Coach Talk - North Carolina Tar Heels
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The #2 North Carolina Tar Heels travel to Columbus to meet the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Big 10/ACC challenge tonight. Expect Roy Williams' team to try to run the young Buckeyes out of the gym using the patented Carolina secondary break. It won Williams his first and only National Championship and has been a staple of the Carolina coaching tree for years.
Just what is the secondary break?
The basic concept is simple - you have a fast break and a secondary break. UNC considers a fast break to be transition offense against two or fewer defenders. The break should be successful in two or fewer passes.
The secondary break is transition offense against more than two defenders. This can even develop after a made basket - watch how UNC will attempt to run after made baskets because one of the best times to catch defenders jogging as they celebrate their score. The Tar Heels are looking for a dunk/lay-up and will usually use at least three passes before taking anything other than one.
Let's breakdown the secondary break Carolina will use tonight. The key to the break is post-player Tyler Hansbrough or whoever is running the 5 position (center/post). He will race down the floor to the front of the rim hoping to beat his defender to the basket for a quick seal or dunk/lay-up. If he does not get the ball immediately, he moves to the ballside block (wherever it is dribbled or passed) to post again. Scott May was FANTASTIC at beating his defender down the floor to establish good post position inside.
UNC teaches its players, especially the 5 man, to win the first three steps in transition. Danny Manning made a collegiate career (under Carolina man Larry Brown) of busting it for three steps in transition to get superior position. Remember, Manning was not the most athletic player in the world, but he was one of the great college basketball players of all-time. Much of it was due to this idea of "the first three steps."
So the 5 man is running up the chute to the basket. The perimeter will now be filled by the 1, 2, and 3 players (or the point guard and two wings). Look for one man to go to the corner and the other two to occupy the two wings. The last man, the 4, will trail the play and stop at the top of the key. The 4 man is usually the in-bounder or the rebounder of the ball.
Everyone is looking to hit the 5 man in the post. If the ball cannot be entered to him immediately from the 1 or in the corner from the 3, it will be swung around the floor to allow him to seal his defender and receive the entry from a high/low pass (from the 4 man) or the other side of the floor. UNC will also go straight into its set plays from this alignment if it does not get a quick lay-up.
One thing you will not see out of the Carolina secondary break is three-pointers. While many teams are now looking for threes in transition, UNC will only take one after penetration or ball reversal. The Carolina belief is that three-pointers do not challenge the defense. You can see why post players love to come to UNC - the focus is getting them the ball early and often.
How to stop it? Ohio State has spent the week preparing to sprint back after any change of possession. You won't see anyone jogging after a made shot. You might see Ohio State try to harass the rebounder so that he cannot quickly outlet the basketball - that will slow down the secondary break and allow the Buckeyes time to defend Hansbrough. You might also see them try to harass Ty Lawson as he brings the ball up the floor, though that is nearly impossible with his tremendous speed. The key for Ohio State will be to prevent the easy shots and force Carolina to make multiple passes to get their shots.
Watch how UNC is able to get quick, easy looks at the basket tonight out of this secondary break.
