Xavier Basketball Plays: Chris Mack Man Offense Sets

Xavier basketball plays from the Chris Mack era: ten man offense sets, drawn frame by frame with where every player goes.

Xavier basketball plays in this collection are ten half-court sets against man defense from Xavier's 2012-13 season under head coach Chris Mack, and this guide draws every frame of every one.

Xavier basketball plays in this collection are ten half-court sets against man-to-man defense, from Xavier's 2012-13 season, when Chris Mack was the head coach. They are short and guard-driven: a wing entry, a cut, a reversal and then one finishing action such as a dribble hand-off, a flare screen or a ball screen and roll. This page draws 10 sets across 29 frames. Every frame of the original is redrawn, and the text under it names where all five players go.

Most of these sets get the ball to 5 at the elbow or the nail and then run the next action off him, so the big is a passer and a screener as much as a scorer.

Xavier Basketball Plays at a Glance

Three sets share one 3 Guard start, three are built on backdoor and dribble-at reads, two are dribble flip entries called Fluff, and two finish with a ball screen or a UCLA screen. The source never spells out what EC stands for, so the set keeps its original name here.

Play	Family	Frames	What it does
3 Guard #1	The 3 Guard Series	3	A wing entry with a corner cut, a reversal to 5 at the elbow, a flare look for 2, and a dribble hand-off and roll to finish.
3 Guard #2	The 3 Guard Series	2	The same wing entry and corner cut, but 5 flashes for the catch and 2 screens down for 4.
3 Guard EC	The 3 Guard Series	4	The 3 Guard #1 start, then 5 hands the ball back to 2 with a middle ball screen and follows it with a flare screen.
Backdoor Bump	Backdoor and Dribble-At Reads	3	5 flashes to the elbow for the catch and 3 cuts over the top. A backdoor cut follows, then a sideline ball screen and roll.
Dribble At	Backdoor and Dribble-At Reads	4	A wing entry, a flash to the nail, then two dribble-at reads: a backdoor cut and a dribble hand-off.
Spin Dribble	Backdoor and Dribble-At Reads	3	A dribble-at that sends 2 through, a spin dribble that triggers a backdoor cut, and a flare screen for 1.
Fluff Entry #1	The Fluff Entries	2	A dribble flip between 1 and 2 while 3 and 4 trade places, then a reversal, a basket cut and a high post flash by 5.
Fluff Entry #2	The Fluff Entries	2	A dribble flip between 1 and 3, a catch up top for 2, then 3 cuts through and 5 flashes to the elbow.
MBS Throwback	Ball Screen and High Post Actions	2	A middle ball screen with a throwback to the popping screener, a down screen for 2, and a post touch for 4.
UCLA Action	Ball Screen and High Post Actions	4	A high post catch with a guard scissor cut, a UCLA screen for the passer, then a dribble-at and a flare screen to clean it up.

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 3 Guard Series

3 Guard #1

A wing entry with a corner cut, a reversal to 5 at the elbow, a flare look for 2, and a dribble hand-off and roll to finish.

3 Guard #1, frame 1: the wing entry and the corner cut.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is in the left slot, 3 on the right wing, 4 on the left wing and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 3 and cuts to the right corner. 3 reverses the ball to 2, who steps toward the pass and catches it in the left slot.

3 Guard #1, frame 2: the cut through, the elbow catch and the flare look.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 3 is on the right wing, 5 on the right block, 4 on the left wing and 1 in the right corner. 3 cuts through along the baseline to the left corner. 5 comes up from the right block to the right elbow and 2 passes to him. 4 comes in to the left elbow and sets a flare screen for 2. 2 takes a step in toward the elbow, then fades off the screen a few steps wider on the left side, toward the left wing. After the screen, 4 cuts through the lane under the basket to the right corner, where 1 is waiting.

3 Guard #1, frame 3: the dribble hand-off and roll.

Frame 3. Between frames, 1 lifts from the right corner to the right wing. That move has no arrow in the diagram. 5 has the ball at the right elbow, 1 is on the right wing, 4 in the right corner, 2 in the left slot and 3 in the left corner. 5 dribbles at 1, hands the ball off and rolls to the rim. 1 takes the hand-off and attacks toward the middle, looking for 5 on the roll.

3 Guard #2

The same wing entry and corner cut, but 5 flashes for the catch and 2 screens down for 4.

3 Guard #2, frame 1: the wing entry and the corner cut.

Frame 1. The same start as 3 Guard #1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is in the left slot, 3 on the right wing, 4 on the left wing and 5 on the right block. 1 passes to 3 and cuts to the right corner. 3 reverses the ball to 2, who steps toward the pass.

3 Guard #2, frame 2: the elbow flash and the down screen for 4.

Frame 2. 3 cuts through from the right wing along the baseline to the left corner. 5 flashes from the right block to the right elbow and catches the pass from 2. 2 then screens down for 4, and 4 comes up off the screen from the left wing to just above the left elbow. 1 stays in the right corner.

3 Guard EC

The 3 Guard #1 start, then 5 hands the ball back to 2 with a middle ball screen and follows it with a flare screen.

3 Guard EC, frame 1: the wing entry and the corner cut.

3 Guard EC, frame 2: the cut through, the elbow catch and the flare look.

Frame 2. The same second frame as 3 Guard #1. 3 cuts through from the right wing to the left corner. 5 comes up from the right block to the right elbow and 2 passes to him. 4 comes in to the left elbow and sets a flare screen for 2, and 2 steps in, then fades a few steps wider toward the left wing. 4 then cuts through the lane under the basket to the right corner, where 1 waits.

3 Guard EC, frame 3: the middle ball screen for 2.

Frame 3. 5 has passed the ball back to 2 in the left slot (that pass is not drawn). Between frames 1 has lifted from the right corner to the right wing with no arrow. 5 follows the pass with a ball screen in the middle, inside the arc a few feet above the free-throw line. 2 dribbles off the screen to the right and passes to 1 on the right wing. 3 is in the left corner and 4 in the right corner.

3 Guard EC, frame 4: 5 follows with a flare screen.

Frame 4. 1 has the ball on the right wing, 2 is in the right slot, 5 inside the arc a few feet above the free-throw line, 3 in the left corner and 4 in the right corner. 5 follows his ball screen with a flare screen for 2, and 2 fades off it to the top of the key for a shot.

Backdoor and Dribble-At Reads

Backdoor Bump

5 flashes to the elbow for the catch and 3 cuts over the top. A backdoor cut follows, then a sideline ball screen and roll.

Backdoor Bump, frame 1: the elbow flash and the cut over the top.

Frame 1. 3 has the ball in the left slot. 2 is in the left corner, 4 on the left wing, 5 on the right block and 1 in the right corner. 5 flashes up to the right elbow and 3 passes to him. 3 then cuts over the top of 5 to the right corner, next to 1.

Backdoor Bump, frame 2: the backdoor fake and the backdoor cut.

Frame 2. Between frames, 1 lifts from the right corner to the right wing and 3 settles just inside him near the baseline. Neither move has an arrow. 5 has the ball just above the right elbow. 1 fakes a backdoor cut and comes back out to catch the pass from 5. 3, who finished his cut on the right side near the corner, then cuts backdoor along the baseline to the left block. 2 stays in the left corner and 4 on the left wing.

Backdoor Bump, frame 3: the sideline ball screen and roll.

Frame 3. Between frames, with no arrows drawn, 3 moves out from the left block to the left corner, 2 lifts from the left corner to the left wing and 4 moves up from the left wing to the top of the key. 1 has the ball on the right wing. 5, just above the right elbow, sets a sideline ball screen for 1, then rolls to the rim, and 1 passes to him on the roll.

Dribble At

A wing entry, a flash to the nail, then two dribble-at reads: a backdoor cut and a dribble hand-off.

Dribble At, frame 1: the wing entry and the trade on the right.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball at the top of the key. 3 is on the left wing, 5 on the left block, 4 on the right wing and 2 in the right corner. 1 passes to 3 and cuts to the left corner. 2 and 4 trade spots: 4 goes to the right corner and 2 comes up to the right wing.

Dribble At, frame 2: 5 catches at the nail.

Frame 2. 3 has the ball on the left wing, 1 is in the left corner, 5 on the left block, 2 on the right wing and 4 in the right corner. 5 flashes from the left block to the nail, the middle of the free-throw line, and 3 passes to him.

Dribble At, frame 3: 5 dribbles at 3 for the backdoor cut.

Frame 3. Between frames 5 steps out with the ball from the nail to the top of the key, a move with no arrow. 3 is on the left wing, 1 in the left corner, 2 on the right wing and 4 in the right corner. 5 dribbles at 3, which is the signal for 3 to cut backdoor. 3 cuts across the lane to the right side of the rim.

Dribble At, frame 4: the dribble hand-off with 1.

Frame 4. 5 has the ball just outside the left elbow after his dribble. 1 is in the left corner, 3 on the right block after his backdoor cut, 2 on the right wing and 4 in the right corner. 1 comes up from the left corner and takes a dribble hand-off from 5, heading toward the top of the key.

Spin Dribble

A dribble-at that sends 2 through, a spin dribble that triggers a backdoor cut, and a flare screen for 1.

Spin Dribble, frame 1: the dribble at 2.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is in the right slot, 3 on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 1 dribbles at 2, which sends 2 through the lane to the left corner. 5 comes up from the right block to the right elbow.

Spin Dribble, frame 2: the spin dribble and the trade behind.

Frame 2. 1 has the ball at the top of the key, 3 is on the left wing, 2 in the left corner, 5 at the right elbow and 4 on the right wing. 1 spin dribbles and comes back toward the left, which sends 3 backdoor to the left side of the rim. 2 trades up behind him from the left corner to the left wing and catches the pass from 1.

Spin Dribble, frame 3: 5 flares for 1.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball on the left wing and dribbles up toward the left slot. 3 is on the left block after his backdoor cut, 1 in the left slot, 5 at the right elbow and 4 on the right wing. 5 steps up from the right elbow and sets a flare screen for 1 just inside the arc, left of the middle, and 1 fades off it to the right.

The Fluff Entries

Fluff Entry #1

A dribble flip between 1 and 2 while 3 and 4 trade places, then a reversal, a basket cut and a high post flash by 5.

Fluff Entry #1, frame 1: the dribble flip and the trade on the left.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is on the right wing, 3 on the left wing, 4 in the left slot and 5 on the right block. 1 dribbles at 2 and flips him the ball as 2 comes back toward the right slot. On the other side 3 and 4 trade places: 3 comes up to the left slot and 4 cuts down to the left corner.

Fluff Entry #1, frame 2: the reversal, the cut through and the high post flash.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball in the right slot, 3 is in the left slot, 4 low on the left wing, 1 on the right wing and 5 on the right block. 2 reverses the ball to 3 and cuts through, behind 5 and under the basket, to the left corner. 5 flashes from the right block to the right elbow, which starts a Princeton-style high post look.

Fluff Entry #2

A dribble flip between 1 and 3, a catch up top for 2, then 3 cuts through and 5 flashes to the elbow.

Fluff Entry #2, frame 1: the dribble flip and the catch up top.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is in the left slot, 3 on the right wing, 4 on the left wing and 5 on the right block. 1 dribbles at 3 and flips him the ball. 3 dribbles back out toward the right slot and passes to 2 in the left slot.

Fluff Entry #2, frame 2: 3 cuts through and 5 flashes.

Frame 2. 2 has the ball in the left slot, 3 is in the right slot, 1 on the right wing, 4 on the left wing and 5 on the right block. 3 cuts through, behind 5 and under the basket, to the left corner, and 5 flashes from the right block to the right elbow.

Ball Screen and High Post Actions

MBS Throwback

A middle ball screen with a throwback to the popping screener, a down screen for 2, and a post touch for 4.

MBS Throwback, frame 1: the middle ball screen and the throwback.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball deep in the left slot. 5 is at the right elbow, 2 on the left block, 4 on the left wing and 3 in the right corner. 5 sets a ball screen in the middle at the top of the key and 1 dribbles off it to the right. 5 pops back to the left slot and 1 throws the ball back to him. At the same time 4 screens down for 2, and 2 comes up off it to the left wing.

MBS Throwback, frame 2: the post touch to 4.

Frame 2. 5 has the ball in the left slot, 2 is on the left wing, 4 on the left block after his down screen, 1 in the right slot and 3 in the right corner. 5 passes to 2 on the wing, and 2 looks inside for a post touch to 4.

UCLA Action

A high post catch with a guard scissor cut, a UCLA screen for the passer, then a dribble-at and a flare screen to clean it up.

UCLA Action, frame 1: the elbow catch and the guard scissor.

Frame 1. 1 has the ball in the right slot, 2 is in the left slot, 3 on the left wing, 4 on the right wing and 5 on the left block. 5 flashes to the left elbow and 1 passes to him. The guards scissor off 5: 1 cuts to the left corner and 2 cuts to the right block. 3 and 4 lift higher on their sides.

UCLA Action, frame 2: the UCLA screen for 5.

Frame 2. 5 has the ball at the left elbow, 3 is on the left wing, 4 high on the right wing, 1 in the left corner and 2 on the right block. 5 passes to 4. 2 steps up from the right block toward the right elbow and sets a UCLA screen for 5, who cuts off it to the rim. 2 then pops out to the right slot and 4 passes to him.

UCLA Action, frame 3: the dribble at and the quick trade.

Frame 3. 2 has the ball in the right slot, 4 is on the right wing, 5 on the right block, 3 on the left wing and 1 in the left corner. 2 dribbles toward the left side, and 1 and 3 trade places quickly: 3 goes down to the left short corner and 1 comes up to the left wing for the pass.

UCLA Action, frame 4: 5 cleans it up with a flare.

Frame 4. 1 has the ball on the left wing, 2 is just inside the arc above the left elbow, 3 in the left short corner, 5 on the right block and 4 on the right wing. 5 comes up from the right block to the free-throw line and sets a flare screen for 2, and 2 fades off it to the right slot.

Ideas That Repeat

5 flashes to the elbow or the nail in nine of the ten sets and catches there in six.
A dribble at a teammate is a signal. It sends him backdoor, through to the corner or into a trade.
The flare screen shows up as a finish in 3 Guard #1, 3 Guard EC, Spin Dribble and UCLA Action.
Cutters clear to the corners, so the middle stays open for the hand-off, the ball screen or the post touch.
The 3 Guard series uses one start with three different finishes, so the defense sees the same first two passes every time.
A screener rarely stops after one screen. He rolls, pops or sets a second screen.

The finishing actions are covered in flare screen basketball, dribble hand-off, pick and roll and down screen basketball. The backdoor reads tie into backdoor triggers, the UCLA screen into the UCLA offense, and the high post flash in Fluff Entry #1 leads into the Princeton offense. For calling sets from the bench, see how to run quick hitters. Xavier is one of the programs on the college basketball plays page under the Offense hub. Install one series at a time and rep the first two passes until they are automatic.

Questions Coaches Ask About Xavier Basketball Plays

How many Xavier sets are in this collection?

Ten man offense sets: 3 Guard #1, 3 Guard #2, 3 Guard EC, Backdoor Bump, Dribble At, Fluff Entry #1, Fluff Entry #2, MBS Throwback, Spin Dribble and UCLA Action.

What is the 3 Guard set?

1 passes to 3 on the wing and cuts to the corner, 3 reverses the ball to 2, and 3 cuts through as 5 comes to the elbow. The three versions then finish with a dribble hand-off, a down screen or a middle ball screen and flare.

What is a Fluff entry?

A dribble flip entry. 1 dribbles at a wing and flips him the ball, which moves the floor and sets up a reversal and a cut through.

What does a dribble at mean in these sets?

The ball handler dribbles toward a teammate, and that tells the teammate to cut backdoor, cut through to the corner or come back for a hand-off.

What is UCLA Action here?

5 catches at the left elbow, the guards scissor off him, 5 passes to the wing and cuts off a UCLA screen from 2 to the rim, and 2 pops to the top for the next pass.

School profile: Xavier Musketeers on College Basketball Recruit.

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