Motion Possession	One Motion Possession, Pass by Pass	5	One possession of the Virginia motion against man-to-man: a back screen, two baseline runs off a low blocker, two flare screens, a rejected ball screen and a post entry.
UVA Baseline Out of Bounds	Baseline Out of Bounds	2	From a box, a screen across frees the first catch in the corner, and the inbounder then cuts backdoor while a stagger brings a shooter to the top.
1 Out	Baseline Out of Bounds	1	The inbounder passes to a high post, cuts off a screen in the lane, and the screener then comes off a second screen for the ball.

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 Mover-Blocker Setup

Mover-Blocker Setup

Three movers and two blockers. The movers start at the top and low on the blocks, the blockers a step above them.

Mover-Blocker Setup, frame 1: the starting spots.

Frame 1. The starting spots. 1, 2 and 3 are the movers and 4 and 5 are the blockers. 1 has the ball at the top of the key. 2 starts on the left block and 3 on the right block. 4 starts a step higher and wider at the left mid-post, and 5 does the same at the right mid-post. Nobody stands in the lane.

Mover-Blocker Setup, frame 2: the first cut off a blocker.

Frame 2. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 2 is on the left block, 3 on the right block, 4 at the left mid-post and 5 at the right mid-post. 5 steps down and screens for 3, and 3 curls up and out off the screen to the right wing, where 1 passes to him. 2 runs across the lane toward the rim to fill the spot 3 left, and 4 steps down and screens beside the left block.

Mover-Blocker Setup, frame 3: the next cuts off both blockers.

Frame 3. 3 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is just in front of the rim, 4 at the left mid-post, 5 at the right mid-post and 1 at the top of the key. 5 screens for 2, and 2 runs off 5's screen and out low on the right wing. 4 steps up and screens for 1 above the left elbow, and 1 cuts off 4's screen to the left wing. 3 dribbles up from the right wing to the right slot.

Mover-Blocker Actions

Diamond Entry

The point guard passes to the wing and cuts to the middle, and the two low movers then come off the blockers on opposite sides.

Diamond Entry, frame 1: the entry pass and the cut to the middle.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 3 is on the right wing, 2 low on the left side a step outside the lane, 4 at the left mid-post and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 3 and cuts down the middle to just above the free-throw circle. 3 dribbles up from the right wing to the right slot. 2 cuts across toward the rim.

Diamond Entry, frame 2: 1 and 2 come off the blockers.

Frame 2. Between frames, 3 has brought the ball to the top of the key and 2 has stopped just in front of the rim. 1 is just above the free-throw circle, 4 at the left mid-post and 5 on the right block. 4 steps out and screens for 1, and 1 cuts around 4 and down to the left block. 5 screens across for 2, and 2 runs along the baseline off 5's screen and out to the right wing. 3 passes to 2.

Diamond Entry, frame 3: the second side of the diamond.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball on the right wing, 1 is on the left block, 5 on the right block, 4 outside the left elbow and 3 at the top of the key. 5 screens across for 1, and 1 runs along the baseline off it and out to the right side, low on the wing. 2 dribbles up to the right slot to clear the wing for him. 4 steps up and screens for 3, and 3 cuts down the left side around the outside of 4, inside the arc.

Exit Punch

A corner mover runs the baseline off one blocker while the point guard cuts off the other, and the ball goes to the post.

Exit Punch, frame 1: 3 exits along the baseline.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 2 is on the right wing, 3 in the left corner, 5 on the right block and 4 just above the left elbow. 1 passes to 2. 5 screens at the right block, and 3 runs from the left corner along the baseline, under the basket and off 5's screen, out to the right corner. 4 steps up and screens for 1, and 1 cuts off 4 and down to the left block.

Exit Punch, frame 2: 1 lifts and 3 comes back off 5.

Frame 2. Between frames, 3 stopped short of the corner on the right block. 2 has the ball on the right wing, well outside the arc, 1 is on the left block, 4 above the left elbow and 5 outside the right block. 4 screens down for 1, and 1 comes up off it to the left slot. 5 screens toward the baseline for 3, and 3 comes off 5's screen up the right side, inside the arc, where 2 passes to him.

Exit Punch, frame 3: the post entry.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball in the right slot, 3 is on the right wing, 5 on the right block, 4 at the left mid-post and 1 in the left slot. 2 passes to 3, and 3 passes into 5 on the right block. 4 drops from the left mid-post to the left block, ready for a pass from 5 or an offensive rebound.

Flare

A baseline run and a back cut in the first frame set up a flare screen for the point guard in the second.

Flare, frame 1: the baseline run and the back cut.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 3 is at the top of the key, 2 on the right block, 4 outside the left block and 5 outside the right elbow. 4 screens just outside the left block, and 2 runs from the right block along the baseline off 4's screen and out to the left wing, where 1 passes to him. 5 steps up and screens for 3, and 3 cuts down around the outside of 5 to the right block.

Flare, frame 2: the flare for 1.

Frame 2. Between frames, 1 moved from the left slot to the top of the key, a move with no arrow. 2 has the ball on the left wing, 5 is at the right elbow, 3 on the right block and 4 on the left block. 2 dribbles up to the left slot. 5 steps up and sets a flare screen for 1, and 1 fades off it to the right wing, where 2 passes to him. 4 screens across, and 3 runs along the baseline off 4's screen to the left corner.

Flare Rescreen

It starts like Flare, but 1 cuts low instead of fading, and 5 screens a second time to bring him back up for the ball.

Flare Rescreen, frame 1: 1 goes low off the flare.

Frame 1. The first frame of Flare comes first. Then 2 has the ball on the left wing, 1 is at the top of the key, 5 at the right elbow, 3 on the right block and 4 on the left block. 2 dribbles up to the left slot and 5 steps up to set the flare screen for 1. This time 1 goes around 5's screen and cuts down the right side, outside the right block. 4 screens across, and 3 runs along the baseline to the left corner.

Flare Rescreen, frame 2: 5 screens again for 1.

Frame 2. Between frames, 5 has stepped back to just outside the right elbow. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 1 is low on the right side outside the block, 3 in the left corner and 4 on the left block. 5 screens down for 1 a second time, and 1 comes up off it to the right side of the free-throw circle, where 2 passes to him.

Flare Rescreen, frame 3: 1 drives and finds 5.

Frame 3. 1 has the ball on the right side of the free-throw circle, 5 is at the right mid-post, 2 in the left slot, 3 in the left corner and 4 on the left block. 1 dribbles out toward the right wing. 5 dips into the lane and seals back to the right block, and 1 passes to him there.

Half-Court Sets

Euro

A ball screen at the right slot, a swing to the left side and a second ball screen there, with the ball reversed back for a third.

Euro, frame 1: the first ball screen.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball on the right wing, 5 is at the top of the key, 4 in the left slot, 2 low on the left wing and 3 in the right corner. 5 steps over and sets a ball screen for 1. 1 dribbles off it to the top of the key and passes to 4 in the left slot. 5 rolls to the right block.

Euro, frame 2: the swing and the second screen.

Frame 2. 4 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is on the left wing, 5 on the right block, 1 at the top of the key and 3 in the right corner. 4 passes to 2 and follows the pass to set a ball screen for him. 5 comes up from the right block to the right side of the free-throw circle, and 1 slides from the top of the key to the right wing.

Euro, frame 3: 4 rolls and the ball comes back.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball on the left wing, 4 is beside him at the left mid-post, 5 on the right side of the free-throw circle, 1 on the right wing and 3 in the right corner. 4 screens and 2 dribbles up off the screen, while 4 rolls to the rim. 5 comes up to the top of the key, 2 passes back to him, and 5 dribbles toward the right slot. 1 cuts from the right wing to the rim, and 3 lifts from the right corner to the right wing.

Euro, frame 4: the third ball screen.

Frame 4. 5 has the ball in the right slot, 3 is on the right wing, 1 on the right block, 4 on the left block and 2 in the left slot. 5 passes to 3 and follows the pass to set a ball screen for him. 1 runs along the baseline from the right block to the left corner, 4 comes up from the left block to the top of the key, and 2 slides down from the left slot to the left wing.

Elevator

The shooter runs the baseline and comes up through two screeners standing side by side, who close the gap behind him.

Elevator, frame 1: 1 dribbles over and 2 runs the baseline.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball on the left wing, 2 is in the left corner, 5 on the left block, 4 at the left mid-post just above 5, and 3 in the right corner. 1 dribbles toward the middle to the left slot. 2 runs from the left corner along the baseline, under the basket, to the right block.

Elevator, frame 2: the elevator doors.

Frame 2. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is on the right block, 5 on the left block, 4 at the left mid-post and 3 in the right corner. 5 and 4 step to the left lane line, one above the other, and face the lane. 2 runs back across the lane between them, and they close together behind him. 2 comes out to the left corner, and 1 passes to him for the shot.

Thirds

Two staggered screens in one possession: the first frees a mover across the lane, the second brings him up to the left slot for the shot.

Thirds, frame 1: 2 runs off the first stagger.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball on the right wing, 3 is in the left corner, 2 on the left block, 4 just above him on the left side of the lane and 5 at the left elbow. 4 and 5 set a staggered screen, and 2 runs up off both of them, curls around 5 and comes back across the lane to the right mid-post.

Thirds, frame 2: 5 screens down for 4.

Frame 2. Between frames, 4 has dropped to the left block. 1 has the ball on the right wing, 3 is in the left corner, 5 at the left elbow and 2 at the right mid-post. 5 screens down for 4, and 4 comes up off it to the top of the key, where 1 passes to him.

Thirds, frame 3: 3 lifts and 5 flashes.

Frame 3. 4 has the ball at the top of the key, 3 is in the left corner, 5 at the left mid-post, 2 at the right mid-post and 1 on the right wing. 3 lifts from the left corner to the left wing, and 4 passes to him. 5 cuts up to the high post.

Thirds, frame 4: the second stagger for the shot.

Frame 4. 3 has the ball on the left wing, 4 is at the top of the key, 5 at the high post, 2 at the right mid-post and 1 on the right wing. 5 and 4 set a second staggered screen, and 2 runs up off both of them to the left slot, where 3 passes to him for the shot. 1 drops from the right wing to the right corner.

Thumbs Up

Both low movers curl out to the wings off the blockers, then the ball is reversed into a ball screen on the left side.

Thumbs Up, frame 1: 2 and 3 pop out to the wings.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 2 is on the left block, 3 on the right block, 4 at the left mid-post and 5 at the right mid-post. 4 and 5 step in and screen at the same time. 2 runs out off 4 to the left wing and 3 runs out off 5 to the right wing. 1 passes to 3.

Thumbs Up, frame 2: 1 rubs off 4 and 2 clears.

Frame 2. Between frames, 4 and 5 have stepped back to the blocks. 3 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is on the left wing, 1 at the top of the key, 4 on the left block and 5 on the right block. 4 steps up and screens for 1 above the free-throw circle, and 1 runs off it to the left wing. 2 clears from the left wing along the baseline to the right short corner.

Thumbs Up, frame 3: the reversal and the ball screen.

Frame 3. Between frames, 4 moved from his screen up to the top of the key, a move with no arrow. 3 has the ball on the right wing, 1 is on the left wing, 2 in the right short corner and 5 on the right block. 3 passes to 4 and 4 passes to 1. 4 follows his pass and sets a ball screen for 1 on the left wing. 2 steps out to the right corner.

Thumbs Up, frame 4: 1 turns the corner and hits the roll.

Frame 4. 1 has the ball on the left wing, 4 is inside him on the left side, just inside the arc, 3 on the right wing, 2 in the right corner and 5 on the right block. 4 screens for 1, and 1 dribbles off it toward the left elbow. 4 rolls to the left block, and 1 passes to him.

One Motion Possession, Pass by Pass

One Motion Possession

One possession of the Virginia motion against man-to-man: a back screen, two baseline runs off a low blocker, two flare screens, a rejected ball screen and a post entry.

One Motion Possession, frame 1: the back screen and the first baseline run.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 3 is on the left wing, 2 on the right wing, 4 on the left block and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 3. 5 flashes up from the right block and back-screens for 1 at the top of the circle, and 1 cuts off it down to the right short corner. 5 then pops out to just off the right elbow. While 5 flashes, 2 cuts from the right wing down across the lane, runs under 4's screen at the left block on the baseline side, and comes out low on the left wing. 3 passes to 2 and steps up to the left slot.

One Motion Possession, frame 2: the second baseline run and a flare.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball on the left wing, 1 is in the right short corner, 4 on the left block, 5 just off the right elbow and 3 in the left slot. 1 runs along the baseline off 4's screen at the left block and comes out low on the left wing. 2 dribbles up to the left slot to make room for 1's cut. 5 steps up and sets a flare screen for 3, and 3 runs off it across the top and down the right side, outside the right block.

One Motion Possession, frame 3: the flare for 2.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 1 is low on the left wing, 3 just outside the right block, 4 on the left block and 5 just above the free-throw circle on the right side. 2 passes to 1 and 5 sets a flare screen for 2. 1 dribbles up to the left slot as 2 fades off 5's screen to the right wing, and 1 passes to him. 3 runs along the baseline to the left short corner, and 4 flashes up the lane line to the left elbow.

One Motion Possession, frame 4: 2 rejects the ball screen.

Frame 4. Between frames, 3 has drifted out from the left short corner to the left corner. 2 has the ball on the right wing, 5 is just above the free-throw circle on the right side, 1 in the left slot and 4 at the left elbow. 5 comes out to set a ball screen for 2 on the high side. 2 rejects it and drives the other way, down the baseline side to the right block, then kicks the ball out to 3 in the left corner.

One Motion Possession, frame 5: the post option.

Frame 5. This frame starts from a new alignment. It is the post option, a separate look, not the next pass of the possession. 1 has the ball on the left wing, 4 is on the left block, 3 at the top of the key, 5 just off the right elbow and 2 in the right short corner. 1 passes inside to 4 and then sets a screen for 3, facing in toward the left elbow. 3 runs around the outside of 1 to the left wing, ready for a kick-out pass from 4 and a catch-and-shoot.

Baseline Out of Bounds

UVA Baseline Out of Bounds

From a box, a screen across frees the first catch in the corner, and the inbounder then cuts backdoor while a stagger brings a shooter to the top.

UVA Baseline Out of Bounds, frame 1: the screen across and the inbound.

Frame 1. 2 inbounds from under the basket, on the left side. The others are in a box: 5 on the left block, 1 on the right block, 3 at the left elbow and 4 at the right elbow. 5 screens across the lane for 1, and 1 runs off it to the left corner, where 2 passes to him. 3 sprints from the left elbow to the right corner, the weak-side corner, and 4 goes deep to the left slot.

UVA Baseline Out of Bounds, frame 2: the backdoor or the stagger.

Frame 2. Between frames, 5 has rolled back across the lane to the right block, a move with no arrow. 1 has the ball in the left corner, 2 is still out of bounds, 5 on the right block, 3 in the right corner and 4 at the top of the key. 1 dribbles up the left side and across to the left slot, away from the corner, then turns to look for 2. 2 steps in and cuts backdoor to the rim, and 1 passes to him if he is open. 5 and 4 set a staggered screen for 3, and 3 runs off both of them to the top of the key, the second look if 2 is covered.

1 Out

The inbounder passes to a high post, cuts off a screen in the lane, and the screener then comes off a second screen for the ball.

1 Out, frame 1: screen the screener.

Frame 1. 1 inbounds from under the basket, on the right side. 3 stands in the lane just in front of the rim, set as the screener, 4 is off the right elbow, 5 low on the right side between the block and the corner, and 2 in the left corner. 1 passes to 4, steps in and cuts across the face of 3's screen to the left block. Then 5 screens for 3, and 3 comes off 5's screen to the right wing, where 4 passes to him.

Ideas That Repeat

The blockers, 4 and 5, set almost every screen. In the possession, the point guard turns screener only once, for the post option.
A mover runs the baseline off a low blocker in Diamond Entry, Exit Punch, Flare and the possession. The baseline run is the most common cut on the page.
A screener rarely screens once. In Flare Rescreen, 5 screens for 1, steps back and screens for him again.
The flare screen shows up in Flare and twice in the possession, always to send a shooter away from the ball.
When the ball handler dribbles toward a teammate, that teammate cuts or clears. 2 dribbles up so 1 can run the baseline, and in Diamond Entry 2 dribbles to the slot to clear the wing for 1.
Staggered screens finish Thirds and the second inbounds frame, with the shooter coming off the second screener toward the ball.

The rules of the system are on the blocker-mover offense, and the defensive side is on how to defend blocker-mover. Virginia's defense is the pack line, covered in how to coach pack line defense. The screens are in flare screen basketball, back screen basketball, down screen basketball, the elevator screen and stagger screen to the corner, and the ball screens in pick and roll. For more inbounds sets, see baseline out of bounds plays. The wider family is on motion offense basketball. Virginia is one of the programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Teach the blockers where they may screen first, then add one action at a time.

Questions Coaches Ask About Virginia Basketball Plays

What offense does Virginia run?

The blocker-mover, a motion offense with two screeners and three cutters. Tony Bennett ran it as Virginia's base offense, and it comes from his father, Dick Bennett.

What is the difference between a blocker and a mover?

Blockers set screens for the movers, usually along the lane lines, and do not screen for each other. Movers cut off those screens, fill the top and the two sides, and read how their defenders play each screen.

Is the blocker-mover a set play?

No. It is played by rules, and the actions on this page are examples of what the rules produce. The half-court sets and the inbounds plays are the called plays.

What does rejecting a ball screen mean?

The ball handler waits for the screen, then drives the other way. In the possession on this page, 2 rejects 5's screen, drives the baseline side and kicks the ball out to the corner.

How does the UVA inbounds play work?

From a box, 5 screens across for 1, who catches in the corner. The inbounder then steps in and cuts backdoor while 5 and 4 set a staggered screen for 3 at the top.

School profile: Virginia Cavaliers on College Basketball Recruit.

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