7 Principles For Perfecting the Princeton Offense in Basketball

• By Grant Young

The Princeton offense has been one of basketball’s most effective offensive systems for nearly a century. 

The core principles of the Princeton offense involve perimeter players spacing along the three-point arc along with a high post player (who is commonly called the “pivot player”) setting up at or around the free-throw line. This pivot player is what makes the Princeton offense so effective. Given they have both an ability to drive into the paint and make that midrange jump shot, their position near the free throw line will force defenders away from the hoop, which will create open space in the paint for backdoor cuts from perimeter players, a layup from the pivot player, or facilitate open passing lanes for the pivot player to his teammates along the perimeter. This plethora of options has created an offensive system that has withstood the test of time. 

This offensive strategy is effective because of how it emphasizes movement through constant motion, cuts, and screens, which can create confusion for the defense and facilitate them making mistakes. The offense also encourages player movement and passing, which can result in open looks and high-percentage shots. Not to mention how the Princeton offense is versatile and can be adapted to different personnel and skill sets, making it a valuable system for teams with diverse rosters and that doesn’t depend on having extremely gifted players to be utilized well. 

There have been some iconic coaches who have made a career out of using the Princeton offense. And one blossoming young coach who’s in the process of doing so is Quinn McDowell. 

Coach McDowell is currently the varsity boys’ basketball coach at Baylor School, a position he has held since April 2024. Before accepting this position at Baylor, McDowell served as the assistant coach at Longwood University since July 2022, where he played a critical role in helping Longwood win 20 games in three consecutive seasons for the first time in school history, and helped Longwood qualify for NCAA March Madness for the second time in three seasons.

Before Longwood, he served as an assistant coach for Lehigh University (2019 – 2022), Taylor University (2018 – 2019), and Virginia Wesleyan University (2016 – 2018).

Coach McDowell’s ‘The 7 Basic Actions Of The Princeton Offense’ course conveys an overview of the basic actions that make up the majority of the Princeton style of play while offering high-level tips for any coaches who want to maximize their offense’s potential.

7 Basic Actions of Princeton

Coach McDowell explains how there are seven basic actions of the Princeton offense: 

1. ROD 1 

The ROD 1 is called so because it goes to the single side of the floor. This action will stand in a typical Princeton alignment.

From there, the ball gets passed to the pivot man, and then the passer goes and sets a screen for the player in the single-side corner. Then the player receiving the screen can take a back cut, curl around the screen, or set up for a shot. The screener will then read the player’s actions and make a movement that reflects it, which should create two options for the ball handler (who can also make their own move). 

2. ROD 2

The ROD 2 is the same as ROD 1 except it goes to the double side of the floor, and the screen is set for the guard along the wing. 

3. REEL (Counter to ROD)

The REEL action is typically initiated with a spin dribble because the initial entry pass to the pivot player isn’t available for whatever reason. This will prompt the ball handler to dribble to the other side of the floor where there are two offensive players (and likely floor space, given a player is probably pressing on the pivot player to block an entry pass). From there, the wing player can cut down into the paint, which will leave the corner player open, create potential back cuts, and otherwise open up options for the ball handler to capitalize on.  

4. CHIN

CHIN action is predicated on the pivot player setting a back-screen for one of the guards, which initiates the offensive set. This will ideally make for an easy basket off of the back screen, but it can also facilitate the ball to get swung around the wing with back cuts, potential penetration into the paint, or an open shot behind the three-point line. 

If the pivot player is capable of shooting a three-pointer, this initial back screen is a great way to open them up for a shot at the top of the key as the set progresses.

5. CHEST 

The CHEST action starts with the ball being delivered to the pivot player at the elbow, which then prompts the passer to set a down screen for the player in the corner. From there, this play essentially becomes a pick-and-roll without either having the ball. The screener will roll toward the basket while the person receiving the screen will head up the wing. The pivot player will have the option to pass to either player or face up and create their own offense. 

6. 5-OUT

The three basic entries for the 5-out within the Princeton are the Transition (center the ball at the top of the key then go into 5-out), Elbow Pop (pivot player receives the ball at around the three-point line rather than the free throw line), and the PNP (starting with an off-ball screen from the pivot player to the opposite side wing which sets up Pick and Pop). 

2-Guard

The 2-guard alignment is predicated on back-screens from the guards to the players in the corner, which sets up baseline cuts and other simple screener-to-screener actions. 

In any given possession, all of these basic actions could be implemented. This is how the Princeton offense gets its variation and remains unpredictable.