Run your offense like Princeton with Pete Carril's Princeton Offense - PART THREE

Princeton Offense Basketball

The Princeton offense is complex and requires many reads depending on what the defense does to guard you. The basic foundation of this offensive system involves every player accurately cutting, screening, passing, and shooting; being able to do these four fundamentals would allow your team to execute the Princeton Offense at a high level.

In order to properly break down each segment, we’re doing a four-part series focusing on the main points of understanding the Princeton Offense. In Part 1, we covered in great detail the strengths and weaknesses of this offense and what type of team would be successful running this offense along with the basics of getting the offense set up and started. In Part 2, we discussed using a one-guard front and high post approach to the Princeton Offense.

In this Part 3 article, we’ll talk about the Chin Series within the Princeton Offense. When you’re done reading this series, you should have a better understanding of the Princeton Offense and if it’s right for your team.

Princeton Offense: Chin Series

A Princeton guard created a simple signal to let his teammates know they were running the Chin Series - you can probably guess that signal was him rubbing his chin. This was a way for the offense to get set up without the defense knowing what they were about to run.

In this series, there are a few key things that can make or break your team being success. First, you need a strong center player that is able to shoot, pass, dribble, and read defenses. Secondly, your team must be able to set up good screens. This series revolves around a team being able to set quality, solid, legal screen. If your team isn’t able to do this then the Chin Series is not a variation your team will be able to use.

Shuffle Cut

To start this series, the center comes to the top of the key a few steps closer to the ball side. As the center is coming up, the guard swings the ball to the other guard who is looking to pass to the forward.

When the ball gets to the forward, the first guard is going to cut off the center for an open look in the lane.

Cutter Is Denied

If the cutting guard is denied, they will continue out and move to the corner on the ball side. The forward will have a couple of options from here: 1) the center will then cut to the elbow on the ball side as an option for the ball or 2) pass back to the top guard.

In this case, the forward passes back to the top guard who dribbles to the other side of the court. As they dribble, the forward will come with them which essentially resets the offense and you run Chin Series again.

Wing Dribbles Back Up To Top

If the forward isn’t able to pass back to the guard, they will dribble back up to the top pushing the guard through to cut down the lane.

As the guard is cutting, the forward on the opposite side is filling the top spot so the guard can come out to the corner.

From here, the forward will pass the ball to the other forward and you run Chin Series to the other side of the court.

Other Reads

• Skip pass to Wing. If a defender helps on the initial cut by the guard, make a cross-court pass to the forward for an open shot.
• Pass to Center for drive and pitch. If the center’s defender helps on the cut, the center should cut to the ball side for a pass and then attack the rim to score or pitch out to the forward for a shot.

UCLA

If none of these options are open and the swing pass is denied after the forward dribbles back to the top - pass back to the guard on the ball side wing.

The center sets a back screen for the top guard to cut towards the basket and then pops out for a pass and is looking to swing the ball to the other side. Forward cuts the backdoor so the center passes to the guard.

After they pass, they go set a down screen for the first forward who has been waiting on the low block. This forward is coming off the screen looking for an open shot to score.

Learn More

There’s so much to learn about the Princeton Offense that it’s impossible to do in one article which is why we are doing a four-part series solely focused on this complex offense!

If you want to learn more about developing this offense, continue reading the rest of our series and be sure to check out Pete Carril’s Princeton Offense 2-disc DVD set. It goes into incredible detail with excellent demonstrations to help you instruct your players on the court and make your game plan according to your team.