Intial Set-up of the Syracuse 2-3 Zone:

Up top X1 and X2 position themselves close enough to touch. They want to keep the ball handler from splitting them and they want to keep the ball out of the high post.

X3 and X4 are two to three feet off the lane line even with the first lane marker and and X5 plays the middle of the lane.

On the pass from the point to the wing X4 comes toward the wing to buy time for X2 to rotate over and defend the wing.

When X2 is in position X4 "bumps" back to his position. It is this "bumping" that is the Syracuse zone defense trademark.

X1 slides over to guard the elbow/high post area.

X5 fills to defend the ballside post.

X3 slide to get inside and below the lowest man on the weakside. He's resposible for backside rebound if a shot goes up.

If a pass goes from the wing to a player deep in the corner, X4 must close him out and defend him.

X5 would then front the low post with X3 on help for lob support.

X1 and X2 drop into a help position

When the ball is reversed around the perimeter X3 must close out the wing and bump when X1 recovers.

One area of concern for the defense is the area behind the zone called the "short corner"

O5 can slide into that area while X3 is bumping

If the pass is made into the short corner, X3 and X5 trap the offensive player.

Everyone else must rotate to help positions

If on the close out X3 forces a basline drive to the short corner, this is also a trapping situation with X3 and X5.