Why Bo Ryan Teaches Post Play To His Guards - And Why You Need To

This year the Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team had a tremendous basketball season. They made it all the way to the NCAA Championship game.

Wisconsin isn’t known for having a plethora of top 50 players and All-American players in their recruiting classes like Duke and Kentucky. So how did they compete with the big boys?

Everybody will tell you that they are a great defensive and offensive team. They played great team ball. Bo Ryan is a great coach. Bo Ryan is great at finding players with potential and maximizing their potential.

All of this is true... but something many people don’t realize, it is also Bo Ryan’s approach to offense that makes these players highly effective.

Bo Ryan teaches all of his players how to play in the post... even the guards. He also teaches his post players how to play on the perimeter.

But for now... we’re just going to focus on post play and why teaching guards to play in the post is part of his keys to success.

4 Reasons Post Play Is Important For Guards

Bo Ryan believes that defending 1 on 1 in the post is one of the most difficult things to do. And it’s one of the most effective ways for players to score.

Analytics will tell you that shooting within 5 feet of the basket is one of the most efficient shots you can take in basketball.

In addition to that, when you have your guards post up, it’s advantageous for a few different reasons.

1. Opposing Guards Are Poor Post Defenders - The opposing guards are not accustomed to defending in the post. And typically, they aren’t good post defenders. So if you’re a guard with average post skills, you can typically take advantage of the weaker defenders on the other team. And from a coaching perspective, you just have to find that one weak post defender to exploit the other team.

2. Your Guards Will Be Better Post Defenders - Since you work on post play in practice and in games, your guards develop into better post defenders themselves.

3. Best Passers Are Passing To Open Teammates - When the defense collapses to help in the post, you have your guard making passes out of the post. Typically, your guards are your best passers. This will lead to better shots as more passes will be “on target and on time.”

4. Better Scoring Opportunities Via Long Close Outs - In addition to #3, when the defense collapses, they have to cover longer distances on perimeter close outs. This creates better attack opportunities for the perimeter players receiving the pass. So the defense is in a tough predicament... do they let them shoot an open jump shot or create an open driving lane? Advantage: Offense.

Because of this.... If my kids want to play basketball when they are older, I will send them to post play camps in addition to other camps... even though there is a good chance they won’t be above 6’0.

I’m 5’11 and mom is 5’3. I’m hoping my grandma Olive’s “tall-brother-genes” come out.... all of them were above 6’4 and played minor league baseball.

Maybe I should have taken up wrestling?

Related Resources

Attack & Counter Skill Development Camps With Don Kelbick

Post Play Camps With Don Kelbick

Basketball Skill Development System - The Attack and Counter Approach With Don Kelbick

Post Play e-Book - Simplified Process to Develop Post and Perimeter Players