This pattern keeps showing up vs zone (⛹🏽TSF: 124)


What’s up, internet basketball junkie?

There are certain concepts in basketball…

Once you understand them, you start seeing them everywhere.

This is one of those.

It’s a simple pattern that consistently breaks down zone defenses - and once it clicks, you’ll recognize it instantly on film.

I call it Stretch-Seal-Dive.

I just put together a quick breakdown showing how it works and how you can use it with your team.

I would love for you to check it out:

THE STARTING FIVE

🥇 Best of the Week Coach Hurley head butted an official, asked another if they needed to borrow his glasses (and if they had considered lasik surgery), and knocked off the #1 overall seed - all in one weekend. Legend:

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Matt Hackenberg
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1:3 PM • Mar 27, 2026
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PG - 🏀 There's been no bigger reminder than March Madness for why special situations matter (So much that I wrote a whole guide about them called "Special Teams")... Coaches were emailing me saying, Ben McCollum stole your "Duke" play from your special situations guide. And I was like, actually it's called "Iowa" now:

SG - 🏀 Many coaches are close to starting back workouts for the spring... I love my open gym format, some do not, and that's ok:

SF - 🏀 Need some post drills for your big men this offseason? Here's 4 of them:

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PF - 🏀 This is Coach Billy Mims quoting The Hoop Herald who is promoting BBall Brainiac's content - a lot to like here:

C - 🏀 Sneak peak from Coach Kramer into how to "Beat the Scout with Set Play Families"

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Matt Kramer
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1:15 PM • Mar 26, 2026
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OFF THE BENCH

🏀 If you haven't done your exit interviews yet, use this template

🏀 5 Zone Offense proven winner concepts

🎥 This Week in Streaming:
Tonight @8PM EST:
Jake Nannen - Drive & Space Offense Overview
Best of March Madness with Bryce Butler
How to WIN the Coaching Interview with John Ashworth
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Coach Dave Cresap (Anatomy of 600+ wins), Coach Tom McBride (5-Out Upscreen Offense)

💪🏼 What am I working on? We finalized the dates for the "Rebuild 101" Cohort... Next we will get the Powerhouse Cohort scheduled... Live streaming... Writing guides to a flexible 4-out offense system, conditioning without sprints, a 1-3-1 BLOB defense system... Continuing to work on the Bucky McMillan pressing system, a modern defensive strategies guide...

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So… Houston didn’t quite make it.

Apparently I gave them the kiss of death - at least that’s what a few of you told me in my inbox.

Silver lining: my national champion pick made it past round one this year… which is more than I can say for 2023 when Purdue lost to a 16 seed 😂

March Madness, man.

Looking forward to seeing how this Final Four plays out.

I will not be making another pick (my credibility has already taken too big of a hit)

Have a great week!

-Coach Hack

PS. I would like to connect with you on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Facebook


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⭕️ Yale's Zone Continuity I'm Obsessed With
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