Top Five X’s & O’s Coaches In College Basketball

5. Jay Wright – Villanova Mar 13, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Villanova Wildcats head coach Jay Wright talks to his team during a time out during the second half of a game against the Seton Hall Pirates in the second round of the Big East college basketball tournament at Madison Square Garden. Seton Hall defeated Villanova 64-63. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The System: Wright uses a four-out-one-in system that emphasizes ball movement, screening, cutting and dribble penetration. This is not an uncommon alignment, but the screening angles make Wright’s system unique. Defenses are constantly forced to defend pesky flare screens that come from below.

The Wildcats stay within strict screening rules as interchangeable perimeter players are restricted to only screening for other perimeter players while the forward must always set screens for perimeter players up top. It sounds rigid, but the rules and all their combinations present a myriad of screens, cuts and drives that the opponent must defend.

Why it Works: Wright and the Wildcats are not afraid to “go small.” Many describe Wright’s offense as a four-guard system. And with the sideline-to-sideline spacing, teams often struggle to defend the speedier Wildcats. Opponents may have the Wildcats out sized, but often Villanova wins the quickness match ups.

Why it’s Here: The four-out-one-in set is not revolutionary but Wright’s willingness to tinker with smaller line ups has produced Final Four results. Creative rules give Wright’s offense an identity that differs from others who run similar sets.