Breakdown of the full court pass

[davekersey]

The pass from Koby to Lamont might be a play that's been used many times but it's the first time I've seen it where it involves all five players. Carr and Oweh positioned at midcourt, each at one of the corners. Robinson at the top of the key. Butler in the paint. Brea gets the ball away from the backboard.

Brea puts the ball in his right hand which starts the play. Immediately both Carr and Oweh race toward Brea so Flagg and Knueppel go with them. Butler starts running full speed making sure his defender is on his right side by bumping him that way as the play begins. When Butler passes Robinson, who is standing still Robinson will step to his right and slow down Butler's Defender.

Brea launches an accurate long range pass to Butler. This play was brilliant because it took what is really a high risk pass to lower risk because Butler was going to be the only one who could catch the ball. Plus there were only five and a half seconds left even if the pass failed

If that is a Pope original, just wow. Brilliant.

 

[WildcatfaninOhio]

It was a bit of a ballsy call. And I loved it!

Brea’s pass could not have been more perfect.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

It was a bit of a ballsy call. And I loved it!

Brea’s pass could not have been more perfect.

No risk no reward.

 

[ccukuk]

It was a bit of a ballsy call. And I loved it!

Brea’s pass could not have been more perfect.

Yes. Both ballsy and a perfect pass. Could have been a disaster which screams the logic it was well coached and practiced.

 

[ccukuk]

No risk no reward.

Not really true. MP could have called a simple play(would have been mind bending for cow) and there would have been a no risk ball in our backcourt with likely an early foul. But, it was very smart, pretty risky, with a great reward.

 

[Dead Cat Bounce]

Kentucky beat Duke on a long inbounds pass? I like it.

 

[RunninRichie]

Kentucky beat Duke on a long inbounds pass? I like it.

That play was out of the 1978 game.

 

[BBNinSC]

Not really true. MP could have called a simple play(would have been mind bending for cow) and there would have been a no risk ball in our backcourt with likely an early foul. But, it was very smart, pretty risky, with a great reward.

I like the play because if the worst case scenario occurred, a turnover, the ball is possessed by Duke far away from their basket with 5 seconds left.
A turnover under our basket from a short inbounds pass allows them to get a better shot up and a chance for a rebound.

 

[ccukuk]

I like the play because if the worst case scenario occurred, a turnover, the ball is possessed by Duke far away from their basket with 5 seconds left.
A turnover under our basket from a short inbounds pass allows them to get a better shot up and a chance for a rebound.

I agree. Putting the ball away from our basket and closer to theirs was super smart.

 

[yoshukai]

I agree. Putting the ball away from our basket and closer to theirs was super smart.

I like the play because if the worst case scenario occurred, a turnover, the ball is possessed by Duke far away from their basket with 5 seconds left.
A turnover under our basket from a short inbounds pass allows them to get a better shot up and a chance for a rebound.

When I played if that ball had gone out of bounds without anyone touching (like an overthrow or if Butler had fallen) the other team got to inbound the ball where I was inbounding it. Maybe it’s changed now .

 

[Kyhoward]

Loved the play as a pass from the corner is difficult to make in the backcourt. You have to deal with the sideline and baseline. Kobe could not run the baseline because of the Duke turnover. The long pass, in this situation, is made easier as you don’t have to contend with the backboard. If we would have taken the ball from under the basket, the long pass would have been near impossible to execute and CMP would have probably drawn up a play involving multiple screens to get one of our guys open in the backcourt.

Successful or not, I like the call and the OP described it well.. Good call and great execution. Even through 3 games it is truly evident that our coach is superior to “Ellen’s roomate.”

 

[St.PatterSoN-54-]

I mean, we could have thrown it to a poor free throw shooting big standing with his arm up in the corner coffin, but this works too.

Sincerely,
calipari

 

[TCurtis75]

When I played if that ball had gone out of bounds without anyone touching (like an overthrow or if Butler had fallen) the other team got to inbound the ball where I was inbounding it. Maybe it’s changed now .

It is still the same. I am guessing Coach Pope told Butler if he isn't able to catch it to make sure he at least touches it so Duke would take it out under our goal and not theirs.

 

[megablue]

When I played if that ball had gone out of bounds without anyone touching (like an overthrow or if Butler had fallen) the other team got to inbound the ball where I was inbounding it. Maybe it’s changed now .

Yes. That was my understanding, too, and that seemed the greatest risk in the play. My guess is Brea had shown great skill and accuracy in throwing that pass in practice.
It was perfectly thrown.

 

[JimBR]

Didn't Joe B Hall originate this type play? Excellent play call and execution.

 

[chroix]

It was beautifully executed, ballsy as hell and love the nod to irony to beat Duke on a long inbound play. Those Barney contract extensions are the kiss of death, but Pope came close to earning his lifetime of free Rupp ice cream three games in.

 

[bigblueinsanity]

When I played if that ball had gone out of bounds without anyone touching (like an overthrow or if Butler had fallen) the other team got to inbound the ball where I was inbounding it. Maybe it’s changed now .

This. It was risky but worked.

Cal would've had an awful shooting big post up in the corner to get the inbound pass where he was promptly trapped. At best having to hit big free throws at worst having the ball stolen and us losing.

Iirc we lost a game in exactly that way vs sc a few years ago

 

[megablue]

Didn't Joe B Hall originate this type play? Excellent play call and execution.

Not sure about Joe B, but the potential for runouts is always there when defense is in denial (between ball and man) and there is no safety valve on top. My guess is they were taught to recognize the defense alignment to determine if the runout would work. That’s coaching …

 

[dl51344]

The most important thing was it was not what Duke had planned for giving a much better chance of working.

 

[HerrosHeroes]

Kentucky beat Duke on a long inbounds pass? I like it.

Was thinking the same thing!!!!

 

[HerrosHeroes]

The most important thing was it was not what Duke had planned for giving a much better chance of working.

Exactly, even if they steal it it has to come all the way back down with tics to play; whereas a steal in front-court could be much more costly.

 

[Fox2monk]

The pass from Koby to Lamont might be a play that's been used many times but it's the first time I've seen it where it involves all five players. Carr and Oweh positioned at midcourt, each at one of the corners. Robinson at the top of the key. Butler in the paint. Brea gets the ball away from the backboard.

Brea puts the ball in his right hand which starts the play. Immediately both Carr and Oweh race toward Brea so Flagg and Knueppel go with them. Butler starts running full speed making sure his defender is on his right side by bumping him that way as the play begins. When Butler passes Robinson, who is standing still Robinson will step to his right and slow down Butler's Defender.

Brea launches an accurate long range pass to Butler. This play was brilliant because it took what is really a high risk pass to lower risk because Butler was going to be the only one who could catch the ball. Plus there were only five and a half seconds left even if the pass failed

If that is a Pope original, just wow. Brilliant.

That was a super Ballsy play, I couldn’t believe he had the guts to draw that up. I will never worry about end of games after that. He instill all the confidence in the world in our guys.

 

[trueblujr2]

I like the play because if the worst case scenario occurred, a turnover, the ball is possessed by Duke far away from their basket with 5 seconds left.
A turnover under our basket from a short inbounds pass allows them to get a better shot up and a chance for a rebound.

Well we all know what Duke did with half that amount of time back in 1992. We didn't need Cooper Flagg trying to do his best Christian Laettner impression. But yeah, making them go the length of the court if it failed would have been best case scenario.

 

[Fox2monk]

I mean, we could have thrown it to a poor free throw shooting big standing with his arm up in the corner coffin, but this works too.

Sincerely,
calipari

I’m so happy to never see that inbound ever again. It was the only inbound we had and when they defended us to stop it we always had trouble getting it in. So many close games we almost lost due to that.

 

[BBNinSC]

When I played if that ball had gone out of bounds without anyone touching (like an overthrow or if Butler had fallen) the other team got to inbound the ball where I was inbounding it. Maybe it’s changed now .

I think that is still the rule. I also think Pope caught Duke by surprise with that play.

 

[megablue]

I think that is still the rule. I also think Pope caught Duke by surprise with that play.

I coached basketball for years and you teach them to always look for the runout if the opponent essentially "gives" it to you.
It especially works on sideline inbounds, when you stack it up. In all these situations, everyone is on the same page and knows to quickly look if the runout is there before inbouding, if not, then go on through the picks/cuts progression to inbounds the ball ... hopefully to a good free-throw shooter. The true indication of coaching is when the team can inbounds WITHOUT CALLING A TIMEOUT. That way, the defense has not had time to talk/plan for possibilities. The ABSOLUTE KEY is to PRACTICE various inbounding situations diligently where they can be called verbally or by hand-signals and everybody understands. To me view, such situational coaching IN PRACTICE is what simply has to be happen to be ready and confident to execute. Baseball analogies would be first-and-thirds, bunt coverages, pick-offs, etc ... simply drill them in practice.

All inbound scenarios, both on offense and defense, should be explained and practiced thoroughly to expect good results.