Breaking Down MSU's Secondary Break

Andy Secor of the podcast "The Unofficial Visit"

MSU gets all kinds of credit for their transition game. They push the ball on makes and misses as much as any team in college basketball year in and year out. It happens because it's practiced daily, demanded of players, and built into their substitution patterns.

What I think this team is better at then the last couple years is their secondary break. There are a few reasons for that, but I think the #1 is that it's a veteran team that knows exactly what their roles are and knows the reads/options.

Let's take a little closer look at the break and then secondary break.

* MSU runs a numbered/structured break. The 4 man takes the ball out, the 5 runs to the front of the rim, wings run as wide as the out of bounds line, and 1 man gets the outlet high. Picture the ball going up the court to the wing, as it often does. If there is no drive there or early post entry, let's look at 5 of the secondary options MSU goes to.

1. The man who takes it out is the trailer. When he crosses half court, the wing will often reverse it to him at the top of the key. This year, that is a often a high-low look from Goins/Tillman to Ward. Tillman looks at and executes the high-low post pass as well as anyone I can remember in the green and white. Why is he so good? First, he doesn't really look to shoot the jumper. Second, he doesn't force it too quickly. Third, great ball fake before his throws it. Impressive.

2. On the reversal to the trailing 4 man, he will dribble-at the opposite wing. That can lead to a hand-off or back-cut. This team has executed the back-cut really well, including tonight vs. Northwestern. McQuaid and Ahrens both did a great job of back-cutting off the dribble-at.

3. The dribble-at can also lead to a hand-off. From there, the wing can turn the corner and attack or the post player who handed it off can then slip to the basket for a dump-down.

4. The trailing 4 will sometimes reverse the ball immediately and go pin-down screen on the opposite side. That also gives the opposite wing an option to back cut, curl, or straight cut off that screen. It's another time where the post player can slip or pop after setting the screen.

5. MSU will also go into a "drag" set in the secondary break. It looks a little like a weave, as 4 players are outside the 3-point line and the 5 man will sprint up into multiple ball screens. This is a look you will see when Winston has a really good defender (like vs. UM) on him as it gives him a lot of space to operate off the run-up ball screen.

* Of all the MSU practices I've attended, the segment where they run thru all of these options and reads is awesome to watch. It's great to see the players make reads at such a quick tempo. Next time you are watching the secondary break, take a look for these 5 options and see which see to be working best in that game. While last year's team was more likely to go right into a set after the initial break wasn't there, Izzo has given this team more freedom to make reads and plays in the secondary break.