Attacking Baylor's zone (video)

Baylor has been running zone nearly exclusively for several games now. They primarily run 1-1-3 matchup or 1-3-1 zones. Not many teams run a 1-1-3 so it can be hard to gameplan against, but it's been a longtime favorite of Scott Drew. Against Texas A&M their defense held the Aggies to 33% on 2s and 23% on 3s in the first half, and Baylor held a 36-25 lead at the break (and then scored on the first possession of the 2nd half, making it 38-25). But in the 2nd half A&M erased the entire deficit and were it not for terrible end-game management could have walked away with the upset. How'd they do it? With good half-court offense.

In this first set Baylor is in their 1-1-3 zone. Pierre Jackson's quickness at the top enables them to be effective with this look. Texas A&M is a horrible 3-pt shooting team (286th nationally) which makes this zone a good look against them. It differs from the 2-3 zone by taking away the attacking point at the top of the key, and instead forces everything onto the wings and into the corners.

Texas A&M works the perimeter and gets the ball to Naji Hibbert (circled) but with no one in the right corner there's nothing he can do to attack.

With the play reset and the ball in Elston Turner's (circled) hands they're going back to the same wing position but this time Daniel Alexander (#20) is cutting to the corner which forces Perry Jones (#1) to guard the wing and the corner at the same time since the center of Baylor's line is occupied in the paint.

Now with the ball swung to the corner A&M has options. Alexander can shoot (he does) and Baylor has two bodies to cover in the paint.

Here's the video:

In this next play A&M is attacking on the wing. First they probe left, but their poor spacing doesn't prevent a threat and Baylor is easily able to cover.

Now A&M tries to go inside, but again, poor spacing kills the attack. Texas A&M has all five guys on one half of the court, and against Baylor's length and quickness that's not going to work. Unless...

Ray Turner (#35) turns and screens Pierre Jackson and Perry Jones (#1) has sagged back to cover up the threat at the basket. Now Elston Turner (circled) can shoot off the screen or push the ball to Naji Hibbert (#2) who can then attack into the low post.

Here's the video:

This final play completes what they could have done on the last play. Baylor is now in a 1-3-1 zone, and failure to pressure the ball handler opens options. Elston Turner (circled) has the ball and can go to either wing.

A&M goes left wing and against a 1-3-1 there is brief confusion as two Baylor players rush to cover. This opens an easy post entry for the score.

 Here's the video: