How to Blitz the Ball Screen: Creighton’s NCAA Tournament Trap Tactic
Quick Coach Tips
Use the blitz to take the ball out of a playmaker’s hands.
Trap early and with urgency, no hesitation.
Pre-rotate on the backside to protect against short rolls and skips.
Drill the timing between the big and guard, must act as one unit.
Don’t call blitz on every ball screen, mix it in strategically.
Execution Breakdown
Let’s look at how Creighton executed the blitz.
Step 1: On-Ball Defense Over the Screen
The guard defending the ball must fight over the screen and immediately recover to trap the ball. They can't die on the screen or drop behind. This guard is not trying to get back in front, they’re trying to trap.
Coaching cue: “Chase over and smother.”
Creighton’s guards did a great job of sticking to the hip of the ball handler, knowing help was coming.
Step 2: Big Jumps Out Early
The screener’s defender (usually a big) must “jump the screen” and meet the ball handler with high hands and wide feet. The big’s angle is critical: don’t be flat, attack up the floor, not sideways.
Coaching cue: “Jump out and square the ball.”
Creighton’s bigs didn’t hesitate. As soon as the screen was set, they exploded into the trap with active hands, cutting off vision and driving lanes.
Step 3: Trap and Wall Off
Both defenders close the trap around the ball. Their goal is to:
Take away the first dribble escape.
Get hands high to deny passes over the top.
Use active feet to adjust if the ball handler pivots.
Coaching cue: “Two-man wall, no gaps, no fouls.”
Creighton’s traps were tight, forcing the ball handler to pivot or retreat. Rarely did Ohio escape cleanly.
Step 4: Backside Rotations
While the blitz happens, the three off-ball defenders must shift.
The low man covers the roll (usually a forward rotating into the paint).
One wing defender “splits the difference” between shooters.
The top weakside guard takes away the escape pass or stunt-shows to delay.
Coaching cue: “Sink and fill, anticipate the roll.”
Creighton’s weakside defenders did their homework. They pre-rotated early and rarely gave up dunks or clean corner looks. One defender even baited a corner pass, then jumped the lane for a steal.
Step 5: Recovery or Rotation
Once the ball is out of the trap, you’re in scramble mode. Now you must:
Sprint out of the trap once the pass is made.
X-out on the weakside if needed.
Trust communication to switch matchups as necessary.
Coaching cue: “Trap and recover, don’t spectate.”
Creighton’s traps were disciplined. They didn’t chase steals, they forced hurried decisions and then flew to recover.
What Is a Ball Screen Blitz?
A blitz is a high-aggression ball screen coverage where the on-ball defender and the screener’s defender trap the ball handler immediately after the screen. The goal is to:
Force the ball out of a primary creator’s hands.
Disrupt timing of pick-and-roll actions.
Speed up decision-making and force turnovers.
Unlike soft hedging or drop coverage, the blitz is about pressure. You’re not containing, you’re attacking.
Why Use the Blitz?
Creighton used this tactic in the 2021 NCAA Tournament to neutralize Ohio’s Jason Preston, a crafty point guard who thrived in pick-and-roll. Preston had torched Virginia the game before. Creighton’s answer? Trap every ball screen he came off and make someone else beat them.
Blitzing is ideal when:
The ball handler is dangerous in pick-and-roll (elite passer or shooter).
The roller is not a significant threat.
You trust your backside rotations.
You want to speed the game up or shift momentum.
It’s also useful in short-clock or scouting-specific situations, like late in halves or after timeouts.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Late trap: If the big is slow to jump, the ball handler splits or escapes easily.
Lazy guard: If the on-ball defender doesn’t sprint over, it becomes a 2-on-1.
Poor rotation: If the weakside doesn’t sink to cover the roll, it’s a layup.
Over-helping: If you collapse too hard, you give up corner threes.
How to Teach the Blitz at the Youth/High School Level
While trapping every screen may not be practical at younger levels, you can teach the principles.
Start with 2-on-2: Drill the trap mechanics between the guard and big.
Add a roller (3-on-3): Force players to make decisions under pressure.
Add weakside rotation (4-on-4 or 5-on-5): Practice rotating into the paint and back out.
Film sessions: Show examples like Creighton’s trap to teach timing and angles.
Label coverage calls: Use a word like “Red” or “Blitz” so players know what’s coming.
Mix blitz calls into practice to build trust. You don’t need to trap everything, use it strategically.
When NOT to Blitz
Don’t blitz if:
The roller is a dominant finisher (think lob threats).
The ball handler reads pressure well and hits corner passes.
Your bigs are slow-footed or prone to fouling.
Your team struggles to communicate rotations.
Blitzing is a high-risk, high-reward scheme. But when executed well, like Creighton showed, it can completely take away an opponent’s strength.
Final Thoughts
Creighton’s blitz coverage was a masterclass in coordinated aggression. By jumping ball screens, trapping decisively, and rotating behind the play, they smothered Ohio’s primary action and forced other players to make decisions. For high school and youth coaches, the key is to drill it piece by piece: start with trap timing, then layer in rotation reads.
Whether you use it every game or just in key moments, the blitz can be a game-changer.
