The following is a Q/A posed to TJ Rosene. Coach Rosene is the Head Coach of Emmanuel College, the 2008/2009 NCCAA National Champions and the demo team on the R&R Clinic DVDs.

Q: Coach Rosene,

I saw your testimonial on the R&R website. We are interested in running the Read and React this year. We have a 6′9″ post player (very good) and another 6″6″ post, with many skilled guards who can shoot the 3. This may be my best team since I have been here. We already do many of the layers, but I am interested in this offense, especially from a systematic, flexible, and developmental perspective. I am wondering what formations you used (5 OUT, 4 OUT, 3 OUT) or does it all kind of blend together? Are you still sold on the offense? I hope I am not a bother, just interested in hearing your thoughts. Thanks.

A: I am glad to help,

Formations – We ran them all… even all 3 in one possession. You can be as structured or as unstructured as you want to be. I actually just got off the phone with Rick Torbett and we were talking about different formations. The beauty of the Read and React is we can run the same offense and it can look totally different based on our players’ roles and our emphasis. We were really small so we ran a lot of 5-OUT. Next year, we will do a lot of 3 and 4 OUT so people will probably think we changed offenses but we have not… just giving it a different look. We also changed 3-4-5 based on subs, but the teaching stays the same. I can’t explain to you how much better my players got from before the season until now. There will be bumps in the road just like anything else, but in the long run I think you will be so glad you found this. It is cutting edge, yet it’s just good, pure, sound basketball.

Am I sold? Absolutely!!! I am in it for the long run.

Remember, you cannot digest the entire system with one viewing. We ran the offense for an entire season, but I still go back and watch the video every other month or so to keep me fresh and get new ideas. I also use it when I am ready to teach a new layer. Make sure you don’t go too fast from one layer to the next… be patient. You could play an entire season with the first 2 or 3 layers.

Glad to help and your bill is below,

Bill: In exchange for Coach Rosene’s help I promise to send him my very good 6’9 post player next year! Just kidding and have a great season.