Gameplanning Help & Info

How to make a depth chart:

Use this template and copy & paste your players in. The starting 5 should play a majority of the game, the bench should play sparingly (aside from the 6th man), the reserves should play very little. Also, there is a primary and secondary offense and defense schemes that you must set.

If you do not have 15 eligible players, then you do not have to fill out all 15 spots.

In addition, you can redshirt up to 3 players a year - they must be either freshmen or sophomores.

Starting 5
PG -
SG -
SF -
PF -
C -
------------------
Bench
6 -
7 -
8 -
9 -
10 -
Reserves
11 -
12 -
13 -
14 -
15 -

Primary Offense (used 70% of the time):
Secondary Offense (used 30% of the time):

Primary Defense (used 70% of the time):
Secondary Defense (used 30% of the time):

Redshirts (optional)
1 -
2 -
3 -

This will determine the amount of playing time given to your players (the CPU will do it). If you want - you can set the target minutes of each player - the numbers must add to 200. If you wish to add a set amount of minutes, use this template:

Starting 5
( # of Min) PG -
( # of Min) SG -
( # of Min) SF -
( # of Min) PF -
( # of Min) C -
------------------
Bench
( # of Min) 6 -
( # of Min) 7 -
( # of Min) 8 -
( # of Min) 9 -
( # of Min) 10 -
Reserves
( # of Min) 11 -
( # of Min) 12 -
( # of Min) 13 -
( # of Min) 14 -
( # of Min) 15 -

Primary Offense (used 70% of the time):
Secondary Offense (used 30% of the time):

Primary Defense (used 70% of the time):
Secondary Defense (used 30% of the time):

Redshirts (optional)
1 -
2 -
3 -

Motion
The motion offense is the basic offensive set, and is most commonly used. It requires movement by players without the ball but keeps the primary post players in the paint while allowing the guards and small forward to roam the outside or cut to the basket. This set provides good balance between the perimeter game and strong inside post play, with good offensive rebounding presence. All player types [Shooters, Protectors, Balanced etc] can be used well in this offense. This is probably the most common offensive set.

Flex
The flex offense requires all five players to be competent at ball handling and passing. When run correctly, easy shots are freed up in the low and high posts for all players but the big men must be able to handle the ball or pass efficiently. A starting frontcourt of Protectors will not be effective in the offense. This offense works well against man-to-man defense because it involves a lot of picks on defensive players. This offensive set is one of the less common sets used in college basketball.

High Post
The high post offense draws opposing big men away from the basket while attempting to allow swingmen to post up but the downside is your big players will be out of position for offensive rebounds. Stretch inside players work well in this offense as it allows them to shoot and utilize their mid-range game and Swingmen also play well in this offense. However, Protector inside players and tall guards also work well with this offense by going back down low and posting up.

Shuffle
The shuffle offense is a continuous movement offense that really attempts to push the ball into the low and high posts through a series of quick cuts, passes, and ball reversal. Works best with tall guards that can play in the posts and using a Point Forward is very beneficial when using this offense. Shuffle is best used for teams with the lack of height or a dominant big man in their frontcourt players. Shuffle is common type of offense in the world of college basketball.

Princeton
The Princeton offense attempts to get as many layups and easy shots as possible through a series of back door basket cuts. A good passing big man (a Stretch/Point Forward/Balanced too) is crucial to the success of this offense as well as well-trained players making good cuts. To work well with this offense, teams should have a good amount of shooters (balanced players too) on the roster but also have a slashing guard on the roster to make easy layups (This is not a requirement but it helps). This offense is typically slow and used by inferior teams against better competition - it can capitalize of mistakes of the better competition.

Triangle
The triangle offense attempts to overload one side of the floor in an attempt to get the ball to a player in the post - a good big man is effective when used in this system. It is a more traditional offense in the fact that big guys tend to stay around the basket with guards on the outside. The triangle offense is a popular type of offense in college basketball - many types of players work well in this offense.

5 Out
The 5 out offense is designed for teams with good perimeter players - Stretch and Balanced big men also work well here. Much of the time the ball is behind the arc allowing for many outside shot attempts (Shooters and Balanced players do well on the outside. The downside is that there are very few offensive rebound chances. This offense works well with players of roughly equal talent - a team that has 1 dominant player and a bunch of average players won't play well in this offense.

HALF-COURT DEFENSES

Man-to-Man
Your basic half court man to man defense. It works best when players have strong 1v1 defensive skills as well as the ability to offer help on drives. The most common defensive set right here.

2-3 Zone
The 2-3 zone does a good job of defending the paint and is good for defensive rebounding but gives up open shots at the wings, point, and high posts. Probably the most common zone defensive set.

1-3-1 Zone
The 1-3-1 zone is good for defending outside shooters at the point and wings but allows the offense to attack from the baseline corners and low post. A Protector at center works well in this defense.

1-2-2 Zone
The 1-2-2 zone is good for defending teams that shoot well from the outside however it does allow the offense more opportunities to score from the high posts and corners.

3-2 Zone
The 3-2 Zone is similar to the 1-2-2 zone except that there is less pressure on the ball at the top of the key opting instead to take away the high post area.

PRESSURE DEFENSES

Full Court Man-to-Man
A full court man to man press can be effective if you have high energy, athletic players who are good ball defenders (think Slasher, Balanced, Swingmen, etc). This press will generate the fewest steals but also give up the fewest fast breaks and will tire the offense.

1-2-1-1 Press
The 1-2-1-1 diamond press offers the biggest risk/reward opportunity by trapping the inbound pass, hoping for a quick steal close to basket. However, it can allow for easy baskets against good passing teams.

1-2-2 Press
The 1-2-2 press attempts to trap midway in the backcourt trying to force a pass that can be stolen around midcourt. Stolen passes don't necessarily result in easy baskets and fewer easy scores are given up as a result.

2-2-1 Press
The 2-2-1 press is a deceptive press which tries to force a ballhandler into a trap at midcourt. This is the safest of the full court presses in terms of baskets given up but also results in the fewest fast breaks for your team when your team steals the ball.

2-2-1 Half-Court Trap
The 2-2-1 HC trap is a trap run in the half court so it's the least taxing on your players in terms of energy. Attempts to trap can be made at the wings and corners although good guards have the ability to pick the trap apart in the half court.