Coach Jack Hartman played and coached under famed Henry Iba at Oklahoma State. After leading the Coffeeville (Kansas) Junior College basketball team to the NJCAA National Championship with a 32-0 season in 1962. he brought this offense to the  University of Southern Illinois the following year. In 1967, Hartman using an attack similar to this, won the NIT Championship. This is an all-purpose offense which can be used against both man-to-man and zone defenses. In addition this type single-post attack has several other advantages:

1. The offense is designed as an inside attack; however, when the defense adjusts, easy outside shots with good rebounding position becomes readily available.
2. The high percentage shot.
3. The opportunity to put the opponent into early foul trouble.
4. It provides offensive rebounding power. The three bigger people are never far from the basket. Their rebounding paths are patterned to form a strong offensive rebounding triangle.
5. It gives a team the opportunity to control the ball in an organized manner while working for a good shot.
6. It is flexible. Adjustments can be made to suit your personnel. You can use it as a single, double, or triple-post offense

The T-formation shown in Diagram T-1 illustrates the name designating the offense. This is the beginning set Coach Hartman used.

Big Dog #5 positions himself on either side of the lane. Ultimately he moves to the side Outlet #1 dribbles, thus creating the strong side to the left. If there is pressure, #5 comes to the high post, and then reverses to the goal on the quarterback’s pass to the corner.

This shows the move into a standard two-guard front with wing, safety and big dog in the usual single-post set. Since #1 dribbled to his right, safety #4 becomes his primary target. #4 must time his up-and-out cut to be open for the pass when #1 picks up his dribble. #5 has elected to come high initially, to offset pressure defense. He will move to the low post on the #1 to #4 pass coming up in Diagram T-3