Paul Westhead's Loyola Maramount Fast Break and Transition Offense System

The "Loyola Marymount" break was developed by Paul Westhead. Coach Westhead developed a reputation as a free thinker throughout his coaching career. While at LaSalle College in the 70s and 80s, his "0" defense gained widespread notoriety when it was learned that the defense was named because one defender was asked to play no (zero) defense. All he was expected to do was anticipate a steal or a shot and take off down the floor to the offensive end and look for the ball.

In the early 80s, he moved to Loyola Marymount University, where he developed a transition offense system that led to his teams being the highest scoring team in NCAA history.

As I mentioned before, it's not the pattern that makes the play, it is the philosophy. Coach Westhead's philosophy was that he wanted to get a shot up in less than 7 seconds. He tried to create such a frenetic pace, that the other team would just give up. Often they did, out of utter exhaustion.

I am not going to recommend to you that you adapt a similar philosophy. But, to enact that philosophy, Coach Westhead developed a break where its beauty was its simplicity. It featured numbered lanes and specific early cuts to follow ball reversal. By the time the ball was reversed, it had to be up at the basket. It is that simplicity that allows it to fit in with the half court offenses in this transition offense system.


The LMU break, like the Carolina Break, is a numbered break.

2 runs to the right corner.

3 runs to the left corner.

5 runs to the right block.

4 trails and goes to the left elbow.

1 advances the ball on the dribble as quickly as he can and tests the drive to the middle.

The first option all players have when they receive a pass is to shoot.

1 can headman the ball to either 2, 3, or 4.

The player's first option is to shoot.

If the ball is headmanned to the corner and he does not take a shot, he can look in to 5 in the low post or to 4 as the trailer.

If the pass goes to 4, it has changed sides of the court. Anytime the ball changes sides, the 5 man cuts block to block.

1 fills the wing.

4 looks to pass into 5 as he cuts.

4 can swing the ball to 3.

5 cuts block to block.

If 3 does not shoot, he looks into 5 on the block.



Related Pages & Helpful Resources

Fast Break Basketball Offense - Carolina Secondary Break
Fast Break Basketball Offense - Phoenix Suns
Competitive One on One Fast Break Drills - 1v1 Attack
5 on 3 + 2 - Fast Break Drills


Want to learn how to build your fast break and transition offense step by step?

Don Kelbick's Transition Offense and the Four-Second Fast Break
This DVD shows you how to build your fast break and transition offense step-by-step, so you can easily teach it during practice. It will also show you how to seamlessly transition into your half court offense to keep the defense scrambling. As every great defensive coach will tell you, they play their best defense when they have their 5 players back. This DVD will show you how to take advantage of the defense when they're not set and currently in transition. It also includes many fast break and transition drills that build mentality, aggressiveness, decision-making, and basketball skills. This DVD is 110 minutes long and neatly organized ... (more info)


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Joby Boydstone says:
4/5/2023 at 12:30:55 PM

Hey Chris,
Ran "system" for 30 years and always had my 5 take the ball out and my 4 was my post/point type of player. Vs any pressure 5 takes it out of the rim and either hits 1 or 4 immediately.....for reference sake 1 & 4 posted up at the elbow (from 5''s view out of bounds looking downcourt to inbound)....1 on the right elbow and 4 on the left elbow.....1 would break out to above FT line extended with their left hand extended towards sideline for a hand target and 4 would stay posted up at the left elbow....rule for all 3:
If 1 got the outlet 4 automatically "cuts gut" and 5 replaces 4 ''s original availability on the left side staying even with 1 parallel ..if 4 got the inbound 1 "cuts gut" and 5 would replace 1 on the right side.... ballhandler looks sideline or gut ....if gut pass then gut looks to kick out to 2 or 3 on the wings-NOT on the corners....then wings look to attack with the 2 on 1 situation...4 continues up the middle after this pass and 1-5 finish to their spotups....5 will always be open for a wide open look at the left elbow extended......

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Joby Boydstone says:
4/2/2023 at 1:39:43 PM

In the issue of passing to the center (4 or 5-coaches choice to be the cutter to the block, I use the number 4 for cutter) is actually a good thing. Your center is parallel to the pg on the outlet running the floor. I encourage this 1-4 pass because it creates opportunities for him to pass to 3 on the left wing or 2 on the right wing and look for a give and go pass back on his cut or post up finish to the block. This 1-4 pass I call "1-4 high". This action requires no more than 2-3 push dribbles up the floor. It's icing on the cake if your center has ball-handling ability.

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Chris Sandberg says:
3/9/2022 at 2:48:31 PM

I ran the Westhead when I was in HS, and I run it now with a high school team.

The key is your 1 and 4 bring it up in the backcourt, 5 gets in the middle of the 2-2-1. Quick pass to middle, turn and kick to 2 or 3 in the corner. Has to be quick passes. Always have your 4 be a competent ball handler and passer.

Same for the zone press. Quick pass to middle, which gets the second layer of the press to jump to him. Quick pass back to 1 or 4, then up the line to the 2 or 3. Repetition is the key: drill, drill, drill.

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Jeff says:
3/6/2022 at 2:56:30 PM

On a made basket who do you have throw the ball in? I am assuming 4 but just making sure

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B says:
4/6/2022 at 8:26:13 PM

Jeff-yes, the 4 throws the ball in. Ideally, he's grabbing the ball out of the net before it hits the ground, stepping OB quickly and getting it into the 1 who should be making a banana peel style run up the floor.

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TheTeachh says:
4/3/2023 at 9:03:03 AM

5 is the inbounder, because she is the trailer and 4 should be parallel with 1 on the pass. That way if the D jumps the 1, the sequence should be 5-4-1 as 1 cuts towards midcourt to receive 5's pass.

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Kim Bright says:
10/12/2018 at 1:25:50 PM

I like the Carolina break but what are you thoughts on the guards getting to the block and in front of the ball instead of the 5. In H.S. girls basketball the 5 isn’t the one always in front of the ball. Thank you for your feedback.

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Chris indelicato says:
11/14/2017 at 8:16:39 PM

How does a pass get from 2 in the right corner to 4 at the left elbow? That pass gets stolen every time!

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  1 reply  

Coach Lewis says:
2/9/2018 at 2:04:01 PM

2 does not hit 4 at the left elbow, she hits the 4 as she dives to the strong side block. If the 4 is fronted and 3's defender is low, the 2 may be able to skip it hard to the 5 at the top of key or lane line extended at the three point line (assuming 5's defender is playing back side help on the fronted 4). On that pass, 4 as an easy flash in the paint since her defender is sealed. It's a tough pass for girls to make (especially JV), but guys can get it there quick enough to get through.

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Ken Sartini says:
6/10/2014 at 4:39:16 PM

Dave -

10 out of 13?? 77%? I don't think any pro can give you those numbers on a regular basis.

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Dave says:
6/10/2014 at 3:14:25 PM

Good Stuff, as long as your players can make the shot they are taking at least 10 out of 13 times. The players need to chart there shooting during practice all over the court, to see where they can make shot's and where they can't make the shot. They should have to make 10 out of 13 at any given spot on the floor at practice, to be able to shot that same shot in a game.

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Coach Mike says:
2/15/2014 at 10:23:49 AM

Coach H if you bring your 5 to the top of the key first it will eliminate the zone press and the half court trap.

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Coach H says:
1/4/2014 at 6:59:00 AM

Love the Westhead system; however, I have found two defenses that have caused it trouble:

1- A zone press

2- A halfcourt trap (ex: 2-2-1)

Any ideas to counter these?

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