Here is another play as old as the hills. Kentucky's pride, coach Adolph Rupp used it very effectively to compile his impressive record. With the arrival of the three-point play and if coach Rupp were alive and coaching, today, he would be running the old guard-around until the "cows come home."

The guard-around play, as Coach Rupp called it is still effective, today. Coach Rupp considered the following play options to be the best fundamental ball handling drills the he ever found. The old coach set his up in the same way as is illustrated in the first five diagrams that follow on the next few pages; however, you can fit it into most any offensive set known, today. The next four diagrams following Coach Rupp's drills are a couple of typical examples of how to use the guard-around with other sets.

COACH RUPP'S OFFENSIVE GUARD-AROUND PLAYS

As can be seen from the next five diagrams, the setup is the same in every case with five options for the guard to exercise as he sees fit. Here are a few pointers to help coaches in developing this play:

1. A guard must be an excellent ball handler.
2. A guard must be quick.
3. All guard-around plays must be run with maximum speed in ball handling and footwork.
4. A guard must always be in a triple threat position when he catches the ball.
5. The guard-around play works best when the guard is near a sideline.
6. The guard should cut right off the tail of the forward in a straight line at the basket, not a circular route.

The following four diagrams with explanations will show how each option is executed. These series of guard plays will work with any type defense. Regardless of how a defender maneuvers, one of these plays will fit the situation.

It was from these options that Coach Rupp developed the famous Kentucky offense. It can easily be seen that Rupp depended a great deal on his guards being scoring threats as his forwards and centers. He felt with clever ball handling, two of his smaller players could set up a well defined five player offense that fit well in his Kentucky patterned offense. When they exhausted the possibilities of two-man plays, they included the third (pivot) man into the play and many other high-percentage scoring opportunities than shown here were used by Coach Rupp. These plays can be used on either side of the floor. They are excellent ball handling drills in teaching basic fundamentals of basketball. Coach Rupp sent his players through these drills most every practice. Not only did the develop ball-handling ability, change of direction, goal shooting, rebounding, and other necessary fundamentals, but, at the same time, built his complete offense.

In the guard-around play, the player with the ball may hand off to a teammate crossing behind him and set a lateral screen, or a player can set a lateral screen for the dribbler as the dribbler crosses behind him. In either case, the screener can stop close to the defender, because the defender can see the screen coming.

When the man with the ball hands off or passes to the dribbler and sets a lateral screen, he should stop and use an offensive roll immediately after the teammate move by him. Stepping imperceptibly toward the second opponent, in the direction of the end line, with the foot nearest the end line he pivots on that foot, away from the opponent he has screened. With this move he avoids causing any contact and obtains and holds an inside advantage on the opponent if there is a defensive switch, His pivot foot steps directly toward the basket. He should continue toward the basket quickly with his inside hand up as a target for a pass if the defensive switch occurs, the best passing lane opens immediately after the defensive exchange is made.

Related Articles:

• Play #1 - One-on-one

• Play #2 - Give-and-go

• Play #3 - Pick-and-roll

• Play #4 - Pick-opposite

• Play #5 - Scissors Cut

• Play #6 - Cut Through

• Play #7 - Shallow Cut

• Play #8 - Guard Around