What's working early on for NC State's offense?

New players, same half-court sets — mostly

The early season schedule for NC State doesn’t intensify until the end of November, including matchups vs. Top 30 KenPom teams Purdue, Texas and Kansas all within the span of three weeks. In the meantime, NC State gets to use the first five games of the season — all of which come against opponents outside the Top 240 — to get some of its fundamentals in place.

With two of those games already in the books, let’s examine a few things that have clicked for the Wolfpack.

Run the damn ball

With both its fast break and secondary offenses, NC State’s transition game is off and running. According to Synergy Sports, State has scored 1.56 points per transition possession on 83.3 percent shooting. While this production starts with the defense, the playmaking of Michael O’Connell — 14 assists to only 2 turnovers — has been a huge influence as well.

O’Connell doesn’t get the assist on this possession, but his quick hit-ahead pass to Marcus Hill opens up the rim run for Dontrez Styles.

From the USC Upstate win: this hit-ahead finish from O’Connell to Jayden Taylor comes after Brandon Huntley-Hatfield and Bryce Heard (with a nice save) force a turnover. So far, NC State’s defense has generated a steal on 14.8 percent of opponent offensive possessions. Five different players already have three or more steals.

Early-season statistics are littered with all kinds of small-sample sized weirdness. It’s been just 80 minutes of basketball; you shouldn’t read too much into anything. That said, NC State’s 1-4 switch scheme has historically — under Kevin Keatts — deflated opponent 3-point attempts and assisted field goals. Since the 2017-18 season, NC State’s defense has finished the year with an opponent 3-point attempt rate under 34.5 percent, each time ranking Top 60 nationally in this metric.

So far, only 30.3 percent of the field goal attempts against NC State this season have come from beyond the arc, while only 30.6 percent of opponent field goals have been assisted. (There are, of course, tradeoffs with this switch-heavy approach: opponents have rebounded 37.7 percent of their misses against NC State’s defense.)

O’Connell and Breon switch this guard-guard screen vs. USC Upstate — with MOC sliding out to Karmani Gregory, who has played well early this season. O’Connell gets the steal, which leads to the run out and another Taylor layup.

On this after-timeout (ATO) possession, Presbyterian tries to set up an empty-side backdoor cut off the elbow entry. Pass, however, is all over it; he gets the steal and the grab-and-go layup.

USC Upstate tries to initiate 5-out offense here. Trey Parker and Hill do a nice job switching the off-ball exchange. Parker intercepts a bad pass on the backdoor feed and he’s off to the races with Heard.

Similar to last season, Ben Middlebrooks has been used in several different ball screen coverages. Often, NC State likes to lean into his mobility and will have him hedge or guard screens up at the level.

Middlebrooks blows this play up. He hedges the first ball screen, pushing the action away from the hoop. When Presbyterian tries to initiate 5-out offense, Middlebrooks sees it coming and gets the deflection for the steal, which leads to a transition dunk.

The transition game is also a great way to generate catch-and-shoot 3s. As defenders scramble to match up, the offense can flatten out the defense by having a big run the lane and shooters fill to the corners.

Here, two Presbyterian defenders get sucked in with BHH running the lane and Styles filling the corner. This leaves O’Connell open on the wing for a 3, courtesy of Hill.

When NC State plays with pace in its secondary offense — off a make or a miss — the Pack can launch into advantageous cross-match situations, post-ups, catch-and-shoot 3s, or get into their spread pick-and-roll flow.

NC State’s spacing is excellent here as BHH runs the lane and seals. Parker snaps in an entry pass and Huntley-Hatfield gets to work 1-on-1 with deep paint position.

Presbyterian’s defense is back on this possession; however, with Huntley-Hatfield running the lane and sealing, the big fella creates a little brush screen for the shot-hungry Taylor, who races into a corner 3 off another O’Connell find.

After a make, Upstate does a poor job matching up, and MOC takes advantage: hitting ahead to Hill. With an opposing big man defending him in space, Hill goes to work and scores with his herky-jerky drive game.

Give me five

The run game can only be one piece of the puzzle, though. As usual, NC State’s half-court offense has turned to some of its core concepts early this season.

As I’ve written about previously, NC State altered its offensive formula for the 2023-24 season. The Pack developed and frequently ran their own 5-out offense. This simple-but-effective shift allowed NC State to space the floor — thus making the defense account for more real estate on that end — and generate some movement before launching pick-and-roll action.

To start, the center initiates the possession with the ball in the middle of the floor, with the remaining four players spaced around the arc — two to each side of the floor. This has carried over to this season.

From here, those 5-out sets flow into various handoff/screen exchanges or quick 45-degree cuts. Often, these actions help trigger empty-side screen-roll activity. Middlebrooks isn’t much of a 3-point shooter, but he’s mobile and comfortable with the ball in space, which makes him a capable 5-out initiator. He’s also a very good target in the screen-roll game.

On this possession, NC State gets to its Delay (another way to label “5-out” play types) Zoom action. The “Zoom” action refers to how O’Connell is used here. MOC comes off a pindown from Heard and runs directly into a dribble-handoff (DHO) with Middlebrooks — that’s the Zoom action. While that takes place, Pass and Hill exchange on the weak side. Pass performs a 45 cut after passing it off to Middlebrooks and then pops back out. Hill shakes up from the corner and then runs his own 45 cut later in the possession.

Presbyterian puts two defenders on the ball screen as MOC comes off the DHO action. Heard shakes up from the corner, which pulls the low-man help defender away from the rim, and all of a sudden there’s no one home on Middlebrooks.

The next progression in this series is to fake the Zoom action to the player coming out of the strong-side corner (Parker) and then flow into empty-side pick-and-roll with the player (MOC) who set the initial pindown screen. Middlebrooks initiates as Parker comes off O’Connell’s down screen; instead of handing it off to Parker, though, Middlebrooks pitches to MOC. From there, it’s empty-side screen-roll with O’Connell and Middlebrooks. O’Connell hits the roller with a lefty pocket pass and Middlebrooks makes a tough catch-and-finish in space.

It’s the same action here against Presbyterian: Delay Zoom Empty with O’Connell and Middlebrooks. Presbyterian works to “down” or “weak” this screen — forcing O’Connell to dribble with his weaker left hand and pin the ball on the left side of the floor. One of the best ways to counter this is with a pick-and-pop. The defense can’t take away everything; with two defenders working to down the screen, it leaves the 5 open in space. O’Connell pitches it back to Middlebrooks. Presbyterian’s weak-side coverage stunts in his direction, but there’s no closeout or contest. Middlebrooks drains the open 3.

Here’s the same action/read vs. Wake Forest’s deep drop coverage last season. Middlebrooks operates the 5-out/Delay set and fakes the Zoom handoff to Taylor before launching empty-side two-man action with DJ Horne. With Efton Reid dropped into the paint, Horne has plenty of room for a runner when he dribbles to the middle of the floor off the screen from Middlebrooks.

Another read off this 5-out series is to have the guard/wing higher up the floor (Heard) cut to the basket when the 5 dribbles in his direction, while the corner guard/wing (Pass) trails and sprints into a handoff with the 5. Once again, this is designed to produce spread pick-and-roll action.

After MOC passes off to Middlebrooks, Heard cuts through on a 45-degree angle into the paint. That’s followed by Pass lifting from the corner into the DHO with Middlebrooks. USC Upstate is in drop coverage on this possession — with the center below the level of the screen, dropped into the paint. However, the veteran Pass is patient and he makes a great play — driving the ball deep into the paint, forcing the center to help and then hitting Middlebrooks with a wrap-around drop-off pass for a room service finish.

Screen-the-screener

NC State has also found success with another go-to play of the Keatts era: Iverson Wedge pick-and-roll.

Here, Pass will come across the Iverson screens from Huntley-Hatfield and Heard. After O’Connell swings it to Pass on the wing, NC State launches “wedge” or “ram” action — with Heard setting an off-ball screen for BHH, who runs out to set a ball screen for Pass. Once again, Upstate is in drop coverage vs. Pass-BHH pick-and-roll. As Pass drives, Upstate’s center stays with BHH on the roll, which means Pass gets to attack downhill with his defender on his hip.

Pass has looked great to start the season. This is a powerful finish, too, as he drives and tucks the ball to protect it against a dig at the elbow from an off-ball defender — before exploding for the lefty finish.

This time against Presbyterian, it’s Taylor’s turn to run the Iverson action. Styles sets the off-ball screen for Huntley-Hatfield, who again sprints out for the screen-the-screener (“wedge” or “ram”) ball screen. While Upstate played more conservative drop coverage, Presbyterian aggressively hard hedges on Taylor — committing a second defender to the ball and trying to push Taylor away from the rim. Presbyterian’s low-man help defender tags BHH, which denies the roll pass, so Taylor hits O’Connell as the outlet on the wing. The next progression is a BHH post-up — as the defense rotates back into its shell. BHH establishes good position, though, and he scores 1-on-1 in the post.

According to Synergy, Huntley-Hatfield is 5-of-7 on post-up attempts so far this season (71.4 FG%).

Here’s NC State running this exact same action in the 2021-22 season — with Dereon Seabron coming across the Iverson screens and running the screen-the-screener pick-and-roll with EB Dowuona.

NC State will also invert the 4-5 pairing with the wedge screen. Instead of having the 4 screen for the 5 before the ball screen, the 5 will screen for the 4 — after the initial Iverson action.

This design opens up pick-and-pop action off a slip — with an empty-corner — for Styles, an excellent frontcourt shooter.

As Hill receives the pass from MOC, Middlebrooks sets an off-ball screen for Styles. There’s no intention, however, for Styles to actually set the screen for Hill. Instead, he slips out to the corner while Hill drives to the middle. Styles misses the 3-point attempt, but it’s good process and a clean catch-and-shoot opportunity.

NC State has run this action for years now, too, with the involvement of other skilled space/stretch/hybrid wings — Torin Dorn, Jericole Hellems, Seabron, Jack Clark, Mo Diarra.

For instance: During the 2022-23 season, Terquavion Smith turns the corner vs. Miami off of Clark’s empty-side slip and hits DJ Burns for a layup.

From the 2020-21 season: Braxton Beverly comes across the Iverson screens. Manny Bates and Hellems run the wedge action, and Hellems slips his ball screen for Beverly. Sam Hauser sticks with Beverly for a dribble, which creates the open space for a catch-and-shoot jumper.

These shots will be available all season for Styles.

Wedge Issue

When NC State is faced with an opponent that likes to hard hedge or blitz ball screens, another staple for the program is what I call Horns Wedge Leak.

The possession starts in a Horns alignment and with one of the players at the elbow (Taylor) setting an off-ball screen for the 5 (BHH). The center will then lift up to set a run-out ball screen for the 1 (MOC).

Taylor’s screen for BHH puts Presbyterian’s center a step behind the action. Now, the defensive 5 must react quickly if he wants to be able to hedge above the level of the screen. That’s something the offense can capitalize on. O’Connell takes advantage of the opposing big man being off balance and lifted well above the arc; he dribbles away from the screen and is able to turn the corner into space. A lot of space.

Notice: As O’Connell drives, Taylor lifts or leaks back up above the arc, thus pulling a potential help defender against the dribble drive with him. This type of roll-replace action can be very useful for occupying weak-side coverages.

NC State also successfully ran this action in the first half vs. Presbyterian — when the Blue Hose were in more of a matchup zone concept. The set still hits, though, with Styles leaking to the left wing and occupying the weak-side defenders, along with Hill in the corner. As that happens, BHH slides into space and O’Connell hits him on the dive.

This set has been a winner for NC State vs. the ball-screen coverages of Virginia and Miami, for instance — two teams that frequently hedge or trap ball screens.

Here’s this same play in action vs. UVA last season. Casey Morsell screens for Middlebrooks, who sets the run-out ball screen for O’Connell. Blake Buchanan hard hedges the screen. Andrew Rohde tags Middlebrooks on the roll, but as Morsell leaks back up above the arc, Rohde goes with him. O’Connell has a tough pass to make — splitting Reece Beekman and Ryan Dunn, two defensive demons — but he fits this into Middlebrooks for a layup.

Check the Exit signs

In recent years, baseline pin-in screens — known as “Exit” or “Smack” screens — have become a rather popular function of different pick-and-roll concepts. These actions will feature one of the guards coming off of an off-ball screen (often set by the lone non-shooter on the floor) along the baseline and exiting out into the corner — while two other player engage in spread pick-and-roll.

For example: O’Connell and Dennis Parker Jr. run middle pick-and-roll here as Pass comes off an Exit screen to the left corner from Middlebrooks. These types of screens are a great way to create confusion and tie up help defenders along the back line, or generate a kick-out look for a shooter.

Now, let’s see it in action. Here’s how NC State blends its screen-the-screener pick-and-roll action with an Exit screen, which I refer to as Ram Exit. Pass sets the down screen for DPJ, who sprints up to set the run-out ball screen for MOC. As O’Connell drives left, Pass continues off the Exit screen from Middlebrooks — creating an open 3 for Pass.

That’s exactly how you draw it up.

Next trip down the floor, it’s the same thing. This time, though, the defense is ready for Pass off the Exit screen. Still, O’Connell and DPJ are able to connect on the pop, and the sophomore forward is able to slash downhill for a bucket in the paint.

When the action is covered up, coaches just have to trust their players to make a play. This is where having a point guard like O’Connell — a high-feel initiator who wants to set guys up — is crucial. Presbyterian contains everything, so MOC flows into a DHO with Styles, who attacks downhill and scores in the paint.

Out-of-the-box solutions

Here’s one more pick-the-picker ball screen set to keep an eye on early this season, which I’ve labeled as “Box Ram” Pick-and-roll.

NC State comes out of a timeout against Upstate with O’Connell dribbling and the other four guys in a what looks like a Box set, at least momentarily: elbows and boxes.

On other possessions, the box looks like more of a bunch as guys are trying to get to their spots. Regardless, one of the guards will start the possession by cutting to the corner (Taylor), while the other guard (Hill) lifts to receive a pass from MOC. After passing to Hill, O’Connell will sprint down to set an off-ball screen for Huntley-Hatfield, thus triggering the screen-the-screen action. As BHH screens and rolls, Styles leaks back up the floor. Hill attacks the drop coverage and gets a layup at the rim.

So far this season, Hill is 10-of-13 shooting at the rim with 7 unassisted rim field goals, according to Bart Torvik’s shot data.

Here’s the same look vs. Presbyterian, now with Taylor working as the ball handler in the Ram action. O’Connell sets a really nice off-ball screen for Middlebrooks. Taylor gets into the paint and draws a foul at the rim.

NC State is back in action later this week against Justin Gray and Coastal Carolina. Let’s see if they add anything new to the mix on offense.