Breakdown Drills for Teaching Half Court Man to Man Defense

Craig Neal built the University of New Mexico men’s basketball program into one of the toughest in Mountain West Conference with a half-court man-to-man defense that doesn’t give up easy shots. Neal, who led the Lobos to the 2014 MWC tournament title and then spent time in the NBA as a scout and an assistant with Toronto, teaches his defensive philosophy and shares the drills that helped him build one of college basketball’s toughest defenses.

Half Court Man to Man Defense Breakdown Drills

Coach Neal shows you six drills that teach players individual on-ball defensive techniques. Using these half court man to man defense drills in practice will help your players:

• Learn how to talk on defense all over the floor
• Practice defensive closeout techniques from various angles
• Learn the Rodman Drill which will improve your team’s rebounding
• Improve transition defense using the 2-on-1 Build Up Drill
• Learn the Toughness Drill which was taken from Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers to teach many of these skills all in one drill

Shell Drill

Coach Neal uses the traditional shell drill to teach his defensive philosophy. You will see how Coach Neal uses towels in the drill to teach his players to play defense in the half-court with their feet, not their hands. You will see the proper way to defend the baseline drive and a middle drive and not give up a layup. Coach Neal also demonstrates the how he gets players to jump to the ball.

Defending Pick & Rolls

In today’s game, you have to have the ability to defend the pick and roll. Here, Coach Neal teaches strategies for defending screens like the hard hedge, flat hedge, Trap, Ice, and Hot. There are a number of ways to defend ball screen offenses and Coach Neal shows you how to select the right one that fits your team. He explains how to scout opponents, how to make in-game adjustments, and how to defend ball screens.

Coach Neal shows you how you can effectively build an elite defense beginning with a sound philosophy all the way to advanced defensive techniques. His presentation is a great look at how a Division I coach creates a tough defense. Rent this half court man to man defense DVD today.