# Princeton offense

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{{More citations needed|date=February 2009}}
{{short description|Offensive strategy in basketball}}
The '''Princeton offense''' is an [offensive](/source/Offense_(sports)) [basketball](/source/basketball) strategy which emphasizes constant [motion](/source/Motion_offense), back-door cuts, picks on and off the ball, and disciplined teamwork. It was used and perfected at [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_University) by [Pete Carril](/source/Pete_Carril), though its roots may be traced back to [Franklin “Cappy” Cappon](/source/Franklin_Cappon), who coached [Princeton](/source/Princeton_Tigers_men's_basketball) in the late 1930s,<ref>"Cappon SHeart Attack: 'Cappy' Dies After Practice At Princeton". Holland Evening Sentinel. 1961-11-30.</ref> and [Bernard "Red" Sarachek](/source/Red_Sarachek), who coached at [Yeshiva University](/source/Yeshiva_University) from 1938 to 1977.<ref>{{cite web|title=Red Sarachek Dies At 93, November 16, 2005|url=http://www.macslive.com/sarachek/info.php?page=news&newsid=87|publisher=MacsLive|access-date=March 22, 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120905212239/http://www.macslive.com/sarachek/info.php?page=news&newsid=87|archive-date=September 5, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Concept==
The offense is designed for a unit of five players who can each pass, shoot, and dribble at an above-average level. These players hope to isolate and exploit a mismatch using these skills.<ref name=TQQ&A/> Positions become less important and on offense there is no [point guard](/source/point_guard), [shooting guard](/source/shooting_guard), [small forward](/source/small_forward) or [power forward](/source/Power_forward_(basketball)).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/02/25/sports/carril-demands-versatility.html|title=Carril Demands Versatility|access-date=2011-11-06|date=1995-02-25|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|author=Wallace, William N.}}</ref> However, there are certain rules that players running this offense are expected to follow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://basketballinsight.com/basketball-coaching-defense-strategies-and-tactics/half-court-basketball-defense/half-court-man-defense/princeton-offense-philosophy-rules|title=11 Princeton Offense Rules|access-date=2016-11-06|date=2016-12-11|work=[Basketball Insight](/source/Basketball_Insight)|author=DeForest, Lee}}</ref>

The offense usually starts out with four players outside the [three-point arc](/source/Three-point_field_goal) with one player at the top of the [key](/source/Key_(basketball)). The ball is kept in constant motion through passing until a player without the ball cuts toward the unoccupied area under and around the basket, and receives the ball for a [layup](/source/layup). The post player is a very important player in the offense. He or she sets up in the high post and draws attention to their positioning. When the ball is received in to the post the players main objective is to find back door cutters or defenders who have fallen asleep on the weak side. 

The hallmark of the offense is the backdoor cut, where a player on the wing suddenly moves in towards the basket behind a defender, receives a bounce pass from a guard on the perimeter, and (if done correctly) finds himself with no defenders between him and a [layup](/source/layup).  Alternatively, when the defensive team attempts to pack the [paint](/source/Key_(basketball)) to prevent backdoor cuts, the offense utilizes three point shots from the perimeter.  All five players in the offense—including the center—should be competent at making a three-point attempt, further spreading the floor, and not allowing the defense to leave any player unattended.

The offense is often a very slowly developing one, relying on a high number of passes, and is often used in [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) by teams facing opponents with superior athletic talent in order to maintain a low-scoring game (believing that a high-scoring game would favor the athletically superior opponent). As a result, Princeton has led the nation in [scoring defense](/source/point_(basketball)) 19 times, including in every year from 1989 to 2000.<ref name=DIR48>{{cite web|url=http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2010/D1.pdf|title=Division I Records|access-date=2010-09-24|publisher=[National Collegiate Athletic Association](/source/National_Collegiate_Athletic_Association)|page=48}}</ref>

==Use at Princeton==
During his tenure as head coach of [Princeton University](/source/Princeton_Tigers_men's_basketball) (1967–1996), Pete Carril compiled a 514–261 record, a .658 winning percentage. His teams won 13 [Ivy League](/source/Ivy_League) championships during his 29-year tenure with the Tigers, and received 11 [NCAA Tournament](/source/NCAA_Men's_Division_I_Basketball_Championship) bids and two [National Invitation Tournament](/source/National_Invitation_Tournament) berths. Princeton captured the NIT title in 1975. Perhaps Carril's greatest win was his final upset victory, a 43 - 41 win over defending national champion UCLA on a backdoor cut at the end of a first-round game in the [1996 NCAA Tournament](/source/1996_NCAA_Division_I_men's_basketball_tournament). The win extended Carril's retirement by one game and is ranked as one of the best NCAA upsets of all time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The 10 Greatest March Madness Upsets of All Time |url=http://coed.com/2011/03/06/the-10-greatest-march-madness-upsets-of-all-time/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180706215010/https://coed.com/2011/03/06/the-10-greatest-march-madness-upsets-of-all-time/ |archive-date=2018-07-06 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=coed.com |language=en}}</ref> Former Princeton coach [Sydney Johnson](/source/Sydney_Johnson) and his predecessors [Bill Carmody](/source/Bill_Carmody), [John Thompson III](/source/John_Thompson_III), and [Joe Scott](/source/Joe_Scott_(basketball_coach)) have all employed the Princeton offense.<ref name=TQQ&A>{{Cite web|url=http://thequad.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/the-quad-q-a-princeton-coach-sydney-johnson/|title=The Quad Q.& A.: Princeton Coach Sydney Johnson|access-date=2011-03-13|date=2009-02-10|work=[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)|author=Plutnicki, Ken}}</ref>

==Other examples of use==
===National Basketball Association===
After his retirement from Princeton in 1996, Pete Carril served as an assistant coach for the [National Basketball Association](/source/National_Basketball_Association)'s [Sacramento Kings](/source/Sacramento_Kings) until 2006. During his time with Sacramento, Carril helped [Rick Adelman](/source/Rick_Adelman), who became the Kings' head coach in 1998, implement the Princeton offense. Carril returned to the Kings during [the 2008–2009 season](/source/2008-09_Sacramento_Kings_season) as a consultant.

The [Cleveland Cavaliers](/source/Cleveland_Cavaliers), [Los Angeles Lakers](/source/Los_Angeles_Lakers), [New Orleans Hornets](/source/New_Orleans_Hornets), [New Jersey Nets](/source/New_Jersey_Nets), and [Washington Wizards](/source/Washington_Wizards) also have run versions of the Princeton offense.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shelburne|first=Ramona|title=Kobe stresses patience with offense|date=November 2, 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|url=https://www.espn.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8581957/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-stresses-patience-new-princeton-offense|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103104819/http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story/_/id/8581957/kobe-bryant-los-angeles-lakers-stresses-patience-new-princeton-offense|archive-date=November 3, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> [Rick Adelman](/source/Rick_Adelman) introduced a modified version of Pete Carril's system to the [Houston Rockets](/source/Houston_Rockets) during [the 2007–2008 season](/source/2007-08_Houston_Rockets_season).<ref name=chronicleref>{{cite news|last=Feigen|first=Jonathan|title=Rockets wowed by Adelman's offense|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/rockets/article/Rockets-wowed-by-Adelman-s-offense-1534354.php|access-date=6 August 2012|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=October 7, 2007}}</ref> Coach [Alvin Gentry](/source/Alvin_Gentry) also implemented an altered version of it that shows similarities to the [triangle offense](/source/triangle_offense) during the [Phoenix Suns](/source/Phoenix_Suns)′s [2012–13 season](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Phoenix_Suns_season). [Eddie Jordan](/source/Eddie_Jordan_(basketball)) implemented the Princeton offense as coach of the Washington Wizards (from 2003 to 2008) and the [Philadelphia 76ers](/source/Philadelphia_76ers) (from 2009 to 2010). [Mike Brown](/source/Mike_Brown_(basketball%2C_born_1970)) tried to use the Princeton with the [2012–13 Los Angeles Lakers](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Los_Angeles_Lakers_season) for five regular season games (four losses) before he and the coaching staff were fired.

===College basketball===
====NCAA Division I====
Besides Princeton, some of the [NCAA Division I](/source/NCAA_Division_I)  [college basketball](/source/college_basketball) teams best known for using the offense are:

*[Air Force](/source/Air_Force_Falcons_men's_basketball) under [Joe Scott](/source/Joe_Scott_(basketball_coach)), a former Carril player and protégé and former Princeton head coach
*[American](/source/American_Eagles_men's_basketball) under Mike Brennan, a former Princeton player and assistant coach
*[Brown](/source/Brown_Bears_men's_basketball) under [Craig Robinson](/source/Craig_Robinson_(basketball_coach)), a former Princeton player and [Northwestern](/source/Northwestern_Wildcats_men's_basketball) assistant coach
*[University of Colorado](/source/Colorado_Buffaloes_men's_basketball), under head coach [Jeff Bzdelik](/source/Jeff_Bzdelik)
*[Denver](/source/Denver_Pioneers_men's_basketball) under former Princeton coach Joe Scott
*[Georgetown](/source/Georgetown_Hoyas_men's_basketball) under [John Thompson III](/source/John_Thompson_III), who played under Carril at Princeton and was later Princeton′s head coach
*[Holy Cross](/source/Holy_Cross_Crusaders_men's_basketball) under [Bill Carmody](/source/Bill_Carmody), another Carril protégé and a former Princeton head coach
*[Miami](/source/Miami_Hurricanes_men's_basketball) under [Charlie Coles](/source/Charlie_Coles)
*[North Dakota](/source/North_Dakota_Fighting_Hawks_men's_basketball) under [Brian Jones](/source/Brian_Jones)
*[Pennsylvania](/source/University_of_Pennsylvania) under [Steve Donahue](/source/Steve_Donahue), runs the "shuffle offense," loosely based on Princeton principles.
*[Notre Dame women's basketball](/source/Notre_Dame_Fighting_Irish_women's_basketball) under [Muffet McGraw](/source/Muffet_McGraw) 
*[Oregon State](/source/Oregon_State_Beavers_men's_basketball) under [Craig Robinson](/source/Craig_Robinson_(basketball_coach)), a former Princeton player and [Northwestern](/source/Northwestern_Wildcats_men's_basketball) assistant coach
*[Richmond](/source/Richmond_Spiders_men's_basketball) under [Chris Mooney](/source/Chris_Mooney_(basketball)), a former Princeton player and assistant coach at Air Force
*[Samford](/source/Samford_Bulldogs_men's_basketball) under [Jimmy Tillette](/source/Jimmy_Tillette)
*[Southern California](/source/USC_Trojans_men's_basketball) under [Tim Floyd](/source/Tim_Floyd)
*[Virginia](/source/Virginia_Cavaliers_men's_basketball) under [Tony Bennett](/source/Tony_Bennett_(basketball%2C_born_1969)), loosely based on the general principles of the Princeton offense
*[Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin_Badgers_men's_basketball), under coach [Bo Ryan](/source/Bo_Ryan), ran the "swing offense," which was loosely based on the Princeton offense
*[William & Mary](/source/William_%26_Mary_Tribe_men's_basketball) under [Brian Earl](/source/Brian_Earl), a former Princeton player and assistant coach

====NCAA Division II====
[NCAA Division II](/source/NCAA_Division_II) colleges that have used the Princeton offense include:

*[Alabama-Huntsville](/source/Alabama%E2%80%93Huntsville_Chargers) under Lennie Acuff
*[Christian Brothers](/source/Christian_Brothers_Buccaneers_and_Lady_Buccaneers) under Mike Nienaber
*[Rollins](/source/Rollins_Tars) under [Tom Klusman](/source/Tom_Klusman)
*[Seattle Pacific](/source/Seattle_Pacific_Falcons) under Jeff Hironaka

====NCAA Division III====
[NCAA Division III](/source/NCAA_Division_III) colleges that have used the Princeton offense include:

*[Maryville](/source/Maryville_Saints) under Kevin Carroll
*[St. Thomas](/source/University_of_St._Thomas_(Minnesota)), ([St. Paul](/source/St._Paul%2C_Minnesota), [Minnesota](/source/Minnesota)) under John Tauer
*[Nebraska Wesleyan University](/source/Nebraska_Wesleyan_University) under Dale Wellman
*[Maine Maritime Academy](/source/Maine_Maritime_Academy) (2017–2024) under Dan McNeely

====NAIA====
[NAIA](/source/National_Association_of_Intercollegiate_Athletics) colleges that have used the Princeton offense include:
* [Westmont](/source/Westmont_College) under John Moore
* [Covenant](/source/Covenant_College) under Lance Richardson
'''NJCAA'''

NJCAA colleges that have used the Princeton offense include:

* [Mercer County Community College](/source/Mercer_County_Community_College) under Howard Levy, a former Princeton player.
* Bergen Community College (Paramus, New Jersey)  under Will Caraballo.

===High schools===
[High school basketball](/source/High_school_basketball) teams that have used the Princeton offense include:
* Northridge High School (Johnstown, OH) 2008-2012 under John Wheeler
* Oak Forest High School (Oak Forest, IL) 2008-2020 under Matt Manzke
* Regent Prep (Tulsa, Oklahoma) under Kerwin Dees

====Canada====
*[Cardinal Leger Secondary School](/source/Cardinal_Leger_Secondary_School) ([Brampton](/source/Brampton%2C_Ontario), [Ontario](/source/Ontario)) under Steve Pettit
*[Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School](/source/Sir_Winston_Churchill_Secondary_School_(Vancouver)) ([Vancouver](/source/Vancouver), [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia)) under Kevin Sandher
*[Mark R. Isfeld Secondary School](/source/Mark_R._Isfeld_Secondary_School)  ([Courtenay, B.C.](/source/Courtenay%2C_B.C.)) under Tom Elwood
*

====United States====
*[Arkansas Christian Academy](/source/Arkansas_Christian_Academy) ([Bryant](/source/Bryant%2C_Arkansas), [Arkansas](/source/Arkansas))under Ben Thomas
*[Benton Central Junior-Senior High School](/source/Benton_Central_Junior-Senior_High_School) ([Oxford](/source/Oxford%2C_Indiana), [Indiana](/source/Indiana)) under David Baxter
*[Christian Brothers Academy](/source/Christian_Brothers_Academy_(New_Jersey)) ([Lincroft](/source/Lincroft%2C_New_Jersey), [New Jersey](/source/New_Jersey)) under Ed Wicelinski
*[Gibson Southern High School](/source/Gibson_Southern_High_School) ([Fort Branch](/source/Fort_Branch%2C_Indiana), Indiana) under Jerry O'Brien
*[Holy Cross High School](/source/Holy_Cross_High_School_(New_Jersey)) ([Delran](/source/Delran%2C_New_Jersey), New Jersey) under Barry Harper
*[Indian Springs School](/source/Indian_Springs_School) ([Indian Springs Village](/source/Indian_Springs_Village%2C_Alabama), [Alabama](/source/Alabama)) under Pete Arner
*[Lincoln County High School](/source/Lincoln_County_High_School_(West_Virginia)) in [West Hamlin](/source/West_Hamlin%2C_West_Virginia), [West Virginia](/source/West_Virginia), under Rodney Plumley
*[Memorial High School](/source/Memorial_High_School_(Hedwig_Village%2C_Texas)) ([Houston](/source/Houston%2C_Texas), [Texas](/source/Texas)) under David Lay and under Jyusef Larry
*[Haverford School](/source/Haverford_School) ([Haverford, Pennsylvania](/source/Haverford%2C_Pennsylvania)) under Bernie Rogers
*[Lower Merion High School](/source/Lower_Merion_High_School) ([Ardmore, Pennsylvania](/source/Ardmore%2C_Pennsylvania)) under Greg Downer
*[Blair Academy](/source/Blair_Academy) ([Blairstown, New Jersey](/source/Blairstown%2C_New_Jersey)) under Joe Mantegna
*[De La Salle High School (New Orleans)](/source/De_La_Salle_High_School_(New_Orleans)) ([New Orleans, Louisiana](/source/New_Orleans%2C_Louisiana)) under Paul Kelly a former Samford associate coach

===AAU, YBOA, and USBA===

[Amateur Athletic Union](/source/Amateur_Athletic_Union), [Youth Basketball of America](/source/Youth_Basketball_of_America), and [United States Basketball Association](/source/United_States_Basketball_Association) teams that have used the Princeton offense include:

*[43 Express Basketball](/source/43_Express_Basketball_(Georgia)) ([Georgia](/source/Georgia_(U.S._state))) under Chad Jackson, Sr.
*[KY Grind Basketball](/source/KY_Grind_Basketball_(Kentucky)) ([Kentucky](/source/Kentucky)) under Lee DeForest

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
{{more footnotes|date=February 2009}}
*[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/03/22/AR2006032202551.html "Princeton Offense Keeps Hoyas on the Move"], ''[Washington Post](/source/Washington_Post)'', Mike Wise, March 23, 2006; Page E12.
*[http://www.nba.com/wizards/news/princeton_061228.html "On the Offensive: Inside the Wizards "Princeton Offense""], ''[WashingtonWizards.com](/source/WashingtonWizards.com)'', Dave Johnson, December 28, 2006
*[http://static.espn.go.com/ncb/2003/0304/1517990.html "Reading (the defense) is fundamental"], Fran Fraschilla; ESPN.
*[http://coachprincetonbasketball.com/princeton-offense-secrets/ DeForest, Lee: "Secrets of the Princeton Offense," Coach Princeton Basketball] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220151244/http://coachprincetonbasketball.com/princeton-offense-secrets/ |date=2016-12-20 }}
*[http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/6619502  "Hoyas arrive at Atlanta through back door" Randy Hill / Special to FOXSports.com, 3/28/2007]{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070504164418/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1604096,00.html  "Race and the Georgetown Offense" by Sean Gregory for Time Magazine, March 29, 2007]
*[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/30/sports/ncaabasketball/30carril.html?em&ex=1175400000&en=2e036118ebdaaab4&ei=5087%0A "Carril Is Yoda to Notion of Perpetual Motion" New York Times, March 30, 2007]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Princeton offense](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_offense) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princeton_offense?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.